What: 16th Annual Red Hook WaterFront Arts Festival
Where: Louis J. Valentino Park & Pier (Coffey St. & Ferris St.)
When: June 5th 6-9p.m., June 7th 11-7p.m. Rain date June 7
Why: Before the arrival of Fairway, IKEA, the Red Hook food vendors, and the tag name “Residustrial”, Red Hook has been known for its local youth talent. To support and honor such talent, Martha Bowers started The Young People’s Performance Festival 14 years ago, which eventually grew into today’s Red Hook Waterfront Arts Festival. “It’s truly the talent of young people in the neighborhood that inspired and continues to inspire the Festival,” said Bowers, now executive director of RHWAF.
Friday’s lineup includes the Youth Kick-Off Event, a community sunset picnic, and performances by RIOT ACT’s Police-Teen Theater Project. In addition to bringing their acting chops to the stage, high-schoolers will sell locally-sourced food from the Added Value Community Farm. The Famous Accordion Orchestra and the 5th Annual Red Hook Youth Film Fest will close out the evening.
On Saturday, the Red Hook Ramblers will lead a parade from the entrance of Valentino Park to the Mainstage. Artists on the agenda include tapping, rapping lyricist Joseph Webb (Bring in Da Noise…) and his band Joseph; DJ Chela, and a sunset salsa party with big band group Willie Alvarez y Trombori. Kids and the kids-at-heart won’t want to miss a free kayak ride in New York Harbor with The Red Hook Boaters.
These global artists “share a progressive, positive social or political message,” said Jon Mayer, media & marketing manager of Dance Theater Etcetera, the organization behind the Festival. “And the people of Red Hook support their artistic excellence.” Whether you’re eating, dancing, or boating, this year’s schedule is sure to give locals and visitors a cultural smorgasbord that will capture them hook, line, and sinker.
Cost: Free
How to get there: Take a Downtown F/G train to Smith 9th Streets. Head South on smith to Garnet. Right on Centre, left Onto Columbia, right onto Bush, left on Dwight and right onto Coffey. The adventure is worth all the turns. (718.643.6790, redhookfest.org)
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram