Your Essential Itinerary For NYC In The fall
Don’t you just love NYC in the fall? It’s not just a cliché from the movie You’ve Got Mail - New York City is delightful in the autumn! Strolling through colored leaves falling, the wind in your hair, a hot cup of coffee warming your hands… NYC in the fall is the best! Grab your favorite “statement scarf’ and join us as we list our favorite fall activities to make warm autumnal memories you’ll treasure well into the new year!
The Feast of San Gennaro
Ease out of summer heat and into fall with the Feast of San Gennaro! Held annually in mid-September, Little Italy transforms into a fairgrounds to celebrate the patron Saint of Naples: San Gennaro. Parades, games, rides, and FOOD! All the Italian and Italian-American classics: sausage and pepper carts, towering Torrone, and cannolis as far as the eye can see.
Oktoberfest Celebrations
From September into October, multiple venues across the city celebrate the Bavarian beer festival. From the Seaport to Midtown, we rounded up some of the Oktoberfest parties to attend, and some of our favorite German restaurants with special Oktoberfest menus. Hold your stein at arms length, grab a pretzel and cheers to fall! Prost!
Jazz residencies
As the weather gets chilly, there is no better time to cozy up to some hot jazz! Jazz is the indisputable soundtrack of NYC in the fall, and you can catch live performances from Robert Glasper’s Robtober residency at The Blue Note in Greenwich Village up to the perennial classic, Jazz at Lincoln Center. The Village Vanguard boasts an impressive lineup of performances this fall and is a bucket-list venue for jazz aficionados, but if you prefer something a little more avant garde, a crisp $20 bill (cash only!) will grant you entry to NYC legend John Zorn’s jazz club The Stone.
Dog Costume Parades
One of the most pup-ular events among locals are the Halloween Dog Costume Contests! The 35th Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade returns to NYC on October 19th! Registration is required to compete, but be forewarned - this event is VERY popular! The good news? Many local parks host their own spin-off events, so check your local (dog) park for info on a local Dog Costume Parade near you!
Pumpkin Point at Governor’s Island
One of my personal favorite local events is Pumpkin Point on Governor’s Island! For the weekend of October 25th & 26th, visitors can pick a free pumpkin, attend free performances, even trick-or-treat on the island off the coast of southern Manhattan! Food and drink is available from local vendors, and I enjoy taking in the foliage of the island and perusing the exhibits in the surrounding galleries.
The Village Halloween Parade
Learn the thriller dance and roll along! Come to Greenwich Village in costume and marvel at the creativity and revelry of New York's most ghoulish and stylish residents. The 52nd annual Village Halloween Parade returns to NYC on Friday, October 31st at 7:00pm and is a *must attend* event in NYC in the fall! Hot Tip: stake out a spot near the Jefferson Market Library on 6th Ave to see the huge puppet show on the clock tower! SpoOoOoky!
The New York City Marathon
Cheer on our city along the route of the NYC marathon! On Sunday, November 2nd, 2025, tens of thousands of runners will take to the streets (and bridges) of all five boroughs for the ultimate urban foot race. Make an encouraging sign, bring a cowbell or tambourine, and cheer on the runners who are raising awareness, raising money for a cause, or competing for athletic excellence. This is a bucket-list item, and the energy is absolutely infectious and uplifting! Maybe you’ll be inspired to run next year…?
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The final event of the fall is the one that officially kicks off the holiday season: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! The Great Inflate of balloons the day before is free to attend from noon to 6 at 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue. For the main event, the 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 27th, 2025, arriving earlier is better! Be sure to dress warmly and be prepared for crowds. Or, do what I like to do: sleep in, grab a thermos full of coffee, and linger down one of the side streets on the Upper West Side a ways back from the barriers. Trust me, you’ll still be able to see the balloons, they’re… very big.
And that’s a wrap on our favorite things to do in NYC in the fall - besides food tours, of course! Bundle up and maybe I’ll see you out there at one of these events!
