New York City will celebrate its 400th anniversary this year with art and cultural celebrations across the five boroughs, including in Brooklyn.
“There’s nothing like summer in the city, especially when we are celebrating 400 years of the greatest city in the world. From free movies and concerts to global festivals, our administration is excited to bring families together and celebrate New York City’s history and dynamism through our ‘Founded By NYC’ campaign,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.
In addition, the city will invest another $45 million in the Department of Cultural Affairs, adding to the existing $215 million budget, the mayor said.
This additional funding will provide additional support to the city’s Cultural Development Fund, which supports more than 1,000 cultural organizations and neighborhood-based groups citywide, as well as the city’s 34 Cultural Institution Group (CIG) member organizations, he said.
The funding will "bolster the world-class cultural organizations that bring our families together and give our museums, performing arts centers, gardens and more the resources they need to thrive," the mayor noted.
Some anniversary celebration highlights in Brooklyn include:
Summer Streets
August 2, 9 and 16
In celebration of New York City’s 400th anniversary, the beloved Summer Streets program returns bigger than ever. As part of this milestone year, the city will shut down 400 blocks across all five boroughs throughout the summer — transforming them into car-free playgrounds for residents and visitors alike.
Planet Brooklyn
Dates: August 23, 24
A first-of-its-kind two-day music festival and experience to celebrate and highlight artists who represent the cultural and creative diversity found within the borough of Brooklyn and the varied genres of music they represent. Hosted by Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment, the experience will feature performances across three iconic entertainment venues in the borough – Barclays Center, Brooklyn Paramount and Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). Tickets will be available for individual performances across all three venues, allowing fans to customize their experience. Additionally, a free two-day block party will take place on the surrounding streets, featuring local food vendors, artisans, and performances by emerging artists.
Dates: Aug 9 and Sept. 27
The NYC Parks Department will present various movies that showcases New York City. Brooklyn events include an Aug. 9 showing of The Warriors in Coney Island and Crooklyn in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
The city's 400th birthday will also be celebrated during food and comedy festivals, baseball games and many other events. For a full list of events around the city, click here.
