Bird Bonanza
2026-05-09 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Urban Farm
Take flight at Randall’s Island Park’s annual Bird Bonanza, our celebration of World Migratory Bird Day! Spend the day exploring all things feathered with hands-on crafts, lively games, educational activities, and a guided bird tour with expert Gabriel Willow.
Discover local birds and Spring’s migratory visitors passing through NYC, and see how Randall’s Island provides a haven for birds of every kind. From herring gulls soaring over the Salt Marsh to songbirds flitting through the Urban Farm, we’re celebrating them all!
Schedule:

10 – 11 AM Spring Migration Bird Tour with Gabriel Willow: Discover the migratory birds that pass through the Island and explore how the park serves as a year-round haven for bird species in every season.
11 AM – 12 PM Educational Bird Presentation from Ravensbeard Wildlife Center: Get up close with birds of prey during this exciting meet-and-greet, and learn about their unique behaviors and habitats. Hear from Ravensbeard Wildlife Center about their vital rehabilitation work and the inspiring stories of how each bird came into their care.
12 – 1 PM Storytime Stretches with Lofty Heights Movement: Bird themed storytime stretches with Jazy

Registration for the bird tour is recommended but not required via Eventbrite.
Location: Urban Farm
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or for event information, please email publicprograms@randallsisland.org.

Big Truck Day
2026-05-16 12:00 - 15:00 | Asphalt Pad
Strap on your seatbelt and head over to Randall’s Island Park for our free, annual Big Truck Day celebration!
Get a close-up view of the large vehicles that keep New York City clean and safe. Learn how garbage truck drivers, police officers, farmers, and other big truck operators use these vehicles to drive our city forward. Visit each truck and learn from the operators themselves about how they use their truck every day. You might have the chance to sit in the front seat and pose for a photo!
We will have trucks from the FDNY, TBTA, DEP, DSNY, NYC Parks, RIPA, NYPD, as well as K9 units and horses from the Parks Mounted units!
Location: Asphalt Pad – Next to Icahn Stadium
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation or for event information, please email publicprograms@randallsisland.org.

World Fish Migration Day
2026-05-30 14:00 - 16:00 | Water’s Edge Garden
Join Randall’s Island Park Alliance to seine for fish in the Harlem River in celebration of World Fish Migration Day, part of the Columbia Climate School Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory’s Lower Hudson & Harbor Fish Count! Grab a pair of waders and help us as we drag a 30-foot-long seining net along the shore of the Harlem River and discover the amazing biodiversity found in our waterways. Learn about the many different species of fish found in the river and help us in the fish monitoring process by counting and measuring fish we capture in the net. All fish will then be released back into the river. All equipment is provided, wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet! You must be 12 years or older to seine, but all are welcome to come and observe!
Location: Rock Dock along Water’s Edge Garden
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation or for event information, please email publicprograms@randallsisland.org.

Salt Marsh Saturday
2026-06-13 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-25 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-08-08 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-26 09:00 - 12:00
Drop in to explore the Little Hell Gate Salt Marsh during Salt Marsh Saturdays! The salt marsh is one of our most beloved natural areas, and is a vital ecosystem that protects nearby areas from flooding and erosion and creates habitats for many different species of animals. From 9 AM – 12 PM, the marsh pathway gates on the boardwalk will be open and members of RIPA’s Natural Areas Team will be on site to answer questions, share interesting facts and show off some of the unique species of plants and animals that call this amazing and dynamic ecosystem home!
Location: Little Hell Gate Salt Marsh
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation or for event information, please email publicprograms@randallsisland.org.

Pollinator Palooza
2026-06-27 12:00 - 15:00 | Urban Farm
Celebrate Pollinator Week at the Randall’s Island Park Alliance’s Pollinator Palooza!
Buzz over to the Urban Farm for a colorful afternoon of pollinator-themed afternoon of activities, games, crafts, and garden tours. Learn from our expert Horticulturalists about the work they do to plant and maintain the park’s gardens, and stroll through the Urban Farm on a self-guided tour of what’s growing.
Location: Urban Farm
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation or for event information, please email publicprograms@randallsisland.org.

Catch & Release: Fishing Series (Morning Event)
2026-07-11 09:00 - 11:00 | Living Shoreline
Join the Randall’s Island Park Alliance for a morning of fishing along our peaceful shoreline!
Whether you’re brand new to fishing or looking to brush up on your skills, this hands-on event will introduce the basics while exploring the ecology of the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary. Learn about local fish species, urban waterways, and how our harbor supports diverse wildlife—all while enjoying time by the water. All supplies are provided.
Please register with the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry prior to the event; we are also available to help register people on site.
Registration is required; opens June 27 at 9 AM
Location: Living Shoreline/Ferry Dock
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation or for event information, please email publicprograms@randallsisland.org.

Waterfront Festival
2026-07-18 12:00 - 15:00 | East River Picnic Area
Celebrate the height of summer at the annual, free Randall’s Island Waterfront Festival at Randall’s Island Park! Enjoy a fun, family-friendly day along our scenic waterfront with water-themed educational activities, crafts, games, face painting, live performances, and more.
With something happening all day long, there’s plenty to explore, learn, and enjoy for all ages. Join us in celebrating summer, water, and the community that brings us together.
Location: East River Picnic Area
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation or for event information, please email publicprograms@randallsisland.org.

Catch & Release: Fishing Series (Afternoon Event)
2026-08-15 13:00 - 15:00 | East River Picnic Area
Join the Randall’s Island Park Alliance for an afternoon of fishing along our peaceful shoreline!
Whether you’re brand new to fishing or looking to brush up on your skills, this hands-on event will introduce the basics while exploring the ecology of the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary. Learn about local fish species, urban waterways, and how our harbor supports diverse wildlife—all while enjoying time by the water. All supplies are provided.
Please register with the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry prior to the event; we are also available to help register people on site.
Registration is required; opens August 1 at 1PM
Location: East River Picnic Area
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation or for event information, please email publicprograms@randallsisland.org.

Femme Fishing: Fishing Series
2026-09-12 11:00 - 13:00 | East River Picnic Area
Join the Randall’s Island Park Alliance for an afternoon of fishing for women, femme, and gender-nonconforming folx!
Grow your own fishing skills, share with other folks in and around the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary, on our serene shoreline at the meeting of the Harlem and East Rivers. We strive to make spaces where other educators and anglers can hang out, build community, and create a vibe that works for us in what is a typically male-dominated activity. All supplies are provided.
Please register with the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry prior to the event; we are also available to help register people on site.
Registration is recommended but not required. Link coming soon.
Location: East River Picnic Area/Living Shoreline
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation or for event information, please email publicprograms@randallsisland.org.

Natural Dyeing Workshop
2026-09-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Horticulture Compound, 132 Hell Gate Circle, New York, NY, 10035, United States
Join us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll create beautiful, eco-friendly dyes using natural materials from our gardens!
Then, we’ll transform textiles into works of art. This class is open to all ages; perfect for beginners and those looking to expand their crafting skills.
Registration is required; opens 9/12 at 1pm
Location: Horticulture Compound
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or for event information, please email publicprograms@randallsisland.org.

Harvest Festival
2026-10-04 12:00 - 15:00 | Icahn Stadium
Step into autumn at the free Randall’s Island Harvest Festival at Randall’s Island Park! Celebrate the end of the growing season with a family-friendly day of outdoor fun. Explore our pumpkin patch, watch seasonal cooking demonstrations, enjoy live performances, get creative with face painting, and discover nature through hands-on activities with local partners.
With crisp air and golden leaves all around, it’s the perfect way to embrace the season and enjoy the outdoors in the heart of New York City.
Location: Urban Farm + Fields 62/63
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation or for event information, please email publicprograms@randallsisland.org.

Wild Oyster Survey
2026-11-04 14:00 - 16:00 | Little Hell Gate Salt Marsh
Wild oysters are a key indicator of ecosystem health in the New York Harbor!
The Randall’s Island Park Alliance is partnering with the Billion Oyster Project to conduct a wild oyster survey in the Little Hell Gate Salt Marsh.
Volunteers will have the opportunity to identify oysters and take multiple parameters to determine the abundance, size, and health of the wild oyster population.
Location: Little Hell Gate Salt Marsh
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation or for event information, please email publicprograms@randallsisland.org.
