Tag: things to do in NYC

Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe: Best Things to Do in NYC This October: Halloween Parades, Food Festivals and Fall Fun

October might be the best month to be in New York City

Fall is in full swing, the streets are packed with festivals, and Halloween is right around the corner. Whether you’re into morning dance parties, Japanese street food, open-air art studios, or a good old-fashioned parade, there’s something happening nearly every weekend this month. Here’s what’s on the calendar.

Oct 10 — DAYBREAKER ALIVE at Brooklyn Bridge Park

The early-morning dance party returns to Brooklyn Bridge Park on October 10. Wake up, get outside, and dance it out as the sun comes up over the skyline. It’s the kind of morning that sets the tone for the whole weekend.

Oct 10 + 11 — JAPAN Fes

Japanese food, snacks, and street culture take over for two days on October 10 and 11. If you’ve been meaning to try something new from a vendor you’ve never heard of, this is your chance. And if food festivals are your thing, our roundup of 15 of the best pizza places in NYC will keep the theme going.

Oct 10, 17, 24 + 31 — Queens Night Market

The Queens Night Market keeps its Saturday run going through October 31. Four more Saturdays of food vendors from around the world, cheap eats, and a crowd that shows up hungry. Mark every one of those dates.

Oct 16–18 — Open House New York Weekend

One of the city’s best weekends for the curious: buildings, studios, and spaces that are usually closed to the public open their doors from October 16 to 18. Tours fill fast, so plan ahead.

Oct 17 — Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade

Dogs in costumes. That’s the whole pitch, and it’s perfect. The Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade returns October 17 in the East Village, and it’s one of the most purely joyful traditions in the city.

Oct 17–18 — Gowanus Open Studios

Brooklyn artists open their studios to the public on October 17 and 18. Wander Gowanus, meet the people making the work, and see the neighborhood’s creative scene up close.

Oct 23–25 — City of Gods Halloween Festival

Three days of Halloween programming from October 23 to 25. Details are still trickling out, but it’s one of the bigger Halloween events on the October calendar. Pair it with our guide to 20 haunted houses in and around NYC for the full spooky-season treatment.

Oct 24 — Bronx Halloween Parade

The 41st Annual Bronx Halloween Parade marches on October 24. Four decades in, this Bronx tradition is still going strong — costumes, music, and a whole borough celebrating.

Oct 31 — A triple-header of Halloween

October 31 is stacked. Three events land on Halloween day itself:

  • Halloween Harvest Festival at Socrates Sculpture Park — fall fun with a Halloween twist at the park in Astoria.
  • Village Halloween Parade — the famous march down Sixth Avenue, still the centerpiece of NYC Halloween.
  • House of Hallucinations at House of Yes — Bushwick’s House of Yes closes out the month with its signature Halloween night.

If you’re already planning ahead for what’s next, our list of 10 of the best Christmas events in NYC for the 2026 holidays is ready when you are.

Don’t sleep on October

This is the month when the city really shows off — food festivals, open studios, parades, and Halloween doing the heavy lifting at the end. Pick your weekends, grab your friends, and get out there. And for ideas this very week, check out what’s happening around NYC today too.

Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe: Fun Things Happening in NYC This Week, Oct. 5–11: Zumba, House Dance, African Restaurant Week and More

Monday, October 5th, and the city is already warming up for another packed week. If you’re the type who needs a plan before the coffee kicks in, this one’s for you — seven days of dance classes, screenings, festivals, and rooftop mornings, laid out day by day.

Monday & Tuesday: Move First

Start the week on your feet. Monday brings Zumba at Brooklyn Bridge Park — open-air, waterfront views, and a crowd that’s in it for the energy. Then Tuesday hands the floor to House Dance at Lincoln Center, which is about as New York as a Tuesday night gets.

Wednesday & Thursday: Laughs and a Classic

Wednesday splits the difference between comedy and jazz across Brooklyn and Manhattan — pick your borough, pick your poison. Thursday closes the workweek out strong with an outdoor screening of Stop Making Sense followed by a dance party. Talking Heads under the stars, then dancing. Not a bad Thursday.

Friday: The Weekend Ignites

Friday does double duty. The African Restaurant Week Festival kicks off and runs Friday through Sunday — three days of food worth planning around. And Friday night itself, Rosa Perreo takes over House of Yes in Brooklyn, which should tell you everything you need to know about how the night ends.

Saturday & Sunday: Sunrises and Tango

Saturday morning starts early and loud with DAYBREAKER ALIVE back at Brooklyn Bridge Park — sunrise, music, and a dance floor that doesn’t care what time it is. Sunday gets its own lineup: the NYMS Fungus Festival at The Battery, plus free tango and milonga at Essex Market to close the week out properly.

And threaded through all of it, the usual October extras: street fairs, open streets, live music and more all weekend. Wander without an agenda and you’ll still land somewhere good.

The Plan

Want the week in one sentence? Monday Zumba, Thursday’s Stop Making Sense screening-and-dance-party, Friday at the African Restaurant Week Festival, Saturday’s sunrise Daybreaker, and Sunday tango at Essex Market. That’s a week worth having.

If you’re still hungry for plans, our guide to today in NYC covers street festivals and rooftop dancing, and last weekend’s food festivals and live music roundup is worth a look too. Fall fans should check the best apple picking near NYC, and spooky season’s official 20 haunted houses lineup is already live.

Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe: Fun Things to Do in NYC Today: Sunday, October 4th — Street Festivals, Japanese Culture & Rooftop Dancing

Sunday, October 4th has that perfect early-October feel to it: crisp air, golden light, and a city that refuses to stay in. Whether you’re up early or easing into the afternoon, there’s something happening in just about every corner of New York today. Here’s your guide to the best of it, hour by hour.

Morning: Markets, Music and Pow Wow

The day gets going at 10 AM with the Queens Agricultural Fair, a lovely way to lean into fall with farm-fresh goods and seasonal fun. Also at 10, the Lenape / Lunáapeew Nations Pow Wow brings Indigenous music, dance and tradition to Prospect Park — a genuinely meaningful way to spend a Sunday morning.

By 11 AM, Smorgasburg is back in Prospect Park with its usual spread of the city’s best food vendors, and the Bush Cook Festival fires things up with music and food of its own.

Midday: Festivals Take Over

Noon is when Sunday really opens up. The Atlantic Antic, Brooklyn’s beloved street festival, takes over Atlantic Avenue with blocks of vendors, live performances and food. It’s one of the biggest outdoor events of the fall, and the highlight pick of the day.

Japan lovers get two great options: Fun Fest Japan starts at noon, and Iyasaka Matsuri kicks off at 2 PM — another top pick, packed with Japanese culture, music and celebration. Over on Randall’s Island, the Harvest Festival starts at noon too, leaning all the way into the season with autumn activities and family-friendly fun.

At 1 PM, the Mystic Mega Market opens its doors for anyone hunting down candles, crystals and one-of-a-kind finds.

Afternoon & Evening: Dancing Into the Night

At 3 PM, Mister Sunday returns to Nowadays for an afternoon of dancing in the open air — the third top pick of the day, and a Sunday institution at this point. Also at 4, the Disco Tehran Rooftop Party brings the sunset vibes, and the day closes out at 5 PM with Corazón Cumbiambero, full of rhythm and dancing.

The Plan

Want to keep it simple? Hit the Lenape Pow Wow in the morning, the Atlantic Antic for the afternoon, and dance your way into the evening at Mister Sunday. That’s a Sunday worth writing home about.

Looking for more to fill your weekend? Check out our guide to fun things happening in NYC this weekend, and if fall is your favorite season, our roundup of the best apple picking near NYC is calling your name. And with spooky season officially here, don’t miss the 20 haunted houses in and around NYC — October doesn’t last forever.

Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe: Fun Things to Do in NYC This Weekend, Oct. 3–4: Food Festivals, Live Music and Rooftop Parties

New York doesn’t do quiet weekends. If you’re still figuring out Saturday and Sunday, here’s a lineup worth stealing: coffee and cider festivals, a pow wow in Prospect Park, a street festival taking over Atlantic Avenue, and a couple of rooftop parties to close out the night.

Saturday is already underway, and plenty is still on the schedule.

Saturday, October 3rd

The day kicks off early with the NYC Coffee Festival in Brooklyn at 9AM — coffee people, this is your morning. At 10AM, the Lenape Nations Pow Wow brings drums, dancing, and tradition to Prospect Park.

By noon you’ve got options: the Latin Food Fest uptown and Cider Feast at Industry City. Tacos or cider — or honestly, why not both if you plan it right.

Afternoon looks good too: NYC Day of Flow at Brooklyn Bridge Park at 2PM, the Creole Food Fest at Pier 3 at 3PM, and the Village Trip Concert in the Meatpacking District at 4PM.

Then the evening splits between two solid picks: the Perreito Rooftop Party at Elsewhere at 6PM, and Tootsie’s Video Vault at Littlefield at 7:30PM.

Sunday, October 4th

Sunday opens with the second day of the Lenape Nations Pow Wow in Prospect Park at 10AM — a genuine cultural experience and a great way to start the day.

At noon, two classics: the Harvest Festival on Randall’s Island and the Atlantic Antic on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, the massive street festival that draws crowds every year.

Afternoon keeps it going with Greenpoint StoopFest at 1PM in Greenpoint, then a pair of 3PM picks: Mister Sunday at Nowadays and Hot Honey Sundays at McCarren Park. At 4PM, Disco Tehran takes over Elsewhere.

Close out the weekend with laughs: Comedy + Music at Littlefield at 8PM Sunday night. A perfect landing spot before Monday does its thing.

For more ideas, check out our picks for last weekend’s festival-heavy lineup, the best happy hours in the city for a pre-game drink, and Oktoberfest events still running through the month.

Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe: 10 of the Best Places to Go Apple Picking Near NYC This Fall

Fall is apple-picking season, and there’s no better excuse to escape the city for a day. Grab your friends, throw on a sweater, and head out for fresh apples, cider donuts, and peak autumn color. September and October are prime picking season — but go soon, because the good weekends fill up.

Here are ten of the best places to go apple picking near NYC, all day-trip options from the city, pulled together by @nycfunevents. One important note: check each orchard before you leave — apple varieties, pick-your-own availability, and reservation requirements can change throughout the season.

The 10 best apple-picking spots near NYC

Fishkill Farms

A Hudson Valley classic with orchards, a farm store, and the full fall-day experience.

Masker Orchards

Rows of trees and plenty of room to roam — a pick-your-own favorite.

Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard

Orchard views, farm animals, and apples by the bagful.

Outhouse Orchards

The name gets a laugh; the apples get picked. A fun, unpretentious day trip.

Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm

Fruit in the fall, firs for the holidays — this farm does both seasons beautifully.

Dr Davies Farm

A long-running orchard with deep roots and plenty of varieties to fill your basket.

Stuarts Farm

Old-school farm charm and some of the area’s most loyal pickers.

Ochs Orchard

Hillside orchards with views worth the drive alone.

Pennings Orchard

Goats, beer garden, and apples — Pennings makes a whole day of it.

Apple Ridge Orchards

A ridge-top orchard that’s become a fall ritual for plenty of New Yorkers.

Make a day of it

Apple picking is one of fall’s simplest pleasures: fresh air, a full basket, and cider donuts on the way home. Save this list, check conditions before you go, and get out there while the season’s at its peak.

More fall fun: our guide to Oktoberfest in and around NYC and the 2026 holiday tree and lights dates to plan the season ahead.

Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe: 10 of the Best All-You-Can-Eat Restaurants in NYC for Serious Appetites

Come hungry. Like… really hungry. There’s a special kind of joy in a restaurant where the menu has no bottom — where the brisket keeps coming, the hot pot never stops bubbling, and nobody’s counting plates.

From unlimited Korean BBQ and Wagyu hot pot to sushi, seafood, and Sri Lankan favorites, New York has some seriously epic all-you-can-eat spots. Here are ten of the best AYCE restaurants in NYC, pulled together by @nycfunevents. Tag the friend you’d bring to an AYCE feast.

The 10 best all-you-can-eat restaurants in NYC

Jongro BBQ Market

Unlimited Korean BBQ done with quality in mind. The meat keeps coming; your only job is to keep grilling.

Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House

Wagyu. Hot pot. Unlimited. Three words that should be enough to get you out the door.

Crab House NYC

Seafood lovers, this one’s yours — crab and ocean bounty without the per-plate anxiety.

Let’s Meat BBQ

The name says it all. Korean BBQ at full volume, as much as you can handle.

Akino

Unlimited sushi is a dangerous and beautiful thing. Pace yourself — or don’t.

99 Favor Taste

A feast for the indecisive: when every option looks good, the answer is all of them.

KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot

Two feasts in one — grill your meat, simmer your hot pot, repeat until satisfied.

Xi Yue Hui Hot Pot

Hot pot heaven with broths and ingredients that keep the table interesting for hours.

Witch Topokki

Korean street-food favorites in unlimited form. Spicy rice cakes for days.

Lakruwana

Sri Lankan flavors, all you can eat — the sleeper hit of this list and a reminder that AYCE isn’t just BBQ and sushi.

Eat like you mean it

All-you-can-eat is a commitment, and these ten spots reward it. Save this for your next NYC food adventure — and bring an appetite.

More ways to eat your way through the city: our guides to the best ramen places in NYC, the best Thai restaurants in NYC, and the best lobster spots in and around NYC.

Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe: 10 of the Best Christmas Events in NYC to Plan for the 2026 Holidays

New York City during the holidays is pure magic. The air gets sharp, the windows go up, the lights come on — and for a few weeks, the whole city feels like it’s showing off. If you’re planning your 2026 Christmas adventures, now is the time to start.

From the most famous tree on earth to neighborhood light displays that draw crowds from everywhere, here are ten of the best Christmas events in NYC, pulled together by @nycfunevents. Save this for the holidays — and send it to someone you want to explore the city with.

The 10 best Christmas events in NYC

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

The one and only. No list starts anywhere else — the tree, the crowds, the whole glorious scene.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

The Rockettes, the living nativity camels, the sheer scale of it. A New York holiday tradition that never gets old.

Bryant Park Winter Village

Ice skating, holiday shops, and hot chocolate in the middle of Manhattan. The Winter Village turns an ordinary park into December itself.

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights

Brooklyn’s over-the-top residential light displays have become a destination in their own right. The houses don’t do subtle — that’s the point.

NYBG Holiday Train Show

Model trains winding through miniature New York landmarks, all built from plants. Magical for kids, quietly impressive for adults.

The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center

Tchaikovsky, tutus, and the Sugar Plum Fairy. The holiday ballet season’s crown jewel.

Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights

Thousands of lights and lantern displays across the zoo grounds — a wilder kind of holiday night out.

A Christmas Carol at PAC NYC

Dickens’ classic on stage, Scrooge and all. The perfect pre-Christmas theater night.

Grand Central Holiday Fair

Holiday shopping inside one of the most beautiful rooms in America. Even if you buy nothing, the hall is worth the trip.

Fifth Avenue Holiday Wonderland

The avenue’s famous window displays and festive storefronts — the free show that anchors every holiday walk uptown.

Start planning now

The holidays come fast in this city, and the best experiences book up early. Pick your must-dos, grab your favorite person, and make a season of it.

For more seasonal dates, see our save-the-dates guide to NYC’s 2026 holiday tree and lights celebrations and our look at Oktoberfest in and around NYC for fall fun before the holidays hit.

Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe: 10 of the Best Pancake Places in NYC for Your Next Brunch

Forget the basic stack. New York takes pancakes seriously — fluffy, crispy, buttery, syrupy — and the city’s best spots range from classic diners to places doing things with pancakes you didn’t see coming. Whether you want a traditional tower drowned in maple syrup or something completely different, this list has you covered.

Here are ten of the best pancake places in NYC, pulled together by @nycfunevents. Save it for your next brunch crawl — and send it to your pancake partner.

The 10 best pancake places in NYC

Cocina Consuelo — Hamilton Heights

Up in Hamilton Heights, where the pancakes come with real neighborhood warmth.

Golden Diner — Two Bridges

A Two Bridges favorite that does the classics with unusual care. The kind of diner that reminds you why diners matter.

Clinton St. Baking Company — LES

The Lower East Side institution. Their pancakes have lines for a reason — this is the benchmark.

Bubby’s — Tribeca

Tribeca comfort in pancake form. Big, satisfying, and built for slow weekend mornings.

Chez Ma Tante — Greenpoint

Greenpoint’s cozy corner for a proper brunch, pancakes included.

Vinegar Hill House — Brooklyn

A Brooklyn charmer where brunch feels like an occasion, pancakes and all.

Win Son — East Williamsburg

Taiwanese-American flavors meet brunch classics in East Williamsburg. Expect the unexpected — in a good way.

Breakfast by Salt’s Cure — West Village

West Village mornings done right. Simple, precise, delicious.

Locanda Verde — Tribeca

Italian-leaning brunch in Tribeca with pancakes that hold their own against the pastas.

Shopsin’s — Essex Market

The Essex Market legend with a menu the size of a novel. The pancake options alone could keep you coming back for weeks.

Brunch plans, handled

Ten spots, five boroughs of flavor, one very good weekend. Whether you’re a syrup traditionalist or an adventurous eater, New York’s pancake scene has a table waiting.

More morning fuel: our guide to NYC’s best breakfast sandwiches and the best late-night eats in NYC for when brunch runs long.

Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe: 10 of the Best BBQ Spots in NYC, From Red Hook to Harlem

Real barbecue is a patience game. Brisket that spends half a day in the smoker, ribs that pull clean off the bone, burnt ends caramelized to the edge of reason — you can’t fake any of it, and you definitely can’t rush it. New York spent years being told it wasn’t a barbecue town. That argument is over.

From Red Hook to Harlem, pitmasters across the city are turning out smoked meat that would hold its own anywhere. Here are ten BBQ spots in NYC worth the trip, pulled together by @nycfunevents.

The 10 best BBQ spots in NYC

Hometown Bar-B-Que — Red Hook

The name that put NYC barbecue on the map. The trek to Red Hook is part of the experience, and the brisket is the reward.

Bark Barbecue — Bushwick

Bushwick’s smoke game is serious. Come hungry, leave smelling like a campfire in the best possible way.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que — Harlem

An upstate legend with a Harlem outpost that pulls crowds nightly. The ribs are the headline act.

John Brown BBQ — Long Island City

Queens pitmasters doing brisket and smoked wings the right way — low, slow, and worth the subway ride.

Pig Beach BBQ — Astoria

Backyard vibes with competition-level meat. The kind of place where you order too much and regret nothing.

Royal Rib NYC — Bed-Stuy

A Bed-Stuy standout where the ribs live up to the royal name.

Mable’s Smokehouse — Williamsburg

Classic smokehouse fare in the heart of Williamsburg — brisket, ribs, and all the fixings.

Izzy’s Brooklyn Smokehouse — Crown Heights

Crown Heights’ answer to the barbecue question, and a strong one.

Hill Country Barbecue Market — Flatiron

Texas-style barbecue in Flatiron, market-style. Order at the counter, eat like you mean it.

Morgan’s Brooklyn Barbecue — Prospect Heights

Prospect Heights’ pit stop for smoked everything, steps from the park.

Worth every mile

Barbecue in New York isn’t an imitation of somewhere else anymore — it’s its own thing, built by people who care about the craft. Save this list for your next meat-filled adventure, and send it to the friend who’s always down for brisket.

Still hungry? Check out our 10 hot chicken spots to try in NYC and the best late-night eats in NYC for your after-hours cravings.

Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe: 10 of the Best Happy Hours in NYC: $1 Oysters, $5 Spritzes and Cheap Drafts

There’s a moment every New Yorker knows: you glance at the bar tab, do some quick mental math, and realize three rounds cost more than dinner. Twenty dollars a cocktail adds up fast. That’s exactly why happy hour exists — and in this city, the good ones are worth seeking out.

From $1 oysters shucked by the tray to $5 spritzes, discounted craft cocktails, wine specials, cheap drafts, and food-and-drink combos that actually feel like deals, NYC still has plenty of places where after-work drinks don’t wreck the week. Here are ten of the best happy hours in the city, pulled together by @nycfunevents.

The 10 best happy hours in NYC

Crown Alley

A name that’s become shorthand for solid deals in a good-looking room. The kind of place where one drink after work quietly turns into staying for the oysters.

Sagaponack

East End name, city energy. When the happy hour menu lands, the prices feel almost nostalgic.

Casa Piada

Food-and-drink deals done right — this is the stop for anyone who believes happy hour should come with something to eat.

The Half Pint

A pub that understands the assignment: cheap drafts, good company, and no attitude about it.

The Wayland

Craft cocktails at a discount. The bartenders here pour with conviction, and the happy hour menu makes the good stuff attainable.

Tara Rose

Wine specials and spritzes in a room that feels a notch above the average after-work crowd.

Ardesia Wine Bar

For the wine people. Specials on the pour list make it the smartest kind of happy hour — slower, quieter, better.

Cull & Pistol

Oysters. Need we say more? The $1 oyster situation here is the stuff of group-chat legends.

Porchlight

Dark, cozy, and exactly where you want to be at 6 p.m. on a Thursday. Discounted drinks in a room that makes everything taste better.

Mace

Inventive cocktails that usually cost a small fortune, suddenly within reach. Happy hour here feels like a secret the regulars keep quiet about.

Happy hour, done right

The real move: pick a spot near the office, get there early, and treat the happy hour menu like the whole point of the night. Because some nights, it is.

Looking for what comes after the last happy hour pour? Check out our guides to the best late-night eats in NYC and 10 hot chicken spots to try — because the night doesn’t have to end when the deals do.