South Slope Derby

Image courtesy of Miho Suzuki

The 2024 South Slope Derby took place on Saturday, August 24, 2024.

Thank you to all the kids, families, friends, and neighbors who came out for the 2024 South Slope Derby! It was an amazing time!

2024 South Slope Derby in the Press:
– Brooklyn Paper
– Park Slope Patch

Thanks so much to the generous local businesses who donated raffle items for the 2024 South Slope Derby: Keyfood Marketplace, Roots Cafe, Yardsale Cafe, Empanada Loca, Joe’s Pub, and more!
And thank you to the local businesses who support our programming including Square Design Inc, New Project, and Big Reuse!

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.

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