This Fall, New York City offers a vibrant array of events just in time for Halloween and the Holiday Season. Check them out for yourself this Fall!
1. Maybe Happy Ending credit_ew.com, 2. In the Amazon Warehouse Parking Lot credit_playwrightshorizons.org 3. Teeth credit_@teeth_nyc Instagram 4. BRIC Jazz Fest credit_bricartsmedia.org 5. The Rockettes credit_nypost.com
Previews Begin October 16 | Belasco Theatre
Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen star in this speculative fiction romcom musical set in Seoul. Oliver is an obsolete Helperbot 3 who meets his neighbor Claire, another Helperbot in need of a charger. Will Aronson and Hue Park are the duo behind the book, music, and lyrics for this offbeat story about a pair of robots finding love at the end of their warranty.
October 10 to November 17 | Playwright Horizons Mainstage
Set in the near future, a group of traveling warehouse workers travel from one job to the next as they attempt to outrun rising seas. From playwright Sarah Mantell, this dystopian love story features queer characters and examines aging, chosen families, and the search for home in an unpredictable and unsettling world. Directed by Sivan Battat.
Previews begin October 16, Opening October 31 | New World Stages
Michael R. Jackson and Anna K. Jacobs adapted this musical from the 2007 indie horror flick from Mitchell Lichtenstein, about a young woman discovering she’s afflicted with an extra set of teeth. Based on a folk tale found in a variety of cultures including South American, Hindu, Ainu, and Maori, it’s often seen as a cautionary tale against promiscuity. However, in Teeth, evangelical teen Dawn O’Keefe reclaims female body autonomy in a dark comedy about repressed desire.
October 17 to 19 | BRIC House, Brooklyn
Since 2015, BRIC JazzFest has connected New York City with hidden gems and rising stars of contemporary jazz music. The festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary and featuring Terri Lyne Carrington, Reggie Workman, Milena Casado, and others. The festival includes films, dance workshops, panels, and live performances.
November 8 to January 5 | Radio City Music Hall
The classic New York Christmas Spectacular returns. Since 1932, more than 3,000 women have performed in the show. The annual production updates choreography, sets, and costumes each year. Some dates also offer a breakfast reception with Santa or, for adults, a buffet and open bar reception in the historic Roxy Suite.
November 9 through January 4 | Marquis Theatre
The holiday classic returns with Grey Henson starring as Buddy, raised by elves in the North Pole, before returning to New York City in search of his father. Based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, Elf follows Buddy, Santa’s extra-tall elf, on his misadventures in New York City. Henson previously earned a Tony nomination for his starring role in the Mean Girls musical.
November 13 to December 1 | Various downtown theaters
Celebrate documentary filmmaking at the city’s festival dedicated to the form. DOC NYC hosts screenings and other events throughout the year, culminating in two 15-title programs of feature-length and short films every October. The films will be screened at various venues such as IFC Center, SVA Theatre, and Angelika Village East, and audiences will have the opportunity to meet directors and filmmakers.
November 29 to January 4 | New York City Ballet
Featuring 90 dancers of all ages, the ballet includes elaborate stage elements and visual effects, such as the one-ton Christmas tree that grows from 12 to 41 feet. 62 musicians perform Tchaikovsky’s 1892 sheet music for this holiday favorite.
December 5 to 8 | LOOK Dine-in Cinemas, 657 W 57th Street
The NYCHFF is the nation’s largest genre film festival dedicated to horror and science fiction films. The festival accepts films from around the world and includes awards for both horror and science fiction films. Virtual events follow three days of live screenings.
1. Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s–1970s credit_guggenheim.org 2. Steve McQueen credit_diaart.org 3. Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350 credit_metmuseum.org 4. The Street credit_gagosian.com 5. Lillie P. Bliss and the Birth of the Modern credit_moma.org
On view now through January 7 | Guggenheim
Featuring artists who came of age in the years following the Korean War, this exhibition examines the tumultuous political and socioeconomic conditions leading to modern Korea. With approximately 80 works, the show explores how the young people of the post-war era confronted their rapidly changing present.
On view now through summer 2025 | Dia Chelsea
Centered around Sunshine State, a two-channel video projection, the show also includes Exodus, a film following two West Indian men through London, and Bounty, photographs of flowers found in Grenada. The exhibition complements McQuen’s Bass, on view now at Dia Beacon in the Hudson Valley.
Opening October 13 | The Met
The exhibition explores the dawn of the Italian Renaissance and the pivotal role of Sienese artists such as Duccio, Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti, and Simone Martini, exploring how their works helped define Western painting. Works are drawn from The Met, National Gallery London, and rare loans from other lenders.
Opens November 1 to December 18 | Gagosian, 980 Madison Avenue
Artist Peter Doig curates a selection of works by artists who have informed his own artistic development with paintings loaned to the gallery from the Museum of Modern Art. The focus of the works is urban life, labor, and architecture, with paintings by Francis Bacon, Max Beckmann, Vija Celmins, Prunella Clough, Giorgio de Chirico, and more.
Opening November 17 | MoMA
Lillie Plummer Bliss founded the Museum of Modern Art in 1929 along with Abby Aldrich Rockefeller and Mary Quinn Sullivan. Soon after, Bliss gifted a large portion of her personal collection to the museum. This exhibition brings together 40 works from Bliss’s collection, including works by Paul Cézanne, Odilon Redon, Georges-Pierre Seurat, and Pablo Picasso.
Opening November 17 | The Met
A multi-sensory exploration of works from the 19th century through the present day, the exhibition explores how black artists engage with ancient Egypt through the arts. The show includes works from the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement, integrating performance and visual arts.
1. Barbie®: A Cultural Icon credit_madmuseum.org 2. MTA Nostalgia Rides credit_nytransitmuseum.org 3. Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy at the Shed NYC credit_theshed.org 4. The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition credit_brooklynmuseum.org 5. A Billion Dollar Dream: The 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair on its 60th Anniversary credit_queensmuseum.org
Opens October 19 | Museum of Arts and Design
A curated collection of 250 vintage dolls, life-size fashion designs, and other materials are featured in this 65-year historical retrospective of the iconic doll. The exhibition draws from the private collection of David Porcello and Mattel. Trace the evolution of Barbie from a child’s toy to a globally recognized symbol and movie star.
October 27 and November 16 | Old South Ferry Station
If you miss the good old days of straphangers hanging from leather handles and subway cars without air conditioning, the MTA’s nostalgia train is for you. Antique subway cars run the lines, and particularly enthusiastic passengers dress in period vintage clothing. Buy tickets for the scheduled, nonstop, roundtrip rides, or for budget-conscious train enthusiasts, swipe into the subway along the designated route to catch a glimpse of the passing train. The trains travel north to the Bronx on the 1/2/3 and return on the Lexington Ave Line (4,5,6).
Opens November 20 through January 5 | The Shed at Hudson Yards
Luna Luna first appeared in Hamburg, Germany in 1987, a combination of art sculptures and amusement park rides with works from artists like Keith Haring, David Hockney, and Jean-Michael Basquiat. For years, the collection was stored in shipping containers in Texas, nearly forgotten. The artistic fairground no longer allows visitors to ride the amusements both to preserve the artistic sculptures and because they no longer meet safety requirements, but the iconic works are now on tour, arriving at Hudson Yards after showing in Los Angeles earlier this year.
On view now through January 26 | Brooklyn Museum of Art
Showcasing more than 200 artists and kicking off the 200th-anniversary celebration of the museum, the exhibition highlights artists who lived or kept studios in the borough during the previous five years.
Opens November 3 | Queens Museum
The 1964 World’s Fair heralded social, technological, and cultural changes in the United States. The Queens Museum reflects on the lasting impact of the iconic event and marks the 60th Anniversary of the fair with this snapshot of American culture at a critical juncture in history.
November 27 | 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue
Watch the oversized characters featured in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as they are inflated with helium. What began as an unofficial viewing for those in the know has evolved into a popular holiday event with lines and security checks. In recent years, the New York Historical Society has hosted member events to view the balloons as the museum overlooks the inflation area.
1. Oktoberfest credit_oktober-fest.nyc 2. NYC Food and Wine Festival credit_nytimes.com 3. Anime Food Festival credit_youtube.com 4. Miracle Popup Bars credit_@miraclepopup Instagram 5. NYC Autumn Crush credit_amny.com
Ongoing through October | Various Locations
Oktoberfest replicates the Bavarian traditions that arrived in New York City with German immigrants featuring food, drink, and traditional music from the region. Central to the celebrations is beer, usually imported varieties. In lower Manhattan, South Street Seaport has a daily Oktoberfest at Watermark and the pedestrianized Stone Street celebrates on Saturdays from Noon to 11pm. Beer Gardens around the city also have ongoing festivals like Black Forest, Reichenbach Hall, and Loreley Biergarten.
October 17 to 20 | Various locations and Brooklyn Army Terminal
The Food Network brings the 4-day-long event to New York City. Over 500 chefs prepare food to serve more than 50,000 attendees across 80 separate events. Guest chefs include Bobby Flay, Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag, Alex Guarnaschelli, Katie Lee, Marcus Samuelsson, and many others. Some events are hosted in Manhattan, but most are on the Invesco QQQ Campus at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in DUMBO.
October 25 | DUMBO
Enjoy sampling Anime-inspired foods, sip sake and Shochu, trade your favorite anime cards, or chat with special guests including Pokémon voice actors Emily Cramer, Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld, and Laurie Hymes. The festival also includes a traditional Japanese Taiko Drum performance.
Opening November 1 | Various
Get into the holiday spirit with over-the-top Christmas decorations, holiday-inspired cocktails, and kitschy collectible mugs. The Miracle popup bars started a decade ago as a spontaneous popup at an under-construction bar, but have evolved into a global phenomenon. Miracle on 9th Street, hosted at The Cabinet Mezcal Bar, serves as the flagship location. Other partners as well as Sippin’ Santa popups, a similar holiday cocktail concept with a tropical twist, will be announced in the coming weeks. However, other bars that go all out with Christmas decorations include Rolf’s Restaurant, Oscar Wilde Bar, Frosty’s Holiday Bar, and Pete’s Tavern.
November 9 | 630 Second Ave
Offering more than 100 wines and craft beverages and an array of light bites from artisan food makers, the festival features wines from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, South America, South Africa, New Zealand, and California, as well as a focus on New York State wines.
November 19 to 23 | Various Locations
Explore the wines of the Rhône Valley, a 2,000-year-old wine region. Each event pairs a variety of rare wines with appropriate food. American Express members can also access exclusive dinners and early ticket release.
December 7 | Industry City, Brooklyn
Whether you have a sweet tooth or want to relax with a tasty sipping whiskey, this unexpected combination festival has you covered. The traveling festival offers chocolates in many different forms, including truffles and a fondue bar, domestic and international wines with an emphasis on those that sparkle, and whiskey (which apparently includes many other spirits). Tastings and a wine glass are included in the ticket price. There are also plenty of strange chocolate-alcohol collabs like spiked hot chocolate and candy cocktails.
1. The Rink at Rockefeller Center credit_rockefellercenter.com 2. Hike-tober fest credit_vancortlandt.org 3. Diwali in Times Square credit_diwalitimessquare.com 4. Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade credit_timeout.com 5. Fall-O-Ween NYBG credit_whereverfamily.com
From October 12 | Various
October 19 | Van Cortlandt Park
Hike, bike, and run with a variety of organized outdoor activities before enjoying traditional Oktoberfest food and beer provided by the Loreley Restaurant and Biergarten. The ticketed sporting events kickoff starting at 1:30, with a variety of hike lengths on offer. Music, food, and beer to follow.
October 19 | Times Square
Share in spreading the light of happiness and enjoy Indian culture, art, and heritage. The free event includes dance and musical performances, Indian foods, and lightings of diya, a traditional clay lamp meant to attract Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. For a gala version, buy a ticket or a table for Diwali on the Hudson, an annual fundraiser for the Desai Foundation that blends Indo-Western fashion, music, and dj culture with NYC’s philanthropic community.
October 19 | Tompkins Square Park
Last year’s dog parade included more than 600 costumed pups and their owners, drawing some 15,000 spectators. The furry friends follow an official parade route. Come in costume with your best friend, or just to watch the spectacle of adorable pups in costumes. The parade lasts about two hours.
Ongoing until October 27 | New York Botanical Garden
Filled with giant pumpkins and colorful gourds, the Botanical Gardens are never more colorful than in autumn. Sign up for numerous pumpkin carving events, watch the annual pumpkin carving face-off, or enjoy oversized pumpkins during Giant Pumpkin Palooza weekend.
October 31 | Canal Street and 6th Avenue
The West Village Halloween Parade is a wild event filled with fun and horror for spectators and participants alike. Between 50,000 to 60,000 costumed people march in the parade each year – anyone in costume can march, but joining a themed costumed section can earn you a priority spot in the lineup. The parade is family-friendly, but younger children may find some costumes frightening as participants go all out with blood and gore.
November 16 to January 20 | New York Botanical Garden
For more than 30 years, the New York Botanical Garden has brought a miniature world to life with trains and more than 200 scaled miniature landmarks like Yankee Stadium and the Statue of Liberty. Dates will sell out, and some days are adults only, but otherwise, children are welcome too.
Beginning in November | Various Locations
The Union Square Holiday Market sets the standard for winter markets in New York City featuring a variety of handmade and artisanal products, as well as less twee offerings. Urban Space runs similar markets at Columbus Circle, Herald Square, and Bryant Park. For slightly more bohemian shops, Artists & Fleas has markets in Brooklyn and at Chelsea Market. And for those on the go, Grand Central Terminal hosts its own Holiday Fair in the historic station’s Main Concourse and Vanderbilt Hall.
