The Bronx has a packed weekend ahead, anchored by some of the borough’s most cherished annual traditions. Bronx Week is in full swing, Wave Hill is at its springtime peak, and young engineers from South Bronx schools are competing in a one-of-a-kind soapbox derby. Here is everything you need to know before heading out in the Bronx this May 2 and 3.

Bronx Week 2026: Borough-Wide Celebrations

Bronx Week is one of the borough’s most beloved annual traditions — a multi-day celebration that has been honoring Bronx pride, culture, and achievement for more than 50 years. This year’s Bronx Week includes a parade, street festivals, live music performances, community walking tours, and the induction of new honorees to the Bronx Walk of Fame along the Grand Concourse.

The Walk of Fame, which runs along the Grand Concourse in the heart of the Bronx, honors athletes, artists, politicians, and community leaders with plaques embedded in the sidewalk. This year’s induction ceremony is one of the highlights of the week — check the Bronx Tourism Council’s website at ilovethebronx.com for the full Bronx Week schedule, including parade route, festival locations, and times for all weekend events.

Sunday: South Bronx Soapbox Derby at P.S. 111

One of the most genuinely joyful events happening anywhere in New York City this weekend takes place Sunday, May 3, at P.S. 111 in the South Bronx. The Annual South Bronx Soapbox Derby runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features students from schools across the South Bronx who have spent weeks — and in some cases months — designing and building their own gravity-powered cars from the ground up.

The event is equal parts science fair, community celebration, and pure fun. Students learn engineering principles, apply math skills, and develop teamwork through the process of building their vehicles, and race day is when all that hard work pays off. The event is free and open to the public — bring the family, cheer on the young engineers, and prepare to be genuinely inspired. P.S. 111 is located in the Mott Haven neighborhood.

Wave Hill: Spring at Its Most Spectacular

If you have never been to Wave Hill in Riverdale, this weekend is your reminder to finally go. This extraordinary public garden (W. 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Riverdale) sits on 28 acres overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades of New Jersey, and May is when it is unequivocally at its most beautiful. Spring perennial plantings are in peak bloom, Japanese cherry trees are still showing late blossoms, and the sweeping views of the Hudson add a backdrop that is almost unfairly gorgeous.

Wave Hill is open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is charged on weekends — check wavehillgardens.org for current pricing and any special weekend programming. The garden is accessible via the Metro-North Hudson Line to Riverdale station, or by car with parking available on site. This is genuinely one of New York’s best-kept secrets and worth the trip to the northern Bronx.

Saturday Evening: Jon Carlo in Concert

On Saturday, May 2 at 5 p.m., Jon Carlo performs at Cardinal Hayes High School for Boys (650 Grand Concourse, Mott Haven) in a ticketed evening concert. Cardinal Hayes has a long tradition of hosting community events in its performance spaces, and this weekend’s show is a chance to see a live performance in one of the Bronx’s most storied institutions. Check ticketing platforms for availability.

Getting Around the Bronx This Weekend

With Bronx Week festivities underway, expect higher-than-usual foot traffic along the Grand Concourse on both Saturday and Sunday. The 4, B, and D trains serve the Grand Concourse corridor, with multiple stops along the parade and festival route. For Wave Hill, the Metro-North Riverdale stop is the most convenient public transit option. The South Bronx Soapbox Derby at P.S. 111 is accessible via the 6 train to the South Bronx stops.

What You Need to Know

• Bronx Week 2026: Ongoing through the weekend — parade, festivals, Walk of Fame induction along the Grand Concourse. Full schedule at ilovethebronx.com.
• South Bronx Soapbox Derby: Sunday, May 3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at P.S. 111, Mott Haven. Free, family-friendly, genuinely wonderful.
• Wave Hill: Open Tuesday through Sunday, W. 249th St and Independence Ave, Riverdale. Spring blooms at peak — one of the Bronx’s best destinations all year.
• Jon Carlo in Concert: Saturday, May 2 at 5 p.m., Cardinal Hayes High School, 650 Grand Concourse.
• Transit: 4, B, D trains for Grand Concourse events. Metro-North Riverdale for Wave Hill. 6 train for South Bronx.

The Bronx is celebrating itself this weekend — and it has every reason to. Get up there and be part of it.