Fall is right around the corner, so it’s definitely time to start looking for festivals and other events you can attend in—and around—NYC. Let’s begin by looking specifically at October festivals!
NYC October Festivals 2023
There is a crisp feeling to the air and the crunching of leaves underfoot. It must be October in NYC! Let’s check out the best NYC fall festivals in 2023.
1 New York Film Festival – October 7-16
Let’s kick things off in style with the New York Film Festival. At this year’s festival, there will be screenings of more than 40 films from a variety of genres. Even better, it doesn’t matter where in NYC you’re located as there will be at least one public screening in each of NYC’s boroughs.
2 New York Comic Con – October 12-15
It’s time to bust out your best cosplay outfit and head to the annual New York Comic Con! This year’s star-studded event features Chris Evans and Ewan McGregor as the guests of honor. Be aware that even if you don’t attend New York Comic Con, you’ll most likely see people out and about in cosplay.
3 The New Yorker Festival – October 6-8
The 24th annual New Yorker Festival will include musical performances and live conversations, and it will be hosted by The New Yorker’s editors and writers. This festival is dubbed as “three days with the world’s most interesting people,” and they take this pledge seriously. This year, guests will include Paramore, “Weird Al” Yankovic, and Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner. Be sure to grab tickets now because they won’t last!
4 NYC Wine & Food Festival – October 12-15
If you like wine and food, then the NYC Autumn Wine and Food Festival is a must visit. You can participate in walk around tastings, demo & dine, intimate dinners, co*cktail parties, master classes, signature events, and much more! One such event is called Disco & Drinks, and it features a DJ, a dozen fantastic NYC chefs, and more than 25 different drinks.
5 Open House New York – October 20-22
If you’ve ever wanted to have unparalleled access to NYC, then you’ve got to go to Open House New York. Even better, this festival is completely free! Hundreds of noteworthy locations will open their doors to visitors with a mixture of in-person experiences, digital content, and self-guided explorations. You can see everything from studios to factories and learn an incredible amount about the city in just three days.
6 Harvest Festival – October 21
The Harvest Festival is a celebration of all things Halloween and Fall-related, and it is kid friendly. This year’s event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include storytelling, arts and crafts, lawn games, a pumpkin patch, a kick-off procession, and much more! This festival is 100% free to attend. Families with little ones will enjoy the spooky but not scary costumes worn by various performers. Make plans now to attend the Harvest Festival in New York.
7 Summerstage Festival – October 2
Although it’s named after summer, this festival includes one last live performance on October 2. Of course, if you’ll be in New York City before October, you may wish to take in multiple concerts, starting on August 23 with Jimmy Eat World. That particular concert has an admission fee, but the performance that closes the festival—on October 2—is free for everyone. Enjoy the Yeshiva Boys Choir!
NYC Street Fairs and Festivals
Get out in the city by attending one of fall’s best street fairs! Each of the following NYC and Manhattan street fairs take place in 2023. Enjoy all the October street fairs in NYC!
8 Harvest Fire Feast – September 23
You know how everything feels like it’s bigger in NYC? The Harvest Fire Feast is a notable exception. This event can only hold 20 people and it’s absolutely free! All 20 guests will join in by sitting around the fire and making experimental food. This event takes place at Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City.
9 NYC Emerging Art Pop-Up – September 16
NYC Emerging Art Pop-Up brings artists and chefs together to celebrate their art forms. The event on September 16 will be held at Olly Food Market, so there will also be pool and foosball! The best part is that each local, independent artist who displays their work will be hand-picked for their talent.
10 Brooklyn Flea DUMBO – Every Weekend in September and October
Head to Chelsea Flea to take in all the hidden wonders at this well-known flea market. Brooklyn Flea has some of the best deals and oddities available in the city. Also, just as Tina said in an episode of Bob’s Burgers, $2 is like $200 or even $2,000 when you spend it at a flea market!
11 Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit Fall Show
Take part in this sidewalk show by heading to University Place. The Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit’s Fall Show begins at East 13th St and continues southward to West 3rd St. Please note that this exhibit does NOT take place in Washington Square itself, although it stops right next to it. Enjoy exhibit categories such as fine arts, mixed media, graphics, watercolor, oils and acrylic, sculpture, crafts, and photography.
12 Richmond County Fair
Kick off the season at the 2023 Richmond County Fair, located on Staten Island. Come visit living history through demonstrators/reenactors, along with carnival rides and games, a slide, a bounce house, and pony rides. You can also sign up for one of the following contests: hot dog eating, pie eating, and wing eating. Not only will you have a great time, but you’ll also be contributing to a fundraiser for Historic Richmond Town. Fall festivals on Staten Island are always a good time!
13 Uptown Night Market – October 12
This food lover’s event takes place in West Harlem this year. The Uptown Night Market will also feature diverse performances and host all-family activities! This open-air festival for food and drink features more than 60 vendors, and they’ll be offering cuisine from around the world. If you consider yourself to be a foodie, this market is a can’t miss.
14 Global Citizen Festival – September 23
Join the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park to help raise awareness as corporate and world leaders are encouraged to finally end extreme poverty. The best part is that you can easily earn your ticket via the Global Citizen app, or you can purchase VIP tickets. Guests performing include Red Hot Chili Peppers, Megan Thee Stallion, and Ms. Lauryn Hill. This is truly one of the best fall festivals in NYC.
Other Fall Events in NYC
As if the previous listings weren’t enough, we’ve got even more of New York fall festivals and events!
15 NYC’s Village Halloween Parade – October 31
Hit the streets for the 50th Annual Village Halloween Parade! The crowds—which will be huge—can enter the parade route for free and watch close to four hours of Halloween revelry. Or, alternatively, you can don a costume and take part in the parade route! To join in, simply wear a mask and a costume. If you prefer not to wear a costume, you can still volunteer to animate a puppet. Either way, this is one of the year’s biggest events, and approximately 50,000 to 60,000 people will be participating, which makes it one of the best fall events in 2023.
16 Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Festival – October 21
Whether you have a dog or not, animal lovers simply have to attend the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Festival! This event has been called “the largest dog costume parade in the world” by CNN. This year will be the 32nd time this parade has been held, and the costumes become more outrageous every single year.
17 BRIC JazzFest – October 19-21
Hear the best of Jazz at BRIC JazzFest! Here you’ll find two different stages loaded with performers, including Terrance Martin, Amina Claudine Myers, Georgia Anne Muldrew, and lots more. This year’s JazzFest takes place in Brookyln and will have a mixture of emerging artists and jazz world legends.
18 NYC Parks Present: Fall Festival at St. James Park – October 28
Anyone who has kids will love the Fall Festival at St. James Park. Open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., this free event features sports, family games, fall crafts, and much more. This year’s event will be hosted by NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez. Grab your kids and head to St. James Park!
Enjoy the Best Fall Festivals of 2023
All the events listed above would make a fantastic way to enjoy fall weather in NYC. Of course, there will come a time when you wish you could just sit down and take everything in without having to stay on your feet.
The good news is that this is exactly what Sea the City offers!Book a Sea the City hot tub boat tour to take in the beauty of NYC as you soak in a hot tub! These boat tours are suitable for practically any occasion, including seeing NYC’s fall colors. Choose between taking a single private tub for up to 10 people or book a private tour for up to 20 people!
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