Unhired Hands
2026-04-28 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and Van Cortlandt House Museum presents a poetry reading by poet and Bronx byproduct David Mills.

Mills will read from Unhired Hands, his new poetry collection about slavery in Queens and Massachusetts. The reading will be held the downstairs educational space inside the Van Cortlandt House Museum (only accessible via stairs).
Space is limited so advance registration is required.
RSVP Now.
This reading is a part of Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s Reimagining initiative. In partnership with the Design Trust for Public Space and Immanuel Oni, Liminal Sp, VCPA invites the community to reimagine the park’s Enslaved African Burial Ground site as a memorial space that fosters long-term healing and restoration. This project is supported by the Mellon Foundation.
This event is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
About Unhired Hands: You never quite know where to place Mills’ work in the poetic landscape. This is a good thing given the clusters of poets bunched around the same subjects and approaches. In Unhired Hands, where he explores slavery in Queens and Massachusetts, he’s formal while wild in style; he’s both historical/recognizable and strange/innovative. Like Ralph Waldo Emerson tuning in from the outer boroughs; like Phillis Wheatley riding Funkadelic’s mothership. He possesses an archival acumen akin to Natasha Trethewey; a cultural vernacular rich as that of August Wilson; the intellectual quirks of Pharaoh Sanders and Sun Ra. Unhired Hands highlights his expressive documentarian impulses while adding to his clear technical mastery. He reconstructs / conjures Queens (through the lives of enslaved individuals Victoria Earle Matthews, Millie Tunnell, and Martha Peterson), and Massachusetts (with an homage to Phillis Wheatley). His research is exacting, but open; the poems are formal but never formulaic. The image of Matthews sneaking books between chores, her eyes “learning to swim, learning to sink into literature’s at turns clear and sometimes troubling waters” is a kind of statement of poetics and a lyrical reconstruction of history. Mills writes beyond “the jurisdiction of flinch,” into the intimacy of interrogation: its also an “interrogation of intimacy.” This collection is akin to a history book scored by form and spirit, ingenuity and telepathic empathy…
Terrance Hayes, National Book Award and MacArthur-Genius-Award winning author of Lighthead.
About David Mills: David Mills is currently a New York Public Library Cullman Fellow finishing a poetry collection about slavery in the Bronx. He holds an M.F.A. from Warren Wilson College and an M.A. from New York University in creative writing. He’s published five collections: Unhired Hands, Boneyarn (Manhattan slavery poems), After Mistic, The Sudden Country and The Dream Detective. His poems have appeared in Ploughshares, Colorado Review, Fence, Crab Orchard Review, Jubilat, Callaloo, Brooklyn Rail, and Obsidian. He has received a 2026 NYSCA grant to write a poetry collection about Brooklyn slavery.

Cross Country Volunteer Days
2026-05-02 10:00 - 13:00
Be a part of the community effort to maintain the historic Course Country Trail in Van Cortlandt Park

Whether you’re an experienced trailblazer or new to trail work, your help will make a significant impact!
Event Dates and Times:
Saturdays May 2, June 6, August 1 and September 5 from 10am to 1pm.*
Meeting Location:
VCPA Learning Garden

RSVP Now.

*Please note that for groups of 10 or more only. Please email garcialeslie@vancortlandt.org to schedule a group.

Pinkster Festival
2026-05-02 12:00 - 16:00
Hosted by Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, Van Cortlandt House Museum and Kingsbridge Historical Society.

Celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Pinkster at this year’s Pinkster Festival hosted by the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, Van Cortlandt House Museum, and Kingsbridge Historical Society.
Join us on the picturesque lawn of the Van Cortlandt House Museum for a day filled with vibrant festivities, live music, engaging performances, and immersive experiences.
12PM Tours
1PM Live Music
2PM Storytelling
3PM The Story of Pinkster
4PM Libations at the Enslaved African Burial Ground

Chief Baba Neil Clarke, Master Percussionist
The Pinkster Players
April Armstrong, Master Storyteller
Tijay Mohammed, Artist

PLUS: Food for sale! Art-Making!
RSVP NOW
WHAT IS PINKSTER?
Once a major holiday in 17th century New York, Pinkster is the Dutch name for the Christian event of Pentecost.
For enslaved and free people of African descent, Pinkster morphed into a unique holiday that incorporated African rituals, traditions, and pride. It is considered New York’s first African American holiday!
To learn more about Pinkster watch this video of captivating discussion with local historians, Lavada Nahon and Chief Baba Neil Clarke, as they unravel the significance of Pinkster, exploring its cultural, social, and historical importance.
Supported by:
NYC Councilmember Eric Dinowitz
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
NYC Department of Youth and Community Development
NYS Council on the Arts
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.
This event is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Trail Work Thursdays
2026-05-07 09:00 - 12:00
Be a part of the community effort to care for the trails in Van Cortlandt Park.

Upcoming Activities Include:

Clearing debris and overgrowth
Ensuring trail safety and accessibility
Maintenance on structures that mitigate erosion and improve access.

What to Bring:

Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing
Closed-toed shoes
Water and a snack

Meeting Details:
Location: VCPA Learning Garden
Time: 9 am sharp; work begins at 9:15 am
RSVP Now

Van Cortlandt Nature Group Walk
2026-05-11 09:30 - 10:30
Take a slow walk in the park and learn about local flora and fauna with naturalist Debbi Dolan.

Spring is off to a glorious beginning. Wildflowers are emerging, and the warblers are coming in! Tree swallows are visiting the Vault Hill and Tibbett Meadows. Tulip trees and crabapples will be in flower in May along with cherry trees, dogwoods, redbud trees. The dawn chorus is well underway, and birds are busy collecting nesting material.
RSVP Now.
Taking precautions against tick bite is recommended – socks over pants, and you may want to use insect repellent. Check your body for ticks after being outdoors.
Walk meets in the parking lot of the Riverdale Stables.

Papermaking with Michele Brody
2026-05-23 13:00 - 15:30
Work with local artist Michele Brody in collaboration with VCPA to create paper casts of fallen trees in Van Cortlandt Park.

The Learning Garden is collaborating with Bronx Artist Michele Brody to produce an immersive installation that will reanimate fallen Park trees through cast handmade-paper sculptures. Come join her on May 23 from 1-3:30 to help with this creative endeavor while learning the process of making paper and casting our fallen trees in the Northwest Forest. Meeting at the VCPA Learning Garden.
This project is made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and with funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, both administered by the Bronx Council on the Arts.

RSVP Now.

Springtime Shindig 2026
2026-05-27 18:00 - 21:00
Cocktails • Lite Bites • Dessert
Music • Picturesque Setting • Raffle
HONOREES
Betty Campbell-Adams Award
Christopher Rizzo of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn, LLP
Lyman Casey Spitzer, Attorney
NYC Parks current and past leadership
For facilitating VCPA’s license agreement with NYC Parks, recognizing Van Cortlandt Park Alliance as its official partner.
Cultivating the Bronx Award
Riverdale Main Streets Alliance
For their stalwart support and stewardship of the park.
Tickets are sold out.

Van Cortlandt Nature Group
2026-05-30 09:30 - 10:30
Take a slow walk in the park and learn about local flora and fauna with naturalist Debbi Dolan.

Spring is off to a glorious beginning. Wildflowers are emerging, and the warblers are coming in! Tree swallows are visiting the Vault Hill and Tibbett Meadows. Tulip trees and crabapples will be in flower in May along with cherry trees, dogwoods, redbud trees. The dawn chorus is well underway, and birds are busy collecting nesting material.
RSVP Now.
Taking precautions against tick bite is recommended – socks over pants, and you may want to use insect repellent. Check your body for ticks after being outdoors.
Walk meets in front of the Nature Center.

261st Pollinator Garden Volunteer Day
2026-05-30 10:00 - 12:00
Join us in caring for the 261st Pollinator Garden and surrounding open field at Van Cortlandt Park! Alongside our partners at the Riverdale Main Streets Alliance, volunteers will help care for this essential habitat, supporting native pollinators like bees, butterflies, and other beneficial wildlife.
What You’ll Do:
Tasks will vary by season but may include:
🐝 Weeding & Mulching – Removing invasive plants and refreshing mulch to support native species.
🌱 Planting & Watering – Helping establish native wildflowers and other pollinator-friendly plants.
🍂 General Garden Maintenance – Keeping the space clean, healthy, and welcoming for both pollinators and people.
When & Where:
📅 Date: Saturday, May 30th
🕘 Time: 10am – 1pm EDT
📍 Meeting Location: The garden at W. 261st St. & Broadway, Van Cortlandt Park
What to Bring:

Comfortable clothes that can get dirty (long pants & sleeves recommended)
Sturdy, closed-toe shoes
Water bottle and snacks
Sunscreen and bug spray (as needed)

🌿 No experience necessary! We provide gloves, tools, and guidance. Just bring your enthusiasm for conservation and community service.
RSVP Now

Spring Tea
2026-05-30 14:00 - 17:00
Join Tea Arts & Culture and VCPA for 2nd Annual Spring Tea to celebrate spring & connect with the Bronx community in this beloved green space.

Join Tea Culture and Arts and Van Cortlandt Park Alliance to celebrate Spring in The Bronx at the beautiful Van Cortlandt Park.
We are thrilled to return for our second year to celebrate the season and connect with the Bronx community in this beloved green space.
All events are FREE!
Featuring:
Nature Walk at 2pm and 3pm
Tea experiences from 3pm
Moroccan Tea with Nizar Gartit
Tea with Eduard Boguslavsky, Erika Houle, EunYoung Sebazco, and Timothy Chacko
Garden herbal tastings
Odes to Common Things Poetry from 3PM
Reading with Henne Lena Van Campen, Justin’s Maki, Leah Kogen-Elimeliah and Meg Kaizu at 3:30 and 4:30
Writing with Robin Lampman
Washi Paper Making
with Michele Brody
Click here for more details on the artists.
Space is limited. RSVP Recommended.
This program is partially funded by a 2025 Cultural Immigrant Initiative grant from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Councilman Eric Dinowitz of Council District #11.
Private support is provided by City Parks Foundation and Partnerships for Parks through the NYC Green Fund.

Wetland Wednesdays
2026-06-03 09:00 - 12:00
Summer Edition: Water Chestnut removal on Van Cortlandt Lake.
August Projects: water chestnut removal on Van Cortlandt Lake through mid-month, then phragmites and floodplain restoration.
When: Wednesdays, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Note: no event on 6/10)
Where: Van Cortlandt Golf House (meet at south entrance)
What to bring: Clothes that can get wet and muddy, water bottle, sunscreen.
Tools and gloves provided. Ages 15+ welcome (minors need waiver).
Limited to 30 volunteers per shift. Groups of 6+ email noel@vancortlandt.org
RSVP Now.

Forest Fridays
2026-06-05 09:00 - 12:00
Join us for invasive species removal at the peak of the growing season. June is when invasives are easiest to spot and most vulnerable to removal — your work opens the forest floor for native wildflowers, oak seedlings, and the spring-loaded understory waiting underneath.
When: Fridays, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Note- no event on 6/19)
Where: Van Cortlandt Golf House (meet at south entrance)
What to bring: Clothes that can get dirty, sturdy shoes, water bottle, sunscreen.
Tools and gloves provided. Ages 15+ welcome (minors need waiver).
RSVP Now.
Limited to 30 volunteers per shift. Groups of 6+ email noel@vancortlandt.org

Caribeando Community Music and Dance Workshops
2026-06-06 14:00 - 16:00
Caribbean Music and Dance workshops with Juan Usera and the Sambuco Tribe in Van Cortlandt Park.
Saturdays July 18 from 3pm-5pm and August 22 from 2-4pm
Following their inspiring Caribeando performance at the Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture last May, Juan Usera and the Sambuco Tribe is offering an interactive Caribbean Music and Dance workshop in Van Cortlandt Park for the Bronx community.
The Caribeando Community Music and Dance Workshop provides an excellent opportunity to learn and practice Caribbean musical and dance traditions rooted in African heritage. Participants will learn Bomba, Plena, Guaracha, Cha-cha-cha, Merengue, and more. All ages, abilities, and skill levels are welcome to explore the basic rhythms, steps, call-and-response interactions, and shared community joy.
Workshop will be held next to the Enslaved African & Kingsbridge Burial Ground behind the Tennis Courts.
Parking is available in the Van Cortlandt Golf Lot. No driving inside the park allowed.
RSVP Now.
This series is sponsored by The NYC Green Fund Grassroots Grant Program.
This series is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.

Juneteenth: Enslaved African Legacy Tour
2026-06-07 11:00 - 12:30
A guided walk that will enlighten participants on the true history that shaped Van Cortlandt Park.

Join VCPA’s Arts Integration Strategist, Ashley Hart Adams, on a guided walk that will enlighten participants on the true history that shaped Van Cortlandt Park.
For approximately 200 years, the Van Cortlandt family plantation relied upon the labor of enslaved people, as did many plantations and farms in the north. Enslaved Africans, their descendants, and Indigenous people were vital to colonial New York’s economy, growing, harvesting, milling, packing, and shipping the wheat that would be a staple export out of New York harbor. This tour will stop at several sites within the park that are daily reminders of their labor and lasting legacy.
This walk will include uneven surfaces so please wear hiking shoes. Bring water and a snack.
The walk will be approximately 90 minutes long with stops throughout to talk.

RSVP Now.

This event is part of Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s Reimagining initiative. In partnership with the Design Trust for Public Space and Immanuel Oni, Liminal Sp, VCPA invites the community to reimagine the park’s Enslaved African Burial Ground site as a memorial space that fosters long-term healing and restoration. This project is supported by the Mellon Foundation.
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

NY Philharmonic Concert in VCP
2026-06-09 20:00 - 22:00
THE PHIL IS COMING BACK!!! And, as always, it is FREE for all to enjoy.
Pack a picnic, BYOB (bring your own blanket), and get ready for a lovely evening on the Parade Ground.
We look forward to seeing you all:
Tuesday, June 9 at 8 pm
Fireworks will follow the concert!
Enter the park across the street from 6035 Broadway (approximately West 246th Street).
Concert site is at the Parade Ground, located adjacent to the Nature Center and Van Cortlandt House Museum.
Parking is extremely limited. Please take public transportation or walk to the park if possible.
Visit website for more details:
https://www.nyphil.org/concerts-tickets/explore/parks/

VC Nature Group Walk
2026-06-17 14:00 - 15:00
Take a slow walk in the park and learn about local flora and fauna with naturalist Debbi Dolan.

June will be busting out all over the park! In June, parent birds nudge reluctant fledglings to leave the safety of the nest, while keen-eyed predators with their own hungry mouths to feed watch the newly fledged eagerly. It’s a good time to see flycatchers, and look for spots (that unloved mark of adolescence) on the plumage of young robins and blackbirds. Animals will be seeking shade, but they also go hunting, reproduce, and, of course, in this time of the year they start to store energy that will be needed for them in the autumn and winter.
Many of our native plants come into bloom in June and will be an important source of food for pollinating insects, as well as birds and small mammals. On the walk in the northwest woods we are likely to see whorled loosestrife, bladder campion (naturalized), bladdernut, yucca, and shin leaf in flower. Elderberry, a valuable food source for butterflies and moths should be in flower.
Milkweed is showing; may the monarch butterfly soon follow. On the walk in the Tibbett Meadow and along the John Kieran Trail the waterlilies, dogbane, tall meadow rue and butterfly weed are likely to show their flowers.
Walk meets in the parking lot of the Riverdale Stables.
RSVP Now.

Juneteenth Celebration
2026-06-19 16:00 - 20:00
RAIN OR SHINE!
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and Bronx Arts Ensemble invite you to an outdoor celebration of Juneteenth at the Enslaved Burial Ground and the Van Cortlandt House Museum.
RSVP Now.
2026 Program
4pm: Enslaved Burial Ground
Musical Performances and Libations followed by a Musical Procession to the Museum

5pm: Van Cortlandt House Museum Lawn
Presentation: Reimagining the Enslaved Burial Ground Design Ideas
Museum Tour
Literary Freedom Project
The Bronx 250 Tapestry with Tijay Mohammed
Food for Sale
6pm: Van Cortlandt House Museum Lawn
Juneteenth Musical Program Curated by Bronx Arts Ensemble & Yolanda Wyns
Artists include:
Alphonso Horne Brass Band
Baba Don Eaton Babatunde, Drums and Libations
Bronx Arts Ensemble String Duo, Zachary Brown, cello and Alexandria Hill, violin
Kevin Sibley, Accompanist
Voices of the Flame Gospel Choir
Yahaya Kamate, Drums
Yolanda Wyns, Voice
Please note:
Seating is limited. Bring your own chair!
If the weather is inclement, performances scheduled to take place at the Burial Ground may be moved to the museum lawn.
Special thank you to our venue partners at the Van Cortlandt House Museum and the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.
This event is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
This event is part of Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s REIMAGINING initiative. In partnership with the Design Trust for Public Space and Immanuel Oni, Liminal Sp, VCPA invites the community to reimagine the park’s Enslaved African Burial Ground site as a memorial space that fosters long-term healing and restoration. This project is supported by a generous grant from the Mellon Foundation.

After Holiday Weekend Clean Ups
2026-06-22 09:00 - 12:00
Nice holiday weekends bring lots of visitors to the park. Lots of visitors make a mess! Volunteers are needed to help keep the park tidy.

Join the Van Cortlandt Park staff in cleaning up the Park after holiday weekends.
Help Van Cortlandt Park staff clean up trash after holidays this year:
Monday, June 22 (after Father’s Day weekend)
Monday, July 6 (after July 4th weekend)
Tuesday, September 8 (after Labor weekend)
Meeting at 9am in front of the Van Cortlandt Golf Course Clubhouse – enter the park at Van Cortlandt Park South and Bailey Avenue.
We will provide gloves and materials to help keep this park in tip-top shape.
RSVP Now.

Calpulli Mexican Dance Company in Van Cortlandt Park
2026-06-28 13:00 - 15:00
Enjoy a performance and demonstration of Mexican Folklorico Dance on the lawn of the Van Cortlandt House Museum.

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance is thrilled to welcome Calpulli Mexican Dance Company to Van Cortlandt Park for the first time for a performance and demonstration on Mexican Folklorico Dance.
Founded in 2003 in New York City, Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, also known as Calpulli Danza Mexicana, celebrates the rich diversity of Mexican and Mexican-American cultural heritage through dance-based programming including live music. The word “calpulli” is the Nahuatl word for clan or family united by a common thread; or an organizational unit or a syndicate. This name was chosen because their vision was to create a home for artists and audiences to explore a range of themes through a Mexican lens.
Calpulli Mexican Dance Company is deeply committed to sharing Mexican culture with audiences that are diverse, including dance and music enthusiasts of any background and immigrant Mexican American families who attend performances and free/low-cost community classes in large numbers.
This cultural enrichment event is fun for the whole family- parents and kids of all ages welcome.
Enter the park at Broadway and W. 246th Street.

RSVP Now.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.
Special thank you to the Van Cortlandt House Museum.

Art in the Garden - Food Collage Workshop
2026-07-07 14:30 - 15:30
Join us for a crafty afternoon in our garden! Create a collage based on your relationship with food while sipping some herbal iced tea!

In this free workshop, each participant will spend time reflecting on what food means to them before creating a small art piece.

We will also have herbal iced tea to sip on – while supplies last!
All materials will be provided.
Recommended for ages 6+

RSVP Required!

Youth Run Farm Stand
2026-07-08 14:00 - 19:00
We are very excited to bring our Youth Run Farmstand featuring fresh local produce at affordable prices back!
Wednesdays 2-7pm
from July 8 to October 28
Train Park (Gale Place and Orloff Avenue)
We accept WIC, FMNP Checks, EBT, Snap, Fresh Connect Checks, Cash and Credit/Debit.

Forest Fridays
2026-07-10 09:00 - 12:00
Join us for forest restoration work along the cross-country trail. July is peak growing season — we’ll be removing invasive species and working on trail-adjacent restoration. Your work opens the forest floor for native wildflowers, oak seedlings, and the understory waiting underneath.
When: Fridays, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: Van Cortlandt Park — Cross Country Trail area (meet at the VCPA Learning Garden)
What to bring: Clothes that can get dirty, sturdy shoes, water bottle, sunscreen.
Tools and gloves provided. Ages 15+ welcome (minors need signed waiver)
RSVP Now.
Limited to 30 volunteers per shift. Groups of 6+ email noel@vancortlandt.org

American Composers Orchestra and BAE
2026-07-11 14:00 - 15:00
American Fanfare with American Composers Orchestra and BAE
Inspired by Steven R. Gerber’s Fanfare for the Voice of A-M-E-R-I-C-A, American Composers Orchestra’s American Fanfares showcases original brass quintet fanfares by high school, college, and Sing Sing Correctional Facility composers commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
NEW LOCATION: VAN CORTLANDT GOLF HOUSE (moved due to forecast of rain).
Visit Bronx Arts Ensemble for more information.

Papermaking with Michele Brody
2026-07-13 13:00 - 16:00
Work with local artist Michele Brody in collaboration with VCPA to create paper casts of fallen trees in Van Cortlandt Park.
For ages 15 and up!

The Learning Garden is collaborating with Bronx Artist Michele Brody to produce an immersive installation that will reanimate fallen Park trees through cast handmade-paper sculptures. Come join her on May 23 from 1-3:30 to help with this creative endeavor while learning the process of making paper and casting our fallen trees in the Northwest Forest. Meeting at the VCPA Learning Garden.
This project is made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and with funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, both administered by the Bronx Council on the Arts.

RSVP Now.

Nature Crafts at Indian Field
2026-07-16 10:00 - 12:00
Thursdays • 10AM to Noon
July 16, 23, 30 + August 6, 13
Indian Field – Near the Tennis Courts
Join Van Cortlandt Park Alliance educator Lindsey Kriaris for hands-on, crafty fun with chalk watercolor paintings, nature crowns, and more. Get creative with a different project each week. Great for ages 3-11.
Click here for other programs happening at Indian Field this summer.

Yoga in the Park
2026-07-16 19:00 - 20:00
Yoga in the Park • Curated by Timothy Lewis
Thursdays: July 23, 30 & August 6, 13
7 to 8 PM • FREE!
Exploratory yoga sessions, incorporating elements of Vinyasa and focusing on mindful movement. Pre-registration strongly suggested. Beginners welcome. BYOM: Bring Your Own Mat!
No experience needed, just bring a mat, water, and an open heart.
Van Cortlandt Park Memorial Grove
RSVP Now.
July 23 with Instructor Timothy Lewis
Reconnect with the natural world and your own inner landscape. Through mindful movement, breathwork, and stillness, we’ll explore how the elements—earth, water, fire, air, and space live within the body.
July 30 with Instructor Ishkara Heqwabti
Calm your nervous system and feel consciously aware of the here and now. This 60-minute class blends 30 minutes of Kemetic Yoga (an ancient Egyptian practice focused on breath and posture) and 30 minutes of immersive sound meditation using crystal singing bowls, voice and indigenous instruments that will leave you feeling grounded and renewed.
August 6 with Instructor Melissa Rios
Calm your nervous system and feel consciously aware of the here and now. This 60-minute class blends 30 minutes of Kemetic Yoga (an ancient Egyptian practice focused on breath and posture) and 30 minutes of immersive sound meditation using crystal singing bowls, voice and indigenous instruments that will leave you feeling grounded and renewed.
Find your flow! Looking for a refreshing way to wind down in the evening? Come join us where fresh air, sunset, and good vibes meet! Let’s stretch, breathe, and move together under the open sky.
August 13 with Instructor Wendy of Yoga4theBx
Recharge and radiate like sunshine. We’ll use breath to flow through a Vinyasa yoga practice. Vinyasa yoga, also known as “flow yoga,” is a dynamic style characterized by breath-synchronized movement, linking poses in a continuous, flowing sequence. It’s known for its energetic nature!

Van Cortlandt Nature Group
2026-07-18 09:30 - 11:00
Take a slow walk in the park and learn about local flora and fauna with naturalist Debbi Dolan.
This walk meets in front of the VC Nature Center.
RSVP Now.
In July, many birds lower their activity level and will be seeking shade as the nesting season wanes for many species. But other birds like the American Goldfinch get a late start, beginning its nesting in July and August. By that time of year, milkweed and thistle have started producing their silky fibers that this bird will use to help build their cup-shaped nests which can be found in trees and shrubs. Another reason birds nest late in July is because they produce two or more broods per breeding season. Mourning Doves for example can produce as many as six broods a year. They’ll start nesting as early as late March, and have their last brood as late as early September. The American Robin as well as the Northern Cardinal are also some of these multi brood bird species.
Like humans, birds need to release the heat built up in their bodies from the sun by submerging in water, usually by bathing or swimming. Also, their bill may be opened, and the bare skin on the face, feet, and legs allows more heat to release from their bodies, helping them to cool down .
July is the time to savor the scent of Clethra (sweet pepper bush), and delight in the beauty of tall meadow rue, black cohosh, Joe-Pye weed, and woodland sunflowers. Butterflies like the monarch, tiger and black swallowtails, red admirals are aloft on the summer breeze.
Watch for The Full Buck Moon that will rise on Wednesday, July 29. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, “The full Moon in July is called the Buck Moon because the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode at this time. Bucks shed and regrow their antlers each year, producing a larger and more impressive set as the years go by.”
As a courtesy, please let Debbi know if you need to cancel at:
turlan@optonline.net.

Canine Court Volunteer Clean Up
2026-07-23 13:00 - 16:00
Canine Court needs some TLC! Help keep this doggie happy by volunteering to clean up Canine Court!

NYC Parks staff does not perform daily maintenance inside dog runs.
Daily maintenance is up to volunteers- like YOU!
Join us for an afternoon of weeding, cleaning and spreading woodchips to spruce up Canine Court.
VCPA provides all necessary gear. You bring the can-do attitude
Enter the park at Broadway and W. 252nd.
RSVP Now.

Family Fridays in the Garden
2026-07-24 10:00 - 12:00
CANCELED 7/17 DUE TO POOR AIR QUALITY
Are you ready for some family gardening fun?
Come dig for compost critters, water the plants, explore nature, harvest some veggies, and more at Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s Learning Garden!
This is a FREE drop-in program.
For children ages 2 to 11 years old accompanied by an adult(s).
Dates:

July 10
July 24
July 31
August 7

Time: 10 AM – 12 PM
Location: The VCPA Learning Garden is located at: Mosholu Avenue and Broadway (next to the Horse Stables).
Drop-ins are welcome, but advance registration is preferred.
Please e-mail us with any questions at gardening@vancortlandt.org

BAE's 50s-80s Pop Hits
2026-07-25 14:00 - 15:00
Odane Whilby’s band is back for BAE’s summer music series at the Van Cortlandt House Museum lawn, featuring a fantastic lineup of oldies, pop, and R&B classics that delight audiences of all ages. Get ready to dance to hits from the ’50s to the ’80s by legendary artists such as Dion, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, and Diana Ross. Pack your dancing shoes for an extraordinary musical party in the park!
Van Cortlandt House Museum Lawn.
More details here.
