Some cities run on schedules—Brooklyn runs on creative momentum. One weekend, it’s an indie film screening in a tucked-away loft; the next, it’s a full-scale street festival where artists take over entire blocks. And when the seasons change? The city shifts with them. Summer is for open-air concerts and food markets; winter is for jazz bars and immersive art shows. There’s always something happening. The trick is knowing where to look—and lucky for you, we do.
At NU Hotel, we don’t just sit on the sidelines of Brooklyn’s scenes. We’re part of it. So if you’re looking for what’s happening in 2025—what’s worth your time, what will spark something in you—you’re in the right place. Here’s what to put on your radar.
Spring: Brooklyn in Bloom
Smorgasburg | April–October
A food-lover’s playground—minus the pretension. Smorgasburg is where Brooklyn’s most creative chefs, bakers, and culinary rule-breakers set up shop. Expect the unexpected: ube waffles, truffle-stuffed dumplings, and plant-based BBQ. It’s all here.
Greenpoint Open Studios | May 31–June 1
Brooklyn’s creativity spills beyond gallery walls—it’s in the studios, workshops, and creative spaces that bring ideas to life. For one weekend, Greenpoint Open Studios opens more than 150 artist spaces, giving you a rare look inside Brooklyn’s creative process.
Brooklyn Film Festival | May 30–June 8
Big Hollywood blockbusters? You can have them. This is for the ones who crave stories that surprise you, perspectives that shift you, and voices you haven’t heard before. Explore a carefully curated mix of indie films, underground documentaries, and animated gems—plus filmmaker Q&As that give you the real story behind the screen.
Summer: Sun, Sound, and Stories Waiting to Happen
Coney Island Mermaid Parade | June 22
No one does absurd, over-the-top creativity like Brooklyn. The Coney Island Mermaid Parade is an ethereal, ocean-inspired spectacle where thousands of costumed mermaids, sea creatures, and eccentric performers take over Surf Avenue in a celebration of art, community, and self-expression.
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival | July 12, 17, & 18
Summer nights, live music, and Brooklyn’s skyline glowing in the background. This is how the borough does concerts. This free concert series in Prospect Park brings global artists, indie icons, and Brooklyn’s own rising stars to the bandshell. Past performers have included H.E.R., The Roots, and Norah Jones, with every season delivering a lineup worth showing up for.
Fall: The Borough in Transition
Brooklyn Book Festival | September 22-30
Book lovers, this one’s for you. The largest free literary festival in NYC brings big-name authors, indie writers, and poets who pack a punch in just a few lines. Discover smart conversations, deep dives, and the best kind of quiet chaos—people lost in the pages of a new favorite read.
Brooklyn Americana Music Festival | September 18–21
For those who prefer banjos over bass drops, this festival brings together folk, blues, and roots music across multiple venues in DUMBO and Red Hook. Immerse yourself in intimate performances, riverside stages, and a crowd that cares more about storytelling than stadium lights.
Halloween in Brooklyn | October 31
Brooklyn doesn’t merely celebrate Halloween—it transforms for it. Think eerie brownstone-lined streets, a parade with over 50,000 costume-clad attendees, haunted speakeasies, and a cemetery tour that’ll have you looking over your shoulder. Whether you’re here for the spooky, the silly, or the straight-up surreal, Brooklyn’s got you covered.
Winter: Shorter Days, Brighter Nights, and the City’s Coolest Season
The Holiday Makers Show | November–December
Big-box shopping? Not in Brooklyn. The Holiday Makers Show is where independent makers, artists, and designers showcase their best work. Think handmade ceramics, one-of-a-kind prints, small-batch candles, and sustainable fashion—all with that unmistakable Brooklyn edge.
Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden | Late November–Early January
Forget twinkly holiday lights—this is art, reimagined in light. Walk through a cathedral of lanterns, an illuminated fire garden, and tunnels of glowing flora, all set to an atmospheric score. It’s equal parts mesmerizing and meditative, like stepping into a dream you don’t want to wake up from.
The DUMBO Holiday Tree Lighting | December
Brooklyn’s most scenic tree lighting happens under the Manhattan Bridge, where live jazz, hot cocoa, and twinkling lights turn the DUMBO Archway into a winter postcard. Enjoy performances by local choirs, pop-up holiday markets, and an appearance from Santa—Brooklyn style.
Brooklyn in 2025? It’s got everything—live music in the park, transportive art experiences, unfiltered poetry, and the kind of local traditions you won’t find in a guidebook. Whether you’re catching a film festival in spring, biking through Smorgasburg in summer, or soaking in the glow of Lightscape in winter, there’s always something worth showing up for. Stay out late, wake up slow, and let Brooklyn unfold around you.
However you choose to explore, NU Hotel is here to make sure you feel at home in the middle of it all.