Fun Ways to Celebrate Fall in NYC

Fun ways to celebrate fall in nyc

Happy Fall Y’all! Even though the weather is getting cooler, there’s still plenty of fun activities to do with the family. If you’re a native New Yorker and aren’t into doing day or weekend trips or visiting this shoulder season, here are some fun ways to celebrate fall in NYC.

The Bronx

Fall in NYC - Everett Children’s Adventure Garden in Pumpkins: Playful & Plentiful

Scarecrows & Pumpkins! at the New York Botanic Garden

September 17–October 30, 2016

Scarecrow Nights for Families

Date: October 21, 22, 28, and 29, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. (timed entries at 6:30 & 7:15 p.m.)

Cost: General Admission: Non-Member $20/Member $15. Advance tickets recommended. Children 14 or younger must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Special ticket required

Pumpkins: Playful & Plentiful at the New York Botanic Garden

Date: Open all day for exploration, with guided activities from 1:30 to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

Cost: General Admission Daily Hands-on activities include:

  • Festive fall puppet show
  • Spooky tea party in the Victorian playhouse
  • Sprout a seed necklace
  • Exploring flowers, fruits, and seeds on view in the Adventure Garden

View these fall events and more at NYBG.org.

Brew at the ZooDate: Saturday, October 29 7:00 – 11:00PM Cost: $29.99 – Designated Driver or $44.99-$74.99 for General Admission The Bronx Zoo is opening its first-ever Bronx Zoo Brew at the Zoo. There will be over 40 beer vendors and 100 varieties of beers to sample, numerous food trucks, live music, and an abundance of DJ’s for a unique, 21-and-over evening. For vendor listings and ticket purchases, visit the Bronx Zoo official site.

Manhattan

Madame Tussauds Ghostbusters ExperienceCost: Tickets for Madame Tussauds New York start at $29 online. Tickets inclusive of Ghostbusters: Dimension are $55 online. The Ghostbusters Experience is a multi-layered and sensory environment immersing you into a fantastical and spirited world, inspired by the 2016 film. Using a combination of virtual reality, real-time interactive effects, and a physical set, you’ll become a Ghostbuster and blast your way through a ghost-infested apartment complex with your own proton pack and gun. Learn more on the GhostBusters Experience website.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

Date: Thanksgiving Day

Cost: Free

Celebrate over 90 years of existence and join millions for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The procession starts at Central Park West from 77th Street and ends in front of Macy’s in Herald Square. Not a fan of huge crowds? Get a preview of the parade the day before around the American Museum of Natural History for balloon fillings. Visit their official site for times, performance lineup and complete parade route.

NYC Wine and Food Festival

Date: October 13-16, 2016

The NYC Wine and Food Festival is a collaboration between the Food Network, the Cooking Channel, and Food & Wine magazine. This four-day event showcases talents of world-renowned wine and spirits producers, chefs, culinary personalities and TV chefs while fighting to end hunger. For ticket prices, visit NYCWFF.org.

Brooklyn

Boo at the ZooDate: Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30 (11 AM- 4 PM) Cost: General Admission Visit the Prospect Park Zoo for a costumed Character Scavenger Hunt, face painting, and other Halloween-themed games and crafts. At the end of the day, there will be a costume parade, followed by a kid-friendly dance party. Learn more at ProspectParkZoo.com.

Smorgasburg Prospect Park

Date: Sundays until October 23, 11 am – 6 pm

Smorgasburg, in partnership with the Prospect Park Alliance, presents Smorgasburg Prospect Park. This outdoor food market features 100 vendors offering packaged and prepared food and beverages.

Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest

Date: Saturday, October 29, 2016, 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

Cost: Free

Head over to Fort Greene Park for their annual Halloween Festival & Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest. The festival features live music, dance workshops, games with giveaways, face painting, a pumpkin patch, creepy-crawlies with the Park Rangers, and Fort Greene PUPS’s Great PUPkin costume contest for dogs and owners (dog contest starts at 11:30 a.m.). For directions, visit NYC Park’s official site.

Queens

The Amazing Maize Maze

DateWeekends (Sat/Sun), September 24 – October 30, 2016; & Columbus Day, Oct 10th 11:00 am–4:30* pm

Cost: Adult: $10, Child (ages 4-11): $5, Ages 0-3: Free

Find clues, solve puzzles, and make your way out of a 3-acre corn maze. The adventure begins with a “Stalk Talk” to prepare you for the challenge. For more adventure, go through the maze by the starry night sky (or by flashlight) on two Saturdays only — October 15th & 22nd, 2016. Check out more events at QueensFarm.org.

King Manor Fall Festival

Date:October 15 @ 1:00 pm4:00 pm

Cost: Free

Stop by the historical King Manor Museum and make corn husk dolls, churn butter the old-fashioned way, press apple cider, play historic games and learn to dance like its 1805. For directions and more information, visit KingManor.org.

Harvest Fest and Pumpkin Patch

Date: Sunday, October 16, 2016, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Cost: $12 Adults and Seniors; $10 Children; Free for members.

Pumpkin Patch and select activities require additional fees. Enjoy Live Music, Games, Nature Walks, Farm Tours, Bouncy Houses, Craft & Food Vendors, Petting Zoo, Beer Tent, Pumpkin Patch, and more at the Queens Botanical Garden. For more information, visit Queensbotanical.org.

fall in nyc pumpkin patch

Staten Island

The Great American Harvest Fest

Date: October 23, 2016 , 10 AM – 5 PM

Cost: Adults $6, Children (1 and over) $6, Family of Four $20

Experience old-fashioned American crafts from the 19th century in town. Take the FREE shuttle to the Decker Farm and enjoy pumpkin picking and hayrides. Visit HistoricalRichmondTown.org for more events.

Ocean Breeze Halloween Festival & Haunted TrailsDate: October 29-30, 2016, 12:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. Cost: Free The Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex will be hosting their first annual Halloween Festival & Haunted Trails. The celebration will include Halloween inspired activities and contests, crafts, pumpkin picks, music, and much more. For the full schedule of events, please visit our website at OceanBreezeNYC.org.

Of course there are many more ways to enjoy the season. If you’re looking for more ways to celebrate Fall in NYC, visit the following sites to build your itinerary:

NYC Parks

NYC Go – NYC Official Tourism Site,

Time Out NY

Fun Ways to Celebrate Fall in NYC
How do you celebrate Fall in NYC?

19 thoughts on “Fun Ways to Celebrate Fall in NYC

  1. Michelle Malone says:

    Oh my goodness! There’s so much to see and do. I love events that are pup-friendly. I’d like to visit NYC for New Year’s Eve or Christmas one year. I look forward to seeing some of your travel tips. Great post!

  2. Eva says:

    Man. I need to get to NYC to visit and enjoy some of this fall fun (especially the FREE fall fun)! NYC is one of my favorite short trips to make.

  3. Kemkem says:

    Wow! It sounds like there is a lot of things to do in the city. I think l would really enjoy the Ghostbusters and the brews ones. They are kind of starting that pumpkin stuff here too, and trick or treating.

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