Pack a picnic and participate in a beloved Brooklyn summer tradition at the Prospect Park Bandshell. Free concerts attract thousands from across the city to sprawl and chat with friends while enjoying world-class musical acts.
Explore the bandshell during daytime hours to appreciate its historic architecture. The structure was built in the late 1930s, part of a push to invest in the city’s public parks. Funding came from the federal government to bolster local economies in the wake of the Great Depression.
Music and performance had long been part of the fabric of Prospect Park. The park’s original architects included several venues for small concerts throughout the landscape, but the bandshell was by far the largest.
To get the full effect, see the bandshell lit up and full of life at one of the many free summer concerts, hosted as part of the Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival by BRIC, a local nonprofit arts organization, for over 40 years. Appreciate the value of such a large and cutting-edge performance space devoted to free public programs. From jazz artists to pop stars, many renowned musicians and performers have graced the stage.
Bring snacks and a blanket to spread out on the grass for the full open-air experience or jockey for one of the folding chairs in front of the stage with the best view of the performers.
Travel to the Prospect Park Bandshell on foot or by bicycle, entering the park through a gate at 9th Street, which is only two blocks from the subway at 7th Avenue Station. No cars are allowed in the park, but free street parking is available on a very limited basis in the surrounding residential neighborhood.
Go online and search for a full schedule of events. Seating at free concerts and evening events is first come, first served, so arrive at least an hour early if possible. Ample overflow picnic space is available at the rear lawn, well within earshot of the performers. Public bathrooms are available near the bandshell and food and beverages are generally available for purchase.
