That’s right, New York, it’s October. The time for all of the pumpkins, apples, hot ciders, and Halloween costumes you can get your hands on.
Plus it’s still not too cold yet, so there are tons of outdoor activities you can still enjoy, along with foods to try and NYC locales to visit.
From magical pumpkin extravaganzas to spooky spectacles to munching on the yummiest fall treats, check out these 95 tips for awesome activities to enjoy all October long:
1. Explore this pumpkin trail with over 6,000 glowing Jack-O-Lanterns
Witness the magic of over 6,000 glowing Jack-O-Lanterns at Pumpkin World, the ultimate fall-themed experience. Beyond walking the pumpkin trail and exploring the Pumpkin Village, there’s pumpkin patch, hay maze, photo ops, an AR scavenger hunt, live carving demonstrations, games, and much more! Grab your tickets.
2. Venture into the scariest haunted house at ‘A Haunting in Hollis‘
Looking for a thrill? Head to ‘A Haunting in Hollis’ for a terror-inducing time! Goblins, ghouls, and hungry zombies await as you escape mazes and confront chaos in a terrifying lab. Plus, if you ever get too scared, just use “peanut butter” for a safe exit. Buy your tickets today.
3. Catch passionate performances with the limited return of Authentic Spanish Flamenco
For three weekends in October, the Royal Opera of Madrid & Fever will bring Authentic Flamenco back to NYC. Experience a passionate and traditional Spanish flamenco show that’s sure to be absolutely unforgettable. Whether you’re an avid flamenco lover or seeing it for the first time, you don’t want to miss out. Secure your tickets now.
4. Sink your teeth into this over-the-top Dracula comedy!
Drac is back and he’s thirstier than ever! The fang-tastic new play, Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors puts a hilarious twist on a gothic classic. Watch the antics of Dracula as he gets chased from Transylvania to England and back by the likes of vampire hunter Jean Van Helsing. This side-splitting comedy takes place at New World Stages located at 340 West 50th Street and tickets are available here.
5. Be Dazzled By The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
If you love carving pumpkins and all things Halloween, you’ll love the spectacular Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze. The event takes place in Hudson Valley (okay so technically not in NYC, but very close!), featuring over 7,000 illuminated pumpkins all hand-carved with various designs to create glowing sculptures. The illuminated pumpkins are turned into things such as dinosaurs, trains, carousels, snakes, skeletons, and just about anything you can think of. Find out more here.
6. Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness in Central Park
Join thousands of New Yorkers on Sunday, October 15th to walk for Breast Cancer in Central Park. The annual event helps fund the future of breast cancer research. Recruit your friends and family to sign up, set a goal and get to fundraising! The walk begins at 8am in Central Park. Learn more here.
7. Pretend every day is Halloween at NYC’s only Tim Burton-Themed restaurant
Beetle House in the East Village is known for serving up the Halloween spirit all year long, offering guests Burton-esque themes from food and atmosphere, to entertainment—perfect for one’s very own “Nightmare Before Christmas”! According to the owners, the idea behind the bar was simple: to “create a space where people who love Halloween, horror films, and Gothic dark music can gather for a meal and drinks and… feel completely comfortable to be as freaky as they want to be.” Learn more here.
8. Walk through a cosmic garden of light & sound at Astra Lumina
After huge success in Los Angeles, Astra Lumina makes its way to New York! This enchanted night walk at Queens Botanical Garden invites visitors to discover the wonder of visiting stars. Set off across mysterious grounds to discover a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions, and astral song. Grab your tickets here.
9. 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 from Oct. 17 – 31. 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.
10-13. Celebrate Halloween the right way
It’s spooky season! Which means it’s time to get ready for your favorite scary holiday: Halloween! And as NYC’s never one to hold back, there are plenty of exciting, spine-chilling ways to celebrate. Here are some of the best Halloween events across NYC:
- Sip on chilling cocktails at this sinister haunted tavern experience
- Explore the candlelit catacombs of Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral
- Have family-friendly fun at Pumpkin Nights at The Bronx Zoo
- Snap a photo of the famous Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla
Find our full list of exciting Halloween events here.
14. Join the waitlist for this immersive pop-up Pepsi diner coming to NYC
Dive into the 125-year history of the iconic drink as you enjoy diner-style dishes, tableside entertainment, limited-time Pepsi flavor offerings, and more at this interactive diner pop-up. Join the waitlist now!
15. 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 Tuesday, October 31st.Read more details about the parade here.
16. 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. Learn more.
17. Catch a showing of Selena at the Empire State Building
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Empire State Building will host a special movie night on October 15th, screening Selena. The iconic film follows the life and career of Mexican-American singer Selena. Find out more here.
18. Enjoy a photo-op on the infamous orange couch at NYC’s The FRIENDS Experience
Enter into the iconic NYC sitcom like never before at The FRIENDS Experience. Take a load off on the iconic orange couch, order a coffee from everyone’s favorite Central Perk, and even take a seat at Monica & Rachel’s kitchen table! There’s tons of memorable set recreations, costumes, and props to explore. Get your tickets here.
19-22. Head outside for an autumnal outdoor brunch
Outdoor dining is even better in fall than in summer, and what better way to experience that than a classic New York weekend brunch? Here are our favorite picks:
- Jacob’s Pickles, UWS
- Mom’s Kitchen & Bar, Astoria
- Rabbithole, Williamsburg
- Bronx Alehouse, Bronx
Find more of our fav spots here.
23. Test your teamwork skills at a live game show experience
Game of 1000 Boxes is an hour long show that will test your social strategy, reaction time, useless knowledge, puzzle-solving skills, and ultimately — your pure cosmic luck. Guided by a live host, teams of 4 compete in a series of high-energy party games. Prepare for an adrenaline-infused experience that measures your collective wits and button-finger agility. The highest scoring team wins one of the mystery boxes with whatever prize is inside. Get your tickets here.
24-27. Sail around the city on a fabulous cruise
You can still catch a perfect fall evening enjoying a drink on the water, sailing around Manhattan and watching the sun set over the skyline. We can feel those fresh Hudson River breezes already! Here are some amazing options still taking place, with safety measures of course:
- NYC Sunset Cruise
- Party like a MonSTAR Halloween Yacht Cruise NYC
- Pirates of Caribbean Halloween Sunset Boat Cruise
- Haunted Yacht Cruise Halloween Party
28-30. Guzzle down beers at exciting Oktoberfest celebrations
Oktoberfest: the perfect excuse to celebrate the arrival of autumn and day drink with friends—as if you really needed a reason. 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 favorite events happening this month:
- Taste unlimited beer samples at this Long Island Craft Beer Fest
- Spend Oktoberfest at Watermark
- Attend the Zum Schneider festival
31-34. Munch on NYC’s coziest fall treats
You can already feel it in the air, now it’s time to taste it! Fall is officially here and we couldn’t be more excited! Though we’re eager to bundle up in blankets and throw on our favorite flannel, we can’t forget that the best part of fall is it’s delicious flavors! Explore sweets of the season at these NYC spots offering fun and festive treats this autumn. Here are some of our faves:
- City Cakes Pumpkindoodle
- Art Bar’s Pumpkin Martini
- Chip City’s Pumpkin Spice Latte Cookie
- Wendy’s Pumpkin Frosty
35. 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.
36. Eat your way through NYC’s first Singapore hawker center
A hawker center is a traditional Singaporean food hall that hosts numerous stalls and vendors, and NYC’s very first, Urban Hawker, is open in Midtown. 17 vendors are bringing the vibrant flavors of Singapore, along with other cuisines such as Malay, Peranakan, Chinese, and Indian to Midtown Manhattan, with 11 vendors coming directly from Singapore’s very own hawker centers. Learn more here.
37-39. Head to the apple orchard
You can pick some of the best apples just outside of the Big Apple! With the crisp, fall breeze upon us, it’s that time of year to start planning a day trip out to the orchard. Prepare for a fall-tastic day apple picking with friends and family at these orchards near New York City.
- Fishkill Farms, Hopewell Junction, NY
- Milk Pail Farm: Water Mill, NY
- Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm: Yorktown Heights, NY
40. Get a head start on your holiday shopping at Bryant Park’s magical winter village
The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park typically has opened before Halloween in year’s past, so we can only hope it’s the same for this year. If that’s the case you’ll get the ultimate head start on the holiday season. Stay up to date on an opening announcement here.
41-45. Or go pumpkin picking
We’re finally swapping out our shorts for sweaters and ice coffees for a PSL, which means it’s time to start picking pumpkins! From New Jersey favorites, to some within the five boroughs, we know just the spots to find the most perfect pumpkins near you. Here’s some of the patches we love—all under two hours from the city:
- Pumpkin Point, Governors Island
- Demarest Farms, NJ
- Queens County Farm Museum, Queens
- Secor Farms, NJ
46. 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, now through October 30th! Learn more and find the full list of programming here.
48-52. Dine outdoors before it gets too cold
With outdoor dining becoming a true staple due to the pandemic, there’s tons of restaurants to enjoy en plein air before winter creeps up. Check out:
- Bricks & Hops, The Bronx
- Buddakan, Chelsea
- Boucherie, West Village
- Milk & Roses, Greenpoint
- Ten Hope, Brooklyn
53. This castle bed & breakfast in upstate NY will transport you to a fairytale wonderland
This weekend getaway will take you straight into the pages of a storybook! Wings Castle is a bed and breakfast inside of a replica of a medieval castle right in the middle of the Hudson Valley in the town of Millbrook in upstate New York — and it’s located only 75 miles north of NYC. There are five different rooms to choose from at the castle B&B, complete with truly magical features like a moat swimming pool that goes underneath the castle, tons of medieval decor, and patios with the most incredible views. Learn how to book your stay here.
54. Get lost in this little village in upstate NY made up entirely of bookstores
Tucked away next to the Catskill Mountains, is the quaint little town of Hobart Village full of the most charming range of bookstores — and (practically) only bookstores! It’s become quite a haven for readers and writers everywhere; they even host the annual Festival of Women Writers there, and also host two huge semi-annual sales the weekends of Memorial Day and Thanksgiving Day that draw hundreds of visitors. Read more about this unique town here.
55. Catch the changing foliage around New York State
Fall foliage is one of the nicest things about traveling through New York State. The annual fall foliage report for the area is updated every week throughout the season indicating where and when to visit, so be sure to take advantage and schedule a weekend trip before winter officially begins. P.S. Amtrak is offering a 25% off deal on Coach and Acela Business Class tickets when you book now through October 4th for travel from October 1 to December 15! Learn more about that here.
56. Get your skate on at Central Park’s iconic Wollman Ice Rink
Central Park’s Wollman Rink is joining Bryant Park’s ice rink in opening early for the season — and actually, it will be open even earlier than the Winter Village, opening for skating on Monday, October 24. Some wonderful reconstructions and renovations — including the Wollman Café — were unveiled last year, and they will also offer private sessions and classes like figure skating and ice dance, and offer season passes. Learn more here.
57-61. Get spooked at 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 places to chilling cemeteries there are plenty of locations to get yourself into the spooktacular spirit.
- Washington Square Park, Greenwich Village
- Machpelah Cemetery, Queens
- Blood Manor, Tribeca
- House of Death, Greenwich Village
- White Horse Tavern, West Village
62. Have a drink at NYC’s first-ever vinyl record craft beer bar
This under the radar, Black-owned business is Prospect Heights’ most hidden gem. The establishment has over 5,000 vinyls on-site ranging from hip-hop, funk, soul and jazz, in addition to offering an extensive, yet carefully curated tap-list with a large portion of their beers sourced from local breweries found in North Fork, LI or in upstate New York. Read more here.
63. 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), and this year it’s taking place October 21-October 23. This year will offer a mixture of in-person experiences, self-guided explorations, and digital content. Learn more here.
64-67. Check out some of NYC’s recently opened bars and restaurants
NYC’s bar and foodie scene is out of this world, and it only keeps getting better! New bars, speakeasies, restaurants, and fast food chains keep opening across the city all of which are a must-visit. Some new openings include:
- Nōksu, Koreatown
- Roscioli, SoHo
- Twenty Three Grand, SoHo
- MISIPASTA, Williamsburg
68. Sip on tasty cider at Brooklyn’s CiderFeast
Food Karma’s annual CiderFeast, taking place Thursday, October 6th, is celebrating Cider Week the right way. This tasty cider celebration includes endless samples of 15+ varieties of cider from 20+ brands around the world, ranging from local Brooklyn varieties to ones from France and Spain. Learn more here.
69-73. 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
74-77. Go on a weekend getaway
We discovered some truly incredible Airbnbs near NYC! Check them out here for a fall getaway:
79. 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.
80-85. Go on a beautiful fall hike
It’s a perfect time to check out some amazing hikes that are right on NYC’s doorstep as fall kicks in. With gorgeous fall foliage expected in New York, this is the time to get out and take a little adventure! Each of these hikes are accessible by public transport, perhaps with a bit of walking (or even a short cab ride if you’d prefer) to reach the trailhead…but you’re there to hike so might as well start early!
- Franny Reese State Park
- Stairway to Heaven
- Yellow Trail at Mount Beacon
- Anthony’s Nose Hike
- Camp Smith Trail
- Wanaque Ridge Trail
86. Check out the most adorable pumpkin village in NJ
We wrote about Happy Day Farm in New Jersey when it was peak sunflower season, and turns out it’s still the perfect place to go come fall! The over 20-acre farm in Manalapan Township, New Jersey just launched their weekend fall festival, which includes everything you could need for a perfect fall day, including the perfect “pumpkin house” photo ops, and of course, tons of pumpkin picking opportunities. Read more here.
87. 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.
88. Head to NYC’s annual Comic Con
Head to the one place where you can feel totally unafraid to geek out! Experience the best in pop culture, feel inspired by award-winning comic artists and Japanese anime creators, get your hands on exclusive fandom gear and unique artwork, and more at NYC’s annual Comic Con returning to Javits Center October 12-15, 2023. Learn more here.
89-94. Sip on as many PSL’s as you can stomach
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
95. 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.