Fall in NYC is arguably one of the best times of the year—the weather is absolutely gorgeous and there’s a ton of fun to be had throughout the city.
Plus, all those fun-filled street fairs that took over the streets during the summer are still going on, alongside a ton of other amazing festivals. If we could give you a piece of advice it would be to take advantage of being outdoors this fall as much as possible and head to one (or all) of these fall festivals!
P.S. This is a running list and will continuously be updated as more fall street fairs and festivals get announced.
1. Oktoberfest
New York City has long been shaped by German culture and was once home to the world’s third-largest German population outside of Berlin and Vienna. Fast forward to the present day, and those traditions have stuck around.
As September arrives and Oktoberfest kicks off in Germany, there are plenty of ways to bring the bucket list destination event to life right now and right here in NYC: visits to biergartens, the Steuben Parade, and more.
📍 Multiple locations
2. New York Film Festival
Ready, movie buffs? The New York Film Festival will usher in the fall season with a lineup like none other: dramas, world premieres, and but of course, the Bruce Springsteen biopic, Deliver Me From Nowhere.
If you’re eager to see what’s happening in the movie world, quite literally, there’s no better place to venture this time of year than Lincoln Center. We’ll get you up to speed on the 63rd annual iteration of one of NYC’s best traditions.
📍 Multiple locations
📅 September 26th to October 13th
3. Japan Fes
Dive into the flavors of Japan at the Japan Fes, a massive food festival traveling around NYC this fall.
With food items averaging $10, it’s an affordable way to savor dishes from vendors like Menya Jiro and Tonkatsu Me.
Explore and eat your way through dozens of Japanese vendors while enjoying live performances and shopping for traditional Japanese novelties. The festival, organized by Dragon Yamamoto, aims to unite cultures through food, music, and art.
📍 Multiple locations
📅 Through November 8
4. New York Comic Con
The cosplay extravaganza is about to pull into NYC, so grab your cape and unleash your inner vigilante.
The highly-anticipated pop culture celebration hones in on comic books, movies, and publishing, and it’s considered the largest convention of its kind on the east coast.
The 2025 theme, “Haunted”, will be prevalent throughout the festival’s signings, talks, and more.
📍 Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
📅 October 9th-12th
5. Global Citizen Festival
The Global Citizen Festival is back for its 13th year in NYC, taking place on September 27th at Central Park’s Great Lawn.
This free annual music festival is on a mission to end extreme poverty and features a star-studded lineup including The Weeknd and Shakira.
Attendees can earn free tickets by taking action on the Global Citizen app, promoting causes like poverty alleviation and environmental protection. Learn more about the festival and how to participate.
📍 Central Park’s Great Lawn
📅 September 27th
6. Open House New York
Experience the unique opportunity to explore over 200 of New York City’s iconic buildings and landmarks during the Open House New York (OHNY) weekend.
This event, celebrating its 23rd year, offers a mix of in-person tours, self-guided explorations, and digital content of skyscrapers, power plants, artist studios, and everything in between. The festival is 100% free to the public, making it accessible to everyone.
Discover more about the event and plan your visit on the Open House New York website.
📍 Multiple locations
📅 October 17th – 19th
7. Sleepy Hollow Fall Festival
Autumn in Sleepy Hollow is not-to-be-missed.
The Hudson Valley hotspot, which was named the best fall getaway by Secret NYC readers, holds a day to celebrate its charming town and spooky roots. Enjoy nearly 200 vendors who come equipped with handmade trinkets, delicious bites, and but of course, seasonal decorations.
Nearby eateries and shops will be ready to welcome fair-goers: Casaletto Pizza, ChuChok Thai, The Taco Club, Cozy Coven, and Sleepy Hollow Bookshop are among the businesses ringing in the festivities with the rest of the town.
Expect a visit from the Headless Horseman at some point throughout the day — he’d never miss the festivities.
📍Beekman Avenue, Sleepy Hollow (Between Pocantico Street and Broadway)
📅 September 21st from 10am-4pm
8. Queens Agricultural Fair
The Queens Agricultural Fair is the ultimate fall/country vibe…and there’s set to be pie eating and corn husking contests, hayrides, carnival rides, midway games, and so much more.
While there enjoy live music and theatrical performances, local craft and food vendors, Blue Ribbon competitions, a three-acre corn maze, and more.
It’s one of our favorite annual seasonal fairs and tickets start at $10. Learn all the details on the Queens County Farm Museum’s website.
📍 Queens County Farm Museum
📅 September 27th, 11 am – 6 pm
9. Halloween Harvest at Luna Park
One of NYC’s iconic amusement parks is getting spooky this fall, as their annual Halloween Harvest returns for 2025!
Visitors can expect all kinds of Halloween-themed activities at the park including pumpkin decorating, balloon twisting, face painting, tractor racing, and trick or treating. Don’t forget about the pumpkin spiced and apple cider flavored carnival style treats!
Check out all of the full details on Luna Park’s event listing.
📍 Luna Park in Coney Island
📅 September 19th – November 2nd
11. BRIC JazzFest
The magical jazz marathon that is BRIC JazzFest returns this fall, bringing together legendary figures, groundbreaking artists, and newcomers from across the jazz genre.
Happening over the course of one weekend in October, BRIC House in Downtown Brooklyn will turn into a jazz epicenter and welcome names like Brandee Younger, Makaya McCraven, Daniel Villareal, Reggie Workman, Allysha Joy, and many more.
Learn more and get tickets online.
📍 BRIC House
📅 October 17th-18th
12. Brooklyn Book Festival
The 20-year anniversary of NYC’s beloved literary event is underway with talks, classes, and more.
On Sunday, September 21st, the book community — authors, imprints, small press publishers, editors, etc. — will come together for the outdoor literary market place at Brooklyn Borough Hall from 10am to 6pm and conduct the largest book market in the northeast. Bring a tote bag — you’re gonna need it!
📍 Multiple locations
🗓️ Through September 21st
13. Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction
Curtains up! Broadway Cares’ Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction is preparing for its time in the spotlight.
Memorabilia from Broadway and Off-Broadway productions are up for grabs, and stars from your favorite productions will be floating around for autographs and selfies!
If you’re a theater buff, this event is a no-brainer.
🗓️ Sunday, September 21st
⏰ 10am-7pm
📍 West 44th & 45th Streets between Seventh and Eighth Avenues