South Slope Derby

The 2024 South Slope Derby will take place on Saturday, August 24 (12PM – 3PM)!
17th Street between 5th Ave. and 6th Ave., Brooklyn

Open Source Gallery and KoKo NYC present our annual South Slope Derby, a celebration of creativity and innovation!

For 17 years and counting the Annual South Slope Derby has thrilled Brooklyn every August, becoming a beloved celebration of creativity and innovation. The Derby is the culmination of KoKo NYC’s summer programming and features gravity-powered soap box racers made from recycled materials and built by kids. During week-long workshops, kids develop their building and engineering skills and express their natural ingenuity as they imagine and construct their sustainable cars. Together with our Teaching Artists and teen counselors, kids learn to design the functional elements of the car, such as steering and brakes, troubleshooting and testing along the way. Throughout the build, kids let their imaginations run wild – who’s to say a car can’t also be a butterfly?

In the South Slope Derby, the kids put their creations to the test in a race down 17th Street in South Slope, Brooklyn. They are cheered on by over 500 friends, family, and fans who travel from all over the city every year. Our panel of esteemed judges includes Council Members, business owners, community leaders, and artists who evaluate the cars of over 100 kids on creativity, design, engineering, and speed. In addition to the races there are raffles, food vendors, and fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.

This event is free and open to the public.

DERBY PARTICIPANTS: Please plan to arrive between 10AM and 11AM on the morning of August 24th to register.
And please be sure to bring a helmet to wear for the race.

Check out this article in Brooklyn Magazine for memories of past derbies!