Things to do on a Sunday in New York

NYC’s biggest running event is back with the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, which will see thousands of runners from all over the world compete in a 26.2-mile race that spans all five boroughs. It’s impressive, to say the least! Even if you’re not running in the event, turning out to cheer on the athletes is time well spent.

In our 2026 NYC Marathon guide, we've answered your most pressing questions about the TCS NYC Marathon so you can plan accordingly.

Get spooky under the sea at the American Museum of Natural History on October 31, when the annual Halloween Celebration takes over the Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life under the iconic Blue Whale. The family-friendly festivities include themed arts and crafts, face painting, balloon animals and a live marine biology experience with Island Fish and Scale. Kids can also trick-or-treat throughout the first floor and join a costume parade, showing off this year's trendiest character costumes. The celebration runs from 11am until 4pm, and while costumes are encouraged, organizers kindly ask you leave the Halloween masks at home.

The spooktacular festivities cost $25 per person, or $15 for member—that's on top of regular admission fare for the day (pay-what-you-wish for NY state residents, non-residents: $37 per adult, $22 per child, $30 students and seniors).

La Catrina and a troupe of larger-than-life skeleton puppets are descending upon the New York Botanical Garden for Día de los Muertos. Created by artists Lucrecia Novoa and Mascara Viva, the elaborate puppets will wander the Garden October 31 through November 2, from 1pm to 5pm, bringing one of Mexico’s most recognizable cultural symbols to life through movement and storytelling. La Catrina originated as a satirical illustration by Mexican printmaker Jose Guadalupe Posada before becoming an enduring symbol of Día de los Muertos. Catch the colorful artwork as part of NYBG’s fall celebration in the Bronx.

Good news: There's no added ticket needed to view the puppets, they can be found around the garden for all who paid admission.

Faena New York is going full theatrical fantasy for Halloween, transforming the hotel into a themed experience. The Living Room will become a spooky playground from 8pm to 2am, October 30 and 31. Expect live entertainment, DJs and an electric atmosphere, with a premium open bar keeping the party going. Come dressed for fantasy and a night of unmistakable Faena flair at 500 West 18th Street. The Living Room experience will run guests $250 per general admission ticket.

For those who consider a regular Halloween party insufficient, Faena also offers El Secreto: Afterlife, an ultra-exclusive opportunity for a private takeover of the hotel's hidden gem lounge on October 31. From 8pm to 2am, your guests get a private DJ, live entertainment, event photography, premium beverages, passed canapés, caviar and an abundant seafood display. The package also includes a two-night stay in a Hudson One Bedroom Suite, an in-suite makeup artist, daily breakfast for two, Tierra Santa Healing House credit, a welcome amenity and private car transfers. In other words, the over-the-top luxury Halloween of your dreams. Hosting your friends will cost you $55,000—but, then again, how often does Halloween fall on a Saturday?

We're throwing the spookiness into high gear with our list of events for Halloween in NYC. From costume parties to haunted houses, and corn mazes to parades (even ones made for dogs), we're so ready! Whether you're looking for last-minute plans for the kiddos or seeking out a fun hotel party to attend, this list has got you covered.

Get a rare glimpse inside a quintessential Brooklyn Heights 1839 Greek Revival townhouse, just steps from the world-famous Brooklyn Heights Promenade. The townhouse (1 Monroe Pl.) features a grand double parlor with soaring 13-foot ceilings and preserved period details, a spacious full-floor primary bedroom suite and five beautifully landscaped outdoor spaces. A fifth floor features floating stairs to the roof deck with both city and water views. Marvel at each room decked out by talented interior designers from New York and Brooklyn.

The Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse is open through November 1. It's closed Monday through Wednesday, operating from 11am to 7pm Thursdays and Fridays, and 10am to 6pm Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets cost $50 per person or $450 for a group of 10. Brooklyn Heights Association members can get in for $40.

The New York Botanical Garden is getting into the spirit of Día de los Muertos with a month-long celebration, running October 3 through November 2. Visitors can follow a trail of marigold displays, calaveras and colorful alebrijes while enjoying Mexican folk music, hands-on papel picado and silk-flower workshops along with other family programming. The festivities culminate November 1 at 2pm with a Día de los Muertos Parade featuring La Catrina, skeletons and monarch butterfly puppets, followed by Mexican folk dance performances, cumbia sonidera dancing, live music, crafts and food. On October 31 and November 2, MAZarte Dance Company will perform traditional Mexican dances throughout the Garden.

See the NYBG website for ticket options and the full schedule of events.

Photography can do more than document a crisis—it can challenge why the world has ignored it for so long. "Through Her Lens," a project from the END Fund and African Women in Photography, brings together five African woman photographers to explore how neglected tropical diseases affect women and girls across the continent. The resulting series moves beyond medical statistics to capture the people, families and communities living with these often-treatable illnesses. Maureen Gathoni, Maheder Haileselassie, Temiloluwa Johnson, Amarachi Nnoli and Jodi Windvogel have each spent time in the communities they photographed, contributing to the project. Their work addresses conditions including trachoma, intestinal parasites, schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis. The photographs explore everything from the stigma surrounding illness to barriers to clean water and healthcare, centering the dignity and resilience of those affected rather than reducing them to patients. Explore the outdoor exhibition at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza through December 3.

It may be third in the Olympics, but bronze is No. 1 at The Frick Collection. "Siena: The Art of Bronze, 1450–1500" brings together roughly 40 works exploring how Sienese sculptors turned the metal into objects of extraordinary beauty and technical sophistication. The exhibition features masters including Donatello, Vecchietta and Francesco di Giorgio, with many works that are rarely seen outside of Tuscany. Beyond the artistry, the show examines the technical hurdles and political complications that shaped bronze production in 15th-century Siena, revealing the ingenuity behind these intricate creations. It’s a chance to see Renaissance sculpture through a fresh lens and appreciate just how much craftsmanship goes into making something look effortless.

Tickets for The Frick Collection run between $17 (student) and $30 (adult) depending on the ticket you qualify for.