Orchard Beach has been the Bronx's shoreline sanctuary since the 1930s, and a baptism at the water's edge is one of its oldest recurring scenes — white robes, a congregation on the sand, the Long Island Sound doing the rest. The mile-long crescent and its grand bathhouse pavilion make it look like nowhere else in New York. If you're at the beach that afternoon, you'll know when it starts; the singing carries a long way down the sand.
What to expect
A congregation gathered near the shoreline with prayer, singing and baptisms performed in the water, while the rest of the beach carries on as an ordinary summer afternoon around them. Orchard Beach stays fully open. Expect the pavilion promenade to be crowded and the sand busy from midday.
Good to know
- The 6 to Pelham Bay Park then the Bx12 Select bus is the transit route; Orchard Beach parking fills early
- Free — the beach and promenade carry no admission
- The pavilion and promenade are step-free; the sand itself is not wheelchair accessible without a beach mat
- Bring water and shade; the crescent is fully exposed and there is little natural cover
- Swimming is only permitted when lifeguards are on duty in marked areas
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Common questions
Why is Orchard Beach called the Bronx Riviera?
It's the borough's only public beach — a mile-long man-made crescent built in the 1930s with a grand bathhouse pavilion, long nicknamed the Bronx Riviera.
Can anyone attend the baptism?
The beach is public throughout. The service itself is a permitted gathering run by the hosting ministry.
More this weekend
