The Ultimate Guide to the Fourth, Brooklyn-Style

If you’re skipping the mass exodus to the beach this weekend, you’ll be plenty glad. There’s a surplus of fun activities in and around the neighborhood over the long weekend—and with half of the city gone, you’ll actually be able to enjoy them without battling long lines and crowds.

Here’s our guide to doing Fourth of July the right way: Brooklyn-style.

BBQ, Beer and Burlesque

What could be more American than burlesque? Well, as it turns out, a lot of things, but that shouldn’t stop you from heading to the Bell House on Sunday for “” The Gowanus venue celebrates America with a night of BBQ, beer, burlesque and brass bands. Be sure to plan ahead for the “Show Us Your Patriotic Underwear Contest.”

Get Wet

Celebrate summer with a dip in the DD Pool at Douglass Greene Park. On Saturday, the pool will to celebrate the pool’s opening. Expect live music, fun pool games and, of course, yummy things to nosh on.

Hop in a Canoe

Okay, so over here at Patch, it’s safe to say we’re with Gowanus canoe trips. But really, what better way to spend the weekend than gliding along the water in a canoe—even if that water is the Gowanus. On Saturday, head to the Gowanus Dredgers headquarters at Second Street and the Canal between 1 and 5 p.m. and take out a canoe for free (though donating a little something to the club is always nice)!

Rock Out

You’d be remiss to miss out on this weekend at the Prospect Park Bandshell—the legendary UK reggae band is the perfect soundtrack to a breezy summer night, and the perfect way to kick off the holiday weekend.

On Saturday, keep the music flowing and head to Southpaw for , the legendary weekly legendary hip-hop club night at the Fifth Avenue venue.  This weekend, the event celebrates its ninth anniversary with blowout evening of music featuring Low Breezy, Cosmo Baker, DJ Ayres, and DJ Eleven.

Groove at Gowanus Grove

Head to Gowanus Grove, the rockin’ outdoor party space on the canal, and celebrate the holiday with “A Mister Sunday Independence Celebration with Eamon & Justin.” Mile End will serve up sausages and burgers for allyour barbecue needs, and while spin doctors Eamon Harkin and Justin Carter attempt to play as many records with the word ‘America’ in them as possible.

Picnic in Prospect Park

Nothing spells summer like an afternoon spent tossing around the Frisbee in Prospect Park. Skip camping out for a grill and pack a instead (and if you do grill, be sure to !). The park will also host a ton of fun .

Enjoy A Beer Alfresco

With so much of the neighborhood elsewhere, you might actually stand a chance of scoring a table in The Gate’s yard. Check out to great outdoor drinking spaces in the neighborhood.

Fireworks

Fireworks are a Fourth of July tradition for good reason. You’ll be hard pressed to catch a glimpse of the annual Macy’s fireworks spectacle, which is over on the Hudson this year, but there’s no need to hop the train to Manhattan for a great fireworks show. On Friday night, there will be fireworks over the Coney Island boardwalk, on Saturday the Fort Hamilton Independence Day Celebration will light up Lower New York Bay, and, of course, Sunday the Brooklyn Cyclones will kick off their own patriotic display, with post-game fireworks over MCU field.

Of course, if you’ve got a rooftop, you’ve also got unfettered access to top-notch viewing of all the city’s fireworks.