Salt Marsh Saturday
2026-06-13 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-08-08 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-26 09:00 - 12:00 UTC
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. We will be joined by Boogie Down Bronx Honey, The Bee Conservancy, and Drag Story Hour.
Schedule:
1:00 – 1:45 PM: Bee Conservancy walk
2:00 – 3:00 PM: Bilingual Drag Story Hour
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 here; opens June 30 at 4 PM
Location: Living Shoreline/Ferry Dock
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation or for event information, please email publicprograms@randallsisland.org.

CANCELLED Waterfront Festival
2026-07-18 12:00 - 15:00 | East River Picnic Area
UPDATE: This event has been cancelled due to inclement weather.

Salt Marsh Saturday: City of Water Day Seining in the Harlem River
2026-07-25 11:00 - 14:00
Have you ever explored the Harlem River? Randall’s Island Park Alliance will host a free seining program on City of Water Day!
Grab a pair of waders and help drag a seining net along the shore of the Harlem River to discover the amazing biodiversity in our waterways. Learn how to identify fish, crabs, and jellyfish. All equipment is provided, but wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet! You must be 12 years or older to seine, but all are welcome to participate in our shoreline activities.
Now in its 19th year, City of Water Day — taking place this year on Saturday, July 25 — is a region-wide day organized by Waterfront Alliance and New York–New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program (HEP), to champion a climate-resilient New York and New Jersey harbor.
From 11 AM – 2 PM, our Natural Areas staff will assist you in bringing a 30-foot net into the river to find some unique species of plants and animals that call this amazing and dynamic ecosystem home!
We will also have part of our beloved Salt Marsh brought to the beach! RIPA’s team will bring some of the area’s wildlife and teach you about the vital ecosystem that protects nearby areas from flooding and erosion and creates habitats for countless creatures.
Here is a map of all of the City of Water Day events in the area!
Location: Water’s Edge Garden Beach at The Rock Dock
PLEASE PLAN TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORATION TO GET TO THE PARK.
PARKING WILL BE EXTREMELY LIMITED DUE TO LARGE EVENTS OCCURING AT RANDALL’S ISLAND PARK ON SATURDAY. BIKING AND WALKING ON OUR MANY RAMPS TO THE ISLAND IS ALSO A VIABLE OPTION!
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation or for event information, please email publicprograms@randallsisland.org.

Birding Adventure at Randall's Island Park
2026-08-04 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-08-18 10:30 - 12:00 | Harlem River Picnic Area, near ferry dock
Come discover Randall’s Island Park! At the Living Shoreline birdwatchers will see swallows catching insects and returning to their nest boxes to feed growing fledglings.
We will watch songbirds nibble on fruits and forage for invertebrates in the brush. In the Harlem River we’ll see cormorants, gulls, and ducks, herons, and egrets in the water or flying overhead.
Location: Ferry Dock and Living Shoreline
Go to this website to register!
For inquiry 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 1 PM
Location: East River Picnic Area
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation or for event information, please email publicprograms@randallsisland.org.

Long Island Sound Exploration Day In NYC
2026-08-22 10:30 - 12:30 | Harlem River Picnic Area, near ferry dock
Join us here at Randall’s Island Park and explore NYC’s Long Island Sound by boat, with local experts sharing its wildlife, history, restoration, and waterfront stories.

Experience New York City’s waterfront from a whole new perspective during a free, family-friendly boat tour of the western Long Island Sound.

Click here to reserve a spot on the tour!

Hosted by the Long Island Sound Partnership, coordinated through New York Sea Grant, in collaboration with Randall’s Island Park Alliance, NYC Water Taxi, and regional partners, this guided tour will travel from Randall’s Island toward Throgs Neck and back.

Along the way, local experts and community partners will share engaging stories about the Sound’s wildlife, ecology, history, restoration projects, and waterfront access along the Bronx and Queens shorelines. Participants can also enjoy interactive activities, including a scavenger hunt and Long Island Sound trivia designed to deepen understanding and spark curiosity.

This program advances the Long Island Sound Partnership’s goal of fostering an informed and engaged public by connecting participants directly with the Sound’s natural and cultural resources. It also highlights broader efforts to improve water quality, restore and conserve habitats, strengthen coastal communities, and expand opportunities for public access and engagement.

Whether you are a longtime waterfront enthusiast or exploring the Sound for the first time, this program offers a fun and welcoming way to connect to one of New York City’s most important waterways.

Location: Living Shoreline/Ferry Dock

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.
Location: East River Picnic Area
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! 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.
There will be a free Bike Valet provided by Transportation Alternatives so you can safely park your bikes and enjoy the festivities with ease of mind.
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.
