What started as a celebration of Brooklyn’s street art over a decade ago has expanded into an all-day music and art festival in Bushwick, a neighborhood in Brooklyn best known in New York City and internationally for its street art. Find your way to Bushwick and admire the works that lure tourists under the East River to the industrial reaches of the L train. The festival provides the opportunity every year for hundreds of new yorkers and visitors to wander through wide-open city blocks of towering, colorful portraits, sprawling murals, and quirky graffiti. Recent iterations of the block party have unveiled over 40 new murals by street artists from all around the globe, many of which honor fallen icons, including a new tribute to Tina Turner by artist Ashley Hodder that went up this June. Beyond the artwork itself, street vendors selling art, clothing, and accessories line Troutman Street, and vendors offering a dozen food and beer options dot the neighborhood every year.
Throughout the afternoon, musical performances carry block partygoers in between viewings, creating the relaxed atmosphere of an open-air all-day party. The event has been dominated by huge acts in recent years such as Ice-T, who headlined the most recent Bushwick Collective Block Party, taking to a small stage in Brooklyn in the mid-afternoon, and other iconic artists including Rick Ross and KRS-One in years past. Iconic music and great food have helped what first began as an open-air art gallery meant to show off graffiti evolve into a sprawling celebration of street art, hip hop, and community in Brooklyn.
The Specs
- An upwards of 5,000 people attend.
- General admission is free every year, simply find the block (St. Nicholas Ave & Troutman St. in Bushwick) and join the party. Attendees are advised to arrive early in order to secure a good spot.
- VIP tickets are available for $101 and include access to a private outdoor patio, bar, bathrooms, and viewing area.
- What’s the block party all about? Check out this examination of hip-hop and street art in Brooklyn Magazine.
- When the block party is over, use our guide to New York for things to do around the state.
FAQs
How do I get there?
The nearest airport is LaGuardia Airport in Queens (LGA), 7 miles from the festival, with JFK International in Brooklyn as a close second option. If you’re traveling from within NYC, the block party is just a short walk from Jefferson Street station on the L train.
What kind of music is performed at Bushwick Collective Block Party ?
Past performers include Ice-T, Ghostface Killah, Black Sheep, Rick Ross, and many more.
2023 Poster
Videos