Is that a chill in the air we feel? November must be just around the corner!
As we approach the end of another unforgettable year in New York City, this month is a sweet reminder to slow down, soak up the start of the holiday season, and appreciate the little things that make this city so special. And honestly, we couldn’t be more grateful for our favorite city and all the incredible experiences it has to offer.
From celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to gliding across the ice at an iconic NYC rink, discovering exciting new restaurants, and getting a head start on holiday magic, there’s no shortage of ways to make the most of the season. Whether you’re in the mood for a cozy fall escape or ready to dive headfirst into festive fun, here are the best things to do in New York City this November.
We recently went super viral for visiting On The Easel, which hosts fun mosaic workshops in Long Island City.
To celebrate, we’re teaming up with this amazing creative space to host another Secret Club meetup, where our members can design and create two custom drink coasters using colorful glass tiles, inspired by NYC’s legendary subway mosaics.
We’ll also be throwing in a free beer and complimentary tacos with every ticket, and all materials will be provided. All you have to do is show up, get creative, and meet other like-minded locals from the Secret Club.
Be sure to join the club and secure your ticket before it’s too late!
Trade the usual night out for a live music experience surrounded by hundreds of flickering candles. Candlelight Concerts are bringing a range of musical tributes to NYC venues this November, from pop favorites to classic rock, all performed in intimate settings that make the experience feel a little more special.
- November 12: Candlelight: Tribute to Taylor Swift — 6:30 p.m. at St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church
- November 12 and 14: Candlelight: Tribute to Dolly Parton — 8:45 p.m. on November 12 and 6:30 p.m. on November 14 at St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church
- November 13: Candlelight: Tribute to Juan Gabriel on Strings — 6:30 p.m. at Church of the Heavenly Rest
- November 13: Candlelight: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles — 6:30 p.m. at St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church
- November 13: Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA — 8:45 p.m. at Church of the Heavenly Rest
- November 14: Candlelight: Tribute to Lauryn Hill — 8:45 p.m. at St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church
- November 19: Candlelight: 90s Hip-Hop on Strings — 6 p.m. at Church of the Heavenly Rest
You don’t need to wait for December to make ice skating part of your winter plans.!
Wollman Rink in Central Park opens for the season on October 24, giving you a chance to glide across the ice with the park’s skyline and trees as your backdrop.
Or head to Rockefeller Center for another classic New York skating experience. Book ahead where possible, especially for weekend sessions, and remember that skate rentals may cost extra.
Looking for a thoughtful gift? These NYC wellness retreats offer luxurious self-care experiences
Treat yourself or someone special to a little self-care at AIRE Ancient Baths, with locations in Tribeca, inside a 16,000-square-foot former textile factory dating back to 1883, or on the Upper East Side, inside an 120-year-old space once used as a MoMA storage warehouse. Inspired by ancient civilizations, these peaceful wellness retreats are two of our favorite spots to feel like we’ve escaped from NYC’s hectic pace, with decadent thermal baths, aromatherapy steam rooms and relaxing massages.
Planning a much-needed reset or searching for a thoughtful gift? Choose from experiences like Escape Together, featuring a relaxing massage and thermal baths, Love Connection, which adds a hot basalt stone massage and a glass of juice, or Orange Garden, a signature ritual with body and face massages, a cooling hydrogel mask, a scalp massage, thermal baths, and refreshing juice. Make self-care easy to gift with AIRE Gift Boxes, available for home delivery or in personalized virtual formats.
Learn more about AIRE Ancient Baths.
📍Locations:
Tribeca: 88 Franklin St., New York, NY 10013
Upper East Side: 305 E. 61st St., New York, NY 10065
Check out an immersive exhibit
Step into another world at Arte Museum: Who says a museum visit has to mean quietly staring at paintings? At Arte Museum New York, art comes to life through larger-than-life visuals, enveloping soundscapes, and custom fragrances that bring the beauty of nature to all your senses. Wander through mesmerizing digital waterfalls, dreamy floral landscapes, and ocean-inspired scenes for an immersive escape from the city streets.
Get lost in the futuristic worlds of Mercer Labs: For an art experience that feels straight out of the future, head to Mercer Labs, a Museum of Art and Technology in Lower Manhattan. Across 15 immersive rooms, you’ll encounter interactive installations, dazzling projections, mirrored landscapes, and unexpected creations that blur the line between art and technology. And if you’re looking to make a night of it, keep an eye out for special events like Mercer Labs’ astrology-themed masquerade and DJ sets.
Embark on a virtual expedition to Mount Everest: You don’t need to book a flight to the Himalayas to take on one of the world’s greatest adventures. At Everest: The First Ascent, an immersive virtual reality experience at Eclipso NYC, you can retrace the historic 1953 expedition alongside Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay, and the Sherpa team who helped make history. Journey through glaciers, towering icefalls, and extreme mountain conditions before reaching the summit, all without leaving Manhattan. It’s a thrilling way to experience the roof of the world without packing a single winter layer.
Fall isn’t over just because Halloween has passed!
The first week of November is forecast to bring peak fall color to NYC, with foliage potentially lingering into the following weeks depending on the weather.
Plan a scenic day trip to the Hudson Valley for leafy trails, charming towns, and crisp autumn air before winter fully settles in.
Some New York traditions deserve a spot on every November bucket list, and this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an especially big one: the beloved spectacle is celebrating its 100th parade!
Head to the route to see enormous character balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands, and performers usher in Thanksgiving morning. The parade steps off at 8:30 a.m. on November 26, so plan to arrive early for a good viewing spot.
Sip your way through New York’s craft cider scene
Calling all cider lovers!
The NY Cider Festival NYC is returning on Saturday, November 14, for an afternoon of crisp pours, local flavors, and fall fun at Red Hook Cidery in Brooklyn.
Produced by the New York Cider Association, the festival brings together cider makers from across the state for tastings, live music, food, and the chance to discover your next favorite New York-made cider.
For a classic fall-in-the-city experience, catch one of NYC’s biggest traditions when the TCS New York City Marathon takes over all five boroughs on Sunday, November 1.
The 2026 race marks the 50th anniversary of the iconic five-borough course, with nearly 60,000 runners expected to make the 26.2-mile trek from Staten Island to Central Park.
You don’t have to be running to join the fun: line the streets with fellow New Yorkers, cheer on the runners, catch the elite athletes, and soak up the electric energy that takes over the city every November.
This year’s professional field includes three defending champions, 40 Olympians and Paralympians, and 25 Olympic, Paralympic, and World Championships medalists.
Spend a chilly night at a cozy wine bar
As the temperatures drop, it’s time to trade those summer spritzes for a glass of something a little more seasonal.
Enter Bar Veloce, a longtime NYC favorite serving up a modern take on the classic wine bar, with several locations across Manhattan.
Settle in with a glass of red, catch up with friends over a bottle, and pair your pour with Italian-inspired bites for a cozy night out that feels a world away from the cold outside.
Thanksgiving season is all about expressing gratitude, and let’s be real, a good meal deserves some appreciation, too.
New York City’s dining scene is constantly evolving, with new restaurants and bars popping up across the five boroughs.
Make November the perfect excuse to finally book that buzzy new spot you’ve been eyeing, discover your next favorite neighborhood haunt, or toast to the season with a cocktail somewhere new.
The holiday season officially starts to feel real when New York’s most famous Christmas tree arrives at Rockefeller Center.
The 2026 tree is scheduled to reach the plaza on November 7, giving visitors a chance to see the towering evergreen in person before the annual lighting ceremony.
Just note that the tree won’t be illuminated until December 2, so November is the time to catch its arrival and watch the holiday scene take shape.
Sip a Broadway-inspired cocktail at Bowtie Bar
Dinner and a show are a classic New York pairing, but what about Broadway at happy hour? On November 5, Bowtie Bar is bringing the musical SIX to the cocktail lounge with a live performance inspired by the high-energy show.
Pair the experience with The Crown Takeover, a specialty cocktail featuring gin, elderflower liqueur, blood orange, lemon, and prosecco. It’s a fun way to add a little theater to your evening without heading into a theater seat.
For a November outing that feels a little more magical than the usual dinner-and-drinks plan, keep LUMINISCENCE on your radar.
The immersive light-show concept at St. Patrick’s Cathedral transforms the historic space with illuminated visuals that play against its soaring architecture.
It’s a striking way to experience one of Manhattan’s most impressive landmarks from a different perspective.
Calling all Potterheads: you can trade the streets of NYC for an enchanted woodland trail inspired by the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.
At Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience, visitors can follow a nighttime path filled with magical creatures, atmospheric lighting, and familiar moments from the wizarding world.
It’s an especially fun pick for a fall evening, when the dark forest setting adds to the atmosphere. The experience opens in Yorktown Heights in October, with sessions scheduled Wednesday through Sunday from 5:30 p.m.
Shop your way through Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
Bryant Park’s Winter Village is back, bringing a little European-style holiday-market magic to Midtown. Browse rows of jewel-box kiosks selling gifts, artisan goods, and seasonal treats, then take a break for a bite or skate around the outdoor rink.
The market opens before November even begins, so you can get an early start on holiday shopping without waiting for Thanksgiving to pass. The rink is free to use if you bring your own skates, while rentals are available for a fee.
If your idea of holiday magic involves a little Victorian drama and a well-crafted cocktail, this immersive experience is calling your name. A Christmas Cocktail Carol is bringing Charles Dickens’ beloved ghost story to The Arches in Crown Heights for a special two-day run on December 4–5.
Over 90 minutes, you’ll journey through the eerie worlds of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, with four handcrafted cocktails inspired by Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation included in your ticket. Expect theatrical storytelling, festive spirits, and a delightfully spooky twist on a holiday classic — just the thing for a unique night out with friends or a spirited date night.
Relive Fleetwood Mac’s greatest hits at an intimate live show: If “Dreams,” “Landslide,” and “The Chain” are permanent fixtures on your playlist, this one’s for you. Fleetwood Mac: Stripped brings the legendary band’s biggest hits to life through soulful arrangements, lush harmonies, and a live acoustic band, all performed by talented Broadway and TV vocalists. Catch the intimate concert experience at The Cutting Room in Midtown for a nostalgic night of classic rock, powerful vocals, and plenty of songs you’ll want to sing along to. November’s scheduled performance is November 21.
Dance the night away at Broadway Sings ABBA: Calling all dancing queens! Get ready for a night of disco nostalgia with Broadway Sings ABBA, a high-energy live concert celebrating the Swedish pop group’s iconic hits. Featuring powerhouse vocalists and a live band, the show reimagines favorites like “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” and “Waterloo” with big theatrical vocals and infectious grooves. Head to The Cutting Room on November 22 for a feel-good evening that’ll have you saying “Thank You for the Music.”