NYC events in October 2026

CultureCon transorms Brooklyn's Duggal Greenhouse from an industrial shipyard into a cultural homecoming for Black creatives. It welcomes more than 10,000 attendees across two days to hear from more than 200 speakers, participate in hands-on workshops, attend a career fair and check out immersive activations. Event organizers call it "the nation's leading gathering for creatives of color."

This year's speakers are still to be announced, but the theme for 2026 is "Museum of Us," celebrates Black creativity as the art it has always been.

This year's event is on October 3 and 4; attendees must be 18 or older. Single-day admission tickets cost $129, and weekend tickets cost $239. Discounts are available for students and those who sign up in groups. Digital passes (for those who can't make it in person) are available for $19. 

Sunnyside Queens's edible offerings get the attention they deserve at this casual tasting affair. 

Taste of Sunnyside returns for a sixteenth year on Sunday, October 4. From 1 to 7pm, more than 50 restaurants will participate in the door-to-door crawl, showcasing the best of the neighborhood. This annual food feat offers a taste of Latin, Italian, French, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines, including Cardamom, de Mole Mexican Restaurant and Masa Madre Bakery. There are also a ton of bars and breweries in the lineup, perfect for a build-your-own bar crawl itinerary. Don't feel like walking the whole way? Take the complimentary event trolly. The real party will be going down on 46th Street under the Sunnyside Arch (between Queens Boulevard and Greenpoint Avenue). Pop on by for live entertainment, a local arts fair and loads of family-friendly activities. Tickets are $58.44, inclusive of fees.

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 12 at several theaters within Lincoln Center. 

The lineup includes Godzilla Minus One, 14th, Iron Boy, Joy of Joys, My Wife Cries, Nitrate Kisses and so many more. If your favorites sell out, a standby line will form outside the box office before every screening—and if past years have taught us anything, it's that some seats are sure to open up, even for the most popular titles (just be sure to arrive early).

Tickets are on sale here for $22 and $35, with a discount for Film at Lincoln Center members and students. You'll have to shell out a bit more for screenings at Alice Tully Hall ($130), Walter Reade Theater ($50) and the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center ($50).

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 18 in Manhattan’s historic Seaport neighborhood, next to the Financial District.

The festival is again benefiting the James Beard Foundation. Attendees can expect multi-course dining experiences, pier parties, master classes, sprawling tastings and boozy brunches by acclaimed chefs and Food Network favorites.

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 the 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 18 through November 8. 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, Saturday, 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 during a celebration. The famed zoo's annual family-friendly daytime celebration is back and at its best. 

Every Saturday and Sunday from September 26 until November 1, families are invited to hear from animal experts, run through a new hay bale adventure course and play carnival-themed inflatable games. There's also wildlife-themed theater, magic and mind-reading shows, spooky storytime, a costume parade and more.

The best part? It's all free with admission!

Shop 'til you drop at FAD Market, a curated fashion, art and design pop-up marketplace, which is back for 2026. 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 3–4: Fall pop-up at Empire Stores in Dumbo
• October 17–18: Market at Brooklyn Brewery
• October 24–25: Fall pop-up at St. Paul in Cobble Hill

The Intrepid Museum's “Operation Slumber” is a series of overnight adventures on the legendary aircraft carrier docked at Pier 86.

The hangar deck turns into the city’s most unusual campsite as kids ages 5 to 17 roll out their sleeping bags between vintage jets. There's a Halloween-themed sleepover on October 24, but if your kid doesn't want the added spook-factor, they can experience the venue on the 10 instead. 

Parents can breathe easy—this isn’t just a gimmick. The overnight includes dinner and breakfast, hands-on activities like slime-making, flashlight guided tours of the flight deck, 
unlimited simulator rides in the XD Experience, access to explore a new game room and karaoke, an Intrepid patch for each child to take home and a six-month return pass to the museum for everyone. Tickets for Operation Slumber start at $99 per person ($89 for members).

At its best, a pun is sublimely satisfying to the 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 the 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 28 and has been dubbed the Halloween 'Dome. It will feature champions Daft Pun, Hot Cross Puns, When Wit Hits The Fan and more. Plus, the 12th annual pun-costume competition. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm. Early bird tickets ($14.86) are on sale until September 30, after which the price will increase to $16.92 and then $19.74 if you're purchasing the day of the show.

Opening October 1, a new exhibit at the Louis Armstrong House Museum commemorates the 70th anniversary of the jazz musician and singer's concert tour to Accra. Titled "Armstrong in Ghana," the new exhibition will run for a year and show how Armstrong navigated cultural and political complexities as he toured his music throughout the world.

Tickets for the exhibit cost $10 for adults; upgrade to a $20 ticket if you want to explore the rest of the historic home that the museum is in.

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 Practical Magic, Sinners, Twilight 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 $29 to $36 per person depending on your seating preference and movie time.

Get ready, ghouls, 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 changing of the seasons stretching from the Hudson River to the Palisades. Cruises run multiple times a week from October 3 through November 15.

Enjoy the chance to admire spectacular fall foliage by boat. Plus, these elegant 1920s-style yachts make the experience extra special. In addition to gawking at the leaves, you'll get to see iconic and picturesque landmarks such as the George Washington Bridge, The Met Cloisters, the Palisades and the Little Red Lighthouse.

Plus, Classic Harbor Line offers several more unique options, including the Fall Foliage Brunch Cruises on Saturday and Sunday mornings and an Urban Naturalist-narrated tour with expert commentary on the fascinating geology of the Palisades and the Hudson River. There's also the Grand Palisades Fall Foliage Schooner Sail if you're looking to travel largely by wind, with more time to contemplate the beautiful surroundings. Every ticket includes a complimentary beverage.

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.

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. 

This month's tour dates are Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 25.

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.

Two years after making its NYC debut in Central Park’s Wollman Rink, We Belong Here announced that it will bring its 360-degree stage back to Manhattan.

From October 2 (4–10pm; same hours for Oct. 3) through 4 (3–9pm), music lovers can find Meduza³, LP Giobbi, Ben Böhmer, Stephan Bodzin, Steve Angello, Bob Moses and more at the iconic venue.

Tickets are available and prices range from $124 (single-day, Fri. ticket) to $284 (weekend pass).

In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the police, who investigate crime, and the hungry New Yorkers, who investigate limited-edition sandwiches. These are their stories.

The Law & Order “Dun Dun Diner” is returning to Rockefeller Center this fall, taking over Bill’s Bar & Burger for two days of themed food, photo ops and merchandise. The pop-up will run Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10, from 11am to 9pm.

This year’s lineup includes an impressive list of culinary guests: Ess-a-Bagel, Katz’s Delicatessen, Magnolia Bakery and Serendipity3 will each contribute exclusive menu items, bringing bagels, deli staples and over-the-top desserts into the Law & Order universe. NBC has yet to reveal the full menu, so the pastrami's fate remains under investigation.

Choose between a $30 Booth Service Dining reservation (one featured dish, dessert, branded merchandise and interactive elements inspired by the franchise) and a free Grab & Go reservation (access to merchandise giveaways and a themed photo opportunity).

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.

Every Friday in October from 7 to 10pm, intimate cocktail den Foxtail (231 Hudson St.) will feel a little more seasonal. The lounge is hosting a Spooky Movie Month series in the Living Room at Arlo SoHo, where guests will settle in for an evening of horror classics and themed, discounted, film-inspired menu specials. For those who love a combo meal, there's a $19 "spooky deal" that includes a sandwich, chips and a cookie. No ticket is needed, but there is a two-item minimum per attendee. Seating is first-come, first-served, so get there early to claim your spot. The film lineup consists of The Lost Boys (Oct. 2), Donnie Darko (Oct. 9), Hereditary (Oct. 16), The Craft (Oct. 23) and The Shining (Oct. 30).