This Fall season, stay at one of Sonesta Hotels of New York and enjoy endless activities with family and friends while exploring all that Manhattan has to offer.
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Apple and Pumpkin Picking & Farms
Fishkill Farms
Escape the city for a day of apple and pumpkin picking at Fishkill Farms in East Fishkill, NY (about 1.5 hours north of NYC). This family-friendly farm offers hayrides, delicious food, and live music on weekends from September through mid-October. Don’t miss their homemade donuts and cider!
Melick’s Town Farm Cider Mill
Located an hour outside NYC in Oldwick, NJ, Melick’s Town Farm Cider Mill offers apple picking from dwarf trees, hayrides, and cider. Enjoy roasted corn and freshly baked donuts as well!
Fink’s Country Farm
Enjoy a day of fall activities on Eastern Long Island (1.5 hours outside NYC). On weekends, Fink’s offers pumpkin picking, hayrides, pony rides, face painting, a corn maze, playground, and kiddie train ride.
Mazes and Gardens
Amazing Maize Maze – Queens County Farm Museum
Get lost in this exciting maze at the Queens County Farm Museum. The maze covers over two miles and features a different theme each year.
Spooky Pumpkin Garden at the NY Botanical Garden
Walk along the spooky garden trail with scary pumpkins and ghostly scarecrows. Enjoy a spooky puppet show and weekend pumpkin carving demonstrations at the NY Botanical Gardens.
Halloween Events
Vintage Green Apothecary
Experience a night where spells are brewed and spirits are stirred! Get ready for an unforgettable evening at Vintage Green’s Apothecary Halloween Pop-Up, where eerie sophistication meets timeless allure.
Their rooftop will transform into a mystical garden, featuring captivating décor and bewitching cocktails. Reserve your table here and watch the magic come alive at Vintage Green.
Boo at the Zoo – Bronx Zoo
Enjoy spooky hayrides, pumpkin carvings, Bootoberfest (beer sampling for adults), and costume parades at the Bronx Zoo on weekends from late September through late October.
The Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze
See over 7,000 intricately carved jack-o-lanterns at Van Cortland Manor on the Hudson. This popular event features displays synchronized to lights and music. Tickets sell out quickly!
Halloween Celebration at the American Museum of Natural History
On October 26th, dress up in costume and meet your favorite characters at the museum. Enjoy trick-or-treating, arts and crafts, and live performances.
Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla at Central Park
Carve a pumpkin and have it float on the Harlem Meer! This event features a costume parade, crafts, and spooky stories. Space is limited for the flotilla. Check the website for details.
Annual Village Halloween Parade
Join the fun and march in NYC’s annual Village Halloween Parade! Enjoy music, dancers, and a variety of entertainment.
Other Fall Activities and Events
Central Park Conservancy Fall Foliage Tours
Experience autumn’s beauty up close with a guided Central Park Conservancy Fall Foliage Tour. Discover the park’s hidden gems, learn about its history and horticulture, and take in the breathtaking reds, oranges, and golds that blanket the park each October and November.
Hudson Yards Movie Nights on the Big Screen
Enjoy free Movie Nights at Hudson Yards this fall, where classic and family-favorite films are shown on the 30-foot Big Screen under the stars. Bring a blanket, grab a snack, and enjoy an unforgettable night with city views as your backdrop.
Empire State Building – Innovation and Speed Exhibit
Visit the Empire State Building’s new Innovation and Speed exhibit, showcasing the building’s rapid 13-month construction and groundbreaking engineering. Explore interactive displays and historical footage celebrating this timeless NYC landmark.
The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail at New York Botanical Garden
From September 25–November 30, the New York Botanical Garden transforms into Halloween Town with Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail – with glowing sculptures, dazzling projections, and beloved characters like Jack Skellington and Sally. A spooky-magical fall evening not to be missed.
Fall-o-ween at New York Botanical Garden
Enjoy pumpkins, gourds, ghouls, and fun activities at The New York Botanical Garden’s Fall-o-ween. Special weekends include pumpkin parades and carving face-offs, as well as a beer sampling weekend.
Seaport’s Pumpkin Arch
Through November 3, stroll down to the Seaport’s Pier 17 to see the iconic Pumpkin Arch. With pumpkins, fall foliage, and the Brooklyn Bridge as its backdrop, this free installation makes for the perfect seasonal photo op along the waterfront.
Explore Chelsea Market
This iconic Meatpacking District food hall, Chelsea Market, is perfect for a fall afternoon. Browse artisanal vendors, enjoy seasonal bites and coffee, and shop unique gifts – all under one lively, cozy roof.
Tour The High Line
Take a guided tour of The High Line and admire the fall foliage and Hudson River views.
Iconic Views of Central Park Tour
Explore Central Park‘s landmarks and landscapes while enjoying the fall colors.
Halloween Harvest at Luna Park
Experience fall and Halloween-themed activities at Luna Park in Coney Island, including pumpkin picking, decorating, and carving, tractor races, and fall food.
Fall Foliage at Little Island
Discover Little Island’s autumn transformation—vivid foliage while enjoying breathtaking Hudson River views.
Tour the City on a Citi Bike
Explore NYC on two wheels! Rent a Citi Bike and try the Central Park loops.
Cruise Through the Hudson
Enjoy a scenic fall foliage cruise on the Hudson River with Classic Harbor Line.
Cheer on the New York City Marathon
Cheer on the runners as they run through the five boroughs on the first Sunday of November for the NYC Marathon.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Watch the iconic parade with giant balloons, floats, marching bands, Broadway performances, and celebrities on Thanksgiving Day.
Brooklyn Book Festival
The Brooklyn Book Festival is celebrating its 20th year celebrating published literature and a literary cultural community! Between September 14-22, 2025, the Festival will be presenting emerging and iconic authors from Brooklyn and all over the world. They will also host Children’s Day on Saturday, September 20 from 10am – 4pm.
