New York in October is the city at its best. The heat is gone, the light turns gold by late afternoon, and the calendar fills up fast: pumpkins on the stoops, leaves turning up the Hudson, and skating season just around the corner. Here are the 13 best things to do in New York City and on easy Hudson Valley day trips this October, from family-friendly fall activities at Rockefeller Center and spooky escape rooms to film festivals, foliage cruises, and the Village Halloween Parade.
Already looking ahead to November? See where to watch Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade near Rockefeller Center.
1. Fall for the City at Top of the Rock
October 11, 18, 25, and 31
Celebrate fall 70 floors above New York City with Fall for the City at Top of the Rock. Kids ages 5–12 can enjoy festive, hands-on workshops featuring pumpkin decorating, slime cauldron making, candy apple dipping, and trick-or-treat bag decorating. Each 45-minute workshop includes access to all three floors of the Observation Deck.
Families can also enjoy free face painting for kids every Saturday and Sunday in October from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with extended hours until 4 p.m. on Halloween. Face painting is complimentary with Top of the Rock admission.
2. The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze
Sept. 18 to Nov. 8
Up the Hudson, The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze turns the grounds of Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, in Westchester County, into a glowing pumpkin trail. It's a self-guided walk of about a half mile, and most visitors finish in around 45 minutes. Standard timed-entry tickets start at $24 and must be bought in advance; no tickets are sold at the gate. The trail opens on select evenings. It’s an easy day trip from the city, no car required.
3. New York Film Festival
Sept. 25 to Oct. 12
For two and a half weeks, the city’s film calendar runs through Lincoln Center. The 64th New York Film Festival opened with James Gray's Paper Tiger, features Tony Gilroy's Behemoth! as its centerpiece, and presents its Closing Night selection on Oct 9, 2026 with Ava DuVernay's 14th. Screenings run at Lincoln Center and at venues across the five boroughs, so there's usually one near you.
4. Kenny Scharf and Opening Day at The Rink
Through November 1
Two reasons to head to Midtown. Kenny Scharf's Scary and the Dancers! takes over Rockefeller Center with a colorful, campus-wide exhibition featuring a 34-foot-tall inflatable sculpture, vibrant murals, and playful installations. It's free to explore, and Rockefeller Center and Art Production Fund host Art Sundae workshops every Saturday in October from 10 a.m. to noon. Kids can paint planters inspired by Scharf's Living Cosmic Caverns, which will become part of a public installation at Rockefeller Center. Registration is free but required.
The Rink at Rockefeller Center opened for its 90th anniversary season on October 10, continuing a skating tradition that dates back to 1936. General Skate tickets start at $22, and sessions can be reserved online.
5. Spooky Escape Rooms at Escapology
All month
Get into the Halloween spirit at Escapology, an immersive escape room experience located on the Rink Level at Rockefeller Center. Gather your friends or family and put your detective skills to the test as you solve puzzles, uncover clues, and race against the clock.
For a spooky adventure, try Haunted House, which takes you inside a mysterious manor with a dark past, or Mansion Murder, where players must unravel a family mystery before time runs out. Other suspense-filled experiences include Crime Scene, a murder investigation, and Scooby-Doo and the Spooky Castle Adventure, a lighter option for families. Each private game lasts 60 minutes, making it a fun indoor activity for Halloween season.
6. Fall Foliage in the Hudson Valley
All month
Cold Spring and Beacon are easy car-free escapes up the Hudson for river views and color. Orchards across the Hudson Valley and Westchester County open for apple picking through the fall; reserve ahead where required. The Hudson Valley generally reaches peak color before New York City, where the best color often arrives in November. Timing varies by location, tree species, and weather, so check I LOVE NY’s weekly foliage reports before planning a trip.
Prefer to stay in town? Central Park is the obvious pick, and the Ramble is a good place to wander for color. In Brooklyn, Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Heights Promenade frame the changing trees against the skyline, and a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge into DUMBO makes a good loop. In Lower Manhattan, the Staten Island Ferry is free and gives you a view of the harbor, the skyline, and the Statue of Liberty from the water.
7. New York Comic Con
Oct. 8 to 11
The 20th anniversary show at the Javits Center has a Coney Island theme and the city's best cosplay. Panels run late Thursday through Saturday, and Artist Alley is open all four days. Ticket availability changes by day, so check the official ticket page before you go.
8. Fall Foliage Cruise on the Hudson River
Through November
If you want the leaves without the wind, Classic Harbor Line’s Fall Foliage Cruise on Yacht Kingston leaves from Chelsea Piers (Pier 62) for a two-and-a-half-hour run up the Hudson River. The boat has a heated, enclosed cabin with big windows and an outdoor deck when you want some air, and one drink is included. The route passes the Upper West Side, the George Washington Bridge, the Little Red Lighthouse, and the Palisades.
9. Knicks and Rangers at Madison Square Garden
All month
Both teams have played in the current Madison Square Garden since it opened in 1968, and October is when their seasons start. The Knicks open at the Garden on October 20 against the 76ers, with a championship ring and banner ceremony. Rangers home dates include October 11, 13, 19, and 26. See the Knicks and Rangers schedules.
10. Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival
Oct. 15 to 18
NYCWFF packs more than 50 events into four days, from dinners and cocktail parties to brunches and rooftop series. The Grand Tasting and FoodieCon are back, with signature events at the Invesco QQQ Festival Campus in the Seaport and dinners and other experiences across the city. More than 300 celebrated chefs, restaurateurs, winemakers, culinary personalities, and entertainers are scheduled to attend, including Andrew Zimmern, Esther Choi, and Rockefeller Center’s JJ Johnson of FIELDTRIP.
11. BRIC JazzFest
Oct. 16 and 17
BRIC JazzFest fills two nights at BRIC House in Downtown Brooklyn with a lineup that includes Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Bilal, and Mohini Dey, then closes with an after-hours dance party led by Toribio & Bring Dat Jazz Orchestra. If you catch one night of live music this month, make it this one.
12. Open House New York Weekend
Oct. 16 to 18
OHNY Weekend opens more than 300 destinations across the city for tours and visits. Hours vary by site. Many locations are drop-in, while others require advance tickets, so check each listing before building a day around a few buildings you've always wondered about.
13. Village Halloween Parade
Oct. 31
The Village Halloween Parade steps off at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Canal Street and heads north up Sixth Avenue to 15th Street, cutting through Greenwich Village. Watching is free, and so is marching if you show up in costume. This year's theme is "Body & Soul," which invites anatomical, supernatural, or dance-inspired looks. The stretch from Bleecker to 14th Street is especially crowded, so arrive early or pick a spot further along Sixth Avenue. If you'd rather watch from the couch, it airs live from 8 p.m. on Spectrum News NY1. Marching details are on the parade's official site.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do in New York in October?
Halloween events, fall foliage, and festivals fill the calendar, including Fall for the City at Top of the Rock, spooky escape rooms at Escapology, the Village Halloween Parade on October 31, Hudson Valley day trips, New York Comic Con, and the opening of The Rink at Rockefeller Center on October 10.
What are the best family-friendly activities in NYC in October?
Families can enjoy fall-themed workshops and free face painting with admission at Top of the Rock, explore the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, or try a family-friendly escape room at Escapology in Rockefeller Center. The Rink also opens for its 90th anniversary season on October 10.
When is peak fall foliage in New York?
The Hudson Valley generally peaks before New York City, where peak color often arrives in November. Timing varies by location and weather, and peak brilliance may last only a few days. Check I LOVE NY’s weekly foliage report before planning a trip.
Is the Village Halloween Parade free?
Yes. Watching the parade is free, and so is marching if you arrive in costume. It steps off at 7 p.m. on Oct. 31 at Canal Street and Sixth Avenue.
How do you get to the Hudson Valley without a car?
Take Metro-North’s Hudson Line from Grand Central to Cold Spring or Beacon. For the Jack O’Lantern Blaze, get off at Croton-Harmon; Van Cortlandt Manor is about a 20-minute walk or a five-minute taxi ride from the station. Check the MTA’s official trip planner for schedules.
When does The Rink at Rockefeller Center open?
The Rink opens for the 2026-27 season on Oct. 10. General skate tickets start at $22, and you can reserve online.
