Brooklyn’s ‘big day’: Crowds gather for annual Dumbo Drop, benefiting local schools

Brooklyn’s most endearing flying spectacle returned to Dumbo on May 31, as thousands of tiny toy elephants parachuted from rooftops along Washington Street during the annual Dumbo Drop.

Hundreds of spectators filled the iconic cobblestone block between Front and Water streets, in the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge, for the sky-high extravaganza that raises money for Dumbo’s Title I public schools — P.S. 307 Elementary and The Dock Street School for STEAM Studies.

Tickets to the two shows, held at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., were $15 per person and included a souvenir toy elephant — this year’s parachute was designed by artist Zeph Farmby — a guaranteed spot to view the drop, and an entry into the event’s prize sweepstakes.

A Dumbo impersonator warmed up the crowd before the drop.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

Before the drop, ticket holders enjoyed live music from The Jelly, posed for photos at the Dumbo the Elephant photo booths, and sampled bites and drinks along the Taste of DUMBO restaurant row. The Brooklyn Diamonds showed off their dance drills, while the all-female drumming group Fogo Azul performed on the cobblestone street — now an Instagram hot spot — as toy elephants rained down around them.

A Dumbo impersonator warmed up the crowd before the drop.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

Fogo Azul performed during the drop.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

The event also featured a free Dumbo Archway Party for all ages from 4 to 7 p.m., with a kids zone offering more than 20 activities, a free bouncy slide, a beer garden, and a bevy of Dumbo restaurants.

Brooklynites Dione and Scott Lomando had known about the event for years but always missed it. This year, they finally made it out for the “big day.”

Brooklynites Dione and Scott Lomando finally made it to Dumbo’s “big day.” Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

Thousands of small toy elephants parachuted down in the annual Dumbo Drop. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

“We wanted to do it for years and always find out the day after, the week after,” Scott said. “So, I’m just really, really happy that we were able to stumble upon it in time this year and get tickets.”

The couple had tickets for the 7 p.m. show and were looking forward to seeing thousands of toy elephants drop from the sky.

“I just love any kind of festivity like this,” Scott said. “[It’s an] excuse to be silly. It’s gonna be fun.”

Dione said she appreciated the fundraising aspect of the event.

“I work for an education access non-profit, and anything that has a focus on improving education outcomes in New York City, I’m very excited about,” Dione told Brooklyn Paper.

Annabelle Babilonia from Crown Heights attended the event to cheer on her seven-year-old daughter, Ava, a dancer with the Brooklyn Diamonds.

“It was beautiful. It was something different,” Babilonia said. “It was actually my first time being here. I never knew that they had a Dumbo Drop. Now I got introduced to something I had no idea about, and it was pretty cool.”

Annabelle Babilonia and her daughter Ava said the event was beautiful. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

The Brooklyn Diamonds dance squad showed off their dance skills before the drop. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

Alexandria Sica, president of the Dumbo Improvement District, told Brooklyn Paper the event was “near and dear” to her heart and had become a beloved neighborhood tradition.

“Where else would you see elephants flying through the sky?” Sica said. “Our most remarkable sight in all of Brooklyn is the Manhattan Bridge between these gorgeous old buildings. We use this event to benefit our local schools.”

Jenny Premon of Queens took the day off to attend the event after discovering it on social media.

“I just want to celebrate this moment because this is something so special,” Premon said. “It is so wonderful for this kind of event to help support the students. A lot of funding is cut, so this is a great opportunity for us to help contribute, be charitable, and have fun at the same time.”

A Dumbo impersonator warmed up the crowd before the drop.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

A ticket holder poses for a photo at the Dumbo photo booth. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann