Jamaica Bay Festival Returns on Saturday, July 25
On Saturday, July 25, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC) is hosting the 9th Annual Jamaica Bay Festival, taking place as part of City of Water Day — a citywide celebration of our shorelines and waterways. This year’s theme is Living With Water: Celebrating Access to the Waterways That Connect Us.
This year, JBRPC is proud to partner with 30 local community organizations to host more than 40 free, family-friendly activities from morning to evening across the Jamaica Bay watershed — encompassing wildlife and nature, history, stewardship, arts, culture, and recreation of all kinds.
Some activities based on the peninsula and Broad Channel include Black Surfing Association’s kayak parade out of Vernam Barbadoes Peninsula off Amstel Blvd. at 9:30 a.m., a cleanup of Sunset Cove Park in Broad Channel at 10 a.m., a guided nature walk with a ranger at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge at 10:30 a.m., an educational Shorebird Festival at Beach 60th and the boardwalk at 12 p.m., Jamaica Bay open paddle kayaking off Beach 43rd and the bay at 12:30 p.m., surfing at Beach 67th Street with the Brooklyn Surfing Club at 1 p.m. and even The Rockaway Times photo contest display is part of the fun, featured in the Beach 90s on the boardwalk and at the Beach 108th ferry landing, plus much more.
These activities showcase the remarkable recreational opportunities and natural beauty found throughout our urban tidal estuary. Participants are invited to experience the waterways and landscapes that make this region unique and can enjoy, discover, and engage with their local waterfront in meaningful ways.
New York City’s connection to water runs deep. Our home has 520 miles of coastline, with four out of five boroughs sitting on islands. Roughly one-third, or 170 miles of the city’s coastline is around Jamaica Bay and Rockaway.
“Jamaica Bay is one of New York City’s greatest treasures, and events like the Jamaica Bay Festival give residents an opportunity to get outside, connect with nature, and really learn about all of the amazing things the bay has to offer,” Councilwoman Joann Ariola said. “Thank you to the JBRPC and to everyone else involved for putting this festival together, and for giving people an opportunity to learn about and interact with Jamaica Bay in ways they may never have had the opportunity to before.”
“I’ve always believed that access to green space and clean water isn’t a luxury, it’s a public health necessity. The Jamaica Bay Festival brings our neighbors together to enjoy the natural beauty right in our backyard, and I’m proud to support JBRPC and all of their partners in making these free, family-friendly events possible for the 46th District and beyond,” Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse said.
The details of every activity taking place during Jamaica Bay Festival are listed on an interactive map, published at JamaicaBayFestival.com, which makes selecting activities and planning your day easier than ever.