Not all events solicit for vendors. Each event organizer selects the vendors for their respective event. If you wish to become a vendor at an event, please contact the event organizer directly.

Parade permits are treated as a Special Event Permit and follow the Special Event application process.

A permit may be submitted electronically, however, they are not considered complete until the original form is received along with the appropriate application fees and required documents.

An appointment is required to discuss and preview your application with the Special Events Division, who will then in turn, schedule you for a meeting with the Special Events Review Committee.

Please do not publicize your event if you’ve only filed an application for. Filling an application form does not guarantee approval of your event. The application must be approved - prior to your promoting the event through media (print, radio, T.V, internet) or by word-of-mouth.

The approval process for the Special Event applications may take as little as one month, to as long as two months depending upon the complexity of the event and the number of planning review meetings necessary to ensure a safe and successful event.

Event organizers are expected to apply for their permit a minimum of 60 days in advance in order to allow for proper planning.

The application fee for a Special Event Permit is $50. Any costs for City services such as Police, Fire, Streets, Parks Maintenance, etc., will be determined at the SERC meeting. All event organizers are responsible for paying for City costs.

Please contact the Special Events Division at 914-377-6436.

Effective April 2015, The City of Yonkers and the Board of Education merged the Special Event Application process. Event Organizers interested in renting/utilizing a Board of Education Property or Facility will be required to fill out a Special Event Application and file it with the Parks Department directly. This process is being used to streamline the approval process for any preplanned meeting, activity, gathering of a group of persons, sporting events, or vehicles on school board property or within a facility. Typically, these permits are issued by the City for Special Events which substantially impact the usual flow of pedestrian or vehicular travel or normal use of space by the general public, and require the approval of several City or Board of Education Departments.  This new process will provide “one stop shopping” in the form of a coordinated application, review and payment process designed to maximize efficiency.

View a copy of the merger announcement letter

SERC is a one-stop-shop approach to Special Events for event organizers. SERC is a Committee made up of representatives from the following departments (Consumer Protection, Police, Fire, Public Works, Parks, Recreation and Conservation, Mayor’s Office (Constituent Services), Housing and Building, and Corporation Counsel and Board of Education as needed). Having SERC simplifies the planning process for event organizers and ensures that all receive the same information about an event. It is a one-stop, customer-service oriented process that saves the event organizer considerable time and energy obtaining information from various departments.

Special Event Applications are initially reviewed by the Special Events Division and the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Commissioner. Upon completing the initial review, Special Event Applications are then reviewed at large by SERC - the Special Events Review Committee of the City of Yonkers.

Event organizers may download a City of Yonkers Special Event Application online or may obtain a hard copy by visiting the Parks Department at 285 Nepperhan Avenue, Yonkers, New York.

Special Event shall mean any preplanned meeting, activity, parade, or gathering of a group of persons, animals or vehicles or a combination thereof, having a common purpose on any public/private street, sidewalk, alley, park, or other public/private place or building, which special event substantially inhibits the usual flow of pedestrian or vehicular travel or which occupies any public/private place or building so as to preempt normal use of space by the general public or which deviates from the established use of such space or building.