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Things To Do In Prospect Park This Fall

Fall in Prospect Park


Summer is on its way out, but there are still a ton of great things to do throughout Prospect Park — whether you’d like to learn about birds on a walk, take an after-hours tour that culminates with cocoa, or give back to our great, big backyard on one of its volunteer days, there’s something for every member of the family to enjoy.

Here’s a list of the upcoming events in the park through the end of October:

Sunday, September 21

  • For over 25 years, International Coastal Cleanup Day has brought together nearly nine million volunteers from 152 countries to remove 145 million pounds of trash from the world’s waterways. In Prospect Park, join the Prospect Park Alliance to help clean up Brooklyn’s only Lake. All groups and individuals must pre-register. Contact the Volunteer program at 718-287-3400 or email volunteers@prospectpark.org. The cleanup day will be held at the Park Circle entrance, 10am-1pm.

Sunday, September 28

  • Come celebrate this year’s harvest the same way Brooklynites did centuries ago, 1-4pm at the Lefferts Historic House. $3 suggested admission.

Wednesday, October 1

  • The Prospect Alliance will honor the family of Ethel J. and Samuel LeFrak at its 2014 Gala, and celebrate their contribution to the newly built LeFrak Center at Lakeside.

Thursday, October 2

  • The Prospect Park Alliance welcomes families to explore the secret side of Prospect Park after dark during this tour from 6-8pm that wraps up with hot cocoa and s’mores at the Audubon Center. $10 per person, $30 for a family of four; reservations required, limited availability; RSVP at 718-287-3400 x303 or eschwartz@prospectpark.org.

Saturday, October 4

  • Miles for Midwives brings together runners, families, and midwifery supporters for a fun day devoted to maternity care improvement and community wellness. Proceeds benefit the work of the NYC Midwives and Choices in Childbirth. To register, visit milesformidwivesnyc.kintera.org. 9am-2pm.
  • Enjoy a benefit concert at the Picnic House by the Rhapsody Players, one of New York City’s premier pop vocal ensembles. All proceeds will benefit the Prospect Park Alliance in its ongoing care of Prospect Park. Purchase tickets ($60, fully tax deductible, and includes wine, beer, and light fare) online or call 718-965-8965. 8pm.

Sunday, October 5

  • The Brooklyn Bird Club leads this free monthly bird walk, which focuses on hawks, because October is Hawk Month! Meets at the Audubon Center at 8am.
  • A food truck rally (from the Prospect Park Alliance and the New York City Food Truck Association) presents a sampling of cuisines from around the world from New York’s best food trucks at the Grand Army Plaza, 11am-5pm.
  • The Prospect Park Alliance and Urban Park Rangers present the free annual Raptor Fest on the Peninsula. Learn all about the majestic birds that are raptors. Hawks, falcons, owls, and other birds of prey will be on hand for flight demonstrations and more! 12-3pm.

Saturday, October 11

  • Join a naturalist with the Prospect Park Alliance for a family bird watching tour to learn how to identify some of the 250 species of birds that like to call Prospect Park their home. Meets at the Audubon Center at 10am.
  • The Alliance’s Chief Landscape Architect Christian Zimmerman will give a tour of Lakeside at 10am as part of Open House New York. Registration required, visit ohny.org.
  • Another OHNY events, learn all about the Vale of Cashmere, a little known area in the northeast corner of Prospect Park, at 1pm. Registration required, visit ohny.org.

Sunday, October 12

Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis is a family-friendly community 5K walk dedicated to raising awareness and mission-critical funds for cures for digestive diseases. Visit the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation for more information. 8:30am-1pm.
  • Examine the white oak timbers (the bones) of Lefferts Historic House and the many layers that were added, subtracted and changed over the past 230 years with the Prospect Park Alliance. Climb the staircase for a view of the attic’s smokehouse and descend into the cellar for a look at the foundation. For adults and teenagers. Reservations required, call 347-992-4732. $10 admission fee for the event that runs from 12-1pm.

Monday, October 13

  • Spend Columbus Day in Prospect Park for family-friendly activities at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, Lefferts Historic House, and the Carousel between 12-5pm.

Saturday, October 18

  • As part of a larger It’s My Park Day citywide effort, the Prospect Park Alliance and REI invite volunteers to take brooms, shovels, rakes, and trash grabbers to rake paths, clean woodlands, and help prepare the Park for winter. There will also be a yoga warm-up at 9am, and lunch provided. All groups and individuals must pre-register online; everyone who volunteers will get a free t-shirt. 9am-2pm.
The Good Health Brooklyn 5K encourages community residents to learn more about ways to better care for their health, and highlights the importance of physical activity, health screenings and adopting healthier lifestyles. Registration required. 10am-4pm.

Sunday, October 19

Join millions of people in more than 300 communities nationwide for the American Cancer Society Making Strides walk. The non-competitive, 5-mile event can help bring a lifetime of change for people facing breast cancer and their families. Registration required. 8am.

Saturday, October 25-Sunday, October 26

  • Celebrate Halloween in Prospect Park! The Haunted Walk hits Lookout Hill, the carnival is in the Nethermead, there are creepy crawly creates at the Audobon Center and crafts at the Lefferts Historic House (all of those are free); also, the zoo is hosting its own events (with the price of admission) and the Carousel is also festive, plus on Saturday there’s a special food truck rally.

Published by:

Mary Bakija