NYC’s Best September Events–San Gennaro, Broadway Week, US Open & More

Summer’s last hurrah is here, and September in NYC is shaping up to be absolutely packed with amazing things to do before sweater weather sets in. Thankfully, the calendar is bursting at the seams with reasons to get outside and soak it all in. And the best part? The weather’s just cool enough to frolic around without melting, but still warm enough for those late outdoor nights we love. So get ready for a September full of unforgettable moments to perfectly kick off autumn–here are the best NYC September happenings: Soak in summer’s remaining rays & warm weather at the beach --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soak up the remaining [summer](https://secretnyc.co/things-to-do-in-nyc-summer-2025/) sun at one of the city’s many popular beaches or keep it lowkey at a hidden one. Either way, there’s still some time to dig your toes in the sand before the fall weather descends upon us! Marvel at the haunting blood moon lighting up NYC skies --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prepare for a breathtaking show in the night sky–on the night of September 7th, the moon will slip into Earth’s shadow, transforming into a deep, fiery Blood Moon during a total lunar eclipse. This eclipse is no ordinary one–the totality phase will last over 80 minutes, making it one of the longest in recent years. Read all about it here. Eat your way through Bronx Little Italy’s beloved Ferragosto Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The smell of sausage and peppers, cannolis, and cacio e pepe is nearly in the air, and that can only mean one thing: Bronx Little Italy’s beloved Ferragosto Festival is on its way back! Every September, the neighborhood celebrates the Italian tradition of Ferragosto with food, music, and more, and this year it returns September 7th. Get all the details here. ...Or head to the biggest Italian fest in the U.S.–San Gennaro ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NYC’s feast of all feasts is back! The Feast of San Gennaro is once again taking over Manhattan’s Little Italy for 11 days of carnival games, parades, music, and of course, amazing Italian food. The street fair returns in all its Italian glory September 11th to 21st. Read more here. Be wowed as you walk through these VR and immersive experiences -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From visual and audio presentations taking up massive walls to theatrical performances, there’s tons of jaw dropping immersive experiences in NYC to jump into a mind-blowing escape from reality. Here are some of our favorites: 🫧 Bubble Planet — an immersive, pastel-hued wonderland with 8 bubble-themed rooms, giant ball pits, and whimsical photo ops—perfect for kids, adults, and celebrations 🗿 Horizon of Khufu – a VR experience that puts you in the footsteps of pharaohs, exploring the grandeur of the pyramids–and Egypt–as they stood 4,500 years ago (closes September 30th) 🎤 Amplified — a 270o immersive experience at ARTECHOUSE featuring 1000+ photos, 200 videos, and 1300+ Rolling Stone covers Attend the annual West Indian Day Parade ---------------------------------------- The National West Indian Day Parade returns to NYC on September 1st. The tradition, which began in Harlem and has become one of New York’s major cultural celebration, draws crowds estimated between 1 and 3 million each year and celebrates the heritage of the Caribbean with a lively day of festivities including singers, dancers, extravagant costumes, food vendors, and more. Hop aboard a fleet of rare vintage buses ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NYC’s most beloved fleet of vintage buses is pulling into Brooklyn Bridge Park on September 21st for the 2025 Bus Festival. Step aboard decades of transit history with the Manhattan skyline as your photo-perfect backdrop–and even hop aboard special surprise guest vehicles that will make even seasoned transit fans do a double take. Read more. Sample endless tasty bites at one of NYC’s longest running food festivals ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One of NYC’s most beloved and longest-running food events is back! On September 8th, the annual Taste of Times Square will return—a delicious outdoor festival bringing together over 30 restaurants from the district for an evening of global flavors and live entertainment. See participating vendors and a lineup of entertainment here. Surround yourself in the colors of the changing fall foliage ------------------------------------------------------------ The Old Farmer’s Almanac fall forecast is predicting a cooler-than-average season that can “translate to some pretty foliage.” Be sure to stay on top of I LOVE NEW YORK’s annual fall foliage report which provides weekly insight on New York State’s changing fall foliage throughout the season. Catch an adrenaline-fueled match at the US Open in NYC ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 2025 US Open is set to deliver two weeks of thrilling tennis action–with an expanded 15-day schedule format with more matches, more drama, and more chances to witness the world’s top players–to the biggest stage in New York. This year it’s happening August 24th through September 7th. Find out all the deets–from where to watch it and how you can snag tickets for yourself–via our guide. Check out Shakespeare in the Park at the revitalized Delacorte Theater -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shakespeare in the Park has returned to its iconic home at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater for its 63rd season, and you can catch a show now through September 14th. The 2025 production is*Twelfth Night*, featuring a star-studded cast including Lupita Nyong’o, Peter Dinklage, and Sandra Oh. Learn more. Surround yourself in nature Queens Botanical Garden ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Queens Botanical Garden is a stunning urban oasis celebrating the beauty of plants and cultural diversity, and with a variety of educational programs and environmentally-focused initiatives, it stands as an inspiring space for visitors to learn, relax, and explore nature. Experience lush gardens and discover the harmony of plants, cultures, and environmental stewardship. Get your tickets here. See the annual 9/11 Tribute In Light ------------------------------------ NYC’s Tribute in Light tradition is a commemorative public art installation that honors those lost on 9/11. From dusk to dawn on the night of September 11th, two beams of light made with eighty-eight 7,000-watt xenon lightbulbs will shine four miles into the night sky at the site of Ground Zero. Learn more. Indulge in nonstop flavor, music, and culture at NYC’s Latin Food Fest ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Over 30,000 food lovers showed up to Latin Food Fest last year, and this year it’s coming back bigger, better, and bolder than ever. The festival will bring a culinary carnivalstraight to Industry City in Brooklyn on September 13th and 14th, with more than 70 vendors offering 300+ mouthwatering Latin and Caribbean-inspired dishes. Read more. Score 2-for-1 Broadway tickets during Broadway Week ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NYC’s Broadway Week is returning September 8th through 21st, offering theater lovers 2-for-1 tickets to some of the best musicals and plays currently on stage. The beloved event has been going on since 2011 to help boost the local theater economy. Here’s everything you need to know. Secure your spot in line at Blood Manor, NYC’s Premier Haunted House ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Halloween will be here before you know it, which means Blood Manor will be returning to Downtown Manhattan for a screaming good time. Running for over two decades, New Yorkers and tourists alike have been returning to this creepy location every spooky season, and tickets are now available. Don’t miss your chance to have a hellish Halloween! Pick your own apples just outside of the Big Apple -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New York isn’t known as the Big Apple for nothing! And though there aren’t any orchards in the city itself, there are tons located not too far away. Grab a basket and activate fall mode as you reach for Granny Smiths, Red Delicious’, and everything in between. Check out our list of spots near NYC here. Strut through Van Gogh Starry Nights before it closes at New York Botanical Garden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Van Gogh’s Flowers are coming aglow on certain evenings at New York Botanical Garden, but only through September 13th! Wander through a breathtaking lawn of real sunflowers, relax to live music and performers, and celebrate the iconic “Starry Night” with a 10-minute illuminated drone show finale sparkling in the night sky—the first of its kind at a cultural institution in New York City. Grab your tickets here. Sing along to Doechii, Lucy Dacus, Clairo & more at All Things Go Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ All Things Go Festival 2025 is returning to Forest Hills StadiumSeptember 26th through September 28th for its second edition. Renowned for its innovative approach to curation and community, the festival welcomes some of music’s largest independent superstars making splashes in the scene. Read all about it here. ...Or belt out your favorite tunes from The Weeknd, Shakira, & others at Global Citizen Festival --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 13th iteration of Global Citizen Festival in NYC is bringing The Weeknd, Shakira, and more to NYC’s Central Park on September 27th. Around since 2012, the music festival isn’t just about chart-topping performances, though—it’s a global movement. Read all about it here. Put on your crispest white outfit and head to this secretive dinner party -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On September 19th Dîner en Blanc, the wildly popular, all-white pop-up dinner party, will once again transform a secret NYC location into an unforgettable open-air soirée. With over 4,000 guests expected, this year’s edition promises to be one of the most dazzling yet–and for the first time, it will feature Michelin-starred French chef Daniel Boulud! Read more. Live like Jack and Sally at New York Botanical Garden, which will be transformed into Tim Burton’s world in *The Nightmare Before Christmas* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NYC is becoming Halloween Town this fall, and a wonderland of moonlit magic awaits as Disney “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” Light Trail comes back to NYBG bigger and better than ever! Join Jack Skellington, Sally, and Zero for a frightfully fun frolic through the world of the beloved film, now featuring even more of your favorite characters, scenes, and songs. Join the waitlist. Grab a pint and shout “Prost!” at a beer garden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What better way to welcome the fall than with an ice-cold pint at one of the many NYC beer gardens?! While our friends across the pond begin celebrating Oktoberfest in mid-September, we can join in on the fun with live music, good food, and great drinks right here in NYC. Find our picks here. Grab some local produce at a farmers market ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Although many NYC farmers markets are open year-round, what better time to take a walk through and get some fresh produce or artisan breads and cheeses than the fall?! Just around harvest time the produce this time of year is amazing, and the level of goods you can find at a market is unmatched. Find some of our favorite farmers markets here. Slip into shavasana al fresco at Bryant Park’s free yoga classes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bryant Park’s beloved free yoga classes returned this summer for their 22nd year, and once again the program is extending into the fall! The hour-long classes focus on healing and stress reduction on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday evenings, and they’re going on through September 17th. Learn more here. Stuff your face with unlimited bluefin tuna, uni, and more at this enormous sushi festival --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sushi-Con, the country’s largest sushi expo, is heading to NYC on September 6th and 7th. The festival will feature unlimited tastings from over 40 food-related companies from the U.S. and across the globe, a 400+ pound bluefin tuna cutting demonstration, and on-site restaurant experiences. Read more about the festival here–you won’t want to miss it! Hear some of your favorite songs with a Broadway twist -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Broadway Sings takes top theater acts backed by an orchestra for an epic concert series, allowing guests to hear all their favorite artists and songs with a Broadway twist! Some shows we’re eyeing currently include ABBA (September 26th) and Taylor Swift (September 27th). Secure your spot here! Source: https://secretnyc.co/things-to-do-in-september-in-nyc-2025/