Now that you know what to do in New York during the spring and summer months it’s time to reveal some of the Big Apple’s most popular fall events.
September typically marks the return of locals who have spent the summer at their beach homes and the mass exodus of visitors in town during their children’s school vacations.
Fall in New York also means Broadway shows go into previews, the Metropolitan Opera begins its new season and Fashion Week sashays its way to Bryant Park. Other note worthy events in September include the New York Film Festival, which takes place at Lincoln Center and the Fall for Dance Festival at New York City Center. The latter features a varied roster of critically acclaimed dance companies as Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane, Paul Taylor, Martha Graham and the New York City Ballet. Tickets for all performances are just ten bucks apiece.
Another family-friendly fall event is the Feast of San Gennaro. For 10 days in mid-September thousands of people descend upon New York’s Little Italy to gorge on fried everything from cheesecake to Oreos. They try to burn off the calories by playing carnival games and dancing in the streets but festival-goers inevitably consume more than they burn.
The month of October is highlighted by the Village Halloween Parade, where more than 50,000 costumed revelers stroll, dance or play music while wandering through the streets of downtown Manhattan.
Another much more low-key affair in October is Open House New York. The event allows you access to city sites that are usually closed to visitors. The guided architectural tours are free and open to the public.
November in New York is anything but low-key. The month begins with the world’s largest running event, the ING New York City Marathon, which sees more than 35,000 athletes racing through all five New York City boroughs as millions of spectators cheer them on.
That’s followed by the greatest parade in the world–the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The annual event covers 2.5 miles and attracts 2.5 million spectators (with another 44 million watching the parade on TV).
Capping off the month is the annual lighting of New York’s largest Christmas tree in Manhattan. The Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony attracts millions of spectators and features some of Hollywood’s biggest entertainers.
Planning a trip to New York? Check out these other Big Apple-related articles:
Traveling to New York? Think Broadway
New York’s Must-See Attractions—The Empire State Building
New York’s Must-See Attractions—The Statue of Liberty
Little People in the Big Apple: Central Park Zoo and FAO Schwartz
Little People in the Big Apple: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Patriotic Travel Destinations—Taking A Cruise of New York
Where To Get Your Chocolate Fix In New York