Spooky season is about to be in full swing before we know it, NYC!
October brings an unbeatable mix of pumpkin-filled outings, costume-packed parades, crisp fall walks, and plenty of frightful fun around every borough.
Of course there are plenty of Halloween happenings taking over the city, but there’s also tons of other great events happening too!
From haunted houses and parades to world-renowned film festivals and conventions, there’s plenty happening for the month.
We’ve rounded up the best things to do in NYC this October, so you can start planning them now!
Find a costume and march in the Village Halloween Parade
On Halloween night, Sixth Avenue becomes New York at its most gloriously unhinged. The Village Halloween Parade returns for its 53rd year on Saturday, October 31, filling the route with giant puppets, marching bands, dancers, fire-breathing creations, and tens of thousands of people who spent far too long perfecting their costumes.
This year’s theme is “Body & Soul,” an invitation to go beyond the standard store-bought vampire cape and wear something that shows off your weirdest, brightest, most imaginative self.
The parade is one of the world’s largest participatory Halloween events, and anyone in costume can join the procession as long as you’re in a costume!
Want to watch instead? Stake out a spot along Sixth Avenue early, especially around the Village, where the crowd gets thick fast.
The parade starts at Canal Street and heads north to 15th Street, with more than 50,000 marchers expected to take part.
To see the full 2026 route, theme details, and more information, head here!
Looking for a magical fall escape from NYC? The Harry Potter Forbidden Forest experience is bringing a new adventure to Westchester starting October 16, with spellbinding surprises, magical creatures and interactive moments to discover along the illuminated trail. Head to FDR State Park, just 40 miles from NYC, and step into the Wizarding World for an enchanting night out.
The Church of the Heavenly Rest is trading its usual glow for thousands of flickering candles this Halloween season, as Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics returns on October 29 and 30.
A live string quartet will perform eerie favorites from The Addams Family, Beetlejuice, Stranger Things, Psycho, The Exorcist, Halloween, Ghostbusters, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, along with classics such as Saint-Saëns’ “Danse Macabre” and Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain.”
The result is more cinematic chills than jump-scare haunted house: strings echoing through the church’s soaring Gothic Revival interior, rows of candlelight, and a perfectly theatrical excuse to get into the Halloween mood!
Book tickets for Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics.
See tomorrow’s biggest films at the New York Film Festival
The 64th New York Film Festival turns Lincoln Center into a red-carpet hotspot from September 25 through October 12, with 32 films from 31 countries in its Main Slate alone.
This year’s must-watch premieres include James Gray’s Paper Tiger, opening the festival with Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, and Miles Teller; Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth!, starring Pedro Pascal; and Luca Guadagnino’s Artificial, starring Andrew Garfield as OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman.
Also on the lineup: Ava DuVernay’s 14th*, Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary You Can See Everything*, a new Paul Thomas Anderson concert film, and world premieres from Jonathan Glazer, Tom McCarthy, and Aftersun director Charlotte Wells.
Ticket prices vary by screening and go on sale September 15th at noon, and the full lineup can be found here!
Get pumped up for the NYC Marathon with a packed calendar of HOKA events in NYC
It’s pretty well known that NYC Marathon weekend is one of the highlights of the year and this year is set to be no different!
There’s a whole month of celebrations happening throughout October, courtesy of HOKA – trust us, these are not ones to be missed! From a pop-up on marathon weekend to photobooth moments, make sure you’ve got all the important dates down this month – check out our guide now!
Spend a full day in cosplay at New York Comic Con’s 20th anniversary
New York Comic Con takes over the Javits Center from October 8–11 for its 20th anniversary, bringing four packed days of celebrity panels, major studio reveals, cosplay, collectibles, artist signings, and tons of amazing costumes.
This year’s Guest of Honor is Nicolas Cage, with other announced guests including Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Lena Headey, Matt Smith, Jamie Campbell Bower, Tom Welling, and Kyle MacLachlan.
The early programming lineup also includes panels for Marvel Television and Marvel Animation, Bob’s Burgers and Futurama, ONE PIECE, Godzilla Minus Zero, and more. NYCC’s official 2026 programming schedule is continuing to grow.
Friday and Saturday, 4-day, and VIP passes are already sold out, but limited Thursday and Sunday passes remain.
Ticketed attendees should also watch for panel-reservation windows, since the biggest Main Stage and Empire Stage events typically require advance booking.
See the full listing of scheduled NYCC programming and ticketing information here.
The Royal Opera of Spain (Teatro Real) makes its historic return to New York City for an exclusive, one-night-only concert at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall on October 15. Led by notable Maestro Gustavo Gimeno, the Orchestra of the Teatro Real presents a mesmerizing celebration of Spanish musical heritage.
The evening features master guitarist Juan Manuel Cañizares performing Rodrigo’s iconic Concierto de Aranjuez, alongside acclaimed soprano Adriana González delivering soulful renditions of Manuel de Falla’s masterpiece works. Don’t miss this rare, extraordinary chance to experience Madrid’s premier opera institution live in NYC for one night only.
Tickets and more info available here on this rare show in NYC.
Get inside 300 usually off-limits NYC spaces during OHNY Weekend
For one October weekend, New York opens doors that usually stay firmly shut.
Open House New York Weekend returns October 16–18, unlocking 300 sites across all five boroughs for behind-the-scenes tours, talks, and drop-in visits.
The 2026 preview includes a dusk visit to the Flatiron Building, the DOT Sign Shop in Maspeth, Rockefeller Center’s gardens, and the massive Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park. Expect a mix of historic civic buildings, newly built skyline-shapers, infrastructure that keeps the city running, private collections, performance spaces, and creative workshops.
Most sites are free and open for walk-ins, but popular tours require advance tickets because of capacity or security restrictions.
The full lineup drops September 25, with ticketed-program reservations opening October 2, so put both dates on your calendar.
True-crime fans, consider this your final warning: Mind of a Serial Killer is only around until November 1, so now’s the time to step inside this immersive exhibition exploring the crimes and investigations behind some of the world’s most infamous serial killers.
And there’s an extra treat for James Patterson fans: to celebrate the release of his new book, The Family Cross, a dedicated bookcase in the exhibition’s merch store is stocked with signed copies of his latest releases.
Fancy getting your hands on an invite to the book launch? Follow Secret NYC and Secret Book Club on Instagram for the chance to nab one of a very limited number of spots.
Check out two vibrant fall experiences at the New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden is giving you two very different reasons to head to the Bronx this October.
First, Flower Power runs through October 18, turning the grounds into a joyful, ’60s-inspired celebration of flowers as symbols of peace, love, and protest.
Expect giant peace signs, painted Volkswagen vans, colorful fabric canopies, and works connected to pop-art icons Andy Warhol and Milton Glaser!
At the same time, NYBG is launching its first-ever Día de los Muertos celebration, running October 3 through November 2. The garden will fill with marigolds, calaveras, ofrendas, music, dance, art-making, and family programming, building toward a larger celebration and parade on November 1.
Check out the full list of October programming at NYBG here!
Eat your way through the Queens County Fair
A proper country fair is returning to Queens, complete with hayrides, carnival rides, corn-husking contests, square dancing, live music, farm animals, and New York City’s only corn maze.
The 43rd Annual Queens Agricultural Fair takes over the 47-acre Queens County Farm Museum on October 3 and 4, bringing a lineup of fall fun to Floral Park.
Ride the merry-go-round, test your nerve on a mechanical bull, browse local food and craft vendors, or cheer on the farm’s iconic Blue Ribbon competitions for vegetables, baked goods, arts and crafts, and more. The awards ceremony takes place at 2 pm on Sunday, October 4.
The fair is only the start of the farm’s October lineup. Its Pumpkin Patch is open throughout the month, the Amazing Maize Maze offers daytime runs on select dates, and Maze by Moonlight lets visitors navigate the corn maze after dark.
Later in the month, Halloween on the Farm brings costumes and a family-friendly monster mash to the grounds.
For all information on Queens County Farm’s fall happenings, check their website.
For a proper Halloween-season adrenaline spike, head about an hour north of Manhattan to Pure Terror Scream Park, a Guinness World Records-certified haunt with 10 indoor haunted houses at one location.
The 2026 lineup includes a new Gargoyle Den attraction, alongside nightmares with names like Bedlam State Asylum, Panic Attack Extreme, Psycho Circus, Resurrection Cemetery, and Pumpkin Alley.
The Monster Courtyard & Midway also offers seasonal drinks, food, horror merch, and photo ops if you need a breather between scares!
It runs on select nights from September 18 – November, with tickets starting at $45!
Run 13.1 miles for free pastries and a seated pastry course at Eleven Madison Park.
For a fall event that’s equal parts fitness and foodie fun, the NYC Bakery Run returns on Sunday, October 25, 2026: a free 13.1-mile route through Manhattan and Brooklyn with 10 bakery stops and a seated pastry finish at Eleven Madison Park.
Entry is free but extremely limited — 100 spots are raffled via a lottery (open now; winners announced Oct 15).
See the Cathedral of St. John the Divine become delightfully strange
Halloween gets wonderfully weird inside the Cathedral of St. John the Divine during its annual Halloween Extravaganza, returning for two nights only on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24.
This year’s centerpiece is the classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, screened beneath the cathedral’s soaring Gothic arches with a live organ score by Artist in Residence David Briggs.
Once the final scene fades out, the night takes an even stranger turn: enormous puppets from the Mettawee River Theater Company wind through the cathedral in a theatrical Halloween procession.
It is equal parts old-Hollywood horror movie, Gothic spectacle, and New York only-in-October tradition. Costumes are encouraged, and tickets tend to go quickly for one of the city’s most atmospheric Halloween nights.
The Cathedral’s 2026–27 event calendar confirms the October 23–24 dates and 7 p.m. start time.
Celebrate Diwali in Times Square
Times Square trades its usual billboard glow for an all-day celebration of music, dance, color, and community during Diwali at Times Square on Saturday, October 24.
The free outdoor festival takes over Broadway’s pedestrian plazas between 46th and 48th Streets with classical and folk dance, Bollywood performances, live music, food vendors, and craft stalls.
The event is considered the largest South Asian Festival of Lights celebration in North America, drawing thousands of people to honor Diwali’s messages of light, hope, renewal, and unity.
It’s worth noting that the Hindu festival of Diwali itself falls in November this year, while the Times Square celebration is scheduled earlier in October!
For more information about the Diwali at Times Square celebration happening, head here!
Autumn Glow Festival turns Glen Island Park in New Rochelle into a glowing nighttime walk filled with hundreds of handcrafted Chinese lanterns, from towering dragons and pandas to vivid floral displays.
The roughly hour-long route is designed for wandering slowly, taking photos, and letting the lanterns do their thing after dark.
Families can also find a lantern-lit bounce house, illuminated swings and seesaws, sugar-painting demonstrations, and a dinosaur ride.
It runs on select nights from September 13, with tickets starting at $25.99!
Take a photo walk at NYC’s first-ever 5 Boro Photo Fest
Step away from the endless scroll and into a room full of actual photographs you can take home.
The inaugural 5 Boro Foto Fest lands at Culture Lab LIC on Sunday, October 25, bringing together local photographers, galleries, darkroom collectives, indie photo bookstores, publishers, and gear brands for a one-day, artist-alley-style marketplace.
Expect fine-art prints, photo books, zines, and mixed-media work for sale directly from the people who made it.
Organizers are billing it as an intentionally AI-free space, so no generative-AI work will be sold, just real photographers and physical work you can hang on your wall or leave proudly on your coffee table.
The 5 Boro Foto Fest’s official site has the latest vendor lineup and free-registration information.
One of Midtown’s most recognizable landmarks gets a very different kind of after-dark treatment with LUMINISCENCE, a 60-minute immersive show that layers 360-degree video mapping, a live orchestra, choir, and narration through the Gothic Revival interior of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
The experience is narrated by Jonathan Roumie, known for The Chosen, and uses light and sound to tell the story of the cathedral beneath its soaring arches, stained-glass windows, and twin spires.
It’s the rare chance to see Fifth Avenue’s most famous church become the backdrop for a full-scale multimedia performance.
It kicks off starting October 2, and is set to be one of NYC’s most fascinating light shows.
To celebrate our viral video at On The Easel–which hosts exciting mosaic workshops in the heart of Queens–we teamed up with the 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!
All materials will be provided, so all you have to do is show up, get creative, and meet other like-minded locals from the Secret Club. Plus, tickets come with a free beer and complimentary tacos! with every ticket
If this sounds right up your alley, be sure to join the club to secure your tickets before it’s too late!
Step inside the world of Dexter at the Paramount+ pop-up
NYC is getting a pop-up in honor of everyone’s favorite blood-spatter analyst!
To celebrate Dexter’s 20th anniversary, a free, three-day exhibition is running October 9-11 at Chelsea Industrial.
Take a trip to Paramount+ Dexter 20th Anniversary Museum for authentic props and set recreations from the show, as well as immersive activities and games, letting you enter Dexter’s twisted world. You can also take a part of the experience home with you with loads of amazing photo-ops and exclusive customisable merch.
Spots for the short run are going to go fast so secure your free entry here!
Drink one-liter steins at NYC’s Oktoberfest celebrations
October is your final excuse to put on something vaguely Bavarian, order a giant pretzel, and commit to a one-liter beer stein in public.
NYC’s Oktoberfest season stretches well beyond the official German festival, with cobblestone street parties, waterfront beer gardens, live oompah bands, bratwursts, stein-holding contests, and views that Munich could never compete with.
For a waterfront version, OktoberFest NYC at Watermark runs at Pier 15 through October 26, with Brooklyn Bridge views, giant pretzels, brats, German beers, games, and oversized steins.
In Greenpoint, Zum Schneider Oktoberfest is the closest thing to a proper Munich-style beer tent, with communal tables, Bavarian beer, German comfort food, live music, lederhosen, and waterfront atmosphere through October 4.
For a longer-running option, Loreley Beer Garden in the Lower East Side keeps the party going through October 31, pouring one-liter steins and beer boots alongside pretzels, sausages, weekly pig roasts, keg tappings, and pumpkin kegs later in the season.
Dress your dog up for the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade
No Halloween event captures New York’s commitment to a bit quite like the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade, when costumed pups become the unquestioned stars of the East Village.
Think tiny dogs dressed as the Statue of Liberty, bulldogs in homemade float costumes, dachshunds turned into hot dogs, and human-dog duos that clearly began planning their look months ago.
The event is organized by the nonprofit New York Dog Parade, which calls it the largest Halloween dog parade in the world, and it usually draws thousands of spectators for its costume contest and Best in Show showdown.
The 2026 date, route, and participant-registration details have not yet been announced, but it is expected to return to the East Village in October.
It’s free to watch, but arrive early once the date is confirmed, because the crowd around Tompkins Square Park gets packed fast and the front-row viewing spots vanish almost immediately.
New York turns into its most cinematic version of itself in late October, when tree-lined brownstone blocks, park paths, and waterfront lookouts trade summer green for copper, gold, and deep red.
For the classic experience, head to Central Park, where roughly 18,000 trees frame the Reservoir, The Mall, and Great Hill.
Prospect Park is Brooklyn’s answer, with more than 30,000 trees across 175 species, particularly beautiful around Lullwater Bridge, Lookout Hill, and the Long Meadow.
For an escape that feels far beyond the city, wander the Thain Family Forest at the New York Botanical Garden, the city’s largest remaining tract of uncut old-growth forest; hike the Greenbelt’s 35-plus miles of trails on Staten Island; or make for Fort Tryon Park for leaf-filled paths, Hudson River views, and the city’s largest public garden.
Our guide to NYC’s best fall-foliage spots has a full borough-by-borough map of where to go.
Hunt for hidden wonders in Central Park, then catch free outdoor movies
Central Park is giving New Yorkers two excellent reasons to head north this October, and neither requires a marathon-level foliage walk.
First up is Wonder in the Woods, a brand-new, family-friendly scavenger hunt through the park’s quieter North Woods on Saturday, October 3. Start at the Davis Center between 10 am and noon, then follow a self-guided loop through the woodland landscape, hunting for playful surprises and taking in the hills, trees, and waterfalls at your own pace. The route takes about 30 minutes, no registration is required, and it is happening rain or shine.
Then, from October 6–9, the Central Park Conservancy Film Festival returns in partnership with National Geographic. The event is moving to the fall for the first time, giving film lovers four nights of free outdoor screenings surrounded by peak-season Central Park energy. Film titles and the exact location are still to be announced, so keep an eye on the Conservancy’s event page.
This one is for the true-crime devotees who want more than a podcast queue!
Mind of a Serial Killer: The Experience brings visitors through forensic history, FBI profiling, case files, courtroom-evidence recreations, and artifacts linked to infamous crimes.
The exhibition includes a VR investigation that places you in an FBI-style field office to examine clues and case materials, as well as reconstructed rooms tied to Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer.
It is serious, graphic, and more contemplative than a standard jump-scare attraction, so it is recommended for adults and mature audiences, but it’s so worth it.
Ride The Cyclone during Luna Park’s Halloween Harvest in Coney Island
Coney Island is already a little spooky after dark!
Add costumed characters, a Halloween-themed midway, fall treats, and the rattle of the Cyclone in the background, and you have Luna Park’s annual Halloween Harvest.
The family-friendly fall celebration is expected to return this October with weekend activities, seasonal photo ops, entertainment, and Halloween fun spread across the amusement park.
Luna Park has confirmed that Halloween Harvest will return for the 2026 season, but the official dates, hours, activity lineup, and any event-specific admission details have not yet been announced.
Check Luna Park’s website before heading down, since the park operates on a seasonal schedule and ride availability can vary by day.
Run a 5K, then catch a Diplo concert in Queens
Who says your workout can’t end with a concert? Diplo’s Run Club is returning to NYC on Saturday, October 24, combining a 5K run with a post-race concert featuring Diplo and friends at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
The route starts and finishes inside the park, taking runners past some of Queens’ most recognizable landmarks, including the Unisphere and New York State Pavilion, before the race gives way to a full-on music festival.
The event previously sold out in New York, and this year’s race is already 90% sold out, so runners will want to snag their spot sooner rather than later.
Hear Broadway Stars take on Whitney Houston, ABBA & Fleetwood Mac
Broadway voices, a live band, and the songs that have already spent decades living rent-free in your head.
Broadway Sings brings musical-theater performers and TV vocalists to The Cutting Room for high-energy tribute nights that give pop classics a full theatrical lift.
October’s lineup begins with Whitney Houston on Friday, October 9, with Broadway and TV vocalists tackling powerhouse ballads and dance-floor staples like “I Will Always Love You” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”
Then it is time for shimmering synths, dramatic harmonies, and maximalist disco energy at Broadway Sings ABBA on Saturday, October 17, featuring favorites from “Dancing Queen” to “The Winner Takes It All.”
The month closes with Fleetwood Mac: Stripped on Saturday, October 24, a more intimate, acoustic-led spin on “Dreams,” “Go Your Own Way,” “The Chain,” “Landslide,” “Rhiannon,” and “Silver Springs.”
Each show runs roughly 65–75 minutes. Doors open 45 minutes beforehand, and seated guests are subject to a $25 food-and-drink minimum, so arrive ready to order a cocktail, dinner, or both. Broadway Sings’ NYC guide has more upcoming tribute nights.
NYC is getting a pop-up in honor of everyone’s favorite blood-spatter analyst!
To celebrate Dexter’s 20th anniversary, a free, three-day exhibition is running October 9-11 at Chelsea Industrial. Take a trip to Paramount+ Dexter 20th Anniversary Museum for authentic props and set recreations from the show, as well as immersive activities and games, letting you enter Dexter’s twisted world. You can also take a part of the experience home with you with loads of amazing photo-ops and exclusive customisable merch.
Spots for the short run are going to go fast so secure your free entry here!