A beloved Brooklyn festival celebrating all things unique to the borough, Atlantic Antic, returns to the streets of four Brooklyn neighborhoods — Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and Downtown Brooklyn — on Sunday, September 24.
The theme for the 43th Annual Atlantic Antic is “The Pulse of Brooklyn,” an apt focus for the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation to choose for this year’s iteration of the oldest and largest street festival in Brooklyn.
What time does Atlantic Antic start and end?
The festival kicks off at noon on Sunday with a performance by Eddie “The Sheik” Koshak on the main stage, and the organizers of the street fair state that the festivities will go on, whether rain or shine. Performances on all of the festival stages wind down by 6 p.m. but you can catch an “Antic Afterparty” starting then at Hank’s Saloon inside the bar if you’re not yet ready to say goodbye.
What is the parade route for this year?
The Atlantic Antic street fair and parade will be held, fittingly, on Atlantic Avenue between Hicks Street and Fourth Avenue.
What is there to do?
Plenty, according to organizers. In fact, they claim that for the event “Atlantic Avenue is transformed into a sea of entertainment offering something for everyone.” Hundreds of vendors (500 to be exact) will be turn out, including 100 local merchants, so you can shop and nibble your way through the street fair while you enjoy performances “from various cultural genres” going on across 12 live entertainment stages.
There’s even an entire block devoted to entertaining the little ones that features pony rides, face painting, kid-friendly activities like book readings, a petting zoo and bounce houses. So after eating your way up and down the ten blocks, the kids can bounce off extra energy while you digest.
What performances can you expect?
The 12 stages will feature performances ranging from R&B soul to an all-female drumming performance so that there’s something for everyone. Check out the full list of performances on each of the stages below:
MAIN STAGE
(Between Clinton and Court streets)
12 p.m – 2 p.m: Eddie “The Sheik” Koshak and the Amber-Aba Orchestra
2 p.m: Brooklyn United Marching Band
2:15 p.m: 14th Annual Dumpling Eating Contest
4 p.m: 6th Annual Ambassador Award presented to New York assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon
4:45 p.m: The Unique Band
THE BRAZEN HEAD STAGE
(Between Court Street and Boerum Place)
12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m: Charles & Beverly
2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m: Red Sahara
4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m: Misery Loves Company
DODGE YMCA PROGRAMMING STAGE
(Between Court Street and Boerum Place)
12 p.m. – 6 p.m: Programming TBA
PACHECO & LUGO STAGE
(Between Smith and Hoyt streets)
12 p.m. – 5 p.m: Sabori Band
ARCO NEW YORK STAGE
(Between Hoyt and Bond streets)
12 p.m. – 6 p.m: Programming TBA
BROOKLYN COMMONS STAGE
(Between Hoyt and Bond streets)
12 p.m. – 6 p.m: Programming TBA
KHAMIT KINKS STAGE
(Between Hoyt and Bond streets)
12 p.m. – 6 p.m: Live music with DJ
THE HOUSE OF THE LORD STAGE
(Between Bond and Nevins streets)
3:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m: The House of the Lord church choir
HOLLOW NICKEL STAGE
(Between Nevins Street and 3rd Avenue)
12 p.m. – 6 p.m: DJ Eliel Lucero
HANK’S SALOON STAGE
(Between Nevins Street and 3rd Avenue)
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m: The Who Knew Crew
2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m: The New York Fowl Harmonic
4 p.m. – 6 p.m: The Get It!
6 p.m: Antic Afterparty (inside bar) with David Haught and Friends
ATLANTIC ANTIC COMMUNITY STAGE
(Between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue)
12 p.m: Crunch Fitness presents Tabura
12:10 p.m: AALDC welcome remarks
12:15 p.m: Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
12:45 p.m: Mark Morris Dance Center
1 p.m: Batala New York Drum Performance
1:30 p.m: World Martial Arts Center/Happy Kicks
1:45 p.m: AABID upcoming event promotion
2 p.m: Weill Cornell Medicine Jazz Ensemble
3 p.m: Falun Dafa meditation
3:15 p.m: YWCA Brooklyn presents Grace Drums
3:30 p.m: Brooklyn Ballet
3:50 p.m: Brooklyn Boulders
4:15 p.m: Damion Anthony
4:30 p.m: Smolsky
5 p.m: The Stage Theater School
What’s the best way to get there?
The Atlantic Avenue Barclays Center subway stop will get you right to one end of the street fair. You can take the 2, 3, 4, or 5 train to be let off at this stop. Alternatively, take the B or Q train to the Atlantic Avenue stop.
The Jay Street – MetroTech Station lets off close to the other end of the festivities, which means you can also get to the celebration by taking the A, C, or F train.
