NYC events in October 2025

The New York Film Festival is back and offering up a promising slate of movies you can see before the big awards. The fun runs through October 13 at several theaters within Lincoln Center. 

The lineup is long, but we scoured the list for our top picks, detailed here. A few include the already-controversial After the Hunt, directed by Luca Guadagnino with actors Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield; Bradley Cooper's Is This Thing On?; and thriller A House of Dynamite directed by Kathryn Bigelow. If your favorites sell out, a standby line will form outside the box office before every screening—and some seats always open up, even for the most popular titles (just be sure to arrive early).

Tickets are on sale here for $20 and $30, with a discount for Film at Lincoln Center members and students. 

Food lovers, rejoice! The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is making its triumphant return this fall, taking place from October 15 to 19, and, this time around, the extravaganza will be held somewhere completely new: Manhattan’s historic Seaport neighborhood.

Now in its 18th year and partnering with the James Beard Foundation, Event Zero Foundation, a21 and Seaport Entertainment Group, revelers can expect multi-course dining experiences, pier parties, master classes, tastings and boozy brunches by acclaimed chefs and Food Network favorites. (We’re not-so-secretly hoping to see a repeat of Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop presents Brooklyn Eats & Beats.)

The full list of events for the New York City Wine & Food Festival are now live and tickets are on sale. Reserve yours here. 

Carving a jack-o'-lantern may be a time-honored American tradition for many, but nobody—and we mean nobody—does pumpkin carving quite like Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze.

Every fall, pumpkins aplenty decorate this festive, family-friendly attraction. This year promises thousands of intricately carved jack-o'-lanterns in mesmerizing displays, plus dazzling new experiences.

Blaze: Hudson Valley runs at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson in Westchester County from September 12 through November 16. Get tickets here.

The Village Halloween Parade—NYC’s creative and spooky procession—is one of the best Halloween events in Greenwich Village and it's coming back this year on Halloween, Friday, October 31. Each year, more than 50,000 zombies, ghouls, witches, monsters, robots, Jedis, giant puppets and more things that go bump in the night take to the streets for a night of costumed revelry that you won't want to miss. 

Whether you march or watch from the sidelines, don't miss this iconic Halloween event.

The only thing better than the Bronx Zoo is the Bronx Zoo at night. The famed zoo's annual family-friendly celebration, Harvest Glow, is back and at its best. 

Every Thursday-Sunday from September 25 until October 31, families are invited to explore this immersive jack-o'-lantern trail with its own spin: the 5,000 pumpkins are animal themed, of course! Senses will be heightened as you explore "creatures of the darkness" through the use of music, special effects and dramatic lighting to make sure that you really feel the spookiness. 

And if that wasn't enough, visitors will have the opportunity to live in the Mesozeric Era while walking amongst over 60 animatronic dinosaurs and pterosaurs at the event's Dinosaur Safari. Paired with the darkness, this prehistoric adventure is not to be missed.

Also expect pumpkin carving demos, games, face panting and tons of photo opps.

Shop 'til you drop at FAD Market, a curated fashion, art and design pop-up marketplace, which is back for 2025. Expect to see your favorite makers plus brand new creatives to help you live smarter, gift better and support local businesses. 

FAD—which stands for Fashion, Art and Design—takes over different venues with a horde of independent vendors and creators. Admission is free and dogs are welcome!

Here's the schedule for October: 

• October 4-5: Fall pop-up at Empire Stores in Dumbo
• October 18-19: Market at Brooklyn Brewery
• October 25-26: Fall pop-up at St. Paul in Cobble Hill

The Intrepid Museum just announced “Operation Slumber,” a series of overnight adventures on the legendary aircraft carrier docked at Pier 86.

Starting this month, the hangar deck turns into the city’s most unusual campsite as kids ages 5–17 roll out their sleeping bags between vintage jets. The evening kicks off in full spooky spirit: a costume contest (apple cider and doughnuts included), flashlight-guided tours of the flight deck, simulator rides in the XD Experience and access to a brand-new game room before lights out.

Parents can breathe easy—this isn’t just a gimmick. The overnight includes dinner, snacks and breakfast; hands-on activities like slime-making, robotics and rain gutter regattas (bring your own mini boat); and an Intrepid patch for each participant. Plus, every guest scores a 60-day return pass to see the ship in daylight. Tickets for Operation Slumber start at $99 per person ($89 for members), with the Halloween kickoff priced at $130.

The pun, that most democratic of jokes: At its best, it’s sublimely satisfying to the reptilian part of our brains that loves easy comedy. At its worst, it produces a groan so gut-deep, it’s almost as good as a belly laugh. The form is mined for all it’s worth at this monthly tournament, hosted by Rodney Dangerfield impersonator Fred Firestone and his daughter, Jo.

A fixture on the NYC comedy landscape for more than a decade, this show at Littlefield in Brooklyn is like a rap battle, only much nerdier. Hear pun pros face-off in the All-Star Tournament of Pun Champions where punsters deliver two-minute pun-stand-up routines, after only two minutes of preparation.

This month's show is on October 29. 

What are you doing at 10pm on a Thursday night? Sleeping? We have a better idea: Brolesque at Balcon Salon in Hell's Kitchen.

This weekly—and did we mention free—strip revue, Fortunes of Love, was created by Lockhart Brownlie (Katy Perry's Super Bowl choreographer) and is a night full of tarot cards, choreography and plenty of skin.

For the entire month of October, Brolesque presents "a cheeky, camp parody where spooky icons like Frankenstein, Wolfman, and Michael Myers get undressed with a wink, all led by a blood-thirsty, showtune-slinging Dracula host." Expect Thriller-style dance numbers, seductive solo acts, flirty audience games (with prizes), and a disco-fueled finale that transforms the entire venue into a glitter-drenched Halloween party. Heads up that there's a two-drink minimum.

When Louis Armstrong sang the inimitable lyric "I hear babies cry, I watch them grow," he was referencing the kids in his neighborhood of Corona and East Elmhurst, according to Regina Bain, executive director of the famed musician's namesake museum. And a new oral exhibit this fall will give a voice to his Queens community, highlighting the people who grew up next to Louis and Lucille Armstrong. 

Titled "The Corona Collection," the new exhibition at The Louis Armstrong House Museum will debut on October 2 and run through March 2026. Throughout, hear the voices of the Armstrongs' neighbors as they recount cherished memories, share heartfelt stories and dig into neighborhood histories. These oral histories offer an intimate look into the couple's life and their deep community connection. 

Step into the magical worlds of Halloween Town and Christmas Town at a frightfully fun immersive experience coming to the New York Botanical Garden this fall. After its debut last year, Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail is returning to the Bronx with brand new scenes, festive music and video projections.

This all-ages evening experience was inspired by the timeless classic 1993 movie known for its stop-motion animation and iconic characters such as Jack Skellington. The light trail promises to bring the film to life against the botanical beauty of the garden. The experience runs on select evenings from Thursday, September 25 through Sunday, November 30, with tickets starting at $33 for children and $45 for adults.

Visitors can walk through more than 8,300 square feet of dazzling light installations featuring interactive video projection, intelligent LED lighting, and 3D-printed sculptures of the film's iconic characters. 

Rooftop Cinema Club takes movie-going to a whole new level—literally. This rooftop film series at a midtown skyscraper offers stunning views and an impressive lineup of films. 

In addition to the movie magic, the venue also offers movie snacks, a full bar and cute photo opps. The fall lineup includes Hocus Pocus, Twilight, Halloween and more. Here’s the full list of what’s coming to Rooftop Cinema Club’s big screen.

As for seating, you'll get to choose a standard high-back lounge chair or a premium lounge chair that comes with extra cushions. You'll book your ticket type, then get to pick your exact seat on-site, first-come, first-served. Ticket prices range from $23-$29/person depending on your seating preference and movie time.

Get ready, ghouls and girls, for an epic Halloween in NYC! The city is bursting with terrifying haunted houses, Halloween parties and more pumpkin-packed events. Whether you enjoy getting seriously spooked while watching the scariest horror films of all time or prefer to celebrate Halloween by leaf peeping while visiting some of the greatest fall getaways from NYC, we’ve got you covered.

Want to get out of the city this fall? You're in luck: Classic Harbor Line offers scenic fall foliage sails aboard gorgeous vintage vessels with a front-row seat to the picturesque changing of the seasons stretching from the Hudson River to the Palisades. Cruises run daily from October 4 through November 16.

Enjoy the chance to admire the spectactular fall foliage in a completely new way: By boat! Plus, these elegant 1920s-style yachts make the experience extra special. In addition to gawking at the leaves, you'll also get to see iconic landmarks such as the George Washington Bridge, the Cloisters, the Palisades and the Little Red Light House.

Plus, Classic Habor Line offers several more unique options, including the Urban Naturalist Tour: Fall Foliage of the Grand Palisades, which offers a light lunch and narration from an expert on history and nature facts. There's also the Grand Palisades Fall Foliage Schooner Sail if you're looking to travel largely by wind alone, with more time to contemplate the beautiful surroundings.

One of the top things to do in New York this fall includes drinking some of the best beer in NYC during Oktoberfest. Take in the beautiful fall foliage while drinking at one of the best beer gardens and German eateries in New York City. 

This year’s events include weeks-long waterside parties, brewery bashes and boozy feasts—all with plenty of German (and local!) beer. Prost!

The party continues all month. Here's what's on tap.

Miss Hell's Kitchen is more than a pageant, it's a movement. Now, that movement—a fundraising series that brings together top drag talent from NYC and beyond to raise crucial funds for HIV / AIDS awareness and prevention—is popping up at Romer Hell's Kitchen for a monthly drag show.

Each month, Sabel Scities will spotlight sensational talent from the drag world. This month's event is on October 9.

This fall, explore the long and rich history of queer communities in Manhattan's East Village and Lower East Side with Close Friends Collective's Queer History Walking Tours. 

The non-profit Henry Street Settlement and Close Friends Collective takes you on a two-hour storytelling journey through six stops. The stops change depending on the tour guide, current events or time of the year, but no matter what, the tour focuses on the importance of New York queer spaces and how they've evolved over the years. 

The organization is fronted by its founders and guides, a mix of historians, educators and a postdoctoral fellow: Salonee Bhaman, Jimmy Fay, Natalie Hill, erin reid, Katie Vogel (Henry Street Settlement public historian) and Daniel Walber. These walking tours are the combination of their love for public history and their desire to not let queer spaces/narratives be forgotten. 

Here are the fall dates:

— Lower East Side, Sunday, October 12, 11am-1pm
— Lower East Side, Saturday, November 8, 11am-1pm

The hottest collab of fall is coming to The Brooklyn Museum with "Monet and Venice," an exhibition that aims to display Claude Monet's Venetian paintings. From October 11 until Feburary 1, 2026, this will mark the first dedicated exploration of Monet's luminous Venetian works since their debut in 1912.

The exhibition places Monet's Venice works in context with other select paintings from key moments throughout his career. Also expect paintings by artists such as Canaletto, John Singer Sargent, J. M. W. Turner and Pierre-Auguste Renoir to create further dialogue.

The exhibit will offer further engagement through immersive elements, including an original symphonic score inspired by the artist’s Venice paintings by the Brooklyn Museum’s Composer in Residence, Niles Luther. This sonic experience was created with the purpose to capture the Venetian landscapes Monet was painting. Once visitors make it to the fifth floor, they'll be greeted by a large scale visual immersive that conjures Venice’s unique atmosphere. This unique visual and aural experience sets the tone for the journey.

There's a magical word in Sweden—"lördagsgodis"—that describes the weekly tradition of indulging in candy every Saturday. Now, you can partake in that tradition (not just on Saturdays) thanks to a newly opened pop-up in Soho from Swedish candy brand BUBS. 

BUBS has been around since 1992, but it became TikTok famous in 2024 for its chewy-foamy and sweet-sour confections in darling designs. Now, the brand is hosting a "Sweeteasy," a.k.a. its first U.S. pop-up. It's a Wonka-esque wonderland with sweet treats and colorful design at every turn. 

Inside, you'll find a pick-and-mix candy bar where you can craft your ultimate candy bag ($14.39/pound) with exclusive Swedish-only flavors, plus the brand's new U.S. lineup. Expect tutti-fruti, banana toffee, strawberry vanilla and lemon raspberry confections. There are plenty of photo opps inside, as well, and plenty of BUBS-branded merch you can purchase to take home. 

Find the Sweeteasy at 69 Mercer Street through October 22. The pop-up is free to enter with no tickets needed. It's open from 11am–7pm Monday-Saturday and 12–5 p.m. Sunday. 

You might think leaf-peeping is primarily for New Englanders, but New Yorkers have plenty of options for viewing the foliage in and around the city. From a stroll through a park to a train ride through the Adirondacks, natural beauty is definitely within reach, and we've tips on exactly where to go to admire it. And if New York City fall foliage is not enough, check out our guide to all the other great spots where you can see fall foliage in the US.

Many New Yorkers know about the Harlem Renaissance, but a new exhibit opening this fall explores a more unknown facet of the era—the Gay Harlem Renaissance. The New York Historical will host a new exhibit examining the Black LGBTQ+ artists, writers and performers vital to the Harlem Renaissance and everyday Black gay life in the early 20th century. 

"The Gay Harlem Renaissance," will open on October 10 and run until March 8, 2026. This unique exhibit traces queer creativity, friendship circles and mentorships that once flourished in Harlem's salons, social clubs and thriving nightlight. The show also highlights specific Harlem Renaissance poets, novelists and artists—many of whom were gay or bisexual.  

A year after making its NYC debut in Central Park’s Wollman Rink, We Belong Here announced that not only will it bring its 360-degree stage back to Manhattan, but it will bring the carefully curated experience to the Greenpoint waterfront, as well.

This year, the Greenpoint edition will launch the event series October 3–5, with the second annual Central Park edition following the next weekend, October 10–12. No word yet on where exactly We Belong Here will set up in Greenpoint, but anyone who’s been there recently knows that it has become one of the crown jewels of the NYC waterfront.

The lineups and when tickets will go on sale have yet to be announced for either festival, but you can sign up for updates on We Belong Here’s website.

If you've ever had a late night at an epic NYC concert, those memories might be a little fuzzy. But the smell—booze, hot air, sweat—likely lives deep in your brain. A fascinating new art installation in Red Hook combines scent and sculpture in a unique way that will have you remembering those hazy late nights in NYC.

Tom Fruin, the artist behind the colorful water tower sculptures in Brooklyn, collaborated with local fragrance house Joya to create a multi-sensory installation called All Access Pass. Find Fruin's new 12-foot rooftop tower atop Joya's waterfront space at 499 Van Brunt Street, Building 4A. It's on view through October 12. While you can see the water tower day or night, the studio is open on Thursdays from 12-6pm; Fridays-Sundays from 12-7pm; and by appointment on Monday-Wednesday.

The Queens Craft Brigade hosts an exceptional community of makers exclusively from the borough of Queens. The independent, queer-owned market at Katch Astoria brings together talented makers exclusively from around the borough and has created monthly curated events featuring artwork, jewelry, fashion, crafts and more. This year marks the eigth year anniversary of QCB.

For Halloween, check out the Queens Witchcraft Brigade featuring a costume contest on October 25.

Chinese food lovers, start prepping your stomach linings now: Dragon Fest, New York's largest Chinese food and cultural festival, is coming back this year for multiple days of limitless food and entertainment across Manhattan and Queens. 

Every year, Dragon Fest brings Chinese vendors, chefs, artists and culture to one place. Here's the schedule for October:

• October 4 – 4th Ave (12th–13th St)
• October 5 – 6th Ave (31st–32nd St)
• October 12 – Broadway (81st–82nd St)

The Met's first major exhibition of Egyptian art in over a decade is on its way. From October 21 until January 19, 2026, "Divine Egypt" will focus in on images of gods in ancient Egypt. The exhibit considers how these physical tools brought the gods to life for daily worship, offering ancient Egyptians a vital connection between the human and divine worlds.

Spanning more than 3,000 years, the Egyptian people's belief system grew to include more than 1,500 gods with many overlapping forms and traits. At the exhibit, expect to see statues and small elegant figurines that represent 25 of ancient Egypt's main deities. Look for subtle visual cues, like what a figure wore, how they posed or the symbols they carried to help identify each one.

Autumn is the time to pick two of the season’s most emblematic fruits: apples and pumpkins. Fortunately there are some fantastic farms where you can go apple and pumpkin picking near NYC. These farms and orchards will get you into that fuzzy fall feeling in no time.

There’s nothing quite like taking a bite out of a crisp apple straight from the tree (even better, taking home a basketful for making pie), and your Halloween pumpkin will be that much more special when you pick it right off the vine. You’ll find a wide variety of apples and pumpkins at these farms, plus fun activities like hayrides, corn mazes and petting zoos. Don’t miss hot apple cider and other fresh-made treats at the farmstand. Apple picking and pumpkin picking have never been better at these NYC-area farms.