Things To Do In Ditmas Park This Weekend

With the holiday tomorrow, you might think there’d be less to do in the area than during a regular weekend. And though some businesses will be taking the day off (stay tuned for more on that later on today), there’s still plenty to keep you and the kids occupied. You’ll find activities in Prospect Park, or you can head down to Coney Island for the hot dog eating contest and a free fireworks show, or just hang out at a local bar to listen to some live music.

Wednesday, July 3

• Free U.S. citizenship class with Benno Groeneveld, Cortelyou Library, 5-6pm.
• DJ Edan is at Bar Chord, 9pm.

Thursday, July 4

• Celebrate the USA (and Coney Island!) at Nathan’s hot dog eating contest, 11am.
• Kids: make a plumed hat and sign your John Hancock, Prospect Park, 1-4pm.
• The Park’s Blooming Naturalists lets kids make nature journals & more, 2-3pm.
• Nature on the Go! is on next at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, 3-4pm.
• And stick around to learn about park wildlife at Animal Encounter, 4-4:30pm.
• Free fireworks at MCU Park in Coney Island, with live music and activities, 4:30pm.
• Last chance to see Judd Erlich’s doc Magic Camp in DUMBO, 6:45pm.
• Open mic night at Shenanigans, 8pm.
• Sign up to perform at open mic night at 8pm, or just watch starting at 9pm at 773 Lounge.

Friday, July 5

• Free introductory pilates class, Prospect Park Audubon Center, 12-1pm.
• Meet fellow parents at the new parent meet-up, Lark, 1-2pm.
• Blooming Naturalists is on again at Prospect Park, 2-3pm.
• As is Nature on the Go!, 3-4pm, and Animal Encounter, 4-4:30pm.
• Teens are invited to a writing workshop at the Cortelyou Library, 3-4pm.
• Sustainable Flatbush’s Healing Herb Garden open hours are 4-6pm.
• Babes and beer happy hour is at Lark, 4-5:30pm.

Saturday, July 6

• The Lavender Blues Singalong is at Lark, 10-11am.
• The Ready, Set, Kindergarten reading program is at the Cortelyou Library, 11am.
• Donation-based yoga at the Prospect Park Peristyle, 11am; kids-only class, 12pm.
• Introduction to birdwatching, Prospect Park Pop-Up Audubon, 12pm.
• Visit Sustainable Flatbush’s Healing Herb Garden, 10am-2pm (compost til 12pm).
• See Alex Levin and guests play jazz at Purple Yam, 12-2:30pm.
• Honey, Dear plays vintage jazz at Lark, 4-5pm.
• Celebrate Brooklyn hosts Theophilus London, Les Nubians, and Aabaraki at the Prospect Park Bandshell, 7pm.
• Neighbor John Munnelly plays Bar Chord, 9pm.
• Alegba and Friends play 773 Lounge, 10pm.

Sunday, July 7

• Toddlers can play and sing at Toddler Time with Mary Jo, Lark, 10-10:30am.
• Donation-based yoga class at the Prospect Park Peristyle, starting at 2pm.
• The Pop-Up Audubon is open again from 12-5pm.
• Sit zazen at Third Root, 6:45-7:15pm.

Photo of the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest by Michael McDonough