30 Best Things To Do In NYC This Fall: Shows, Halloween Events, Festivals, Openings, & More

Find your most stylish plaid top and assume a pumpkin spice state of mind: we’ve rounded up the best things to do in fall, NYC , all in one convenient place! Are you ready for the best season of the year? From annual favorites to new debuts and everything in between, our list of activities are more than worthy of your autumnal bucket list. Our advice? Fuel up on apple cider donuts and cocoa as you tackle each item on our roundup. NYC, we’ll meet you at the pumpkin patch. Hit up fall festivals and street fairs -------------------------------------- Starting with one of our favorites, the **Sleepy Hollow Fair** on September 21st, New York hosts ample **fall festivals**and **fairs** throughout **September**and October. Grab some seasonal bites (candy apples, anyone?), shop local goods, and enjoy the temperature dip and the warm hues appearing on leaves. Head to the orchards and fields for apple picking and pumpkin picking --------------------------------------------------------------------- Let’s be honest: no autumn is complete without a crisp McIntosh and a few gourds here and there. If you’re keen on homemade apple pie and carving jack o’ lanterns, explore some of our favorite locations for **apple picking** and **pumpkin picking**in and and around NYC. Wander through a corn maze -------------------------- Test your navigation skills this fall by making your way out of the best **corn mazes** in the area. This year, the **Queens County Farm Museum**will celebrate the return of its maze with carnival rides, scavenger hunts, face painting for the littles, and a two-night-only moonlit maze tour. Enjoy a Candlelight concert -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A feast for the ears and eyes, Candlelight concerts deliver in spades. String musicians gather in some of NYC’s most stunning locations — including the Gothic Revival St. Ann’s Church in Brooklyn Heights — to play classical renditions of your favorite artists. Get your tickets online. Check out a Broadway Sings concert ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Taylor Swift to ABBA, the Great White Way’s biggest stars put a show tune spin on songs from today’s most popular artists. Have a look at the **Broadway Sings**series and see where your earbuds take you! Get your Halloween treats at NYC’s oldest candy shop --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Economy Candy is a Lower East Side mainstay that paved the way for the sweet shops we see on our TikTok feeds today. Since 1937, the Rivington St biz has been serving sweets galore. Currently, the family-owned operation offers 2,500 different types of confections from all around the world — Europe, Asia, Australia — and specializes in nostalgic, hard-to-find pieces that you likely haven’t seen since you were a kiddo. 📍 108 Rivington St (Morris “Moishe” Cohen Way) Walk through this jack o’lantern extravaganza returning to New York ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you love carving pumpkins and all things Halloween, you’ll love the spectacular Jack O’Lantern Blaze. The event takes place in the **Hudson Valley**and the season runs from September 12th to November 16th. It features over 7,000 hand-carved, illuminated pumpkins with various designs, creating glowing sculptures. There are plenty of Immersive Halloween experiences, treats, and more. **Read how to get your tickets here**. Test your bravery at Blood Manor ---------------------------------------------------------------- Think you can handle 10,000 square feet of scares? From themed rooms to narrow hallways and surprises at every turn – including some eerie characters — **Blood Manor**is a nightmare worth perusing if you’re a Halloween enthusiast. Don’t be disappointed if you let out a few screams — we expect it. 🗓️ From October 3rd “What’s this?” The Magical *Nightmare Before Christmas* light trail returns to NYBG ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The New York Botanical Garden is taking a cue from Tim Burton’s book once again and lighting up its bucolic trails in honor of the spooky sensation, ***Nightmare Before Christmas***. And honestly, who’s more appropriate for a fall celebration than the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington? No one. Wander through 8,300 square feet of Jack’s world via tunnels, light projections, and the Oogie Boogie lair. If we didn’t know any better, we’d say there’s magic in the air! 🗓️ September 25th to November 30th Hop aboard a creepy trolly tour ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grab a ticket and hop aboard Madame Morbid’s Trolley for a trip into Brooklyn like you’ve never experienced before. The vintage bus takes straphangers back in time as it passes Kings County hotspots with dark history you definitely didn’t learn about in school — ideal for Halloween and history buffs alike. Get your spooky necessities at Spirit Halloween --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ‘Tis the season for a peruse around Spirit Halloween for the ultimate costume. Whether you’re leaning towards the spooky route or would prefer to keep your outfit scare-free, the Halloween megastore has what you’re looking for — and **additional locations**are popping up all over the city. Grab a new read from NYC’s debut horror bookshop ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The NYC literary scene is taking a turn for the spooky, just in time for Halloween. The Twisted Spine will open its brick and mortar outpost in **Williamsburg**this fall, marking the city’s first indie [bookshop](https://secretnyc.co/best-bookstores-in-nyc/) dedicated to dark literature. Not only will the shelves stock eerie tales, but the creepy factor will be in full effect with dark academia decor, a backyard graveyard, and exciting horror-themed events and signings on the shop’s calendar. Make sure to stop by espresso bar — coffee and cocktails included — with your new read. The opening date is September 6th, and we’ll be sure to see you horror aficionados there. 📍 306 Grand Street, Brooklyn Catch a magic show in Brooklyn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Harry Houdini-inspired moves, look no further than the Hanley Close-Up Magic Parlour , whereGreg Dubin’s “Magic at the Clock Shop” takes place. Sip cocktails while Dubin performs his best sleight of hand moves that will leave you scratching your head. Just don’t be surprised if you don’t find the spot as you’re walking down Court Street: it’s disguised as Precision Clock & Watch repair shop. 📍 449 Court St, Brooklyn Step inside NYC’s secret pinball museum ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For gaming that dates as far back as the late 1800s, look no further! Disguised within the back room of Seaborne bar, the Red Hook Pinball Museum is home to old-school pinball machines that you’ll definitely appreciate. 📍 499 Van Brunt St # 4B Catch *Beetlejuice* on Broadway... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The ‘Juice is loose, folks. Returning to NYC for a third time, *Beetlejuice The Musical * will give theater-goers a taste of Tim Burton’s quirky, spooky creativity as his deceased protagonist vies for Lydia Deetz’s hand in marriage to avoid being stuck in the Afterlife. The show will get underway at Palace Theatre on October 8th, and **tickets are available for pre-order** online. Don’t forget to explore even more **Broadway shows** this season! 📍 160 W 47th St ...or a new production ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Midtown marquees will set the Great White Way aglow with names of the new Broadway shows arriving in NYC this fall: *Chess * with. Lea Michele, *Waiting for Godot * with Keanu Reeves, to name just a few. Have a look at the **performances** we’re most looking forward to, and scope out tickets for current **musicals****and plays**in New York. Get tickets to upcoming concerts ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are constant entertainment options in NYC, especially when it comes to music. Have a look at **our guide** to the city’s best concerts, from Dua Lipa and Chappell Roan to Tyler Childers and Renée Rapp . See The Weeknd and Shakira headline Global Citizen’s Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ There’s nothing quite like a free festival — especially one that gives back. The annual Global Citizens Festival returns to Central Park on Saturday, September 27th with an impressive lineup: Shakira and The Weeknd as the headliners, plus Tyla , Ayra Starr , and Mariah the Scientist . New Yorkers get a day of great music and fun vibes, but at the root of it all, the premise of the gathering is to raise awareness to end poverty, tackle climate change, and support sustainable development. Through the Global Citizen website or app, New Yorkers can complete simple advocacy tasks like signing petitions, sharing messages, or volunteering with local organizations. 🗓️ September 27th Catch the first-ever We Belong Here EDM festival in Brooklyn ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Festival season is still in swing once the temperatures cool down, and We Belong Here is proof. The newly-founded cross-country event brings the dance vibes to gorgeous locales and invites attendees to shake, and shimmy ’til their hearts’ content. This year, it’s expanding the fun from Wollman Rink and heading downtown.A new **Greenpoint**iteration of the festival will debut this October, and feature the following artists: * Carl Cox * Elderbrook and Gordo * Sidepiece * Prospa, Tobiahs Stay tuned for the Central Park lineup and learn more about the festival on its website. 🗓️ October 3rd to 5th (Brooklyn), October 10th to 12th (Central Park’s Wollman Rink) Get tickets to new movies in theaters ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The cold weather is kicking in, so might as well get cozy at the movies. Here are a few of the upcoming releases we’re most looking forward to: * *The Conjuring: Last Rites* (September 5th) * *Eleanor the Great* (September 26th) * *The Smashing Machine* (October 3rd) * *Frankenstein* (October 17th) * *Trap House* (November 14th) Unleash your inner superhero at Comic Con ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ It’s never too early to get into a superhero mindset: **New York Comic Con tickets** are already on sale for the 2025 season, and your inner vigilante is calling. Trust us, this year’s theme, “Haunted”, is going to be one for the (comic) books. Those stopping by can expect panel discussions, screenings, signings, cosplay opportunities, and plenty of chances to find merch for their collections. While the info for exhibitors and artists is still under wrap — which includes show specials, exhibitors, etc. — you can **peruse experiences**, which includes Cosplay Central, After Dark, a Pride Lounge, Family HQ (a perfect thing to do with kids), and so much more. 🗓️ October 9th to 12th Catch “Impact: The End of the Age of Dinosaurs” at AMNH -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One asteroid 66 million years ago changed everything. Visit the American Museum of Natural History to learn about the dinosaurs’ final days on earth. The exhibit will feature fossils and fossil casts, immersive animations, and life-sized models to illustrate the significance of their extinction. 🗓️ November 17th Revisit the Studio Museum in Harlem after its seven-year closure --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark your calendars: the Studio Museum in Harlem is ready to welcome visitors beginning November 15th. Trust us, there’s going to be plenty to explore upon its grand reopening.The uptown institution closed its doors in 2018 for construction, and now, a seven-floor, 82,000-square-foot space awaits the community, courtesy of Adjaye Associates and executive architect Cooper Robertson. To kick off the stellar return, there will be a **freecommunity day** on the 15th featuring performances, games, giveaways, and DJ sets. There will be a presentation of Tom Lloyd’s work , who was the subject of the Studio Museum’s inaugural exhibition in 1968. Additionally, there will be a rotating installation of works from the Museum’s distinguished permanent collection — over 9,000 pieces with works from all the way back to the 1800s. 🗓️ November 15th Grab a bite at the new Shaver Hall --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shaver Hall , NYC’s forthcoming food hall, is going to change the way you think about the Midtown restaurant scene. Elegant yet inviting, the 35,000 square foot space is located within Amazon’s Hank Building, which was once the sight of the iconic Lord & Taylor department store. Though an opening date has yet to be announced, soon, the building will be home to 11 food stalls, a steakhouse, and a modern bodega from ZGF Architecture, who’s responsible for the Portland International Airport renovation and Google’s Spruce Goose Hangar. NYC favorites joining the space are: Zazu’s, F&F , Taqueria Al Pastor , and more. Get a taste of a Southern favorite: Bojangles ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern comfort food is making its way up north.Charlotte eatery Bojangles’ will return to NYC after 40 years, and it’s bringing its famed fried chicken and biscuits along for the ride. With options like the Cajun chicken filet biscuit, a side of macaroni and cheese, and fried chicken sandwiches with dill pickles and creamy mayo, this menu is as indulgent as you’d expect. (Plus, the bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit combo is bound to become our morning go-to.) The first location will pop up in East Flatbush. As soon as we know more about the opening date, we’ll be sure to keep you posted. Indulge in cozy seasonal bites ------------------------------ What’s better than a warm bowl of **ramen**, a hot cup of **cocoa**, or an **apple cider doughnut**on a crisp fall afternoon? Comfort food season is officially in effect, and we’re planning to take full advantage. Celebrate Thanksgiving with loved ones -------------------------------------- We’re always grateful for NYC, and fortunately our home base is the perfect place to celebrate Thanksgiving. From the iconic **Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade**to hearty dinners, we’re certain you’ll find something to love. Cheer on NYC Marathon participants ---------------------------------- If you’re not keen on running 26 miles (can’t blame you there), enjoy the athletes among us who are up for tackling the challenge. As you cheer on your friends, you’ll be able to take in a slew of amazing signs along the way. Learn more about the marathon online. Catch a football game ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Will the Giants and Jets prove victorious this season? Probably not, but we’re still keen on cheering them on. Our guide to the **best football bars in the city** will make your Sunday and Mondays complete. Cheer on the Rangers...or Islanders --------------------------------- Hockey season can get pretty intense (and disappointing at times) but we found the **best NYC spots for fans** to celebrate a win or mourn the downfall of the season. Fingers crossed for the former! What’s on your fall bucket list this year? We’re aiming for a little bit of everything. Source: https://secretnyc.co/best-things-to-do-fall-nyc-2025/