What to do in Brooklyn this September

By Joshua Encinias and Brian Braiker

It’s September, which means summer is over and fall is here. Right?

Not quite. The autumnal equinox isn’t until Sunday, September 22. So don’t give up on the season yet and get out there for the best concerts, festivals, 5Ks, plays and more the county of Kings has to offer.

From “Richard II” to the House of Yes — from the Brooklyn Book Festival to Sabrina Carpenter — here’s your guide to the month ahead.

September 2

The 57th Annual New York Carnival Parade
11 a.m.
Every Labor Day, The West Indian American Day Carnival Association throws one of NYC’s biggest celebrations on Eastern Parkway. This year’s theme is “The Evolution,” and on Monday, you’ll find thousands of Brooklynites of Caribbean descent parading in gorgeous, colorful displays of original outfits, costumes, and floats. The parade, which attracts upwards of two million attendees, marches on Eastern Parkway from Utica Avenue to Grand Army Plaza. Free.

HARD FETE | Queeribbean Labor Day Carnival
10 p.m.
Keep the Caribbean celebrations going late into Monday morning at The Brooklyn Monarch’s HARD FETE | Queeribbean Labor Day Carnival. Organizers are declaring Labor Day for “the beautiful queer revelers of the Caribbean and we’re bringing you the HARDEST FETE that you will not forget.” Bring your crew, your flags and wear the best costume you’ve got to shake ya ass in all night 23 Meadow Street. Tickets are $19.57

September 4

Hari Kondabolu at Union Hall
7:30 p.m.
Stand-up comic and culture commentator Hari Kondabolu is working on a new hour of standup comedy and wants you to be the first to hear it. Prepare for a show filled with questionable premises, faulty logic, occasional laughs and a few moments of brilliance. $10 in advance, $15 at the door. (Can’t make it out on the 4th? Comedian Punkie Johnson, who recently left the cast of SNL, will be performing at Union Hall on the 5th; $20 GA). 702 Union Street.

September 5

First day of school
Times and locations vary
New York City public schools are back in session! Get the kids out of the house and reclaim just a little bit of time for yourself. It’s called self-care. Free.

Bond With Brooklyn Movie Series
Every Thursday from September 5 to 27
The Bond With Brooklyn Movie Series comes to Pacific Park Prospect Heights this September, sponsored by TF Cornerstone. The screenings are free and open to the public, with movies handpicked to entertain the local Brooklyn community and close out the summer in style with a new theme each week. Movie screenings begin at Sunset. Come see “10 Things I Hate About You” on September 5 and find the complete lineup on their website. 645 Dean Street.

‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ in Fort Greene Park
Activities begin at 6 p.m., movie starts at sunset
Paramount+ Movie Nights in Brooklyn, hosted by Brooklyn Magazine, hosts its final free movie of the summer: in Fort Greene Park “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.” Come by early and bring the kids for a Brooklyn Basketball Clinic led by the Brooklyn Nets for ages 6-14. The movie will start at sundown, but pre-film activities kick off at 6 p.m. RSVP here for to get free popcorn! DeKalb and South Portland Avenues. Free.

Song of the Summer
8:30 p.m.
Song of the Summer by the Brooklyn Comedy Collective is improv meets “gay pop” in this high-energy queer comedy show, where a cast of queer improvisers can completely let loose … but their straight allies are forced to only speak in lyrics from iconic gay songs. Tickets include entry to the post-show dance party, where you’ll celebrate the best songs of Summer 2024. 167 Graham Avenue. Tickets are $13.70.

September 6

‘The Becomers’ at Spectacle Theater
Screening on September 6, 7, 22, and 26
“The Becomers” is the latest feature from celebrated Brooklyn-based indie filmmaker Zach Clark and it’s coming to Brooklyn’s own Spectacle Theater on September 6. The movie is an outrageous and surprisingly emotionally poignant sci-fi genre-bender. You can watch the trailer here. 124 South 3rd Street. GA tickets are $5 and event tickets are $10.

Usher at Barclays Center
Sept. 6, 7, 9 and 10
If U Got it Bad for early aughts hip-hop, grab your boo and head to Barclays for the undisputed king of R&B, who is bringing his “Past, Present Future” tour for four non-consecutive nights September 6 and 7, 9 and 10. 620 Atlantic Avenue. Prices vary.

September 7

Spike’s Joint Pop Up Stoop Sale
Noon to 7 p.m.
Head to the World HQ of 40 Acres & A Mule in Fort Greene for a Spike Lee stoop sale featuring specially priced items and limited edition merch. Spike himself promises to be on hand to sign “special items.” 75 S. Elliott Place. Free.

Paul Weller at Kings Theatre
8 p.m.
The beloved singer-songwriter and former member of The Jam and Style Council kicks off his North American tour this month with a stop in Brooklyn in support of his upcoming album, “66.” This is a rare chance to catch the modfather live here in town. 107 Flatbush Avenue. Tickets start at $67.

Azymuth at Brooklyn Bowl
8 p.m.
Azymuth, a Brazilian jazz-funk group formed in 1973, is revered by crate diggers, fans of Brazilian music and breakbeat heads. Now the genius wizards of Jazz is Dead are bringing them for a one-night gig at Brooklyn Bowl. Bora, pessoal!  61 Wythe Avenue .Tickets start at $45.

Bikini Kill at Brooklyn Paramount
Sept. 7 and 8
Reunited ’90s riot grrl band Bikini Kill, led by charismatic singer Kathleen Hanna, comes to Brooklyn for a two-night stand this month. Hannah — whose memoir, “Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk,” came out in May — threw a benefit concert for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund with her band earlier this year. 385 Flatbush Avenue. Tickets start at $77.

Bushwig 13
Sept. 7 and 8
For two days in September, queens, kings and all the in-betweens will take over the sprawling Knockdown Center event space for the 13th annual drag-stravaganza that is Bushwig. This year’s line-up features Peaches, Ms Nina and Kennedy Davenport for what’s become one of the biggest drag events in the world. 52-19 Flushing Avenue. Tickets are $46.10.

September 8

Vintage Bus Festival 
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Explore buses from The New York Transit Museum’s vintage fleet, representing more than 90 years of New York City surface transit history. Enjoy photo ops, hop on a vintage bus, check out their pop-up shop and take in the view of the Manhattan skyline from the Emily Roebling Plaza underneath the Brooklyn Bridge. Free, but RSVPs are suggested.

Second Sundays at Pioneer Works
Noon to 7 p.m.
Pioneer Works is opening back up to the public after an extensive renovation, bringing back its free monthly open house. Highlighting our programs, artists in residence, and Red Hook community members, their Second Sundays series features open studios, exhibitions, workshops, live music and food across all three floors and in our garden. Sunday will be an all day affair with previews from a new Met Opera commission, an exhibition tour led by artist Alejandro García Contreras, live music and more. 159 Pioneer Street. Free.

September 9 to October 6

‘The Voices in Your Head’ at St. Lydia’s
Egg & Spoon Theatre Collective will remount the hit dark comedy “The Voices in Your Head,” produced in association with Billy McEntee and Those Guilty Creatures and returning to St. Lydia’s from September 9 to October 6 following its celebrated, sold-out world premiere in January. “The Voices in Your Head” follows eight New Yorkers as they exchange stories, escape the ridicule of the outside world and build an oasis, even as individual needs test the group’s stability. Staged for an audience of 20 each night at a cozy, storefront church, The New Yorker’s Theater Critic Helen Shaw said of the show, “If you need a morsel of sweet weirdness, acted by top-shelf Off-Off megastars, try The Voices in Your Head — warm, witty, bonkers.” 304 Bond Street. Tickets are $39.72.

September 11 to 28

Smith Street Stage’s ‘Richard II’
Various times
Smith Street Stage’s upcoming production of “Richard II” taps into timely political themes, offering a compelling exploration of the transfer of power and its consequences. “Richard II” provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the fragility of leadership and the forces that drive change. Smith Street Stage is committed to demystifying and making Shakespeare’s work relatable and accessible, inviting audiences to see the contemporary world reflected in these very old stories. 291 President Street. Tickets begin at $25.

September 12 to 16

Brooklyn Americana Music Festival
Venues and times vary
Bands, musicians and perfdormers from Brooklyn, Austin, Knoxville, Louisville, New Orleans, Switzerland and the U.K. all converge in the borough for four days of folk, Americana and country. Participating venues include Jalopy Theatre, Dumbo Archway, 68 Jay St. Bar, Sunny’s, Superfine and, new this year, Cafe Wha? Highlights include Jolie Holland, Smokey’s Roundup, Wilson & Walsh and more. Check the festival’s sites for the full calendar. Yeehaw!

September 14

The 43rd Annual Great Irish Fair of New York
Celebrate the halfway point to St. Patrick’s Day on September 14 at the 43rd Annual Great Irish Fair of New York. Taking place at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Prospect Park, the fair hosts musicians, dancers and all things Irish, including a presentation on the Good Friday Agreement and its lasting impact on the Northern Ireland peace process. Plus, there’s a bounce house for the kids. 245 Prospect Park West.

Ride the R32 ‘Brightliner’ to Coney Island
10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The stainless steel R-32 trains had an incredible six-decade run, from 1964 to 2022. Built by the Budd Company, the lighter steel construction made for a more efficient ride, while the shiny fluted exteriors inspired the car’s nickname, the Brightliner. On September 14, the Brightliner returns for one day, taking riders from the 96th Street-Second Avenue station in Manhattan through the Coney Island yard and back. The round-trip journey lasts around 90 to 120 minutes (with no option to hop off at Coney Island). Various prices.

September 15

14th Annual NYC Pizza Run
11 a.m.
Maybe you’ve always wanted to run a 5K but there just wasn’t enough pizza involved. Well have we got a treat for you. The NYC Pizza Run is a challenge in which participants of all ages attempt to complete a 5K run while stopping to eat two slices of pizza along the route. What could go wrong? Registration fees include the following: race admission, an official NYC Pizza Run t-shirt, a custom race bib, two slices of pizza to be consumed during the race, a pizza gift bag and a free drink at the NYC Pizza Run afterparty. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Fort Greene Park, 320 Myrtle Avenue. $76.54.

Back to School Party in Brooklyn Heights
12 to 4 p.m.
Brooklyn Bridge Parents x Mommy Poppins powered by Community Offshore Wind presents their bigger than-ever annual Back to School Party during September 15’s edition of Open Streets on Montague. There will be 40 free activities for kids, performances, games, arts & crafts, soccer, bubble shows, face painting, kids fitness classes, obstacle course, DJ, and much more. Live performances will include a kids’ concert by Hoppalong Andrew and a dance party by Hype Dance. Montague Street. The rain date is Sunday, September 22. Free.

September 17

Shaboozey at Brooklyn Steel
8 p.m.
It was a Charlie xcx, Chapell Roan and Shaboozey summer. The latter performs at Brooklyn Steel on September 17. bringing his signature blend of hip-hop, country, rock and Americana, all of which combined in the mega-hit “A Bar Song (Tispy).” 319 Frost Street. Resale tickets start at $118.

September 19

RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Live at Kings Theatre
8 p.m.
Enter the Werk Room at Kings Theatre on September 19 and get ready to experience the high kicks and low splits of the ninth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” unfolding live on stage. You’ll see fan favorites Angeria, Gottmik, Jorgeous, Plastique Tiara, Roxxxy Andrews, Shannel and Vanessa Vanjie in this show-within-a-show highlighting the charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent it takes for a Queen to be an All Star. 1027 Flatbush Avenue. Tickets start at $56.

September 20

Chlomosexual Presents: Pink Pony Rave
11 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Brooklyn’s favorite party planner Chlomosexual will keep you dancing at her Pink Pony Rave on September 20. Head inside the 30,000-foot Brooklyn Monarch to sweat on the dance floor or hang out in the back garden and yap all night. Music is by Luis Fernando, ZOSA, and Tasheff playing Chappell Roan + queer pop dance hits. Also featuring LINDZ, Blake McCallister, HonkyTonk Hooker, Gem, Hannah Pinson, Kade Alpers, and Kai Koren. 23 Meadow Street. Early bird tickets start at $23.18.

September 21

Art is Alive Festival
12 to 9 p.m.
Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation is back with its eighth annual Art is Alive festival in The Space @ Irondale. The day will feature performances, workshops, and classes featuring art forms and artists from the African Diasporic experience. Art Is Alive was developed to alleviate the financial barrier preventing some community members from participating in the cultural arts. 85 S Oxford Street. Free.

September 22

YES! Block Party
12 to 6 p.m.
House of Yes is taking over the whole damn street on September 22, transforming the block into an electric playground carnival wonderland of performances, play, art, and outdoor dance party magic. It’s free, it’s all ages, and it’s happening rain or shine. Check out this recap of their block party in 2022 for a taste. 2 Wyckoff Avenue. Free.

September 22 to 30

The Brooklyn Book Festival
Various times and locations
The annual Brooklyn Book Festival returns on September 22 and will run through the 30th, spotlighting writers of all genres: fiction and nonfiction, poetry, prose, and graphic storytelling, international and local, for adult and young readers alike. Events are free, but plenty of books will be for sale.

September 26

Cash Cobain at Brooklyn Paramount
Doors at 6 p.m.
At 26, Cobain has released six projects since 2021. A blazing hot rapper and producer, he’s provided bars on tracks he produced for PinkPantheress and Central Cee, Don Toliver and J. Cole. Now he’s got a new album of his own out “Play Cash Cobain.” Catch him while you can. 385 Flatbush Avenue. Tickets start at $53

September 27 and 28

Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival
Friday 5 to 8:15 p.m.; Saturday noon to 8 p.m.
The Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival (DBAF) is an annual celebration of Downtown Brooklyn’s cultural community and the artists who inspire the borough’s creative spirit. The showcase of acclaimed local arts organizations and artists includes interactive and immersive activations, a celebration of James Baldwin’s centennial, a drumming workshop for families, sets by DJ Spinna and more. The Plaza at 300 Ashland. Free.

September 28 and 29

All Things Go Festival
All Things Go Festival hosts their first NYC edition at Forest Hill Stadium on September 28 and 29. Featuring headliners Renée Rapp, Muna, Chappell Roan, Janelle Monáe, Ethan Cain, Julian Baker and Brooklyn’s own Del Water Gap, we’re looking at something like Lillith Fair for Gen Z. Unfortunately, it’s sold out. But you can hop on the festival’s waitlist or try your luck with resellers. 1 Tennis Pl., 11375.

September 29

Atlantic Antic
Brooklyn’s largest and oldest street festival returns on September 29. The Atlantic Antic Festival began in the 1970s to reintroduce fellow New Yorkers and visitors to Atlantic Avenue with dining, shopping and opportunities to explore its history. The long-running tradition returns with live music, fresh eats and drinks, and more artisanal vendors than you can possibly visit. Festival map.

Kevin Iso: ‘finna run this hour’
7:30 p.m.
Comedian and actor Kevin Iso — of “Flatbush Misdemeanors,” “That Damn Michael Che,” “Atlanta” and “High Fidelity” — is bringing an hour of fresh material to Union Hall. 702 Union Street. $18.98

September 30

Sabrina Carpenter at Barclays Center
7 p.m.
Sabrina Carpenter went from offending Catholics in Brooklyn to headlining Barclays Center in one short year. See the “Please Please Please” singer live and in person as she wraps up a fantastic month for local culture. 620 Atlantic Avenue. Tickets start at $253.