Van Alen Block Party

Van Alen Block Party

Saturday, October 1, 1–9 pm

Douglass Street & Bond Street, Brooklyn

Join us at this year’s Van Alen Block Party — a day of food, music, and dancing in the streets! Free and open to the public, the Van Alen Block Party showcases the creative energy of Gowanus and celebrates the power of bringing people together.

With an incredible mix of New Yorkers in attendance, last year’s party was extraordinary — in this video, see some of the 1000+ neighbors who stopped by.

PERFORMANCES

1:15 pm | Batalá New York

Procession and drumline by the all-women, Black-led, Afrocentric drumming ensemble

2 pm | KONANTÜ

From artists Courtney Smith and Iván Navarro, a participatory performance that circulate good luck objects

2:30 and 3:45 pm | Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Nueva York

Promoting Mexican traditions and cultural heritage by showcasing Mexico’s regional dances

2:45 pm | Son de Brooklyn

Contagiously fun, rum-drenched music of Latin America with a modern Brooklyn sensibility

4 pm | Theater of the Liberated

Led by artist Imani Gayle Gillison, performance art through a social justice and spiritual healing lens

4:15 pm | The Gowanus Wildcats Drill Team

The multigenerational, all-star drill team that started in NYCHA’s Gowanus Houses in 1970

4:45 pm | DJ Scribe

Bringing the energy of his legendary I Love Vinyl dance parties to Gowanus

6:30–9 pm | DJ Niara Sterling

Having played famed NYC spots like House of Yes and Le Bain, DJ Niara Sterling closes out the day with a sunset dance party

FOOD

Ample Hills Creamery

Four and Twenty Blackbirds

GG’s Fish and Chips

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

Lawn games

Free face painting by Fantasy Arts by Sharon

Book giveaway hosted by House of SpeakEasy Bookmobile

About Van Alen Institute

Van Alen Institute helps create equitable cities through inclusive design. Community-driven decision-making builds resilience, social infrastructure, and ultimately, more just cities. For more than 128 years, our purposeful community engagement, convening capacity, and global network have produced profound transformations in the public realm of New York City and beyond. See our work at vanalen.org.