Have a gander at our guide of things to do in NYC in October, which is best enjoyed with a PSL and apple cider doughnut.
If you’re glad we live in a world where there are Octobers, you’ll be equally glad to ring in this month in NYC. We’ve rounded up Halloween happenings, scenic adventures, and everything in between to make the most out of the next 31 days. So: where will you begin?
1. Shriek and scream at Jimmy Fallon’s Tonightmares
Wander through 10 spooky rooms, all inspired by the Late Night host’s worst dreams, beginning September 20th. You’ll try to make your way through a haunted maze as creepy characters like mad scientists and hungry werewolves come to greet you.
Tickets are now available for the scary sensation… if you dare.
2. Try your luck at the Squid Games Experience
Ready to attempt frightening challenges from the Netflix series? (Results won’t be so drastic, of course.) Try to see if you have what it takes to beat the Young-hee Doll in “Red Light, Green Light” or if you can tread across the “Glass Bridge” successfully. We’ll be rooting for you!
The event opens October 11th and tickets are on sale from $39.
3. Enjoy a fall foliage cruise
If you’re craving more than your annual apple picking excursion this year, why not head out to sea for a fall foliage cruise? Nothing compares to New York’s waterfront scenery, especially when the leaves begin to change. Enjoy beautiful views, great bites, and stop for hikes in some of New York’s best locales.
4. Find your way out of the Only Murders in the Building escape room
Are your sleuthing skills up to snuff with Mabel, Charles, and Oliver’s standards? This hour-long experience, the brainchild of the streaming platform and The Escape Game, asks participants to help our beloved trio save their film project. After the reel of their movie goes missing, it’s up to you to use your instincts on the faux movie set to unlock clues, solve puzzles, and ultimately, get the reel back into the right hands.
5. Enjoy the scenes of the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
Thousands of intricately carved pumpkins in all sorts of fun themes will illuminate the autumn evenings in both the Hudson Valley and Long Island. For those in search of an Instagrammable moment this Halloween season, you’ve come to the right place. Tickets are now available.
6. Attend the first-ever New York Halloween Dog Parade & Costume Competition
We all know and love the Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade, but there’s also a canine-focused seasonal event the following week that deserves your attention: the New York Halloween Dog Parade & Costume Competition on Sunday, October 27th at 4pm.
Not only will man’s best friend be able to show off their adorable looks on Columbus Ave. between 73rd and 74th Streets, but they can enjoy Camp Canine’s dog-friendly trick-or-treat map, which coincides with Open Streets between 67th and 77th Streets. Halloween for dogs? No need to tell us twice, folks.
7. Catch the October Supermoon
The cosmos have been busy in October: first the Northern Lights were visible in NYC, then a super-buzzy comet dashed through the sky — and won’t do so again for thousands of years — and now a gorgeous, yellow/orange-toned full moon will set the morning sky aglow: the Hunter’s Moon, is a supermoon that will be visible at 7:26 am ET on October 17th.
8. Root for the Yankees
It’s an exciting time to be a baseball fan in NYC, as the Yankees have made their way to the World Series to face none other than the LA Dodgers. Get all the World Series Info — or try snagging $1K tickets, if you’d like to be there for the historic matchup — and cheer for the Bronx Bombers to bring home the championship.
9. Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness in Central Park
Join thousands of New Yorkers on Sunday, October 20th for a good cause. The annual event helps fund the future of breast cancer research. Recruit your friends and family to sign up, set a goal, and start fundraising.
10. Visit the second-annual Bronx Zoo Pumpkin Nights
The second-annual spectacle is joining the ranks of the best Halloween events in NYC, and with good reason: a half-mile display of 5,000+ pumpkins adorn the attraction and highlight the amazing ecosystems of our planet.
Once the sun sets, the luminous jack-o-lanterns expertly carved to look like our favorite animals — bears, otters, cheetahs, the list goes on — give visitors a unique perspective on the Amazon rainforest, Himalayas, African Savanna waterhole, and beyond.
Visitors are welcome on Thursdays through Sundays from September 26 to October 13 from 7-10pm and October 17 to October 27 from 6:30-10pm.
11. Hop aboard Madame Morbid’s Trolley Tours
We’re all for an informative and scenic tour, but this trek across Brooklyn isn’t your average sight-seeing adventure. A turn-of-the-century trolley is at your service, shuffling you across Kings County’s spookiest spots as you learn about mob murders, Revolutionary War battles, and alien abductions.
12. Immerse yourself in cult horror vibes at the pop-up bar Black Lagoon
Halloween pop-up bar Black Lagoon is bringing spooky cocktails and all the creepy vibes to NYC’s Pretty Ricky’s.
Visitors will find themselves among skulls, life-sized coffins, skeletons, and bubbling cauldrons, complete with a soundtrack full of punk, metal, and eerie noises. And, of course, an equally eerie cocktail list will be available for guests to peruse. Learn more here.
13. New York City Wine & Food Festival (NYCWFF)
Hungry? We’re willing to bet you’ll find a lot to savor at the 17th annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Invesco QQQ from October 17th to 20th. The four-day celebration features 80 events and over 500 chefs who are ready to send tastebuds on an extraordinary journey. This year, the foodie extravaganza will expand into Brooklyn — and feature a NYCWFF Ferry powered by Invesco QQQ — truly showcasing the global culinary status of the five boroughs.
Expect run-ins with celebrity chefs, samples of your favorite local fare, and of course, plenty of entertainment. The menu will be as expansive as the cool things to do: Rachael Ray will return to host Blue Moon Burger Bash and Blake Lively will host The Betty BOOze Harvest Happy Hour at The Lawn in The Seaport, to name a few activities.
Plus, the festival’s expansion into Kings County will include a headlining event, Brooklyn Eats & Beats featuring celebrated borough chefs and Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, who will serve their premium ready-to-drink cocktail, Gin & Juice. Even better? It’s all for a good cause, as NYCWFF supports God’s Love We Deliver, NYC’s only provider of life-sustaining meals and nutrition counseling.
Secret NYC readers can even cash in on a discount: 25% off general admission tickets to any of the festival’s events at the Brooklyn Army Terminal. Type in “Secret 25” when checking out.
14. Catch a movie at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival
What would spooky season be without a few scary movies? Luckily, the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival returns from October 17th to October 24th and gives us something to scream about. Expect new national and global movies that take the genre to a whole new level. Some options to look forward to this year include The Dead Thing, Dracula (Live Score), and Who’s Watching.
15. Celebrate Dia de Muertos
From food tastings to performances and everything in between, the Flatiron Nomad Partnership will transform into a stunning week-long Dia De Muertos celebration. Don’t miss out!
16. Partake in NYC’s 50th annual village Halloween parade
The annual Village Halloween Parade is turning 50 this year! The parade usually attracts 60,000 participants and will take place on October 31st.We have all the details you need to know.
17. Snap a pic at The Seaport’s festive pumpkin arch
New Yorkers can expect to see the return of Pier 17’s beloved 10-foot-tall Pumpkin Arch on the Heineken Riverdeck.
Each year, it makes for the perfect fall photo-op with the Brooklyn Bridge gleaming in the background. Visit the Seaport District from September 28th..
18. Catch a Jets game
It’s touchdown time, and we have all the intel on the Jets 2024-2025 season.
19. Head outside for an autumnal outdoor brunch
Outdoor dining is even better in the fall than the summer, and what better way to experience the spectacular season than a classic New York weekend brunch? Here are few places we frequent on Saturdays and Sundays:
- Jacob’s Pickles, UWS
- Mom’s Kitchen & Bar, Astoria
- Rabbithole, Williamsburg
- Bronx Alehouse, Bronx
Find more of our favorite spots right on our site..
20. Sip beers at Oktoberfest celebrations
Known for bringing in the fall with bratwurst, dancing, and plenty of brews, Oktoberfest is a treasured, annual German festival normally celebrated mid to late September, but because the festivities are just too fun, tons of events will carry through the month of October in the city. Here are some of our favorites:
- Taste unlimited beer samples at this Long Island Craft Beer Fest
- Spend Oktoberfest at Watermark
- Attend the Zum Schneider festival
We’ll give you a glimpse of 2024’s Oktoberfest lineup in NYC, but good luck just picking one.
21. Munch on NYC’s coziest fall treats
It’s time to indulge your senses in the best of the fall season — cinnamon, apple, pumpkin. Some of our favorite autumnal bites include:
- City Cakes Pumpkindoodle
- Art Bar’s Pumpkin Martini
- Chip City’s Pumpkin Spice Latte Cookie
- Wendy’s Pumpkin Frosty
22. Take in a magnificent concert by candlelight in NYC’s most spine-chilling spaces
Listen to a string quartet perform a mix of classical and modern Halloween pieces at a venue bathed in candlelight for a haunting twist on classical music or spooky movie themes. Grab your tickets here.
23. Eat the world’s second-best burger
We’re saddened to report that the world’s best burger is no longer a gold medal that New Yorkers hold — but we do hold the silver medal!
The West Village staple Pizza Loves Emily took home a second spot globally, according to the Burgerdudes, so you know it’s worth a lunchtime visit this fall.
24. Head to the apple orchard
Grab your Granny Smiths and Golden Delicious apples straight from the source at a few of our go-to orchards near NYC:
- Fishkill Farms, Hopewell Junction, NY
- Milk Pail Farm: Water Mill, NY
- Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm: Yorktown Heights, NY
25. Catch a movie at the New York Film Festival
NYFF62 returns with a slate of essential cinema from around the globe. Our guide will help cinephiles like yourself decide on a schedule for the weeks-long event.
26. Or go pumpkin picking
Gotta get a gourd, right? If you’re in need of some orange in your apartment, travel to these pumpkin patches in and around NYC:
- Pumpkin Point, Governors Island
- Demarest Farms, NJ
- Queens County Farm Museum, Queens
- Secor Farms, NJ
27. Celebrate all things fall at NYBG’s ‘Fall-O-Ween’
“Fall-O-Ween” at NYBG is offering 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.
2024 dates are currently TBD, but you can learn more on the NYBG website.
28. Visit ‘Dark Matters: Nightmare Before Midnight’
Mercer Labs’ limited-time exhibition begins October 4th and “examines the role of darkness in art history” and is considered “a mirror to our fears and fascinations with the unknown”. But this is not for the faint of heart, as the 36,000-square-foot spot utilizes 8k projections, omnidirectional sound, and robots to bring the spooky experience to life.
29. Head to the Tompkins Square Park Dog Parade
We all love the Village Halloween Parade, but its canine counterpart is a delightful opportunity for pet lovers and their furry friends to celebrate the spooky season. Head to the spot on October 19th and make sure Fido is wearing the most creative costume you could imagine, though let’s be honest, every dog gets a 10/10 at this event.
30. Take the kids to Trick-or-Streets
NYC is a famously congested city, but with the car-free Halloween celebration, Trick or Streets, over 100 streets will be vehicle-free so kiddos can celebrate the spooky fun in a safe environment.
31. Catch the changing foliage around New York State
Fall foliage is one of the nicest things about traveling through New York State.
If you’re craving a kaleidoscope of red, orange, and gold, we uncovered when fall foliage will peak in NYC.
Anyone fancy a walk through Central Park?
32. Get your skate on at NYC’s best ice rinks
Ready to perfect those moves on the ice? Ice skating rinks in NYC begin to set up shop for the season, typically in October.
At this time, the iconic Rockefeller Center Rink will open for the season on October 12th and Wollaman Rink will open on October 26th. As other locations around the city begin to reveal their plans, you’ll be the first to know.
33. Visit the most haunted places in and around NYC
This month, we’re all looking to add a little mischief to our lives, and what better way to do so than by adventuring to some of the most allegedly haunted spots across the city?
From popular restaurants to chilling cemeteries, NYC is home to plenty of locations that will get you in the spooktacular spirit, including:
- Washington Square Park, Greenwich Village
- Machpelah Cemetery, Queens
- Blood Manor, Tribeca
- House of Death, Greenwich Village
- White Horse Tavern, West Village
34. Go to Comic Con 2024
Attention all superheroes, vigilantes, and beyond: New York Comic Con is gearing up for its annual return to Gotham, so make sure your costume is ready.
Whether you’re interested in attending a panel, checking out the work of new creators in Artist Alley, or simply shopping around for collectibles, the four-day festival is one for the (comic) books.
35. Explore 200+ significant NYC buildings that are normally closed to the public
Each year one weekend in October is dedicated to giving New Yorkers the chance to explore the city’s hundreds of significant and most noteworthy buildings and structures across the five boroughs for Open House New York (OHNY).
This year’s event from October 18th to 20th offers a mixture of in-person experiences, self-guided explorations, and digital content.
Learn more and see it for yourself..
36. Check out new Michelin star spots
A total of eight new dining locations in NYC have earned this coveted honor in the food world, including:
- Corima (Mexican cuisine)
- Four Twenty Five (Contemporary cuisine)
- Tolo (Chinese cuisine)
- COQODAQ (Korean cuisine)
Where will you dine first?
37. Visit Top Of The Rock’s new rotating Skylift
Skylift at Top of the Rock Observation Deck boasts an unobstructed, 360-degree aerial view of NYC. Guests will step onto the open-air platform to begin their ascension. Once reaching beyond the topmost floor of 30 Rock, the platform will begin to rotate visitors for the perfect panoramic scene.
38. Find your way through a corn maze
With October upon us, 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. Some of our favorite spots include:
- Queens County Farm, Queens
- Outhouse Orchards, NY
- Kelder’s Farm, NY
- Stony Hill Farms, NJ
- Harbes Orchard, Long Island
39. Have a ‘Wicked’ treat at The Plaza
The Plaza is taking a few cues from The Land Of Oz ahead of the Wicked movie premiere with a themed tea full of plenty of sweet treats, fittingly under the emerald dome of The Palm Court.
40. Visit this shop in the East Village that’s part bookstore, part wine bar
Cozy into big leather chairs and curl up with your next read at this local independent bookstore that’s also home to a bar — where you can enjoy wine, beer and snacks in between chapters. Book Club Bar spans one large floor, with tons of bookshelves filled to the brim and a bar offering an extensive wine list. Find out more here.
41. Get 2-for-1 tickets to Off-Broadway Week
Curtains up! Off-Broadway Week is ready to dazzle theatergoers with musicals, comedies, ghostly tales, and sitcom parodies from September 30th to October 13th with 2-for-1 tickets. Participating productions include Friends! The Musical Parody, Blue Man Group, Drunk Shakespeare, and The Play That Goes Wrong.
42. Check out “Dinosaur” the pigeon on The Highline
Iván Argote’s 16-foot aluminum-cast sculpture, Dinosaur, will venture over to The HighLine beginning October 16th, and the piece is meant to be “a complete 180 of the typical power dynamic between bird and human.” It’s also an awesome photo opp!
43. Ride America’s longest mountain roller coaster right here in New York
Called the “Cliffside Coaster,” the longest mountain roller coaster in the country (that opened for the first time in 2020) is located on Mt. Van Hoevenberg, a cross country ski, snowshoe, biathlon & mountain biking center in Lake Placid with 50km of terrain. As you ride all the way to the tippy top you’ll learn all about the area’s Olympic history for bobsledding, as you take in the incredible views of the Adirondacks and the beautiful fall foliage. Reserve your ride here.
44. Check out the new Barbie exhibit
Grab your pinkest outfit: The Museum of Arts and Design, a creative gem in Columbus Circle, will do the honors of hosting Barbie: A Cultural Icon — 250 vintage dolls, life-size fashion designs, advertisements, exclusive video interviews with the doll’s designers, and so much more — beginning October 19th. Oh, and did we mention a life-size Barbie Mirror-Pink Corvette is zipping into the space?
45. Sip on as many PSL’s as you can
The autumn chill not only calls for sweaters, but an obscene amount of seasonally flavored caffeinated beverages. If you’re looking for a good cup of coffee in NYC you can surely throw a pebble from your doorstep and you’ll likely hit one. These are some of our most beloved:
- Astoria Coffee, Queens
- Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Greenwich Village or Flatiron
- Blue Bottle, Multiple Locations
- Cafe Grumpy, Multiple Locations
- Culture Espresso, Midtown
- Devoción, Multiple Locations
46. Enjoy the great outdoors at a fall street fair
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, so take advantage of being outdoors this fall as much as possible and head to one (or all) of NYC’s fall street fairs and festivals! Find out list here, which is constantly being updated.
47. Enjoy Halloween events for kids
From celebrations at Luna Park to cool displays at the Bronx Zoo Pumpkin Nights, we’ve rounded up the best family-friendly happenings throughout the five boroughs.
48. See a Broadway Show
We have your ticket to all of the best productions on the Great White Way, from beloved favorites like Hamilton to new hits like Suffs.
49. Head to the Queens Botanical Garden Pumpkin Patch
Queens Botanical Garden’s exciting fall-themed farm is open to the public! Everyone’s favorite season comes to life with harvest-themed photo-ops and family-friendly activities. Looking for your very own Jack-O’-Lantern? Children (and adults!) aged 4 and up can choose the perfect pumpkin to take home at Queens Botanical Gardens, before exploring photo-ops and crafts! Sugar pumpkins are the main squash you’ll find on-site, ideal to bake pumpkin pies, cookies and bread galore. And if picking pumpkins, seed planting and chalk art doesn’t get you pumped for the season, autumn-themed book readings and friendly costumed characters just might! Grab tickets!
50. Explore Halloween decor in NYC
Ghosts, and ghouls, and monsters, oh my! Halloween decorations in NYC run the gamut from creepy to kooky and everything in between.While we love a good costume party and can’t resist marching in the Village Halloween Parade, some of the best Halloween events in NYC consist of simply walking down the street, eyeing seasonal aesthetics adorned on brownstones, mom and pop shops, attractions, and beyond.
51. Head to a Manga Pop-Up
Step into a world of all things manga this October as a fully immersive manga pop-up has taken over SoHo for four exciting weeks! Kodansha, one of Japan’s largest publishers of manga and the creative force behind iconic stories like Akira, Sailor Moon, Attack on Titan, and Blue Lock, is inviting fans to experience Kodansha House: Where Manga Meets. Dedicated to all things anime, the pop-up takes the form of a vibrant meeting place where the world of manga comes alive.
52. Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day In NYC
From a celebration at Randall’s Island to a kids’-focused event at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, there are plenty of ways to honor indigenous people’s strength and resilience this month.
53. Check out a cool Halloween party in NYC
From Circoloco, an Ibiza-style record label takeover, to the City of Gods event from the folks at House of YES, Halloween parties in NYC are creative, spooky, and everything you could possibly want from an evening out on the creepiest night of the year. Allow us to show you what’s under way this year.
54. Head to the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
While yes, it’s only October, it’s already time for the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. Enjoy shops, seasonal bites, ice skating, curling, and so much more at this wintertime hotspot. Sure, it’s unseasonably warm right now, but you can just leave your winter coat at home.
55. Celebrate the New York Liberty’s historic win
After their first win in franchise history, the New York Liberty — and its iconic Mascot Ellie the Elephant — are celebrating. Join them for a ticker-tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes on Thursday, October 24th starting at 10am.