Planning to spend fall in NYC? Check out this post for 15 incredible things to do for the fall in NYC.
As a native New Yorker, I feel like there’s no limit to what you can do in the fall in NYC. In fact, just being in NYC in the fall is an experience of itself. Fall in NYC is the time where you can breathe in the crisp air of the leaves and pretend you’re in the middle of a love story for the ages. So, if you’re looking for things to do in NYC for the fall, you’ve come to the right place. This post alone will highlight 15 incredible things you can do in the fall ranging from spooky Halloween events to gorgeous leaf peeping opportunities.
NYC Bucket List Series
P.S. This is a post in my NYC Bucket List series. Here is the complete 4-part series:
Tourist Mistakes: 12 Common Mistakes to Avoid in NYC
Solo Trip: 101 Things to Do Alone in NYC
Itinerary: NYC in 2 Days: The Ultimate Itinerary
Fall: 15 Incredible Things to Do for Fall in NYC
Walk the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze (fall in nyc)
Walking the Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze is a great thing to do in the fall in NYC! Located outside the city’s limits, the Blaze is the tri-state area’s coolest Halloween event with more than a 1000 glowing pumpkins. At this event, you’ll witness thousands of glowing jack-o-lanterns shining along the riverside near Van Cortlandt Manor. Lit up, the pumpkins are decorated in elaborate displays throughout historic landscapes. For instance, at Hudson Valley, you can find a jack-o-lantern display of a hive filled with glowing bees.
So, if you’re planning to attend the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, I highly recommend it. The Blaze has two locations: Hudson Valley and Long Island. One location isn’t necessarily better than the other so you’re welcome to go whichever is closest.
In addition, online tickets for the Blaze start at $32 for adults. Food and beverages are also available before you enter the Blaze so eat up if you can! The Blaze usually takes about 90 minutes to walk through so you don’t want to get hungry along the way.
Check out the Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanical Garden (fall in nyc)
Checking out the Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden is another great thing you can do in the fall in NYC! Known as an after-dark illuminated spectacular, the Lightscape in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden is a one-mile illuminated trail of art from both local and international artists.
So, if you’re planning to attend this lights exhibition, I highly recommend it. The Brooklyn Botanical Garden usually starts it in November and they run it all the way to January.
In addition, tickets for the Lightscape start at $40 for adults. Food concessions are also available along the trail and they include but are not limited to s’mores and spiked hot chocolate.
Go to the Village Halloween Parade (fall in nyc)
Going to the Village Halloween Parade is another great thing you can do in the fall in NYC! Located in the Greenwich Village, the Village Halloween Parade is an annual parade that takes place on the night of All Hallows’ Eve. The parade starts from Canal St and 6th Avenue and ends all the way at 6th Avenue and E 15th Street.
So, if you’re interested in marching in this parade, I highly recommend it. The parade is usually free to march in but costumes are obviously mandatory.
In addition, if you prefer to just stand by the sidelines, you’re welcome to get to 6th Avenue early before the parade rolls out at 7pm. Sixth Avenue also tends to get congested between Bleeker and 14th St so I highly recommend camping out at the head (Spring to W Houston St) of the parade or the tail (14th St to 16th St).
Go Leaf Peeping around Central Park (fall in nyc)
Going leaf peeping around Central Park is another great thing you can do in the fall in NYC! In fact, some of the best places to see the fall foliage in the park include but are not limited to the North Woods, the Conservatory Garden, the North Meadow and the Ramble.
So, if you’re planning to go leaf peeping around Central Park, I highly recommend it. The Manhattan and Beyond Tours even has a walking tour you can do if you don’t plan on leaf-peeping solo. The tickets for the tour are roughly $25 per adult and you also have the option to reserve them if you’re paying later.
In addition, be sure to check out this map by the Central Park Conservancy to help you find the most colorful foliage in Central Park. It has a key for all of the different leaves you can find and it’s highly detailed.
Get Apple Cider Doughnuts at Union Square Greenmarket (fall in nyc)
Getting apple cider doughnuts at Union Square is another great thing you can do in the fall in NYC! The farmer’s market at the square is typically known for selling them and they’re also oh so SWEET!
Near to 16th street, the market is also located on the west side of the square and many locals frequent it for the fall festive breakfast. So, if you’re feeling up for eating a sweet cider doughnut at the Union Square Greenmarket, I highly recommend it.
Take a Fall Foliage Cruise (fall in nyc)
Doing a fall foliage cruise is another great thing you can do in the fall in NYC! In fact, it’s a great alternative from the typical way to leaf peep. Instead of leaf peeping by car, why not do it on a boat?
New York City has a number of leaf peeping cruises that leave right from Manhattan that sail up for a fall foliage palooza. These cruises include but are not limited to the Circle Line: Bear Mountain Full-Day Cruise, the Seastreak NYC Fall Foliage Brunch Cruise and the Majestic Harbor Cruises Fall Foliage Lunch Cruise.
So, if you’re planning to take a fall foliage cruise in the fall in NYC, I highly recommend it. Each one will deliver your autumn dreams of gorgeous changing leaves.
Go to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (fall in nyc)
Going to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is another great thing you can do in the fall in NYC! In fact, it’s one of the most beloved fall traditions in NYC around November.
In this parade, you’ll come across all types of giant floats, balloons, cheerleaders, clowns, marching bands and celebrities. So, if you’re planning to attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, I highly recommend it. The route of the parade is 2.5 miles long and it starts from Central Park West all the way to Macy’s at Herald Square.
In addition, if you’re not up for standing in the cold as the parade goes on, you’re always welcome to watch the parade on TV in the comfort of your home.
Check out the Annual Pumpkin Flotilla (fall in nyc)
Checking out the Annual Pumpkin Flotilla in Central Park is another great thing to do in the fall in NYC! During this event, several carved pumpkins that were created by attendees are released into the Harlem Meer so that they can float in the water for 30 minutes.
So, if you’re planning on attending the Annual Pumpkin Flotilla in Central Park, I highly recommend it. The event only happens on Halloween and it draws a lot of different visitors to the park.
In addition, if you’re unsure of how much the admission will cost, don’t worry. The event is completely free of charge.
Go Pumpkin Picking at the Queens County Farm Museum (fall in nyc)
Going pumpkin picking at the Queens County Farm Museum is another great thing you can do in the fall in NYC! Known for having the oldest continually farmed land in NYC, the Queens County Farm Museum is the place where locals go for the pumpkin picking season.
In fact, the month of October itself is known for being the pumpkin month at the farm. Visit around this time to enjoy the fall crisp air as you wander through their pumpkin patch.
In addition, if you’re worried about the admission fee, don’t worry. The admission into the farm is completely free but be sure to bring your own bag!
Go to a Haunted Yacht Halloween Party (fall in nyc)
Going to a Haunted Yacht Halloween Party is another great thing you can do in the fall in NYC! In fact, Shipwrecked is a Haunted Yacht Halloween Party you don’t want to miss.
Get ready for a night of thrills, dancing and delicious food on the yacht as you dance along to the hottest hits by NYC’s best DJs.
In addition, there’s also a fun Halloween costume contest you could enter to win some cool cash prizes!
So, if you’re planning to attend the Shipwrecked: Haunted Yacht Halloween Party, I highly recommend it. The buffet at the yacht is completely complimentary with drinks and cocktails available for purchase.
Drink some dark hot chocolate from the Chocolate Room (fall in nyc)
Drinking some dark hot chocolate from the Chocolate Room is another great thing to do in the fall in NYC! Located in Park Slope, the Chocolate Room is a dessert cafe with a chocolate-centric menu.
In that menu, you’ll see items that include but are not limited to chocolate mousse, chocolate room pudding, and spiced dark hot chocolate. So, if you’re planning go to the Chocolate Room in the fall in NYC, I highly recommend it.
The spiced dark hot chocolate is their seasonal drink and it includes their dark hot chocolate with ancho and chipotle chillis, cinnamon, cloves, and whipped cream.
Attend New York Botanical Garden’s Fall-O-Ween (fall in nyc)
Attending the New York Botanical Garden’s Fall-O-Ween is another great thing you can do in the fall in NYC! Fall-O-Ween by itself is a special occasion at the New York Botanical Garden where one can participate in numerous fall activities.
These fall activities include but are not limited to gardening, pumpkin carving, cooking and scavenger hunts. So, if you’re planning to attend the New York Botanical Garden’s Fall-O-Ween this fall, I highly recommend it.
All visitors need tickets to enter the garden and they start at $30 for adults.
Celebrate Oktoberfest at Watermark Bar (fall in nyc)
Celebrating Oktoberfest at Watermark Bar is another thing you can do in the fall in NYC! Oktoberfest is an annual festival held in Munich, Germany that features a beer festival and a traveling carnival.
However, since not everyone in NYC has the money to fly to Munich, celebrating Oktoberfest at Watermark Bar is the next best alternative. So, if you’re planning on attending Oktoberfest at Watermark Bar, I highly recommend it. Get ready to drink all the German beer you’ve never tried before as you gorge on brats and pretzels along the East River.
In addition, if you’re worried about the admission fee, don’t worry! Oktoberfest at Watermark Bar is completely free and the tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Visit Edgar Allen Poe’s House (fall in nyc)
Visiting Edgar Allen Poe’s house is another great thing you can do in the fall in NYC! Most people aren’t aware of this but the poet Edgar Allen Poe actually lived in the Bronx during his time in New York.
He came to NYC for better opportunities and the Bronx was one of the boroughs that caught his eye. He rented a cottage in the Bronx for $100 a year from 1846 to 1849. He even lived there with his wife Virginia who eventually died in the house in 1847.
So, if you’re planning to visit Edgar Allen Poe’s house in the fall, I highly recommend it. You can find it located on 2640 Grand Concourse, Bronx, New York, 10458.
Go to New York Comic Con (fall in nyc)
Going to New York Comic Con is another great thing you can do in the fall in NYC! First held in 2006, New York Comic Con is an annual NYC fan convention dedicated to movies, television, video games, manga and etc.
In fact, held on a 4-day weekend, New York Comic Con is also known as the biggest comic and pop culture event on the East Coast. So, if you’re planning to attend New York Comic Con for the fall, I highly recommend it.
You’ll come across many celebrities while you’re there as well as comic creators from every corner of the globe.
Overall, I really hope you enjoyed this post on the 15 incredible things to do in the fall in NYC! Please let me know in the comments down below which thing you would like to do the most! I would love to hear from you. 🙂
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