Events

Visitors enjoying a live jazz concert in the Garden.  
Visitors enjoying a summer jazz concert in the Garden.

The Garden plays host to arts, culture, concerts, and family events each spring, summer, and fall. Birthday parties, neighborhood gatherings, bridal showers, weddings, and film shoots are regularly scheduled in the Garden. See below for upcoming events, information on hosting your own event, pictures of past events in the Garden, and a recap of the many events and activities in the Garden in 2025.

UPCOMING EVENTS IN MAY & JUNE

Garden Volunteer Day
Saturday, May 2
1:30-3:30 p.m.
There is plenty to do in the Garden to tidy things up for spring, including raking, mulching, putting in topsoil, trimming, weeding, and other projects. Join us for an hour or two, and bring a friend!

Private Event: Birthday Party
Sunday, May 3
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
A private party is scheduled, but the Garden will remain open to the public.

Annual Public Meeting
Sunday, May 3
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Drop by to learn more about the Garden and ways you can get involved as a Volunteer or Garden Committee member.

Private Event: Anniversary Party
Sunday, May 3
3:00-7:00 p.m.
A private event is scheduled, but the Garden will remain open to the public.

Botanical Rest and Read
Thursday, May 7
5:30-7:00 p.m.
​Join Lit Club NYC and friends in the beauty and tranquility of 87th Street Garden for a spring evening of quiet reading, light refreshments, and low-key connection. RSVP Required.

Private Event: Social Group
Saturday, May 16
1:00-4:00 p.m.
A private event is scheduled, but the Garden will remain open to the public.

Celebrating the Life of Jim Coleman
Sunday, May 17
12:00-4:00 p.m.
Please join us in celebrating our friend and neighbor Jim Coleman, resident of West 87th St. for well over 20 years, who passed away in late 2025. Jim was an avid life-long trumpet player, connoisseur and expert of bebop jazz, and known for his signature “Bebop Forever” catchphrase. Jim was a fixture at New York City jazz clubs—you might have even heard him practicing his trumpet as you walked down 87th St. in the evenings. The Garden was one of his favorite places to catch some of his friends playing music on a summer evening so we thought it fitting to celebrate his life in this beautiful spot with music, friends, family and loved ones. If you have a song to sing or a story to share, please join us.

Private Event: Wedding Ceremony
Saturday, May 30
4:00-6:00 p.m.
The Garden will remain open to the public during the ceremony.

Garden Rest and Read
Sunday, May 31
5:30-7:00 p.m.
​Join Lit Club NYC and friends in the beauty and tranquility of 87th Street Garden for a spring evening of quiet reading, light refreshments, and low-key connection. RSVP Required.

Jazz Concert: Ron McClure & Friends
Saturday, June 6
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Join us for our first jazz concert of the season with the legendary Ron McClure and friends, including the incomparable Rich Perry and fellow musicians. Get there early, BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair).

One-Day Only Art Event:
Tiny Traveling Sketchbook Exhibition and Art-Making
Tuesday, June 9
3:00-5:00 p.m. Guided nature sketching and watercolor activities and exhibition of watercolor images from the Tiny Traveling Sketchbook, featuring scenes from the Garden and around NYC.
5:00-7:00 p.m. Exhibition and reception with the artist

Garden Volunteer Day
Saturday, June 13
12:00-2:00 p.m.
Lend a hand cleaning up garden beds as we head from spring into summer. Drop by for an hour or two, and bring a friend!

Jazz Concert: Cynthia Sayer & Friends
Saturday, June 13 (rain date June 14)
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Join us for multi-award-winning instrumentalist, vocalist, and bandleader Cynthia Sayer, acclaimed as the top 4-string swing banjoist in the world today. Get there early, BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair).

BYOC: Bring Your Own Craft
Sunday, June 14
1:00-3:00 p.m.
RSVP Required
Craft Club NYC is back with a BYOC event in the Garden. Pack a project you’re already working on then stop by for an afternoon of crafting, conversation, and sweet treats. Drawing supplies as well as seasonal snacks and drinks provided. Craft Kits are available to pre-purchase and pick up at the event if you’re looking to start a new project. Craft Club is proud to present a live music acoustic set by singer songwriter Candice Wu from 1:45-2:15 p.m.

HOSTING A PARTY OR EVENT
Interested in hosting a party or event in the Garden? Please use the form on the Contact page or email: 87thStreetGardenNYC@gmail.com. Scheduling your party will ensure no other events are planned on your date. There is no fee for reserving the space but we gladly accept donations which help our community volunteers keep the Garden accessible and beautiful for events like yours.

​​​​​​​Party & Event Rules:

  • Parties must be approved and scheduled in advance by the Garden Committee
  • Garden must remain open to the public during your event
  • No barbecues or open flames
  • No alcohol
  • No amplified music except by permit
  • No confetti or streamers of any kind
  • No unsupervised children
  • No off-leash pets
  • Full cleanup of all decorations and trash is required​
  • There is no fee but we gladly accept donations to support the Garden

PAST EVENTS


Families enjoying a scheduled birthday party in the Garden.


The children’s play area is a great place for a kid-friendly party.


Cait Jones performs in the Garden.


A doggie birthday “pawty” held in the Garden.

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A bridal shower in the Garden.


A scheduled family event in the Garden.

GARDEN ACTIVITY IN 2025
Here are some highlights from our 2025 season full of Garden activities and events this year!

  • We launched a new website,with nearly 1,600 visitors and 3,500 views to date
  • We introduced a new monthly e-newsletter, with an audience of over 230 people and 62% average open rate
  • We grew our social media on Instagram and Facebook to nearly 700 followers
  • We hosted eight Garden Volunteer Days, and had eight scheduled volunteers throughout the season helping take care of the Garden, collectively contributing 1,100 volunteer hours this year
  • We hosted six monthly jazz concerts attended by 400 people across the season
  • We hosted a neighborhood get-together in collaboration with the West 87th Park Block Association attended by over 75 folks from our community
  • We hosted flower-making craft activities for dozens of youngsters at the Back-to-School Block Party on West 88th Street hosted by Gregory Kirsopp in partnership with the NYPD 24th Precinct
  • We hosted our annual Halloween in the Garden attended by 100s of families
  • We played host to over 20 community and family social events including book clubs, craft clubs, knitting groups, birthday parties, a bird sculpture event, wedding receptions, bridal showers, anniversaries, and more
  • We welcomed three student groups and over 30 individuals, including kindergartners from from Twin Parks Montessori, high school volunteers from Calhoun School, middle school students from the Garden Club at Dwight School, and alumni fellows from the Clean Energy Leadership Institute, who collectively helped plant flowers in the spring, keep the Garden watered all summer, and plant bulbs in the fall
  • We worked with Eagle Scout-to-be Kira Cheng, who along with volunteers from Scout Troop 777 helped level and lay gravel and stepping stones on three paths and side paths, beautifying the Garden and improving overall accessibility
  • We received grant funding to level, replace, and widen the central brick pathway and level the rear terrace, improving Garden accessibility for everybody, including folks with strollers, walkers, or wheelchairs
  • We received numerous donations from individuals across the season to help maintain garden beds, work on improvement projects, and plant bulbs for next spring bloom.

Thank you to everyone who helped in the Garden in so many ways!