Where to find a fall festival or fair in New York

In a spooky state of mind? You're not alone. Tickets have just gone on sale for the Bronx Zoo's annual Boo at the Zoo festival, and this year's celebration is chillingly wicked—in a good way! Thursday through Sunday from Oct 1 to Nov 1 is your chance to revel in the Halloween fun, from magic shows and pumpkin carving demonstrations to mind reading and trips through the spooky extinct animal graveyard. Each day, animal-themed costumed stilt walkers and Halloween animal puppets will put on a "MASKerade" while the Wildlife Theater will pull out all the stops with performances in Astor Court. 

This rustic New Jersey attraction is an autumnal paradise: Every weekend (and Fridays in October) from Sept 12 to Oct 25, visitors have a plethora of seasonal fun to enjoy, including one of the country's most impressive corn mazes at 10 acres, pumpkin bowling, a tractor pull, Hay Mountain, Giant Jenga and a slew of other cool activities. Advanced tickets ($16) are required. 

Snag yourself a candy apple and let the fun begin! Schmitt Family Farm's Annual Fall Festival is perfect for those with young chilren: A fun playground, a scaled-down mini golf course and petting zoo will keep the littles entertained as the temperature drops and fall colors swoop in. Parents will gravitate toward the vegetable, pumpkin and sunflower picking—just make sure you hop on the tractor to get there. You'd be remiss to leave without a visit to the market and a bag of popcorn. The event will run on weekends from Sept 19 to Oct 31 ($10).

Grab a cozy blanket and settle in for a frighteningly fun flick under the stars: Apple Ridge Orchards' annual Spookley Movie Night lets guests enjoy a moonlight walk through the apple orchards before a 6:45pm screening of Spookley the Square Pumpkin. Admission ($16 for ages 2 and up) also includes a pumpkin! Registration is required for the 2020 lineup, which will take place on Oct 9, 16 and 23 from 5:30–8pm. 

New Yorkers' favorite fall event is expanding for the first time! The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze will illuminate a second location with its stunning pumpkin art. In addition to operating at Van Cortlandt Manor in the Hudson Valley, the Halloween happening will set up shop at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration on Long Island from Oct 2–Nov 1. Expect another 7,000+ pumpkins glowing in the autumn evening. Similar to the original event, the Long Island Blaze will also have synchronized lighting and seasonal tunes to accompany the hand-carved installations. 

HALLOWFEST, Six Flags Great Adventure's all-new celebration, will run from Sept 18 through Nov 1, which means there are plenty of opportunities for creepy, kooky and spooky shenanigans. During the day, little monsters can enjoy seasonal scream-worthy attractions: inflatables, a Trick or Treat Trail, a hay bale maze (in one direction) and other fun activities. At night is when things get a little more serious (perhaps a time better suited for the tweens and teens): Creepy fog, eerie lighting and sinister music will transform the family attraction into a real-life horror movie and thrill-seekers can ride their favorite coasters...in the dark! 

Come for the treats and stay for the screams: Adventureland will debut its Nightmare at the Movies drive-in experience on Sept 25. For $40 per car, the whole family can cash in on the ghoulishly good fun. The package includes a chicken fingers and fries dinner, a $10 Adventureland Arcade card, movie-style popcorn and a choice of beverages, trivia on select evenings and, of course, some of the our favorite scary movies for kids. The series will kick off on Friday Sept 25 with a classic, Hocus Pocus, beginning at 7pm. Feel free to drive by sooner, as gates open at 5pm and festivities like trivia will begin at 6:30pm. Even better news? If you're in search of a spooky date night, leave the kids with a sitter and enjoy the late screening at 10pm (gates open at 8:30pm). First up? Nightmare on Elm Street. The series will continue on Oct 9, 23 and 30. However, a full schedule has yet to be released, so check back in for the latest updates!

Since fall activities are making adjustments this year, one New York town wanted to ensure that you got your funnel cake fix. Plan a weekend day trip to the free, socially-distanced Orange County Drive-Thru Fair Food Festival. From Sept 24–27 and Oct 1–4, you and your family can head to the Orange County fairgrounds in Middletown for all the sweets your heart desires. Drivers will receive a map, a menu and guided through set route of the grounds (forgoing any stations that aren't of interest to them, of course). A drive-thru setting will only accommodate cars only (no walk-ups) and include everyone's favorites: funnel cakes, fried Oreos, candy apples, popcorn, fried Twinkies, sausage and peppers, gyros and so much more. We're getting hungry just thinking about the orders we're going to place. The event will operate from 4–9pm on Thursdays and Fridays and 9:30am–9pm on weekends.