BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! FAQs

Performances are RAIN OR SHINE, though we will cancel shows if there are dangerous weather conditions. Safety is our highest priority. If a show is cancelled, we will update our website, post on social media, and email everyone who has RSVPed. All best efforts will be made to present performances regardless of weather.

No.

The majority of performances are free. Events that require ticket purchase are marked as “Benefit shows.” If you would like to support BRIC’s free programming, please consider donating here or becoming a member.

Our full schedule is on our website, or you can stay informed by signing up for our mailing list, following us on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky, or by calling 718.683.5600 or emailing [email protected].

BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! is located in Prospect Park at the Lena Horne Bandshell, 141 Prospect Park W, Brooklyn, NY 11215. The Lena Horne Bandshell has two entrances: One near the 9th Street entrance to the park, and one near the 11th Street entrance to the park.

Please note that a few 2026 BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! shows are located at alternate locations. Please check individual event pages for more information.

DIRECTIONS

SUBWAY

• F/G to 7th Ave
• F/G to 15th St/Prospect Park
• 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza
• B/Q to 7th Ave @ Flatbush Ave
• Q/S/B to Prospect Park

BUS

• B61 to Prospect Park West
• B69 / B67 to 9th Street
• B41 to Grand Army Plaza
• B16 / B43 / B48 to Lincoln Road or Empire Blvd. Enter Park at Lincoln Road, follow signs to the Bandshell.
• B68 to Prospect Park West/Prospect Park SW

BIKE

Use our free Bike Self-Park area to lock up your bike close to the Bandshell! The Bandshell is very accessible by bike. Look for the bike racks located just inside the park at 11th Street and Prospect Park West. Please dismount on park paths and be sure to lock your bike. Please note, BRIC is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property.

CAR

There is no designated parking area at the Lena Horne Bandshell. Streetside parking around the Bandshell is very limited.

The site opens one (1) hour prior to the posted performance time unless otherwise noted. You may line up prior to the opening of gates.

Seating plans and availability change depending on the event, so please refer to individual event web pages for details.

Some seats are reserved for friends of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! such as BRIC members, donors, and artist guests. Interested in membership? Head here.

Any other seats and the lawn areas are first-come, first-served. Lawn chairs and picnic blankets are permitted.

Yes. Accessible entrances, exit points, seating, and concessions are available for every event. When you arrive at the Bandshell, you are welcome to ask any of our entrance staff for assistance. Our Community Care Manager and team will escort you and one guest to an accessible seat. Please note that our ADA seating section is first-come first-serve and some views of our stage may be partially obstructed. If you have any other questions about accessibility, please contact [email protected].

For our d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, we will have an ASL interpreter at some of our free music shows, located on the left side of the stage. A few shows will not have an ASL interpreter, and a few will only have an ASL interpreter during a particular set – you can refer to individual show pages for this information.

Donations to BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! help BRIC continue to provide exciting and eclectic performances to audiences from across Brooklyn and beyond. As a 501c3 nonprofit organization, all donations to BRIC are tax-deductible and help to ensure our programs are delivered free of cost. To support BRIC and BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, please head here.

​​BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! performances are geared towards adults and families with children. We will make every attempt to inform audiences if a performance contains strong adult themes or language

Yes! Please note, BRIC is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property.

Attendees can bring their own food into the Bandshell. Specific kinds of nonalcoholic drinks are allowed, see policy below:

Allowed: 

• Factory-sealed plastic bottles
• Empty refillable water bottles (we have a water refill station)

Not allowed: 

• Cans & glass bottles
• Alcohol

Food, beer, wine, and cocktails sold at the Bandshell are for on-site consumption and may not be removed from the site. Please do not bring glass into the park.

BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! complies with the direction of the City of New York on the ban on smoking in public parks. Smoking and vaping is not allowed, and “No Smoking” is clearly posted among rules on our entrance signs. Enforcement is solely administered by Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP).

Please refer to BRIC’s Jobs & Internship Opportunities page, as well as our volunteer landing page.

We are honored you want to play our stage! BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! is programmed by an artistic team guided by our history and mission, so we do not accept unsolicited performance proposals. Thanks for your interest and keep the music going!

Children ages 2 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

Yes! We encourage the use of reusable water bottles. Feel free to bring any non-glass water bottle with you. The bottle must be empty when you enter the venue, however there are water refill hydration stations inside both entrances.

Lost items can be turned in or retrieved at the Info Tent near the 9th Street entrance. If you lose an item during a show you can stop by before leaving. If you realize you have lost an item after returning home please email [email protected].

Pets are not permitted inside the venue. However, service animals trained to assist individuals with disabilities are welcome in accordance with ADA guidelines.

BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! is proud to present 16 free concerts this summer—but those free shows are made possible thanks to our ticketed Benefit Concerts. Revenue from these events helps fund free programming and supports the work of BRIC, a nonprofit arts and media organization, and the Prospect Park Alliance, which helps care for the park.

These shows support artists, crew, and cultural workers, and ensure the festival remains free and open to all for the majority of the season. When you buy a ticket, you’re helping thousands of New Yorkers experience free live music in the heart of Brooklyn.

Ticket prices for these benefit shows are set by BRIC at accessible levels for both general admission and premium seating. However, you may see inflated prices on third-party resale platforms. These are not controlled by BRIC or our official ticketing partner, so we always recommend buying directly through our official site to get fair pricing.

BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! is a permitted public event, closely vetted and approved by the City of New York. The City recognizes the value of this festival, which has been a part of Brooklyn’s cultural life for over 47 years. Hosting a mix of free and benefit events allows us to serve the public while also covering the real costs of producing a world-class festival. This model enables BRIC to continue its mission of providing free cultural programming, supporting artists, and celebrating the diversity of our city—all in the shared public space of Prospect Park.