I can’t speak for everyone, but without a doubt, fall is my absolute favorite time of year! It has my birthday, Halloween, the best food and drinks (in my opinion), and not to mention a ton of super fun fall activities! Here’s a guide for fall events around NYC, in no particular order, so you can live your best life this fall.
1. Tompkins Square Dog Parade – October 20th
This year happens to be the 29th annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade. The event takes place on Sunday, October 20th from noon to 3pm and features all kinds of dogs (and their owners) dressed to the nines in Halloween costumes. The event is free for spectators and dog walkers, and there’s no need to pre-register. Just show up and enjoy the furry fun!
2. The Bowery Boys: Ghost Stories of Old New York – October 27 and 31
“Bowery Boys: New York City History”, is a podcast hosted by Tom Meyers and Greg Young, in which they bring the history of New York City to life. In this special spooky event, the boys recount spooky ghost stories and folk-lore of New York set to music composed by Andrew Austin. The New York Times calls their podcast, “Among the best city-centric episodes and series we’ve heard so far”.
3. The Rocky Horror Picture Show – October 25, 26, 31
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a staple fall activity in my opinion, and one of the most outrageously fun things you can do with a group of friends. Dressing up, shouting out lines, and throwing toast in a movie theatre? What more could you possibly want from a night out? If you haven’t been to at least one Rocky Horror Picture Show, you seriously need to.
4. The Village Halloween Parade – October 31
This year will be the 46th year of the famous Halloween Parade presented by NY1. You can march, dance, watch, or even participate in a costume contest. The parade will take place on Thursday, October 31 at 7:00pm. If you can’t make it, you can stream the parade live from the website, so you don’t miss out on any of the fun!
5. Pumpkin Flotilla – October 30
The Central Park Conservatory hosts a Halloween event that features spooky storytelling, a costume contest, and a traditional pumpkin flotilla, in which you can enter your carved or decorated pumpkin to float in the Harlem Meer. The event takes place on Wednesday, October 30 from 4-7pm. You can carve and enter a pumpkin or come and watch the costumes and pumpkins float away.
6. Cider Week – November 8-17
As I said, the food and drink in fall is by far the best of any season. One of the reasons being apple cider. Cider Week is the perfect opportunity to attend the Lower East Cider Fest for a fun night of delicious cider and culture.
7. Harvest Fest and Pumpkin Patch – October 13
The Queens Botanical Gardens has a Harvest Fest on Sunday October 13. The Garden also has a pumpkin patch and hosts many other Fall related activities throughout the months of October and November. The Garden also offers discounts for students.
Here’s just a few fun fall activities worth checking out this month. I urge you to take a look at your neighborhood websites and bulletin boards and see what other fun events are just around the corner. Fall in New York is a beautiful thing, don’t miss out!