September and October are exciting months in New York City! We’re coming off the tailwind of a busy summer but still get a few months of great weather, beautiful foliage, and fewer tourists. You know it’s the city that never sleeps, so there’s always something to do. During the fall months, you’ll find lots of festivals, fairs, and fun autumn and Halloween activities. Today, we’re sharing 15 exciting things to do in NYC in the fall!
1. Drink a Pumpkin Ale
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Located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn Brewery is an award-winning brewery and bar. They’ve been around for decades and have been a pioneer of the craft beer movement. It’s a great spot to visit with a group of friends, especially in the fall when they release their colonial-style Pumpkin Ale. Yum!
2. Go to a Pumpkin Patch
Speaking of pumpkins, what’s autumn without a trip to a pumpkin patch? It’s a little bit of a trek from Manhattan, but a trip to the Queens County Farm Museum is well worth the trip. It’s New York City’s largest piece of undisturbed farmland (celebrating 325 years this year!). On the 47-acre farm, you’ll find a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, a local shop with cider donuts, and more. Plus, admission to the farm is free.
3. Go to Feast of San Gerrano
What initially started as a neighborhood block party for Italian immigrants has turned into a nearly two-week-long annual festival spanning Little Italy’s Mulberry Street. Every year, people flock to the Feast of San Gerrano to enjoy a parade, carnival games, and Italian food from street vendors. Check it out and get your fill of cannoli, zeppole, and real Neapolitan pizza.
4. Bike Ride Along Hudson River
Fall in New York is the perfect weather for a long bike ride: it’s not too hot, it’s often sunny, and the trees start to turn beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow. If you don’t own a bike, grab a Citi bike and ride along the West Side Highway overlooking the Hudson River. There are designated bike lanes making it a stress-free ride, and you’ll get views of the Hudson River and the skyline, as well as the beautiful changing leaves.
5. Visit a Farmer’s Market
New York City has farmer’s markets year-round, but you can really feel the cozy autumn vibes in September and October when vendors sell apples, pumpkins, apple cider donuts, and hot or cold cider, all coming from local farms. Check out the Union Square Greenmarket, which is the most popular.
6. Oktoberfest
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Originating in Germany, Oktoberfest is famously the largest beer celebration in the world. Experience the fun in New York at Pier 17 where you can try authentic German beer, bratwursts, and giant pretzels while looking at the Brooklyn skyline. This festival goes all out with traditional decorations and music too.
7. Brooklyn Book Festival
Book lovers, don’t miss this one! The Brooklyn Book Festival is the largest free literary festival in all of New York City, started to honor the many authors who live in Brooklyn. It has now expanded to include national and international authors as well as emerging authors. This event fills parks, plazas, and venues all over Brooklyn – a book lover’s dream come true. Check out the full schedule for author talks, poetry readings, children’s activities, and book signings.
8. New York Film Festival
If books aren’t your thing, check out the New York Film Festival, which is one of the longest-running and most prestigious film festivals in the United States. Over the course of two weeks, you can view 30 of the most anticipated and talked about feature-length films created around the world.
9. Leaf Peeping in Central Park and Prospect Park
Yes, New York is a concrete jungle, but there are still spectacular green spaces and leaf-peeping opportunities. In Central Park, check out the Mall, Bow Bridge, and Ramble to see the best of the changing leaves. If you visit Prospect Park, don’t miss the Peninsula and Lookout Hill
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10. Walk the Highline
Alternatively, get above the city and walk the Highline, which is a restored raised railroad track that is now a beautiful park and walking path. It starts near Chelsea Market and ends at the Vessel, bringing you through some of New York’s prettiest neighborhoods.
11. New York Marathon
It’s tradition! Every year on the first Sunday of November, the New York Marathon, which is the world’s largest race, takes place right here in New York City. It covers all of the five boroughs and attracts 50,000 runners and around 3 million spectators who cheer runners on from the sidelines. The sense of community and love for New York feels so strong. Even if you aren’t a runner, you’ll want to check it out. You can find the entire route here, but the race ends in Central Park, which is a fun place to watch from.
12. Central Park Flotilla
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The Central Park Flotilla is a quirky tradition that’s been around for 30+ years. At twilight, 50 carved pumpkins are released in the Harlem Meer, and people gather by the shore of the lake to watch the pumpkins bob and float away.
13. Village Halloween Parade
This one is a long-standing Greenwich Village event. It started in the 1970s and has built up quite the attention over the years. The Village Halloween Parade takes place from 7-10pm on Halloween night, and the route runs along Sixth Avenue from Spring Street to 16th Street. The only requirement to walk in the parade is to wear a costume that fits the year’s theme. Whether you want to walk in the parade or check out the costumes and floats, it’s sure to be a good time.
14. Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade
Is there anything cuter than dogs in Halloween costumes?! Don’t miss the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade, which takes place annually on the Saturday before Halloween. According to CNN, it’s “the largest dog costume parade in the world.” The dogs “compete” for some pretty great prizes. It’s absolutely adorable and an all-around wholesome event.
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15. Enter the World of Harry Potter
Something about fall and back to school just feels like Harry Potter time of year. Luckily for New Yorkers, there are some really fun activities to bring this feeling to life. Check out the Harry Potter store, which has two floors of Harry Potter merch/wands, photo ops, VR experiences and a butter beer stand.
Additionally, you can grab tickets to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway!
That concludes our list of 15 of the best things to do in NYC in the fall. From nature to festivals and events, there’s so much to enjoy in the city during this time of year.