On Sunday, August 7, Heart of Brooklyn (HOB) will host Free Summer Sunday, a day of free admission and special programs throughout its cultural campus. For the first time, all six Heart of Brooklyn cultural institutions (Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Public Library, Prospect Park and Prospect Park Zoo) will be open to the public FREE of charge. A celebration of the partnership’s first decade, Free Summer Sunday showcases special exhibitions, games, contests and prizes, all at no-cost to visitors, making the Heart of Brooklyn the place to be.
This one-time event includes:
Brooklyn Icons Mini Golf, Grand Army Plaza (12-5pm)
Putt through a mini golf course made up of Brooklyn borough favorite landmarks, including Brooklyn Bridge and Grand Army Plaza’s Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch. Compete alongside your friends and family for the best score and evenenter to win a free meal at a local dinner spot.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Avenue
Explore BBG’s Native New Yorkers exhibition and a free Seasonal Highlights Tour at 1pm (meet at the Visitor’s Center).
Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Avenue
Cool off inside the Brooklyn Children’s Museum with “Kitchen Chemistry: Cool-inary Creations” and “Blooming Babies: We All Scream for Ice Cream”, two family-friendly events that combine food fun and hands-on learning.
Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway
Enjoy special exhibitions now on view: Vishnu: Hinduism’s Blue-Skinned Savior, Lorna Simpson: Gathered and reOrder: An Architectural Environment by Situ Studio.
Brooklyn Public Library (Central), Grand Army Plaza
Experience the beauty of Brooklyn’s Bridges: Engineering as Art & Inspiration, currently displayed in the Grand Lobby. While there, pick up a suggested summer title to enjoy outdoors on the Plaza or curled up in Prospect Park’s Long Meadow.
Prospect Park
Start off Free Summer Sunday with a morning bird walk in the Park at 8am. In the afternoon, bring the kids to Summer Songs and Stories at Lefferts Historic House, or enjoy free Carousel Rides at the Prospect Park Children’s Corner.
Prospect Park Zoo, 450 Flatbush Avenue
Sea Lions Stella and Beebe are diving for icy red heart treats to show how much they love living in the Heart of Brooklyn. Catch special feedings at 11:30am, 2pm and 4pm. At noon in the Zoo’s Barn Stage, watch Elroy the goat, who is getting fit with the help of his keeper, go through his training session and play ball.
Free Summer Sunday’s day of free admission and special programs runs during regular institution hours on Sunday, August 7. For more information, visit www.heartofbrooklyn.org/free.
*******
Holly Rosen
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Holly Rosen Fink has spent the last 15 years in NYC working in all facets of media, from MTV to the world of traditional and online publishing. Now working as a consultant in Westchester, she blogs about travel, theater, film, art, books, advocacy and more at The Culture Mom Blog. She has two children, ages 5 and 7, who share her culture addiction.