As the leaves turn and the air gets crisper, New York City bursts into a kaleidoscope of colors and events this Fall. Excitement fills the streets with Halloween approaching and the festive holiday season on the horizon. From captivating theater productions and thrilling music festivals to delightful art exhibitions and family-friendly festivities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Get ready to dive into the whimsical world of Maybe Happy Ending, where robots find love or catch the dystopian narrative of In the Amazon Warehouse Parking Lot. Celebrate the rhythms of jazz at the BRIC Jazz Fest, and don’t miss the return of the iconic Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Rockefeller Holiday Activities, and Tree Lighting.
Witness the preparation of the Bryant Park Winter Village, which sets the stage for holiday magic. Mark your calendars for the 51st Annual Village Halloween Parade on October 31 at 7 PM, where creativity and costumes collide. The Seaport Holiday Tree Lighting on November 28 will feature festive photo ops, live music, and cozy beverages. Bring the kids for gingerbread cookie decorating and share their wish lists with Santa!
From November 11 to December 24, explore the Grand Central Holiday Fair, where unique gifts await. From November 16 to December 24, the Union Square Holiday Market offers over 100 vendors with locally-produced goodies and one-of-a-kind treasures. Columbus Circle Holiday Market will follow from November 26 to December 31, showcasing artisans and delicious treats.
With so many events on your calendar, this Fall promises unforgettable experiences in every corner of the city. Check out our highlights and mark your favorites—your adventure awaits!
1. Maybe Happy Ending credit_ew.com, 2. In the Amazon Warehouse Parking Lot credit_playwrightshorizons.org 3. Teeth credit_@teeth_nyc Instagram 4. BRIC Jazz Fest credit_bricartsmedia.org 5. The Rockettes credit_nypost.com
1. Maybe Happy Ending
Previews Begin October 16 | Belasco Theatre
Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen star in this speculative fiction rom-com musical in Seoul. Oliver is an obsolete Helperbot 3 who meets his neighbor Claire, another Helperbot in need of a charger. Will Aronson and Hue Park are the duo behind the book, music, and lyrics for this offbeat story about a pair of robots finding love at the end of their warranty.
2. In the Amazon Warehouse Parking Lot
October 10 to November 17 | Playwright Horizons Mainstage
Set shortly, a group of traveling warehouse workers travels from one job to the next as they attempt to outrun rising seas. From playwright Sarah Mantell, this dystopian love story features queer characters and examines aging, chosen families, and the search for home in an unpredictable and unsettling world. Directed by Sivan Battat.
3. Teeth
Previews begin October 16, Opening October 31 | New World Stages
Michael R. Jackson and Anna K. Jacobs adapted this musical from Mitchell Lichtenstein’s 2007 indie horror flick, Teeth, about a young woman discovering she’s afflicted with an extra set of teeth. Based on a folk tale found in various cultures, including South American, Hindu, Ainu, and Maori, Teeth is often seen as a cautionary tale against promiscuity. However, in Teeth, evangelical teen Dawn O’Keefe reclaims female body autonomy in a dark comedy about repressed desire.
4. BRIC Jazz Fest
October 17 to 19 | BRIC House, Brooklyn
Since 2015, BRIC JazzFest has connected New York City with hidden gems and rising stars of contemporary jazz music. The festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary and features Terri Lyne Carrington, Reggie Workman, Milena Casado, and others. The festival includes films, dance workshops, panels, and live performances.
5. The Rockettes
November 8 to January 5 | Radio City Music Hall
The classic New York Christmas Spectacular returns. More than 3,000 women have performed in the show since 1932. The annual production updates choreography, sets, and costumes each year. Some dates also offer a breakfast reception with Santa or, for adults, a buffet and open bar reception in the historic Roxy Suite.
6. Elf the Musical
November 9 through January 4 | Marquis Theatre
The holiday classic returns with Grey Henson starring as Buddy, raised by elves in the North Pole, before returning to New York City in search of his father. Based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, Elf follows Buddy, Santa’s extra-tall elf, on his misadventures in New York City. Henson previously earned a Tony nomination for his starring role in the Mean Girls musical.
7. DOC NYC
November 13 to December 1 | Various downtown theaters
Celebrate documentary filmmaking at the city’s festival that is dedicated to the form. DOC NYC hosts screenings and other events throughout the year, culminating in two 15-title programs of feature-length and short films every October. The films will be screened at venues such as IFC Center, SVA Theatre, and Angelika Village East, and audiences will be able to meet directors and filmmakers.
8. George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
November 29 to January 4 | New York City Ballet
The ballet features 90 dancers of all ages, including elaborate stage elements and visual effects, such as the one-ton Christmas tree that grows from 12 to 41 feet. Sixty-two musicians perform Tchaikovsky’s 1892 sheet music for this holiday favorite.
9. New York City Horror Film Festival
December 5 to 8 | LOOK Dine-in Cinemas, 657 W 57th Street
The NYCHFF is the nation’s largest genre film festival dedicated to horror and science fiction films. The festival accepts films from around the world and includes awards for both horror and science fiction films. Virtual events follow three days of live screenings.
Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s–1970s credit_guggenheim.org 2. Steve McQueen credit_diaart.org 3. Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350 credit_metmuseum.org 4. The Street credit_gagosian.com 5. Lillie P. Bliss and the Birth of the Modern credit_moma.org
1. Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s–1970s
On view now through January 7 | Guggenheim
This exhibition features artists who came of age in the years following the Korean War. It examines the tumultuous political and socioeconomic conditions leading to modern Korea. With approximately 80 works, the show explores how the young people of the post-war era confronted their rapidly changing present.
2. Steve McQueen
On view now through summer 2025 | Dia Chelsea
Centered around Sunshine State, a two-channel video projection, the show includes Exodus, a film following two West Indian men through London, and Bounty, photographs of flowers found in Grenada. The exhibition complements McQuen’s Bass, which is now on view at Dia Beacon in the Hudson Valley.
3. Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350
Opening October 13 | The Met
The exhibition explores the dawn of the Italian Renaissance and the pivotal role of Sienese artists such as Duccio, Pietro Ambrogio Lorenzetti, and Simone Martini, exploring how their works helped define Western painting. Works are drawn from The Met, National Gallery London, and rare loans from other lenders.
4. The Street
Opens November 1 to December 18 | Gagosian, 980 Madison Avenue
Artist Peter Doig curates a selection of works by artists who have informed his artistic development with paintings loaned to the gallery from the Museum of Modern Art. The works focus on urban life, labor, and architecture, with paintings by Francis Bacon, Max Beckmann, Vija Celmins, Prunella Clough, Giorgio de Chirico, and more.
5. Lillie P. Bliss and the Birth of the Modern
Opening November 17 | MoMA
Lillie Plummer Bliss and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller and Mary Quinn Sullivan founded the Museum of Modern Art in 1929. Soon after, Bliss gifted a large portion of her collection to the museum. This exhibition combines 40 works from Bliss’s collection, including works by Paul Cézanne, Odilon Redon, Georges-Pierre Seurat, and Pablo Picasso.
6. Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876–Now
Opening November 17 | The Met
The exhibition, a multi-sensory exploration of works from the 19th century through the present day, explores how black artists engage with ancient Egypt through the arts. It includes works from the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement, integrating performance and visual arts.
1. Barbie®: A Cultural Icon credit_madmuseum.org 2. MTA Nostalgia Rides credit_nytransitmuseum.org 3. Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy at the Shed NYC credit_theshed.org 4. The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition credit_brooklynmuseum.org 5. A Billion Dollar Dream: The 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair on its 60th Anniversary credit_queensmuseum.org
1. Barbie®: A Cultural Icon
Opens October 19 | Museum of Arts and Design
This 65-year historical retrospective of the iconic doll features a curated collection of 250 vintage dolls, life-size fashion designs, and other materials. The exhibition draws from the private collection of David Porcello and Mattel. Trace Barbie’s evolution from a child’s toy to a globally recognized symbol and movie star.
2. MTA Nostalgia Rides
October 27 and November 16 | Old South Ferry Station
If you miss the good old days of strap-hangers hanging from leather handles and subway cars without air conditioning, the MTA’s nostalgia train is for you. Antique subway cars run the lines, particularly enthusiastic passengers dress in period vintage clothing. Buy tickets for the scheduled, nonstop, roundtrip rides, or for budget-conscious train enthusiasts, swipe into the subway along the designated route to catch a glimpse of the passing train. The trains travel north to the Bronx on 1/2/3 and return on the Lexington Ave Line (4,5,6).
3. Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy at the Shed NYC
Opens November 20 through January 5 | The Shed at Hudson Yards
Luna Luna first appeared in Hamburg, Germany, in 1987. It combined art sculptures and amusement park rides with works from artists like Keith Haring, David Hockney, and Jean-Michael Basquiat. For years, the collection was stored in shipping containers in Texas, nearly forgotten. The artistic fairground no longer allows visitors to ride the amusement rides to preserve the artistic sculptures and because they no longer meet safety requirements. Still, the iconic works are now on tour, arriving at Hudson Yards after showing in Los Angeles earlier this year.
4. The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition
On view now through January 26 | Brooklyn Museum of Art
Showcasing more than 200 artists and kicking off the 200th-anniversary celebration of the museum, the exhibition highlights artists who lived or kept studios in the borough during the previous five years.
5. A Billion Dollar Dream: The 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair on its 60th Anniversary
Opens November 3 | Queens Museum
The 1964 World’s Fair heralded social, technological, and cultural changes in the United States. The Queens Museum reflects on the lasting impact of the iconic event. It marks the 60th Anniversary of the fair with this snapshot of American culture at a critical juncture in history.
6. Macy’s Balloon Inflation Celebration
November 27 | 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue
Watch the oversized characters featured in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as they are inflated with helium. What began as an unofficial viewing for those in the know has evolved into a popular holiday event with lines and security checks. In recent years, the New York Historical Society has hosted member events to view the balloons as the museum overlooks the inflation area.
1. Oktoberfest credit_oktober-fest.nyc 2. NYC Food and Wine Festival credit_nytimes.com 3. Anime Food Festival credit_youtube.com 4. Miracle Popup Bars credit_@miraclepopup Instagram 5. NYC Autumn Crush credit_amny.com
1. Oktoberfest
Ongoing through October | Various Locations
Oktoberfest replicates the Bavarian traditions that arrived in New York City with German immigrants, featuring food, drink, and traditional music from the region. Central to the celebrations is beer, usually imported varieties. In lower Manhattan, South Street Seaport has a daily Oktoberfest at Watermark, and the pedestrianized Stone Street celebrates on Saturdays from Noon to 11 p.m. Beer Gardens around the city also have ongoing festivals like Black Forest, Reichenbach Hall, and Loreley Biergarten.
2. NYC Food and Wine Festival
October 17 to 20 | Various locations and Brooklyn Army Terminal
The Food Network brings the 4-day-long event to New York City. Over 500 chefs prepare food to serve over 50,000 attendees across 80 events. Guest chefs include Bobby Flay, Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag, Alex Guarnaschelli, Katie Lee, Marcus Samuelsson, and many others. Some events are hosted in Manhattan, but most are on the Invesco QQQ Campus at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in DUMBO.
3. Anime Food Festival
October 25 | DUMBO
Enjoy sampling Anime-inspired foods, sipping sake and Shochu, trading your favorite anime cards, or chatting with special guests, including Pokémon voice actors Emily Cramer, Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld, and Laurie Hymes. The festival also includes a traditional Japanese Taiko Drum performance.
4. Holiday Themed Cocktail Bars
Opening November 1 | Various
Get into the holiday spirit with over-the-top Christmas decorations, holiday-inspired cocktails, and kitschy collectible mugs. The Miracle pop-up bars started a decade ago as a spontaneous popup at an under-construction bar but have evolved into a global phenomenon. Miracle on 9th Street, hosted at The Cabinet Mezcal Bar, is the flagship location. Other partners and Sippin’ Santa popups, a similar holiday cocktail concept with a tropical twist, will be announced in the coming weeks. However, other bars that go all out with Christmas decorations include Rolf’s Restaurant, Oscar Wilde Bar, Frosty’s Holiday Bar, and Pete’s Tavern.
5. NYC Autumn Crush
November 9 | 630 Second Ave
Offering more than 100 wines and craft beverages and an array of light bites from artisan food makers, the festival features wines from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, South America, South Africa, New Zealand, and California, with a focus on New York State wines.
6. Rhône Wine Festival
November 19 to 23 | Various Locations
Explore the wines of the Rhône Valley, a 2,000-year-old wine region. Each event pairs a variety of rare wines with appropriate food. American Express members can also access exclusive dinners and early ticket releases.
7. New York Chocolate, Wine, and Whiskey Festival
December 7 | Industry City, Brooklyn
Whether you have a sweet tooth or want to relax with a tasty sipping whiskey, this unexpected combination festival has you covered. The traveling festival offers chocolates in many different forms, including truffles and a fondue bar, domestic and international wines emphasizing those that sparkle, and whiskey (which includes many other spirits). Tastings and a wine glass are included in the ticket price. There are also plenty of strange chocolate-alcohol collabs like spiked hot chocolate and candy cocktails.
1. The Rink at Rockefeller Center credit_rockefellercenter.com 2. Hike-tober fest credit_vancortlandt.org 3. Diwali in Times Square credit_diwalitimessquare.com 4. Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade credit_timeout.com 5. Fall-O-Ween NYBG credit_whereverfamily.com
1. Seasonal Ice Skating Rinks
From October 12 | Various
Winters may not be as snowy as they once were, but ice skating remains a winter favorite, thanks to the many artificial skating ponds around the city. The more famous (crowded) destinations include the Rink at Rockefeller Center and the Winter Village at Bryant Park. However, plenty of other options pop up around the city, including Wollman Rink in Central Park, The Rink at Brookfield Place, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and Lefrak Center at Prospect Park.
2. Hike-tober fest
October 19 | Van Cortlandt Park
Hike, bike, and run with various organized outdoor activities before enjoying traditional Oktoberfest food and beer provided by the Loreley Restaurant and Biergarten. The ticketed sporting events kick off at 1:30, with a variety of hike lengths on offer. Music, food, and beer will follow.
3. Diwali in Times Square
October 19 | Times Square
Share in spreading the light of happiness and enjoy Indian culture, art, and heritage. The free event includes dance and musical performances, Indian foods, and the lighting of diya, a traditional clay lamp meant to attract Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. For a gala version, buy a ticket or a table for Diwali on the Hudson, an annual fundraiser for the Desai Foundation that blends Indo-Western fashion, music, and DJ culture with NYC’s philanthropic community.
4. Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade
October 19 | Tompkins Square Park
Last year’s dog parade included more than 600 costumed pups and their owners, drawing some 15,000 spectators. The furry friends follow an official parade route. Come in costume with your best friend, or just to watch the spectacle of adorable pups in costumes. The parade lasts about two hours.
5. Fall-O-Ween NYBG
Ongoing until October 27 | New York Botanical Garden
Filled with giant pumpkins and colorful gourds, the Botanical Gardens are never more colorful than in autumn. Sign up for numerous pumpkin carving events, watch the annual pumpkin carving face-off, or enjoy oversized pumpkins during Giant Pumpkin Palooza weekend.
6. Village Halloween Parade
October 31 | Canal Street and 6th Avenue
The West Village Halloween Parade is a wild event filled with fun and horror for spectators and participants alike. Between 50,000 to 60,000 costumed people march in the parade each year – anyone in costume can march, but joining a themed costumed section can earn you a priority spot in the lineup. The parade is family-friendly, but younger children may find some costumes frightening as participants go all out with blood and gore.
7. Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden
November 16 to January 20 | New York Botanical Garden
