Enjoy spectacular shows and weird workshops, meet local authors and illustrators, and join in on the day’s grand finale: Brooklyn’s wackiest costume parade, featuring colossal puppets, giant drums, and stilt dancers.
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Members and ticket holders skip the lines. Members always enter for free. No free hours or reciprocal admissions on festival days. IDNYC membership processing is not available on festival days (please sign up in advance). All events are held rain or shine.
Schedule
Performances
Planet Pumpkin
- Noon–1:00
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Baby Soda
Playful and swingin' retro jazz - 1:00–1:15
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Musical Interlude with Salieu Suso
Sweet sounds of the West African kora - 1:15–2:15
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Pistolera
Brooklyn-style Mexican rock fronted by fierce bandleader Sandra Lilia Velasquez - 2:15–2:30
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Musical Interlude with Salieu Suso
Sweet sounds of the West African kora - 2:30–3:00
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Brooklyn Jumbies + Samba Novo
A high-octane Afro-Caribbean dance party on stilts - 3:00–3:15
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Musical Interlude with Salieu Suso
Sweet sounds of the West African kora - 3:15–4:30
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Gato Loco
Not your average brash psycho mambo band
The Hayloft
- Noon–12:15
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Phydeaux's Flying Flea Circus of Fate
Tiny acrobats hit the big top - 12:15–1:00
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Terry Dame's Science Music Road Show + Mortal Beasts & Deities Stiltdancers
A flock of stilt-walking birds swoop and strut to music by some of the world's most unique handcrafted instruments. - 1:00–1:15
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Phydeaux's Flying Flea Circus of Fate
Tiny acrobats hit the big top - 1:15–2:00
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Mettawee River Theater Company
Woodland creatures invite you to their olden-day dance party. - 2:00–2:15
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Phydeaux's Flying Flea Circus of Fate
Tiny acrobats hit the big top - 2:15–3:00
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StreetMule
Awesome Australian didgeridoo by groove-master Marc Mueller - 3:00–4:00
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Shinbone Alley Stilt Band
Dixieland jazz and shamelessly silly shenanigans
Workshops & More
Bug Day Afternoon
- Noon–4:00
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Dr. Rutledge's Insectorium and Petting Zoo
Come one, come all! Pet a hissing cockroach, feed a hornworm, and meet an entomologist!Bad Bug Tats
Get inked with an Asian long-horned beetle tattoo from the USDA's beetle busters.Arthropod Antennae
Craft your very own freaky feelers and become an insect for the day.Squirmy Wormies
Enjoy these wiggly worms and behold their compost-creating skills.
Edgy Veggies
- Noon–4:00
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Brussels Sprout Bowling
Try your hand at this crazy cruciferous game of skill.Potato People
Create your own lumpy little pal.Potato People Resort and Spa
Drop off your new creation for a play date in potato paradise.You Look Radishing!
Veg out at one of our selfie photo stations.
Crazy Critters
- Noon–4:00
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Point and Cluck
Snap a photo of your chickeny self.Pretend Petting Zoo for Toddlers
Come play in our imaginary barnyard.Transform into a Wild Thing
Put on a giant puppet and become a beastly beast.Make Your Own Monster Repellent!
Create a sachet of dried flowers and leaves to scare away creepy creatures.
Held in the Discovery Garden
Book Barn
- Noon–4:15
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Children's Book Barn
Featuring the Community Bookstore Pop-up ShopGet an autograph and enjoy readings by local authors and illustrators:
- Author-illustrator Selina Alko reads from B is for Brooklyn
- Author-illustrator Melanie Hope Greenberg reads from Mermaids on Parade
- Author Kate Hosford reads from Feeding the Flying Fanellis and Other Poems from a Circus
- Author-illustrator Huy Voun Lee reads from The Magic Brush
- Author Diane Muldrow reads from We Planted a Tree
- Author-illustrator Sean Qualls reads from The Case for Loving
- Author Robert Kimmel Smith
- Author-illustrator Javaka Steptoe reads from In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall
- Author Lauren Thompson reads from The Apple Pie That Papa Baked
Check out BBG's books for families: Gardening with Children, The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-ups, and The Kid's Guide to Exploring Nature.
Costume Parade
- 4:30–5:30
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Costume Parade & Drum Circle
Brazilian percussion corps Maracatu NY leads our celebrated costume parade and dy-no-mite drum circle! Join in the fun and carry larger-than-life puppets, make raucous music, shake your bag o’ bones, or just show off your costume for all to see!Parade kickoff at the Planet Pumpkin Stage at 4:30!