Sunset Park block parties are among the best in the city because the neighborhood behind them is genuinely dense and genuinely mixed — a single closed block can produce music, grills, a bouncy castle and three different cuisines without anyone planning it that way. This one takes 49th Street between Fourth and Third and runs well into the evening. If you want the version of Brooklyn that happens on the street rather than in a venue, walk down and see.
What to expect
A street closed to traffic with tables, speakers, food and kids running the roadbed, with neighbors setting up on stoops and sidewalks along both sides. Block parties are neighbor-organized rather than institutional, so what you get depends entirely on who lives there. Expect it to build through the afternoon and peak after dinner.
Good to know
- The R to 45th Street or 53rd Street puts you within a few blocks
- Free — block parties are open street events, though food may be sold by neighbors
- The roadbed is flat asphalt and fully step-free once the barricades are up
- Bring cash if you plan to eat from a neighbor's grill
- Fifth and Eighth Avenues in Sunset Park are two of Brooklyn's great eating streets, both minutes away
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Common questions
Can anyone attend a block party?
Block parties happen on closed public streets and are generally welcoming to passers-by, though they're organized by and for the block's residents.
Is the street closed to cars?
Yes. A street activity permit closes the block to through traffic for the duration of the event.
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