High Tide

Well, it’s finally here—Happy Summer 2026! We hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Hopefully, the weather cooperates for all the festivities. Don’t forget to come out and support our veterans at the Memorial Day Parade on Monday.

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Year after year, Rockaway’s ocean is unfortunately underestimated by swimmers, both locals and visitors alike. Please remind your loved ones to swim only where and when lifeguards are on duty. Lifeguards return beginning Saturday, May 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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If you find yourself out for a walk on the boardwalk this weekend—whether soaking up some long-overdue vitamin D or checking out the concessions—take a look at the Top 30 finalists in the 2026 Rockaway Times Photo Contest. The photos are fantastic. They will be displayed along the boardwalk in the Beach 90s throughout the summer, with five honorable mentions featured near the ferry landing.

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It’s finally here. The Rockaway Times 2026 Summer & Community Guide is being delivered with this week’s paper. Please, please support our loyal advertisers. Without them, we would not be able to provide our weekly paper or Summer Guide for FREE! They believe in The Rockaway Times and the Rockaway community, so get out and support them all summer long. And remember to tell them you saw their ad in The Rockaway Times!

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Reminder that if you are parking uptown, there is no street parking on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from May 15 through September 30 in Belle Harbor, and no street parking daily in Neponsit.

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Save the date—the 46th annual Buckley’s to Kennedy’s run (wow!) takes place Sunday, June 14.

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Congratulations to all the recent graduates across the peninsula—well done!

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If you’re taking the ferry this weekend, note that the summer schedule went into effect Monday, May 18, so be sure to check schedules before traveling. Also, all routes will operate on a weekend schedule on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25.

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“Flying High,” a free one-day kite celebration, is coming to the Rockaway Beach Amphitheater on Saturday, May 30. Hosted by Ladies and Gentlemen Studio, Rockaway Film Festival, Materials for the Arts, and NYC Parks, the event will feature kite flying on the beach between Beach 94th and 95th Streets from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., a kite exhibition and free kite-making workshop from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., live music by Rockaway’s own Tini Vessel at 7 p.m., and an 8:30 p.m. screening of the Disney classic “Mary Poppins.”

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RISE will be closed on Monday, May 25, for Memorial Day. The organization will also be recognizing International Plastic Free Day, which highlights the growing global crisis of plastic pollution. RISE encourages community members to be mindful of the plastic they use every day—especially single-use plastics—and to consider reducing or avoiding them.

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Rockaway has bid farewell to Ari Kostaras, Rockaway Beach’s Mister Softee.  After 35 years of serving ice cream, he has retired. Kostaras said, “All good thing have an end. It was an honor to work in Rockaway, my second home. I only have good memories and for sure I am missing all of you, but I will be out there with my camera. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

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Rockaway WISH (Women Inspired to Support and Help) is hosting its Red WISH & Blue fundraiser this Saturday, May 23, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Bungalow Bar. Tickets are $100 per person and include a chance to win $5,000, plus an open bar, lite fare, and music by DJ Teddy.