Brooklyn Weekend Preview: Smorgasburg Returns, Prospect Park Peaks, and J/Z Train Is Out

Brooklyn has two Smorgasburg locations running this weekend, a park at the best moment of its entire year, and one of the most consequential subway disruptions of the summer already in effect. Here is what Brooklyn residents and visitors need to know for the Memorial Day weekend of May 23–25, 2026.

Smorgasburg: Two Locations, Two Days

Smorgasburg is running in Brooklyn on both days of the weekend. The schedule, verified directly from the market’s official site:

Williamsburg — Saturday, May 24: Marsha P. Johnson State Park, 90 Kent Avenue, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Free admission. No pets allowed.
Prospect Park — Sunday, May 25: Breeze Hill (enter at Lincoln Road), 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Free admission.

Both locations have 70-plus food vendors this season representing a wide range of cuisines and price points. The Williamsburg location at Marsha P. Johnson State Park has waterfront views of the Manhattan skyline — a particularly good setting on a clear May afternoon. The Prospect Park Sunday location puts you steps from the Long Meadow and the Audubon Center, which is worth a loop before or after you eat. Source: smorgasburg.com.

Prospect Park: Best Weekend of the Year

Prospect Park in late May is the park at its best — before the summer heat, after the mud of early spring, when the trees are at full canopy and the Long Meadow is green from end to end. The park is free and open all weekend. The Boathouse at the east side of the lake is the most picturesque spot on a clear day. The Audubon Center at the Boathouse offers nature programming on weekends throughout the season.

The park’s perimeter loop — the full circuit from Grand Army Plaza around to Bartel-Pritchard Square and back — is one of the best long walks in New York. At its full length it is close to three miles, manageable in under an hour at a casual pace, and passable in both directions at any time of day.

J and Z Trains Are Suspended All Weekend

This is the one that affects a large portion of northern Brooklyn and the Ridgewood corridor. The J and Z trains are fully suspended from Friday night, May 22 at 11:30 p.m. through Tuesday morning, May 26 at 5 a.m. The cause is ADA elevator work at Myrtle Av plus track replacement and structure painting across multiple spans.

The J runs in two disconnected sections — Jamaica Center to Broadway Junction, and Marcy Av to Broad St — with free shuttle buses bridging the gaps. Free B107 shuttles connect Middle Village–Metropolitan Av and Marcy Av. Free T433 shuttles run between Broadway Junction and Marcy Av. The Z is suspended for the full weekend.

If you are riding from Bushwick, Bed-Stuy, or Williamsburg into Manhattan this weekend, use the L, M, or G as your primary route. The full breakdown is in our MTA Memorial Day weekend service alert guide.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Is Open All Weekend

Brooklyn Bridge Park stretches 1.3 miles along the East River waterfront from the Manhattan Bridge down to Atlantic Avenue. All piers are open this weekend. Pier 1’s lawn is the best sunset spot in Brooklyn — the view of lower Manhattan across the water is unmatched, and on a clear evening the lights come up on the bridges and skyline simultaneously. Pier 6’s volleyball courts, playground, and concessions area are operational. The park is free and accessible from the High Street–Brooklyn Bridge station on the A/C line.

What You Need to Know

Smorgasburg Williamsburg: Saturday, May 24, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Marsha P. Johnson State Park, 90 Kent Ave. Free. No pets.
Smorgasburg Prospect Park: Sunday, May 25, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Breeze Hill (enter at Lincoln Road). Free.
J and Z trains: Suspended Fri night through Tue morning. Use L, M, or G. Shuttle buses running.
Prospect Park: Free and open all weekend. Long Meadow, Boathouse, and Audubon Center accessible.
Brooklyn Bridge Park: All piers open. Pier 1 for sunset views, Pier 6 for volleyball and concessions.
Alternate side parking: Suspended citywide Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day).

For everything open and closed across all five boroughs this Memorial Day weekend, including museum hours and transit details, see the Memorial Day Weekend 2026 complete guide.