The Best of Fall in New York: Our Top 3 Seasonal To-Dos
You just can't beat the fall in New York. As the summer fades into memory and the fall foliage begins to pop, the city comes alive with new energy. Locals emerge from the air conditioning and tourists flock to visit NYC to experience the crisp air and autumnal scenery.
If you're visiting NYC during the fall, here are three must-do fall events and activities to make the most of the season in the city that never sleeps. Fall in New York is all about comfort, culture, and community.
So grab your sweater, your favorite flannel shirt, maybe a warm cup of cider, and dive into the seasonal spirit with some of our favorite events and traditions.
4 Things to Know About Fall in New York
You will not be bored! There is something for everyone to enjoy in New York
No matter what you decide, be sure to understand whether you need tickets. Some activities will sell out
Leave the city limits! If you're in New York for a visit during the autumn season, pick a day to leave the island of Manhattan and explore the surrounding areas
The weather can be unpredictable in New York in the fall. Plan to dress in layers
Let's Start With the Farms!
There are actually quite a few farms located just a stone’s throw from the city.
Long Island Farms
If you are willing to venture further afield, Long Island has no shortage of farms that are perfect for fall family fun.
We've ventured out east to explore some of the farms, here are the two that we've enjoyed visiting.
Harbes Family Farm
Harbes Family Farm: This is one of the largest farms in New York with a huge corn maze, pig races, tractor rides, live music, and harvest festivals.
You can pick pumpkins and a variety of fruits and veggies. They also have a winery, and ice cream shop. The farm spans three locations in Mattituck, Riverhead, and Jamesport.
The kids activities here are particularly engaging. Our little guy particularly enjoyed the hayride, the playground, and their Jumbo Jumpers. Did we mention the pig races?
Harbes Family Farm Pig Races
At last check, the Barnyard Pricing for the kids activities was $15.95 per person during the week and $29.95 per person on the weekends and holidays. They also offer a seasonal pass which covers admission from May - Oct (excluding Columbus Day) for $59.95.
Harbes’ Family Farm Barnyard Sports Zone
F&W Schmidt Family Farm
F&W Schmidt Family Farm: Located in Melville Long Island just off of the Long Island Expressway. This farm comes to life every fall with its expansive offerings.
General admission to the farm is $15 per person. This price includes the hayride, playground, mini golf and photo ops.
The farm is open weekends from late September through the end of October. They offer sunflower picking, vegetable picking, pony rides, and a petting zoo among other activities (for an extra fee).
F&W Schmidt Family Farms also has scarier offerings. At night, you can enter the haunted house or the haunted maze. The pricing for this experience will vary depending on the night. During the 2023 season the pricing was $38.99-$42.99 for both experiences.
The haunts are also open during the day so that you can experience the attractions without the scare actors. However, the props are still in place and it's not recommended for young children. If you'd like to give this a try, you can experience the haunted house for $9, the maze for $8 and both for $15.
Always be sure to check their website for the latest pricing and hours.
The Oldest Operating Farm in New York City
While there are many farms outside of the city limits, our favorite by far is actually located within the five boroughs, the Queens County Farm Museum.
Founded in 1697, this 47-acre farm is home to historic farm buildings, livestock, and beautiful gardens. It's open year-round but the gorgeous fall foliage make it an especially lovely time to visit with its maze and pumpkin picking.
That’s right, you can go pumpkin picking right in the city limits at the Queens County Farm Museum. Their pumpkin patch is typically open daily from late September throughout October.
Entry to the pumpkin patch is free, you just pay for what you pick! In fact, unlike the other farms that we've experienced, there is no entry fee to have a walk around the grounds at the farm.
Instead, you will have to pay admission to any of the public events that the farm hosts throughout the year. Kids are sure to love the farm animals, hayrides, and historic buildings.
Be sure to check their website for the hours and current pricing.
Corn Mazes
Speaking of Mazes, we had the absolute pleasure of doing two of them this season. One by day and one by night!
Starting with the F&W Schmidt Family farm maze. This year's theme was Alien Corn Maze. We had to find our way in and around the Alien Space Ship while we had the additional challenge of collecting 9 pictures hidden in the maze. Check out the video to see how we did!
The Amazing Maize Maze
We also took on The Amazing Maize Maze at the Queens County Farm Museum at night. This labyrinth is open most weekends beginning in late September through Halloween, but only offers the maze at night a handful of times per season.
Navigating the maze in the pitch black with only a dim flashlight added an extra layer of difficulty and adventure. We highly recommend giving the night maze a go if you're looking for a challenge without the scares.
Between the day and night corn mazes, we got our fill of finding our way out of the stalks. But the experience of doing the maze, especially in the dark, was well worth the wander.
Have You Seen The Blazing Pumpkins?
If not, you're in for a treat! In case you're not familiar and don't have this fun seasonal activity in your neck of the woods, this is an artistic display of carved pumpkins. And not just any pumpkins, these are hand crafted and have several intricately themed displays throughout the exhibit.
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze Poster
This year we visited the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze at Old Bethpage Village Restoration.
As we walked through the illuminated paths, we encountered over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins that have been transformed into shimmering works of art. The carvings ranged from classic Halloween to whimsical and spooky.
We found all of the displays to be family friendly with no gore or adult themes. Some of our favorites were the classic Hollywood monsters, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the celebrity portraits.
The Headless Horseman at The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
The event runs on select evenings through late October, so you have plenty of chances to experience the wonder. Tickets do sell out, especially closer to Halloween, so we recommend buying in advance.
The pricing will vary depending on when you visit, with the price rising the closer you get to Halloween. As always, be sure to check the website for the pricing and hours.
Billy Joel carved in pumpkins at The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
It's about an hour long walk through, with snacks, hot cider and other treats available for purchase. Dress for the weather, wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring your camera. You're going to want to capture the magical glow of over 7,000 jack o'lanterns shining bright under the autumn night sky.
What makes this event extra special is that there is a sister version of the display that runs in the Hudson Valley in upstate NY.
So Much More To See And Do in New York
There’s no shortage of fun seasonal activities to experience in the city in the fall. While the changing leaves in Central Park and shopping along Fifth Avenue are quintessential New York autumn traditions, here are a few other things that you might want to explore:
Outside of the New York City Limits
Hudson Valley Cruise from Manhattan to Bear Mountain - there are a number of tour companies that can take you on a leisurely cruise up the Hudson River to view the changing of the leaves upstate New York and back
Apple Picking Anyone? - while you can't go apple picking in the city limits, there are plenty of options east of the city on Long Island or north of the city in the Hudson Valley
Inside the New York City Limits
Want to stay within the city limits? No problem, consider these activities:
Central Park - don't want to travel up the Hudson River to leaf peep? No problem take an Autumn stroll through the park to see the fall foliage
San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy Neighborhood - this time-honored tradition kicks off in September and runs for about two weeks. It's free to wander the festival, where you will find food booths, vendors and entertainment
New York's Annual Village Halloween Parade - if you're really looking to get into the Halloween spirit, then this is one of the time-honored Halloween festivities in the city
Holiday Markets - it may sound strange but three of the most popular holiday markets officially open in the fall to give you plenty of time to get your shopping done. Consider these options to shop unique holiday gifts:
Go Ice Skating in NYC - you won't run out of places to hit the rink in the city. Some of the most popular are:
Don't miss The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade- and not just the parade, you can go and watch them inflate the balloons
See the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting - just before fall turns to winter, check out the lighting of the most famous tree at Rockefeller center
Grand Central Holiday Fair at Grand Central Terminal
These are just a few of the fun fall activities that you can give a try the next time you're in New York. We left so many things off of this list, there is so much to see and do that you could spend the entire season exploring new and wonderful ways to enjoy the fall.
Final Thoughts: A Locals New York Fall Favorites
So there you have it, three quintessential fall experiences you must try while autumn is in full swing here in the city. Bundle up, grab your friends and family, and get out there and make the most of this enchanting time of year.
Until next time, enjoy the journey!
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