NYC events in November 2020
Plan your month with the best NYC events in November 2020 including Thanksgiving festivities, holiday markets and more
Give thanks for our list of NYC events in November 2020, which will help you make plans for things to do on Thanksgiving and the rest of the month. Our guide will help you find the best holiday events, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and amazing holiday markets. But that’s not all!
RECOMMENDED: Full NYC events calendar for 2020
Featured NYC events in November 2020
1. The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
2. Cider Week
There are many types of apples (Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Granny Smith), but the best variation of everyone’s favorite autumnal fruit is clearly the fermented kind. And for seven glorious days, you can guzzle barrels of the good stuff at more than 30 bars and restaurants in NYC and indulge in free tastings, events and workshops at popular drinking dens.
3. The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
Out of all the yuletide razzle-dazzle NYC has to offer, the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights 2018 display is by far the most spectacular. (Sorry, Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree). Each year, over 100,000 people flock to the Brooklyn nabe to witness some of the most over-the-top Christmas lights we’ve ever seen—think huge inflatable Santas and snowmen, and houses that blast Christmas carols from loundspeakers. There is a lot of ground to cover, as many houses in the area participate over multiple blocks and avenues. (We’re talking tens of thousands of lights).
4. LuminoCity Festival
All of the lights! This winter, there’s a brand new must-see experience to add to your usual holiday rotation, a massive immersive lights festival on Randalls Island called LuminoCity. LuminoCity Festival, which runs from November 23 to January 5, will be a holiday-obsessed folk's paradise. Picture 12-acres covered with glorious (and massive) LED art installations. While adventuring around the festival, you’ll want to have your camera ready for things like a giant glowing donut tunnel. You'll also be able to climb to the top of an illuminated castle in the sky and then glide back down via its tall slide. Magical Winter Lights If you’re a fan of the board game Candy Land or anything Willy Wonka-related, then the sweets forest in the festival is most definitely your scene. There you'll find both a 22-foot-tall technicolor tree and a candy mountain with a surrounding rainbow field of candies, covered in lights and set to change color. You can also expect to pass things like a glowing unicorn, a fluorescent mushroom forest and a rainforest with animal light sculptures on the grounds. Magical Winter Lights While on a lights break, you can snack on goodies from the festival's food stalls including fried ice cream, festive rainbow cookies and of course, hot wint
5. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Fall getaways from NYC
Ithaca, NY
Ithaca, on the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, is a college town through and through, but it's also got that rustic, upstate vibe and gorgeous fall foliage you're looking for with quaint Victorian homes to gaze at. It's a great getaway for those who want to go leaf-peeping and pumpkin picking but also want to check out the local town nightlife and its plethora of restaurants. The best part? It's near to some of New York's most incredible gorges and waterfalls. They don't say "Ithaca is gorges" for nothin'!
What to do: Grab breakfast at any one of its popular joints, from Ithaca Bakery to DeWitt Cafe, and head out for a day in the leaves at Robert S. Treman State Park nearby, which is home to Lucifer Falls and a Lord of the Rings-eque gorge you can hike into. And don't skip Taughannock Falls, which is 215 feet tall, and empties into its own gorge. When you're done communing with nature, make sure to go antique hunting at Found In Ithaca and Mimi's Attic, and hit up the Ithaca Farmers Market for homemade pies and apple cider doughnuts, hard cider from local cideries, fresh flowers and much more. And definitely have dinner at Mercato.
Where to stay: The William Henry Miller Inn is located right in the heart of downtown Ithaca and within walking distance of as many as 50 restaurants. It's also an incredibly beautiful, historic building from 1878
Catskills, NY
Forever cemented in pop-culture as the site of Woodstock (and the backdrop of Dirty Dancing) the Catskills boasts some of New York’s most charming small towns, many of which are just two-and-a-half hours outside of the city.
What to do: A hiking trail on Overlook Mountain leads to the Instagram-worthy remnants of an unfinished luxury hotel and views of Echo Lake. The General Store of Catskill (356 Main St, Catskill; 518-653-9188, thegeneralstoreofcatskill.com) is another draw, located on the town’s historic Main Street and offering an array of locally-made bath, body and wellness products.
Where to stay: It’ll be hard to return to your NYC apartment after a few nights at Table on Ten (52030 NY-10, Bloomville; 607-643-6509, tableonten.com). The three-room inn is also a restaurant, serving wood-fired pizzas Friday and Saturday nights.
Hudson Valley, NY
Something tells us glampers dig the Instagram. Maybe it’s the constant postings. Whatever the reason, more than enough ’Gram gold can be found in Hudson Valley—a glamper's paradise.
What to do: Head to Storm King Art Center (1 Museum Rd, New Windsor, NY; 845-534-3115, stormking.org), a bucket-list site that has striking contemporary sculptures amid 500 acres of resplendent green, yellow and brown foliage. Afterward, move between art and antiques on Warren Street in Hudson, where NYC expats helm stylish galleries and boutiques. Then brunch at the oh-so-pretty Rivertown Lodge (731 Warren St, Hudson; 518-512-0954, rivertownlodge.com), a hip hotel for design lovers, which recently opened a new tavern that serves Dutch baby pancakes.
Where to stay: Book a tent at the just-opened Collective Hudson Valley (129 Ostrander Rd, Hudson; 970-445-2033, collectiveretreats.com; $500–$700/night) on an organic farm. Its luxe, low-pitched tents require no setup and are stocked with rustic furnishings and a generous dollop of ritz—like electricity, private bathrooms and 1,500-thread-count sheets on which to count sheep.
Lake Placid, NY
The beloved lake is just the beginning: This prime Adirondacks spot features shopping, hiking, swimming and one killer mountain.
What to do: Beyond mountain biking and hiking, you can head to the lake for a vast array of watersports. The town of Lake Placid has a rich collection of art and shopping.
Where to stay: The seven-acre, 131-unit Mirror Lake Inn (mirrorlakeinn.com) can't be beat. Every room looks over the lake, and the the cozy fireside accomodations (along with two restaurants and a spa) will keep you in your robe late into the day.
North Fork, LI
South Fork is so last season. Instead, skip it for Long Island’s North Fork this fall, where the bucolic coast is just warming up. Without traffic you can make it to this venerable stretch of farms and vineyards in a hour and a half. Bring your taste for Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio.
What to do: Winery tour options abound here, so take your pick! Sample Merlot at One Woman Wines and Vineyards (5195 Old North Rd, Southold; 631-765-1200, onewomanwines.com), try Coffee Pot Cellars’ sauvignon blanc (31855 Main Rd, Cutchogue; 631-765-8929, coffeepotcellars.com), or sip on something bubbly at Sparkling Pointe (39750 Middle Rd, Southold; 631-765-0200, sparklingpointe.com). No judgment if you decide to hit up all three.
Where to stay: North Fork is perfect for a day trip, but if you want to extend your stay, tap Arbor View House B&B (8900 Main Rd, East Marion; 631-477-8440, arborviewhouse.com), known for it’s plush garden and gourmet breakfast, as your relaxing home away from home.
New Paltz, NY
If you’ve ever walked the six-mile perimeter of Central Park and felt wistful leaving the North Woods—which were designed to resemble a forest in the Adirondacks—then it might be worth heading to New Paltz, NY to tackle some serious hiking. A nature-filled weekend starts by booking a roundtrip ticket to Mohonk Mountain House via the Catskill Carriage, which is redefining the charter bus experience. During your trip, you are provided with every amenity you could possibly need. Wifi, outlets, snacks, candy and even homemade cookies? MTA, take notes.
What to do: The best reason by far to visit Mohonk is to get outside and explore its extensive hiking trails, which are set in 2,200 acres of forests. One of the most popular hikes is a relatively easy trek up to Sky Top Tower, a stone structure that was built about 85 years ago in honor of one of the resort’s founders, and which offers fantastic views of the surrounding area. All of the hiking trails are well marked and maps are provided, offering hikers everything from a beginner path to some serious rock scrambles located along a network of paths situated on lakeside cliffs.
Where to stay: Situated at the top of the Shawangunk Ridge, Mohonk Mountain House (1000 Mountain Rest Rd; 845-765-3286, mohonk.com) overlooks the half-mile-long Lake Mohonk and is a National Historic Landmark that has been owned by the same family for almost 140 years. While staying at this 265-room Victorian castle with a full-service spa isn’t exactly roughing it, photos of long-gone relatives, fireplaces and the lack of TVs in each room add some rustic charm.
Warwick, NY
A day at the orchard sounds nice, right? And just an hour and a half away from NYC? Even better.
What to do: Warwick’s main attraction is Masker Fruit Farms (45 Ball Rd; 845-986-1058, maskers.com)—a 200-acre orchard open for apple picking seven days a week. Admission is free and and apples are $28.95 per half bushel (about 20). Swing by the country store on your way out to pick up apple butter and a jug of cider.
Where to stay: Warwick Valley Bed & Breakfast (24 Maple Ave; 845-987-7255, wvbedandbreakfast.com) kicks casually accommodations up a notch with on-call massage therapists and a vegetarian or vegan breakfast made at your request.
Saratoga Springs, NY
Saratoga Springs has been a posh retreat from the big city for more than 200 years due to its natural mineral springs that spawned its name. The naturally carbonated wonders are some of the only ones in the country and attract throngs for their healing benefits, namely antacid properties to help upset stomachs and heartburn. But there’s plenty else to see and do in this upstate New York retreat in the fall, from apple picking and corn mazes to foliage hikes and autumnal farmers’ markets.
What to do: Zen out at Yaddo (312 Union Ave; 518-584-0746, yaddo.org, $10), an artists’ hub that opened in 1900 and sits on a bucolic 400-acre estate. Its mission is to give artists the space to work without interruption. Today it’s a center for choreography, film, literature, music, painting, performance art, photography, sculpture and video installments, and aside from all the arty happenings, it’s worth a visit just for the pleasant walk around the gardens. You can experience more culture at The National Museum of Dance (99 S Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY; 518-584-2225, dancemuseum.org), at which you can view an ever-growing collection of photographs, videos, costumes, biographies and more artifacts that pay homage to the art of dance, of course.
Where to stay: Right on bustling Broadway, Saratoga Arms (497 Broadway; 518-584-1775, saratogaarms.com, $289/night) is a stone’s throw from boutique shops and restaurants. Breakfast is included daily at this country-style inn, where you can find wraparound porches, fireplaces and balconies.
Stone Ridge, NY
This centrally located, historic upstate New York town is the jumping off point for the rest of the Catskills—a great home base for exploring Phoenicia, Kingston or Rosendale.
What to do: Build up a sweat at Minnewaska State Park (5281 Rte 44-55; 845-255-0752, parks.ny.gov), a nearly 23,000-acre nature preserve. The Millbrook Mountain trail is a five-plus–mile loop within the park that climbs the mountain along the cliffs of Shawangunk Conglomerate. The steep path gives way to several gaps in the trees, where rocky bluffs overlook hundreds of miles of untouched park, which will undoubtedly painted in glorious colors. (In other words: be prepared, Instagrammers.)
Where to stay: The recently reopened Hasbrouck House (3805 Rte 209; 845-687-0736, hasbrouckhouseny.com, $275/night) is in an 18th-century Dutch Colonial mansion, with 17 rooms and nearby carriage and stable houses. Spread across three separate stone buildings, each with a collection of both vintage and modern pieces, the property is surrounded by country gardens and pays homage to the locally sourced food and drink of the Catskills. The restaurant Butterfield takes on a country-tavern vibe but with elevated cuisine like its Three Little Pigs Sandwich with smoked paprika, pulled pork, house-cured ham and slaw on a potato bun.
Woodstock, NY
Though the name conjures a crowd splashed in tie-dye and the faint scent of marijuana, Woodstock isn’t actually where the 1969 festival was held. (That was in Bethel, about two hours away.) Even so, the town is a mix of retired hippies—a street there is named after the late great Band member Levon Helm—artists and city dwellers who feel the need to flee the metropolis on weekends.
What to do: Besides all the camping? If you’ve grown tired of that smoky campfire smell and yearn for a real table and chairs, pop into Oriole 9 (17 Tinker St; 845-OR9-5763, oriole9.com) in town. This local favorite is a café-cum-art-gallery that serves fantastic all-day breakfast and lunch. (Go for the curried coconut tofu hash.)
Where to stay: Trade in four walls and a ceiling for something a little more portable. Tentrr (tentrr.com, $120/night) is a campsite service available in Woodstock and elsewhere upstate. The idea is simple: Book a tent and arrive to a set-up campsite stocked with food and drink. It’s basically Airbnb for campers, touting fully-equipped campsites on private properties all across the Catskills. And don’t worry: Tentrr provides queen-size cots, because you’re too pretty to actually sleep on the ground.
The 50 best things to do in NYC
Step into the pages of Goodnight Moon
What is it? Goodnight Moon that dreamy book that's been lulling children to sleep since 1947, has come to life in a new Manhattan exhibition at Fort Makers, a design studio and artist collective on Orchard Street.
Why go? The exhibit contains reimaginings of the objects found in the book's bedroom setting. Standing in this exhibit is like stepping into the book itself.
Don't miss: An upholstered bed and handwoven textiles by Liz Collins; ceramic table lamps by Samuel Harvey; a rocking chair, stools, and a cloud-shaped bedside table and storage unit by CHIAOZZA (Adam Frezza & Terri Chiao); paintings by Marcel Alcalá; picture frames and hand-carved wooden spoons by Nick DeMarco; Goodnight Moon character-inspired candles by Janie Korn; candles in the Goodnight Moon colorway by Crying Clover (Sara Gernsbacher & JPW3); a ceramic mantlepiece clock by Keith Simpson and more.
Play pétanque at Industry City
What is it? Carreau Club is renting out Pétanque courts at Industry City in Courtyard 5/6.
Why go? It's just $20 per hour for a maximum of six people per game. You can reserve a court on a first-come, first-served basis or ahead of time here.
Laugh off the week at The Tiny Cupboard
What is it? The Tiny Cupboard and Brittany Brave are teaming up to host rooftop stand-up comedy shows every Friday.
Why go? New York City’s finest comedians from Late Night, Comedy Central, Netflix, and more will throw their best at the audience.
Meet friends at the Talea Beer Co. taproom
What is it? This woman-owned brewery opened its first taproom in Williamsburg in March, serving up its refreshing, summer-like, fruit-forward beer
Why go? It's NYC's first-ever woman-owned and run brewery and taproom and it does beer differently than any other brewery — it's good for beer beginners and aficionados alike.
Don't miss: The Beer cocktails that use brews rather than seltzer or liquor, including The Talea Punch.
Go for a ride at Coney Island's amusement parks
What is it? Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park and Luna Park are finally re-opened.
Why go? They haven't been open since 2019 and there are six new rides at Luna Park: Circus Candy, Fire Patrol, Rainbowheel, AeroMax, Grand Prix and Mini Mouse. Later this summer, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amuseument Park will also be debuting a new ride: the “Phoenix,” a family-friendly, steel-suspended rollercoaster.
Don't miss: The New York Aquarium has some exciting new offerings this summer, as well. The newly-opened “Spineless!” exhibition features interesting examples of invertebrates including an incredible giant Pacific octopus, moon jellies, cuttlefish, and the world’s largest living arthropods—the Japanese spider crab.
Shop the Brooklyn Flea
What is it? The Brooklyn Flea at the Manhattan Bridge Archway is back every Sunday with 40 local vendors to shop from. The Saturday Brooklyn Flea in Williamsburg (at 51 N. 6 St. at Kent Ave.) is also back with 30 vendors (mostly vintage and antiques plus a smattering of handmade goods) in the fenced-in lot.
Why go? There will be a handful of new vendors including Mexican But Japanese Vintage, a popular Instagram personality.
Don't miss: The “Dumbo Station” bar located inside the Archway in a “lighthouse.” (open noon-6pm).
Experience “KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature”
What is it? Celebrated Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama's expansive 2021 exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden is finally set to open this April with outdoor installations across the garden's 250-acre landscape.
Why go? Four of the projects will be making their NYC debut, the most exciting of which will surely be Infinity Mirrored Room—Illusion Inside the Heart, which will be housed in a cube-shaped structure located out in the open. Featuring mirrored sides, the exterior of the piece will reflect the changing skies while the interior will glow with a seemingly endless array of colored lights. Elsewhere, there will be an interactive greenhouse installation, in which visitors will be invited apply stickers picturing coral-colored blossoms throughout the interior—thus taking part in one of Kusama’s signature "obliteration" pieces.
Don't miss: Also on view will be two new outdoor monumental sculptures, the self-explanatory Dancing Pumpkin and a 13-foot high biomorphic form featuring a polka-dotted face called I Want to Fly to the Universe. The NYBG itself will chime in with special flower bed plantings patterned on Kusama’s paintings and an allée of trees wrapped in polka-dotted fabric.
Treat yourself to a rainbow crepe cake
What is it? Thompson Street tea store Meno is now selling six varieties of crepe cake that are just as light, fluffy and, well, delicious as we'd imagine clouds would taste like.
Why try it? The offered flavors look and taste wonderful. Tea lovers will delight in the matcha crepe cake, for example, while adventurous folks might opt for the purple yam version of the treat. The most classic variety on sale is the rainbow crepe cake, but we must say that the strawberry, Oreo and rose versions also strike our fancy.
Don't miss: The fermented dark tea and coffee/juice concoctions that are worthy of a taste testing, including the Twilight (lemon, coffee) or the PPAP (pineapple, coffee).
Go to the immersive Friends experience
What is it? The Friends Experience that took NYC by storm in 2019 is back! You know, the one with all the iconic props and recreated scenes from Friends? It opens on March 17 with a whopping 18 rooms, including the orange couch in front of the fountain, Monica’s kitchen, the hilarious 'Pivot!' scene, and the Las Vegas wedding chapel where Ross & Rachel tied the knot
Why go? New props and costumes have been added this time around, including Chandler's bunny suit and Rachel's famous cow jacket, as well as Monica and Rachel's living room and Ugly Naked Guy.
Don't miss: There will even be an actual functioning Central Perk that serves coffee, pastries, and desserts, which will be open to the public daily starting at 7am so you can bring your friends and relive your favorite Central Perk scenes.
Get Ready for Laughter: Bob Hope and World War II
What is it? The New-York Historical Society has a new exhibit that coincides with the 80th anniversary of the United Service Organizations (USO) that shows off artifacts (a World War II-era aircraft fragment, mess kit, and other relics engraved to Hope), films, and rare photographs to illustrate how Bob Hope helped lift spirits with his USO and radio shows during a dark time in American history.
Don't miss: There's a companion exhibition, "The Gift of Laughter," that delves into Hope’s varied career after World War II as a USO entertainer, television star, and Academy Award host demonstrating the many hats worn by comedians. His legacy will be brought to life with many items, including costumes from the Emmy Award-winning series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, as well as objects related to other comedians—real and imagined—influenced by Hope.