35 Best Things To Do This Fall In NYC: The Ultimate Bucket List

There’s nothing like feeling the crisp fall breeze while cuddled in a cozy sweater and sipping on a pumpkin spice beverage to warm even a cold New Yorker’s heart. Just like we did for summer, we’re rounding up the must-dos of the season — from the obvious (yes, pumpkin and apple picking) to the more unique (weekend away in a medieval castle, anyone?). Without further ado, here’s our ultimate fall bucket list for in & around NYC! 1. Go pumpkin picking near NYC Photo: Queens County Farm Museum Before we know it, we’ll be stressing about what costume to wear this year, but you won’t have to worry about where to find the most perfect pumpkins near you since you’ve got us! From New Jersey favorites, to some within the five boroughs, check out our favorite pumpkin patches near NYC here. 2. Chow down at the Feast of San Gennaro View of the Annual Feast of San Gennaro street festival on the street of Little Italy in Manhattan with food vendors, decorations and real people in view.Photo: Shutterstock Running from September 12 – 22 in Little Italy, this Italian food and culture celebration will fulfill all your cravings! The Feast of San Gennaro is NYC’s largest and longest-running Italian festival consisting of food, parades, live entertainment and so much more. There’s even pizza and meatball eating contests. Learn more about the Feast of San Gennaro here. 3. Check out this Jimmy Fallon Haunt The first-ever ‘Jimmy Fallon Tonightmares‘ is an intimate haunted experience, taking place in Rockefeller Center. Step inside 10 themed rooms each inspired by Fallon’s greatest nightmares. This is no laughing matter, the event isn’t recommended for kids under 13-years-old. 🎃 For more details and tickets go here! 4. Celebrate Halloween on October 31 People at the Village Halloween Parade in New York City 2022.Photo: Shutterstock It’s no secret that New York City goes all out for Halloween… with tons of events, parties, decorative bars, and so much more headlining the festivities! Check out some of our favorite happenings below and even more events here! NYC Village Halloween Parade – October 31 The Central Park Pumpkin Flotilla – October 30 Pumpkin Nights at The Bronx Zoo – September 26 – October 27 5. Stop by New York Botanical Garden’s Fall-O-Ween Photo: New York Botanical Garden “Fall-O-Ween” at NYBG is returning once again this year, and it’s sure to offer an array of attractions and activities for all ages, from lawn games and self-guided tours to spooky nights on select evenings and dance parties. While we officially wait on this year’s announcement, you can learn more about last year’s festivities and what to expect here. 🍂 Buy your NYBG All-Garden Pass here! 6. Go apple picking and make allll the apple treats Photo: Fishkill Farms/Facebook Make sure to head to an orchard soon to have your pick of the crispest, juiciest apples. The real question: are you a McIntosh or Granny Smith person? Find our full list of orchards near NYC here. 7. Compete in Squid Game: The Experience in Midtown Squid Game: The ExperienceSquid Game: The Experience The new competition and immersive experience from one of Netflix’s most popular shows is coming to Midtown Manhattan! Squid Game: The Experience On October 11th tickets were recently released and have been selling fast! Play classic games like “Red Light, Green Light,” shop for exclusive merch and experience the incredible Night Market at the Manhattan Mall, steps from K-town. Find out about general admission tickets and special VIP tickets here! 8. Get a peep of NYC’s gorgeous fall foliage Central Park during autumn in New York City.Photo: Shutterstock Nothing says fall like witnessing the leaves change into gorgeous shades of reds, oranges, and yellows. Here are our recommendations for how to best enjoy it: Check out this map to see exactly when fall foliage is peaking across the state! Plan a weekend away to one of the 5 Best Places To Catch The Changing Fall Foliage In New York State Head to these 20 Best Spots To See NYC’s Peak Fall Foliage View the foliage from a mountain roller coaster in upstate NY 9. Visit the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze This is a view of the 2020 The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, NY on September 17, 2020.Photo: Tom Nycz for Historic Hudson Valley If you love carving pumpkins and all things Halloween, you’ll love the spectacular Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze. The event takes place in the Hudson Valley a quick train ride away, featuring over 7,000 illuminated pumpkins all hand-carved with various designs to create glowing sculptures. The illuminated pumpkins are turned into things such as dinosaurs, trains, carousels, snakes, skeletons, and just about anything you can think of. It runs during spooky season from September 13 – November 17. 10. Munch on delicious apple cider donuts Sweet cider donuts freshly bakedPhoto: Shutterstock Do you prefer apple cider in liquid or doughnut form? Doughnut, of course! Some of our favorite donut shops to grab them at when the time comes are Dough in Flatiron, Peter Pan Doughnut in Greenpoint, and at some of the city’s local farmer’s markets. Check out all the spots here. 11. Celebrate Oktoberfest around NYC People celebrating OktobPhoto: Zum Schneider/Facebook Prost! There are many ways to celebrate Germany’s most famous beer-filled holiday here in NYC. From beer, lederhosen, schnitzel, and more at Loreley Beer Garden to tasty German dishes at Clinton Hall, there’s so many celebrations and Oktoberfest deals happening around NYC. Oktoberfest typically runs from September 21 – October 6 this year. Check out our favorite events happening here. 12. Dance in Central Park at We Belong Here music festival We Belong Here edit for Wollman Rink festivalSource / We Belong Here A brand new festival is coming to Central Park’s Wollman Rink this fall, organized by the ever popular events organizer We Belong Here. Happening 3 days (October 4 – 6, 2024), the festival is set to welcome a massive lineup of electronic DJs including FISHER, Kaskade, Monolink, Stephan Bodzin, Dombresky, and so many more. Learn more about how you can grab tickets to this innaugural festival with our We Belong Here guide. 13. Admire the beauty of NYC from 100 stories up at One World Observatory One World ObservatorySource / One World Observatory One World Observatory offers 360° views of NYC from Harlem to the Staten Island Ferry and the Hudson to the East River. One of our favorite times to go is in the fall when you can see all the stunning foliage from above. If you’re ready to take to the clouds, grab your tickets here. 14. Step into this dreamy pastel-hued ‘Bubble Planet’ Bubble Planet ExperienceBubble Planet Experience This fall, venture to this whimsical ‘Bubble Planet’ for a fun escape just an hour from Midtown. It’s the perfect experience to bring out your inner child or have a great time with your kids. Discover 10 bubble-themed rooms, where you can explore every kind of bubble imaginable, from soapy suds to the smokey variety. Be sure to try the VR experience that shows you what it’s like to be inside a giant bubble! This attraction is located at the American Dream Mall, with an indoor amusement park, water park, and more, so plan to spend the day there having plenty of fun! Grab tickets here! Kids under 4 get to enjoy it for free! 15. See the massive pigeon sculpture on The High Line dinosaur pigeon sculptureSource / Ivan Argote A humongous pigeon sculpture is coming to The High Line this October, and its name…Dinosaur. The whopping 16 foot tall pigeon is a work of artist Iván Argote, who is looking to challenge the idea of traditional monuments that celebrate historical figures. It’s set to be installed over the intersection of 10th Avenue and 30th Streets this fall, so you can stop and become one with the popular NYC creature. Learn more about it here. 16. Feast at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival Aerial view of New York City Wine & Food FestivalSource / New York City Wine & Food Festival NYC’s biggest wine and food festival is returning to NYC on October 17 – 20, bringing together the world’s best chefs and sommeliers to one of the world’s biggest culinary hubs. For the first time, most of its events are moving to Brooklyn (Invesco QQQ Campus at the Brooklyn Army Terminal) and are set to feature some popular names including Bobby Flay, Amanda Freitag, Marcus Samuelsson, and many more. The mega food celebration features food tasting, cooking classes, food tours, live entertainment, and so much more. Learn more about the festival and see the schedule here. 17. Explore church Catacombs by Candlelight The Basilica of St. Patrick's Old CathedralPhoto: Secret NYC Nothing says fall like getting a little spooky, and this candlelit tour of the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral is an absolute must! With this tour, you’ll get access to normally off-limit areas…where you can explore the Catholic catacombs and learn some NY history along the way. It’s captivating, secretive and fascinating all in one! ⛪ Buy your tickets to Catacombs by Candlelight here! 18. Catch a Giants game at MetLife Stadium NY Giants running out at MetLife StadiumFlickr / All-Pro Reels Photography Football season is here and the New York Giants are celebrating their 100th year as a franchise! You can watch them at MetLife Stadium all autumn long…welcoming in some of the league’s biggest opponents like the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, and Dallas Cowboys. Learn more about the Giants’ 100th season here. 19. Snap a picture at the Pumpkin Arch at Seaport The pumpkin arch at The SeaportPhoto: The Seaport You have to make sure your Instagram is looking autumnal too! The Seaport’s annual pumpkin arch is returning this year to the waterfront where you and others can take special festive photos! We’re also hoping that their lovely Pumpkin Fest returns too. Learn more about the arch here. 20. Explore the best NYC neighborhoods with extravagant Halloween decor New York City/USA - October 26, 2019: Halloween decorations, Upper East Side,Photo: Shutterstock With spooky season creeping up on us quicker than expected, it’s time to take a look at how the city has shown its spirit in years’ past. Some stoops look like the owners have been collecting decorations for at least a decade—and we love every inch of it! From mummies to massive spiders, and countless creatures in between, here are some of the best stoops New Yorkers have come upon (and tagged us in!) while wandering the city each year. Though we can only imagine these decorations aren’t up yet, save this list of neighborhoods for when spooky season officially arrives! - Upper West Side - West Village - Industry City, Brooklyn - Astoria, Queens - Cobble Hill, Brooklyn 21. Get spooky with these hauntingly beautiful Halloween concerts by candlelight Fever’s wildly popular Candlelight concert series is going all out for the spooky season! This October, let the ominous yet melodic sounds of the violin possess you as you enjoy your favorite Halloween classics, like the Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics performance. 22. Lose yourself in a mysterious NYC corn maze Aerial view of corn maze at The Queens County Farm MuseumPhoto: Queens County Farm Museum/Facebook Since this month is flying by we can only imagine October is going to creep up on us faster than ever, and what better way to celebrate trickery than solving your way out of a corn maze?! Bring family and friends for a day of trial and error as you navigate your way through corn as far as the eye can see at mazes nearest to New York City. Find the full list here. 23. Feast on delicious food at Japan Fes Crowd at NYC's Japan Fes.Photo: Japan Fes Explore and eat your way through dozens of Japanese and Asian-inspired vendors like Yakitori Tatsu, Oconomi, Tiger Tai, So Sarap, Tonkatsu Me, and so much more! The event normally brings in thousands of visitors and has multiple dates (in multiple locations) through November 9. Learn more here. 24. Tour this Halloween town only 1 hour from NYC Entrance to Sleepy Hollow CemeteryPhoto: Shutterstock Can you believe there’s a real world Halloween town just an hour away from NYC…us either! It’s home to Gothic mansions, haunted taverns and the Headless Horseman himself! Plus, there’s ton of events happening throughout the fall including haunted hayrides, glowing pumpkins, a 5K run, and a Halloween parade. See what town it is here! 25. Go on a stunning fall hike Beautiful fall foliage in mountain valleys and hiking trailsPhoto: Shutterstock It’s the perfect time to check out some amazing hikes that are right on NYC’s doorstep as fall kicks in. With gorgeous fall foliage set to peak across New York pretty soon, this is the time to get out and take a little adventure! Each of these hikes are accessible by public transit, perhaps with a bit of walking (or even a short cab ride if you’d prefer) to reach the trailhead…but you’re there to hike so might as well start early. Here are a few to get started, and check out the full list here: - Franny Reese State Park - Arden Point and Glenclyffe - Anthony’s Nose Hike - Camp Smith Trail - Wanaque Ridge Trail 26. Dress up at New York Comic Con New York, NY, USA - October 4, 2018: General atmosphere on convention floor during Comic Con 2018 at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.Photo: Shutterstock New York City’s annual Comic Con is set to return this October, consisting of 4 days of panels, celebrity appearances, interactive experiences, and more! It’s one of the country’s largest fan conventions, and it’s taking over the Javits Center from October 17 – 20. Learn more about NYCC here. 27. Take a rowboat out on Central Park’s picturesque lake People row boating in Central ParkPhoto: Central Park Conservancy There’s nothing like a lovely afternoon rowing on Central Park’s lake, especially when the leaves change! Rent rowboats now through November, from 10 am until dusk (weather permitting). It costs $20 per hour (CASH ONLY) and $5 for each additional 15 minutes, with a $20 cash deposit, and each boat holds up to four people. Find out more here. 28. Do some shopping at NYC street fairs People outside at a street fair in NYCUnsplash / via Taylor Heery As the cool autumn breeze funnels in, take advantage of the last of the street fairs happening across New York City! Across the 5 boroughs there are tons of markets and street fairs serving up the best food and selling the best goods. Check out the calendar of upcoming street fairs here. 29. Escape to a castle bed & breakfast upstate Wings CastlePhoto: Wings Castle This weekend getaway will take you straight into the pages of a fairytale! Wings Castle is a bed and breakfast inside of a replica of a medieval castle right in the middle of the Hudson Valley in the town of Millbrook in upstate New York — only 75 miles north of NYC. Find out more about it here. 30. Illuminate the night at the Morningside Lights Festival People visiting the Morningside Lights in New York City.Photo: Morningside Lights For the 12th year running, Morningside Lights will proudly illuminate the night once more with tons of awe-inspiring handmade lanterns. With this year’s theme being “The Open Book,” you can expect 50+ community-built lanterns of “books that inspire, enlighten, and shape how we see the world.” It’s free and happening at September 30 at 8 pm. Learn more here. 31. Watch movies at the New York Film Festival Actress Gabrielle Union wearing dress by Prada attends "The Inspection" world premiere during New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall on October 14, 2022Source / Shutterstock The 62nd annual New York Film Festival is happening this fall at Lincoln Center, and it will be chalk full of film screenings from renowned names across the world. It’s happening from September 27 – October 14, and will feature Cannes prizewinners Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light (Grand Prize), Sean Baker’s Anora (Palme d’Or), Roberto Minervini’s The Damned (Best Director, Un Certain Regard, shared with Rungano Nyoni), Miguel Gomes’s Grand Tour (Best Director), Rungano Nyoni’s On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (Best Director, Un Certain Regard, shared with Roberto Minervini), and Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Special Prize), amongst more. It will be happening at Lincoln Center as well as four other partnered venues: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Staten Island), BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) (Brooklyn), The Bronx Museum (Bronx), and the Museum of the Moving Image (Queens). 32. Seek thrill at Halloween Harvest at Luna Park Source / Luna Park The perfect fall activity for kids this year is Luna Park’s Halloween Harvest which will once again have loads of thrilling rides, fall treats, and seasonal activities. We’re still awaiting official details on this year’s rendition but bookmark this as one of the best kid-friendly activities of the season. 33. Take in the New York City Ballet’s Fall 2024 Season Source / New York City Ballet The New York City Ballet’s fall 24-25 Season kicks off with 6 different programs throughout September October, including George Balanchine’s beloved comedic full-length Coppélia in its 50th year, a Justin Peck x Sufjan Stevens collaboration Everywhere We Go, and one with Lar Lubovitch’s pas de deux, amongst many more performances. Other notable acts include George Balanchine’s Mozartiana, Christopher Wheeldon’s This Bitter Earth, Alexei Ratmansky’s Concerto DSCH, and Jerome Robbins’ Glass Pieces. Learn more about NYCB’s fall season and all the performances here! 34. Take a Weekend Trip to Dinos Alive Dinos AliveDinos Alive Pack up friends and family for a roadtrip that’s a few hours from Midtown! Dinos Alive in Schenectady showcases over 80 life-like, animatronic dinosaurs. There’s even a virtual aquarium to see and learn about prehistoric sea creatures! There are so many photo ops to be had so step back in time while you can! Find out more info & book tickets here. 35. Attend Juilliard’s first-ever Fall Festival Juilliard Celebration dress rehearsal at Peter Jay Sharp Theater, on Sunday, February 4, 2024.Juilliard Celebration, 2024. © Rachel Papo, courtesy Juilliard An inaugural fall fest is on its way to the iconic school, and it promises plenty of dazzling performances in music, theater, and dance. Students will join forces with with Arnhold Creative Associates, artists in residence, for 10 days of performances from September 12th to 21st. The debut event will include an outdoor activation at Lincoln Center on September 14th (with a rain date of September 15th), chamber music on September 15th, Juilliard Singing featuring drama, jazz, and vocal arts students in a night of musical theater saluting alum Marvin Hamlisch, and much more. But if you’re not able to attend the fall fest, the good news is that the Juilliard 2024-2025 season has over 800 performances on the calendar, so you’re sure to find something that strikes your fancy. Source:https://secretnyc.co/fall-bucket-list-nyc/