Festivals & Celebrations

The Rose Ceremony is a meaningful Waldorf tradition marking the transition from Early Childhood into Grade School. At the commencement of each school year, the Eighth Grade Students welcome each new First Grader with a rose symbolizing their unique contribution to the community.  This cherished tradition begins a continued shared journey between our oldest and youngest Grades students, who will continue to serve as meaningful mirrors to one another as they build connection throughout the year. Accompanied by music, story, and quiet reflection, this heartfelt ceremony embodies the unfolding of the human spirit that lies at the heart of Waldorf education.

Harvest Festival marks the turning of the seasons from summer to autumn. Grades students embark on a festive field day in nearby Fort Greene Park, where they revel in athletic games and traditional pageantry centering ancient stories of heroes and dragons. This gathering inspires each child to face challenges with joyful resolve and awaken their own sense of moral clarity and willpower. This festival is attended by students, faculty and staff, and families who are invited to enjoy treats of apple cider and homemade "dragon bread". 

Toward the end of autumn, Early Childhood, First Grade, and Second Grade families gather at dusk for Lantern Walk. Class teachers lead the walk through Fort Greene Park, illuminated by student-made lanterns and enlivened by community song. As the days grow shorter, this glowing procession encourages a mood of peace, communal warmth, and wonder, reminding us of our inner light, which endures through the changing of the seasons.

On the first Saturday of December, Brooklyn Waldorf School hosts Winter Fair, an epic multi-faceted festival open to the public and beloved throughout Brooklyn and beyond. This signature event showcases the unique creativity of our community as classrooms transform into immersive realms and puppet theaters, and our common spaces are lively with musical performances and timeless games and activities. Hearty food and an artisanal holiday marketplace round out the offerings. Winter Fair is a chance for families to connect with one another, a homecoming event for alumni, and an opportunity to share our magnificent "Claver Castle" with our surrounding neighborhood community.

 

If you would like to join our vibrant, talented, and diverse group of vendors for the 2025 Winter Fair on December 6, please fill out the BWS Winter Fair Vendor Application. We look forward to sharing this joyous day with you!

The Spiral of Light is a cherished Waldorf tradition honoring the quiet beauty and contemplation of the winter season. Held in our school's darkened lower level, adorned with a spiral of evergreen boughs, the ceremony symbolizes the inner light that guides us through the darkness of the winter months. Each student places a candle along the spiral path, gradually illuminating the way for others. As the spiral fills with gentle points of light, it transforms into a meaningful visual reflection of hope and the warmth of the human spirit. Quietly observed by families, Spiral of Light nurtures stillness, reverence, and shared wonder in the heart of winter.

Lunar New Year is a vibrant and deeply meaningful celebration that marks the arrival of a new lunar calendar. Rooted in ancient traditions and rich symbolism, it is a time for renewal, reflection, and the honoring of ancestors. More than a festive occasion, Lunar New Year is a heartfelt expression of cultural heritage, unity, and blessings for prosperity, health, and happiness in the year ahead. Our celebration of this joyful world holiday grew naturally from our Mandarin language program twenty years ago and has since become a student favorite. Classes gather for games and activities and to share food and story, as the Fifth Grade brings our time-honored great paper dragon to life.

Each year in May, we honor the grandparents, elders, and meaningful people in our students' lives with Elders & Special Persons Day. Visits to classrooms, a tour of our building, and an array of special academic and musical presentations provide a glimpse into the impressive and dynamic offerings of a BWS education. If you are a grandparent or elder with enrolled family at BWS we warmly invite you to attend this event. 

Brooklyn Waldorf School's graduation ceremony is a joyful and poignant event, reflecting the intellectual and spiritual unfolding of our graduates and the communitarian values at the heart of Waldorf education. Surrounded by teachers, family, and schoolmates, our departing Eighth Graders mark the close of their BWS journey with personal reminiscences, music, and speeches highlighting their academic achievements and personal growth. Each graduate is uniquely acknowledged for their creativity, capability, and purpose by attending family members and teachers who have known them since Early Childhood. The occasion exemplifies BWS's commitment to nurturing intellectual, artistic, and moral development and warmly showcases the individuality of each student while honoring the collective of their grade. Graduation is held in the evening on the last day of school and followed by a festive reception in our blooming side garden.

Our spacious gymnasium and classic proscenium stage, combined with a curriculum rich in choral music, instrumental music, language, literature and the performing arts, afford our school the perfect ingredients for beautiful assemblies showcasing our students and bringing the community together at key times during the school year. Assemblies include gatherings before Fall and Winter Break, a celebration of the immense cultural legacy of black Americans for Black History Month, a Spring Concert and an End-of-Year Assembly. (These are in addition to the performance of a Class Play by every class each year, as well as regular instrumental music performances in the later grades.)