Broad Channel is the only inhabited island in Jamaica Bay and it throws the most unselfconscious parade in New York City - a homemade-float, fire-truck, whole-neighborhood affair that local papers have called its Mardi Gras. The city's permit puts the 2026 edition on Cross Bay Boulevard from 1pm to 3:30pm with the road fully closed. If Eastern Parkway feels like too much, this is the opposite end of the same holiday.
What to expect
A short, low-key procession of decorated floats, emergency vehicles and community groups moving up and down Cross Bay Boulevard, with people watching from front yards and folding chairs. The boulevard closes fully in both directions, so plan around it if you are driving toward the Rockaways. Expect a few hundred neighbors rather than a crowd.
Good to know
- Free and open to anyone; the city permit lists a full closure of Cross Bay Blvd from 1pm to 3:30pm.
- The A train to Broad Channel puts you a short walk from the boulevard; driving through is not an option.
- Pair it with Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge or a Rockaway beach afternoon on the same trip.
- This is a small neighborhood event - treat it as a local tradition you are visiting, not a spectacle.
Planning Sep 4–7, 2026 in NYC?
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Common questions
When and where is it?
Monday, September 7, 1pm to 3:30pm on Cross Bay Boulevard in Broad Channel, per the city's permitted-events record.
Is it free?
Yes, a free public street parade with no ticketing.
How do I get there without a car?
Take the A train to the Broad Channel station; the boulevard is a short walk east.
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