Herbert Von King Park predates most of Bed-Stuy around it — the city laid it out in the 1850s — and its sunken amphitheater has been the neighborhood's default stage for generations of block parties, jazz and jams. A permitted afternoon session there means real speakers, a proper bowl to sit in, and a crowd that spans grandparents to toddlers. If you want a free Brooklyn afternoon in a space with actual history, this is the bowl to sit in.
What to expect
Expect a DJ or band setup in the amphitheater bowl with tiered seating facing the stage, and listeners spilling onto the surrounding lawns and paths. The park has a playground, a cultural center and open lawns within a minute's walk, so families rotate through rather than sitting still. Come and go as you like — the amphitheater is not gated.
Good to know
- Herbert Von King Park sits between Marcy and Tompkins Avenues at Lafayette in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
- The G at Bedford–Nostrand Avenues and the J and M at Myrtle Avenue are both short walks.
- Amphitheater seating is hard tiers — a cushion or blanket helps for a long session.
- The park's playground and lawns are right there if you are bringing kids.
- It is free and open on public parkland.
- Shade is decent at the bowl's edges and thin in the middle.
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Common questions
Where is the amphitheater?
Inside Herbert Von King Park in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn — a sunken performance bowl within the park.
Is it free?
Yes, it is an open event on public parkland.
Is there seating?
The amphitheater has tiered seating; many people bring a blanket or folding chair for the lawn edges.
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