Outings

Your ultimate free and cheap Brooklyn 4th of July guide

nathan's hot dog contest
It’s time. via Nathan’s

The land of the free can truly be the land of the free (and cheap) July 4th next Friday, with plenty of awesome no and low-cost patriotic events to celebrate America’s independence. We’ve got you covered for the East River fireworks, so check out the other awesome free and cheap things to kick off your three-day weekend!

CONEY ISLAND

Nathan’s
1310 Surf Avenue

The annual Nathan’s International Hot Dog Eating Contest brings competitive eaters to Coney Island, where they will stuff their faces with tube meat, and you can derive plenty of entertainment from this ESPN-televised competition.

Then later, walk over to Coney Island’s Second Annual Beach Party will feature live music, DJ John John, dancing, booze, fireworks, and more! The party starts at 9am and goes until midnight (fireworks are at 9pm!), but we suspect this can go until dawn, season 2 of Girls style.

CARROLL GARDENS/GOWANUS

Dassara Ramen
271 Smith Street

At Dassara’s 4th of July Pig Roast you can get is offering all you can eat pig plus a beer for $20, a plate of pig with sides for $12, $4 draughts, $3 PBR, sake soda, and 1/2 price bottles of sake. Or splurge for the all you can eat and drink for $30. Get your tickets here.

The Bell House
149 7th Street

Wassabassco’s America F*ck Yeah will feature the ladies and gentlemen of Wasabassco firing up the barbecue and flinging off their clothes for striptease salutes to the Great American Institutions: hot dogs, cold beer, tassel twirling and much more at The Bell House. Home trick ropin’, bullwhippin’ cowboy entertainer Chris McDaniel will give a special variety performance, and fill up the kiddie pool for a group finale of epic proportions. $20 or free entry with Wonder Woman costume.

SRB Brooklyn
177 2nd Avenue

For shopping, dining, live music, a vintage car show, and burlesque, head to the 3rd Annual Dances of Vice July 4th Rockabilly Night Market for an epically American night. Classic Americana, homemade and vintage goods for sale, as well as an open PBR bar from 5-6pm combines classic 1950s Americana with Brooklyn flare, for $10 in advance or $15 day of.

PARK SLOPE/SOUTH SLOPE

Freddy’s
627 5th Avenue

You know what’s American? Having a BBQ, getting your closest friends and customers to come to the BBQ with some food and letting people chow down while drinking any draft beer they like for $4. That’s American, and that’s what Freddy’s is doing.

The Tea Lounge
837 Union Street

Participate in the great American tradition of welcoming immigrant traditions by celebrating Independence Day with 7 IghQ The Band at 9pm. This brotherhood of Caribbean musicians came together to create unique sounds that are impossible to not move to, especially when with no cover you can buy more drinks since there’s no cover!

WILLIAMSBURG/GREENPOINT

jaws
Fighting sharks is America

Nitehawk Cinema
136 Metropolitan Avenue

Celebrate American film with a 12pm brunch screening of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. Enjoy an appropriately themed Bloody Mary or Nitehawk Benedict while watching America’s most famous mechanical shark wreak havoc for $11.

The Diamond
43 Franklin Street

Courtesy of Greenpointers, the 4th of July Fireworks Comeback Party will feature a Cook-Out from 3-6pm featuring Brewla Bars, Yeah Dawg Vegan Hot Dogs + other meaty stuff, in order to fuel you for the 7pm dance party with Brian Blackout.

The Knitting Factory
361 Metropolitan Avenue

Do your patriotic duty and spend day at The Knitting Factory booing whoever is playing in the World Cup game that they’re showing. You only get to boo the rest of the world like this every four years, and you could be watching an eventual opponent of Team USA, so make it count.

LP ‘N Harmony
683 Grand Street

Beats & BBQ will combine DJs with free food (with drink purchase) and no cover from 3pm-4am!  This collaboration between Deepdance Promotions and LP ‘n Harmony aims to promote community and togetherness through good food, good dance music, and good cheer.

Videology
308 Bedford Avenue

There’s nothing more American than watching giant jacked up dudes blow stuff up (for America), so check out Videology’s free all-day patriotic movie marathon, and lubricate your patriotism with $1 Budweisers all day.

Havemeyer Park
Kent Avenue at South 3rd Street

Since you don’t have your own yard, why not borrow Williamsburg’s yard and hang out at a barbecue at lovely Havemeyer Park? Your $10 ticket gets you plenty of delicious grub, a free drink (with every other Brooklyn Brewery beer coming in at just $4), lawn games and with admission limited to 175 people, a not so crowded place to watch the fireworks.

FORT GREENE

BAM Harvey Theatre
651 Fulton Street

If you want to a bigger screen and want to be a little closer to the fireworks when you get out of the movies, BAM will also screen Jaws on the Harvey Theatre’s giant screen at 4pm and at 7:30pm for $14.

PROSPECT PARK

Couchsurfers’ Annual Potluck BBQ in Prospect Park brings together Brooklynites and travelers to share food and drinks and a good time, near the Prospect Park Picnic House, from 10am-7pm. The event requests a $3 donation to cover supplies, but if you go and make a good impression, you may meet someone who’ll host you for free on a trip to Europe!

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lefferts historic house
Sign the Declaration of Independence and let the Queen of England know she can still eat dirt. via Prospect Park Alliance

If you’re feeling patriotic, or want to pretend Brooklyn is seceding from the other boroughs, declare your own independence at Lefferts Historic House (452 Flatbush Avenue) from 1pm-4pm. Plumed hats will be available to borrow while putting your own John Hancock on a faux Declaration of Independence. This is a patriotic Instagram opportunity if we’ve ever seen one.

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