Drummer's Grove has been running since 1968, when a group calling themselves the Congo Square Drummers — after the New Orleans square where enslaved Africans were permitted to gather — started meeting near the park's east side. Sunday afternoons the drums go for hours, dancers work the middle, and vendors ring the whole thing with West African textiles, oils, jewelry, incense and food. It is the closest thing Brooklyn has to a weekly institution you can just walk into. Go in the afternoon and st
What to expect
Expect an open drum circle with dozens of drummers, dancers moving in and out of the center, and a ring of vendors selling crafts, clothing, oils, incense, jewelry and Caribbean and West African food. The crowd is multi-generational and constantly turning over. Bring cash for the vendors and a blanket if you want to settle in.
Good to know
- Take the B/Q to Prospect Park or the 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza; Drummer's Grove is near the Ocean and Parkside Avenues entrance
- Free to attend; bring cash for vendors
- Drumming runs Sunday afternoons through the warm-weather season
- Bring a blanket or low chair — seating is the surrounding benches and grass
- Great for families; the Prospect Park carousel and zoo are nearby
- Ask before photographing drummers and dancers up close
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Common questions
What is Drummer's Grove?
A recognized gathering place in Prospect Park where the Congo Square Drummers began meeting in 1968; the Prospect Park Alliance renovated it in 1997.
When does the drumming happen?
Sunday afternoons, roughly 2 to 7 p.m., from April through October.
Can I bring my own drum?
The circle is open and participatory — join respectfully and follow the lead of the regular drummers.
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