This year’s NYC Unicycle Festival brings four days of one-wheeled joy to New York City from August 28–31, 2025. From Battery Park to Coney Island to Pier 76, this free Labor Day Weekend celebration invites New Yorkers and visitors alike to marvel, ride, and revel in the magic of balance.
Just as New York begins to exhale from the pace of summer, Labor Day Weekend arrives with a few final surprises—and among the most delightfully unexpected is the return of the NYC Unicycle Festival. Now in its 16th year, this four-day celebration of one-wheeled whimsy rolls through the city from August 28 through 31, turning Manhattan and Brooklyn into a moving stage of balance, flair, and pure fun.
Produced by the ever-playful Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, the festival blends downtown energy with uptown curiosity. It all begins with a West Side ride from Battery Park and builds with a 13-mile unicycle trek over the Brooklyn Bridge to Coney Island. The celebration reaches its peak at Pier 76 in Hudson River Park for a weekend of open-air fun. Expect unicycle basketball, jaw-dropping demos, learn-to-ride zones, and a crowd of New Yorkers and visitors soaking up the joy.
Looking for something offbeat to do this Labor Day Weekend in NYC? You do not need to own a unicycle. Or even know how to ride one, to enjoy this festival. Just bring your sense of wonder—and if you are mapping out your weekend, here is our full Labor Day Weekend NYC guide.
📍Location: Across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Hudson River Park [Pier 76]
🗓 Date: Thursday, August 28 – Sunday, August 31, 2025
🎟 Free & open to the public | Plan your Labor Day Weekend in NYC →
🌐 Learn more at nycunifest.com
Thursday, August 28: West Side One-Wheel Ride
The festival kicks off where the city begins—Battery Park. At 10:30 AM, riders mount up and take to the West Side in a colorful parade of balance and determination, winding their way along the waterfront all the way to Central Park for a celebratory loop. It is an energizing way to begin the long weekend, with the Hudson River glinting beside you and unicyclists catching the breeze in a rhythm only New York could host.
Friday, August 29: Brooklyn Unicycle Day
On Friday, the spotlight shifts to Brooklyn for one of the most iconic parts of the festival. The 13-mile group ride from City Hall, over the Brooklyn Bridge, and all the way down to Coney Island. Whether you are riding or simply watching from the sidelines, it is an unforgettable procession of one-wheeled freedom. There is a strange poetry in seeing dozens of unicyclists roll across the bridge against the Manhattan skyline. Equal parts absurd, beautiful, and utterly NYC.
Saturday + Sunday, August 30–31: Pier 76 Festival
The weekend’s main festivities land at Pier 76 in Hudson River Park, just off 34th Street, from noon to 5 PM each day. This is where it all comes together:
- A Learn-To-Ride Area for those curious to try a one-wheeled wobble.
- Unicycle Basketball [yes, it is real—and competitive].
- Skill demonstrations that show just how far balance and nerve can take you.
- A communal, open-air vibe that feels equal parts circus, block party, and grassroots athletic competition.
All ages and abilities are welcome. Come for an hour or stay all day. There is joy in watching, trying, and simply being part of the energy.
A Festival with Heart: The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus
Behind the wheel [so to speak] of this delightfully odd tradition is the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus. A Brooklyn-based performing arts collective celebrating over 30 years of modern circus magic. Known for weaving irreverent spirit into classic circus arts, Bindlestiff brings authenticity and artistic relevance to everything it touches.
This year’s UniFest is made possible with support from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York State Council on the Arts, further cementing its place as a cherished piece of New York’s cultural fabric.
As co-founder Keith Nelson reflects,
“We never imagined that this quirky and fun little idea we had sixteen years ago would become a beloved New York City tradition that many people look forward to each year, including us. If you’ve ever wanted to see unicyclists in action—or maybe even try one out for yourself—the Unicycle Festival is for you.”
NYC Unicycle Festival Highlights: What to Expect This Year
From unicycle basketball to a 13-mile ride across the Brooklyn Bridge, here is a taste of what this beloved end-of-summer tradition brings to NYC:
- Thursday kicks off with a scenic ride from Battery Park to Central Park, tracing the city’s western edge on one wheel.
- Friday turns up the adventure with Brooklyn Unicycle Day—a 13-mile journey over the Brooklyn Bridge all the way to Coney Island.
- Saturday and Sunday bring the heart of the festival to Hudson River Park’s Pier 76, where performances, basketball games, and a Learn-to-Ride zone create a lively, family-friendly scene.
- Across the weekend, expect a joyful mix of skilled riders, curious spectators, and spontaneous sidewalk smiles.
NYC Unicycle Festival Schedule
📍Location: West Side Ride from Battery Park to Central Park
🗓 Date: Thursday, August 28 | ⏰ Time: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM
📍Location: Brooklyn Unicycle Day: Ride from City Hall to Coney Island
🗓 Date: Friday, August 29 | ⏰ Time: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍Location: Pier 76 at Hudson River Park: Learn-To-Ride, unicycle basketball, performances & more
🗓 Date: Saturday + Sunday, August 30–31 | ⏰ Time: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
For more details, visit nycunifest.com
Why the NYC Unicycle Festival Belongs on Your Labor Day Weekend List
Whether you are chasing a sense of whimsy, the thrill of balance, or a front-row seat to one of New York’s most unexpectedly delightful traditions, the NYC Unicycle Festival delivers. It is more than just a festival—it is a moment when the city exudes playfulness. When strangers become spectators, and when something as simple as a single wheel becomes a reason to gather.
In a city where big moments often come with high stakes or price tags, this one rolls in freely—with community, creativity, and circus flair. It is the kind of weekend memory that lingers: not because it was flashy, but because it felt real.
So, as you plan your Labor Day weekend in NYC, consider adding a little motion to your magic. Let NYC UniFest Festival remind you that joy can be as simple as a ride along the Hudson, a loop through Central Park, or a try at something new. After all, what better way to mark the end of summer than with a celebration that is equal parts heart, hustle, and hilarity—one wheel at a time.
