Randall’s Island Park Alliance Unveils 2026 Free Public Programming Schedule
2026 Calendar Features Festivals, Icahn Stadium Running Nights, and More!
NEW YORK, March 30, 2026 – Today, the Randall’s Island Park Alliance (RIPA) announced its free public programming schedule for the 2026 season.
“Free public programming plays an essential role in connecting people to Randall’s Island Park, through hundreds of events each year that provide diverse and enriching experiences for visitors of all ages,” said Deborah Maher, President of Randall’s Island Park Alliance. “Following a surge in participation in 2025, we’re thrilled to further expand our offerings for New Yorkers this year.”
From March through the end of the year, the Alliance hosts free events at Randall’s Island Park including large-scale festivals, community track nights at Icahn Stadium, celebrations of the Park’s ecosystems and natural areas, cooking workshops at our Urban Farm, dance and yoga classes, fishing clinics, and weekly volunteering opportunities, among several others.
“We deeply value our relationships with local community partners and vendors who help make our annual programming calendar a reality,” said Christopher Girgenti, RIPA’s Director of Environmental Programs. “The programming team here at the Alliance is exceptional in their dedication to serving our community and our 2026 calendar is a direct reflection of their tireless efforts to bring the highest-level of free programming to our neighbors.”
Headlining RIPA’s 2026 calendar are its three festivals that attract New Yorkers far and wide:
Earth Day Festival – Saturday, April 25 at the Urban Farm and Fields 62/63
Waterfront Festival – Saturday, July 18 at the East River Picnic Area
Harvest Festival – Sunday, October 4 at the Urban Farm and Fields 62/63
“We’re so glad to be connected to Randall’s Island Park by bike, foot and public transportation,” said Carey King, Director of local non-profit organization Uptown Grand Central. “While in many ways the Park is a world away from the busy-ness of city living, it also provides all of us who reside in East Harlem, the South Bronx, and Queens easy access to expansive natural areas and plenty of green open space — plus a lineup of great, free activities for the whole family.”
The first major event on our calendar is our Community Field Day celebration on April 10, honoring the reopening of athletic fields 82-85, which served as the site for a HERRC facility for more than two years. The $5M City-funded restoration project is the result of extensive work and advocacy by the Alliance, local elected officials, and school and league supporters. Join us as we celebrate the restoration of this space to the community.
Bring the family to our annual Big Truck Day on May 16 where you can get a close-up view of the NYPD and FDNY trucks that help protect New York City. We honor Pride Month this year at our Urban Farm, which will host PRIDE Night at the Urban Farm on June 6 in a celebration that features cocktails, farm-fresh bites, and dazzling drag performances. Also on June 6, with World Cup season just around the corner, parkgoers can catch Bend It Like Beckham for our first free movie night of the year. On August 1, bring your families to the Park for another outdoor movie night filled with popcorn and laughs as we show Zootopia 2, one of the most popular movies of 2025!
Icahn Stadium is one of the most storied track and field venues in the world and we are thrilled we can share this facility with our neighbors during RIPA’s Community Track Nights. On June 10, July 8, and August 20, come run on a world class track surface and take part in training plans with local track clubs.
RIPA will also be hosting three fishing events during the summer, including our Femme Fishing program on September 12. The following week on September 19, enjoy our second annual Taste of the Farm event, a family-friendly day of activities and food celebrating the height of the growing season at our Urban Farm.
The season nears its close with our beloved Halloween Boo Bash celebration on October 24, which features family-friendly activities such as a magician, spooky Halloween stories, and a “haunted” hayride.
For further details and a full calendar of 2026 RIPA events, please visit: https://randallsisland.org/events.
RIPA also hosts a full slate of recurring events throughout the spring and summer seasons, including the ones listed below:
Volunteer with Team RIVER (Randall’s Island Volunteer Ecological Restorers) and help keep Randall’s Island Park beautiful. Team RIVER Volunteers regularly work with the Natural Areas team every Wednesday to take care of and restore our natural spaces on the island. If you are only able to volunteer on a limited basis, you are still very much welcome. This event takes place Wednesdays at the East Entrance of Icahn Stadium from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration is required here.
Volunteer at our Urban Farm to help upkeep and manage one of the most unique sites in New York City. Registration is not required, but we ask that you commit at least two hours of volunteering. Groups larger than five people must first contact us at [email protected]. This event takes place every Sunday at the Urban Farm from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
JESSE OWENS TRACK & FIELD YOUTH PROGRAM
RIPA, in partnership with City Parks Foundation, continues to offer the Jesse Owens Track and Field Youth Program throughout the spring and fall. This free, weekly track & field youth program at Thomas Jefferson Park in Harlem is available to youth ages 8-16 and enables participants to learn the fundamentals of the sport and stay active.
Our free outdoor yoga classes headline our health & wellness programming and provide a serene atmosphere to stretch, breathe and find your inner peace. This event takes place every Tuesday beginning May 5 at the East River Picnic Area across from the orange public restroom from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays from July 4 to August 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the same location.
For inquiries regarding RIPA’s 2026 programming calendar, please email [email protected].
For more information regarding volunteer opportunities at Randall’s Island Park, please email [email protected].