NYC has something to offer every season of the year, but fall is particularly magical. The arrival of autumn fills the city’s calendar with theater, ballet, and celebrations as NYC starts preparing for the holidays. From pumpkin patches and pumpkin spice to fall foliage and festivals, there is something for everyone to experience in the city. Read on for the top things to do in NYC this fall 2023.
1. See the Fall Foliage in NYC
The best thing about fall is its spectacular color show. Follow the New York fall foliage report to find out when leaves are expected to reach their peak. Stroll around Central Park’s top spots to witness the changing colors: the Ramble (73rd to 79th St.), the North Woods (101st to 110th St.), and the Reservoir (85th to 96th St.). Rent an old-fashioned rowboat at the Loeb Boathouse through November to see the fall foliage’s bright golds, reds, yellows, and browns from a different perspective. Each boat holds up to four people, making it the perfect outing for dates or families alike.
2. Watch Live Sports: NY Jets, NY Giants, NYC Marathon, NY Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, NY Rangers, NY Islanders, and New Jersey Devils
If you’re an American sports fan, NYC is the perfect destination to see live sports. There’s something extra special about the energy of the “home” crowd, and fall is the perfect time to catch an event. Come fall, the NFL season is well underway, with MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ) hosting both the NY Jets and NY Giants. There’s the largest marathon in the world, the NYC Marathon, on Nov. 5, which courses through the five boroughs, as well as NBA teams NY Knicks at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan and Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, who kick off their seasons in late October. The NHL season also begins in October. Catch the NY Rangers at Madison Square Garden, NY Islanders at nearby UBS Arena (Elmont, NY), and New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center (Newark, NJ).
3. Immerse Yourself in All Things ‘Pumpkin’ - Attend the Brooklyn Harvest Festival, Visit the New York Botanical Garden for ‘Fall-o-ween’, and Eat and Drink Pumpkin Spice
The annual Harvest Festival returns to Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park Oct. 21 with a kick-off procession, arts and crafts, storytelling, lawn games, and a signature pumpkin patch to celebrate the changing of the seasons. For another fall fest, check out the New York Botanical Garden’s Fall-o-ween experiences for the 2023 season: see plentiful pumpkins and hordes of gourds in the Conservatory Plaza, pumpkin carving face-offs, pumpkin parades, artisan demos with food and drink talks, and select beer sampling weekends.
Get your pumpkin fix. Fall is the season of pumpkin spice everything. Think: pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice cupcakes and muffins, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin spice cocktails. Check out these cozy coffee shops near The Manhattan Club that are sure to have what you’re looking for. Other classic fall flavors that steal the show every season include apple cinnamon, salted caramel, maple, chai, sage, pear, brown butter, ginger, and bourbon.
Now for a limited time, The Manhattan Club’s special monthly offer includes 20% off your nightly rate and a Starbucks gift card to help out with all those pumpkin spice lattes.
4. Go to the NYC Wine and Food Festival
The star-studded event returns to Manhattan Oct. 12 - 15 with the world’s most renowned wine and spirit producers, chefs, culinary personalities, and beloved television chefs. NYCWFF’s four days are packed with demos and dinners, brunches and lunches, tastings, master classes, parties, and more. Familiar faces participating in the 2023 event include Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray, Ana Navarro, David Burtka, Neil Patrick Harris, Rev Run, and Ice-T.
Bonus: Taste the fresh flavors of fall at the best farmer’s markets in NYC. There’s the world-famous Union Square Greenmarket, internationally-known Eagle Street Rooftop Farm in Brooklyn, Tribeca Saturday Greenmarket, Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket, and the 77th/79th Street Greenmarket, one of the closest to The Manhattan Club, just to name a few.
5. Get Tickets to the NYC Ballet
NYC Ballet’s Fall Repertory begins at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. See the full calendar on their website for fall programming, including the annual holiday tradition of Tschaikovsky’s iconic The Nutcracker. George Balanchine's iteration of the classic tale is one of the most complex theatrical, staged ballets in the Company's active repertory - with 90 dancers, 62 musicians, 40 stagehands, and more than 125 children, in two alternating casts, from the School of American Ballet. Performances run Nov. 24 - Dec. 31.
Bonus: Head to Brooklyn for the BAM Next Wave Festival Oct. 19 - Jan. 13, 2024. The Brooklyn Academy of Music’s annual fest blends theater, dance, and opera.
6. Catch a Flick at the New York Film Festival
Cinema this fall is something to get excited about, and the 61st annual NYFF is your pass to ensure you don’t miss a beat. Special sectors within the festival include Main Slate (the most exceptional new films around the world), Spotlight (a selection of the season’s most anticipated and significant films), Currents (new and innovative forms and voices in film), Revivals (remastered, restored, and preserved important works), and Talks (in-depth conversations with those in the business. Standouts in this year’s NYFF include May December (starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore), Sophia Coppola’s Priscilla, Ferrari (starring Adam Driver and Penélope Cruz, and Bradley Cooper’s Maestro. NYFF runs Sept. 29 - Oct. 15.
7. Geek out at New York Comic Con
Stand side by side with your favorite award-winning comic artists, anime creators, and TV and film idols at NY Comic Con. Dress in costume and attend guest panels, photo and autograph ops, and browse the many exhibitors, exclusive fandom gear, and unique artwork that is out of this world (or multiverse!). Guests of honor this year include Chris Evans, Ewan McGregor, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Tom Hiddleston. NYCC runs Oct. 12 - Oct 15.
8. Celebrate Halloween in NYC
Haunted happenings abound every Halloween in NYC. Families will love Central Park’s Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla, which is always free and open to everyone. Carve a pumpkin, hear scary tales, and drop off your jack-o’-lantern at sundown. Find a spot along the edge of the Harlem Meer to watch your jack-o’-lantern float by in New York’s largest pumpkin flotilla. Tompkins Square in the East Village hosts the annual Halloween Dog Parade on Oct. 21 in what CNN has called "the largest dog costume parade in the world” with hundreds of dogs in costumes and thousands of spectators. The free event is open to anyone who wants to watch or bring their dogs in creative costumes. Watch outrageous, spooky, and hilarious costumes at the 50th annual Village Halloween Parade. The most fun and popular Halloween parade in New York takes place in Greenwich Village and is held on Halloween night at 7 p.m.
9. Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Have a Classic Thanksgiving Dinner in NYC
The 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off the holiday season. You may have watched it on TV, but nothing beats being part of the holiday atmosphere. Afterwards, settle in for Thanksgiving dinner. Just because you’re on a NYC getaway doesn’t mean you have to forgo a delicious homestyle dinner. Browse OpenTable to discover which restaurants serve up tasty spreads every Thanksgiving.
10. See a Broadway Show
Broadway’s back with a plethora of exciting theater this fall. See what’s new, including breakout shows like Purlie Victorious, Merrily We Roll Along, I Need That, and Appropriate. Enjoy a classic night of theater while you’re staying with us at The Manhattan Club. We're perfectly located in Midtown to provide convenience to the Theater District and Central Park, as well as a host of other NYC attractions. Relax with upscale suites, unique amenities, and special extras in the heart of Manhattan. Choose from our best rates and special offers when you book direct.
For more seasonal things to do in New York City, visit The Manhattan Club Blog.
