Fall Festivals NY: Everything You Must Check Out This Fall
- Pop Up Girls
- Sep 24
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 15
Updated: September 30, 2025
Editor's Note: This article is updated periodically as festivals are announced or brought to our attention.
Listen up because I'm about to drop some wisdom on you. Other states may think they do fall exceptionally well, but NY invented the playbook on fall festivals. When those first autumn leaves drop, we mean business. So slip into something stunning, hold that latte like it's a work of art, and get ready to own the fall scene.
New York City
Aug 16 – Oct 5
Celebrate the 46th Anniversary of the New York Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo, New York, as you journey to a 16th-century English village for a grand adventure filled with knights, fairies, pirates, and artisan wares.
Sept 12 - Oct 26
Experience the best of Oktoberfest in New York City, complete with authentic German beer, brats, giant pretzels, and family-friendly fun.
Sept 19 – Nov 2
Enjoy a variety of Fall and Halloween-themed activities, including pumpkin decorating, balloon twisting, face painting, and more with the purchase of your wristband to Luna Park.
Sept 26 - Oct 13
Held at Lincoln Center, this renowned festival showcases the best in world cinema, featuring premieres, screenings, and discussions with filmmakers.
Oct 3 – 23
Experience groundbreaking moments across various genres with premiere performances, debuts, and fresh collaborations at the second annual Festival of Firsts at Lincoln Center.
Oct 4 - 5
CultureCon is the ultimate gathering for creatives of color, offering a wealth of interactive programming, workshops, activations, and celebrity appearances to elevate personal and professional growth.
Oct 4 – Oct 19
Kodansha House 2025 returns to SoHo with an expanded immersive fan experience featuring interactive exhibits, workshops, screenings, and special appearances tied to iconic series like Attack on Titan, Sailor Moon, and Blue Lock. Highlights include rare U.S. appearances from manga creators, hands-on programming, and the Mochikomi Fresh Ink portfolio review for aspiring artists with Kodansha’s legendary editorial team.
Chinatown Arts Festival
Oct 5 – Oct 26
The annual Chinatown Arts Festival celebrates traditional Chinese arts and emerging Asian American artists through a series of cultural events in October, fostering intergenerational connections and promoting Chinatown's cultural richness.
Oct 9 - 12
New York Comic Con brings together fans, creators, and celebrities from the world of comics, movies, television, and pop culture for a weekend of panels, exhibits, cosplay, and fan interactions.
Oct 15 - 19
This event brings together renowned chefs, culinary experts, and food enthusiasts for a series of tastings, seminars, and food-related events.
Oct 17 - 18
The BRIC JazzFest showcases a diverse lineup of jazz legends, rising stars, and genre-blending artists, pushing the boundaries of jazz with influences from hip-hop and unique musical styles.
Oct 17 - 19
While not exactly a festival, this event allows access to usually restricted sites and spaces across the city, providing a unique opportunity to explore architecture and design.
Oct 18
Join the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy's Harvest Festival featuring a kick-off procession, arts and crafts, storytelling, lawn games, and a pumpkin patch.
Oct 18
Special performances, art-making experiences, and cultural adventures for all ages.
Oct 24 - 26
Organized by The New Yorker magazine, this festival offers a mix of conversations, performances, and experiences with notable figures from various fields.
Oct 25
The Halloween Harvest Festival returns with family-friendly workshops, a community resource fair, pumpkin decorating, and New York’s second-largest dog costume contest co-presented with Chateau le Woof.
Oct 31
The Village Halloween Parade is a massive and creative Halloween parade that takes over the streets of Greenwich Village with elaborate costumes, puppets, and performances.
Nov 7 - 16
An annual event featuring a diverse lineup of renowned comedians performing in various venues across the city, providing laughter and entertainment to audiences from all walks of life.
Nov 14
Where whisky enthusiasts gather to sample a wide variety of whiskies, attend seminars led by industry experts, and enjoy an evening of whiskey appreciation and networking.
Nov 16
BagelFest is the inaugural New York City food festival celebrating the beloved bagel, uniting bagel enthusiasts and professionals under one roof to showcase the best of the bagel world.
Long Island
Sept 19 - Nov 8
While not a traditional festival, Bayville Scream Park offers a series of haunted attractions and experiences perfect for the Halloween season.
Oct 3 - 13
Film enthusiasts can enjoy screenings of new and acclaimed films, discussions, and panels featuring filmmakers and industry professionals.
Oct 3 - Nov 1
The World's Longest Jack O'Lantern Trail, is back with over 10,000 illuminated objects, including locally hand-carved jack o'lanterns and specialty lights.
Oct 10 - 13
Held in Huntington, this festival is a large-scale event with live music, carnival rides, food vendors, arts and crafts, and a variety of activities for the whole family.
Oct 11 - 12
In Montauk, this festival offers a weekend of family-friendly fun, including a farmers market, live music, pumpkin decorating, and an iconic clam chowder contest.
Oct 12
This traditional country fair in Riverhead features agricultural exhibits, live entertainment, carnival rides, arts and crafts vendors, and a variety of contests.
Oct 18 -19
The Oyster Festival in Oyster Bay is a homage to Long Island's maritime heritage, featuring oyster shucking contests, live entertainment, craft vendors, and, of course, delicious seafood.
Upstate
Sept 12 - Nov 16
Located in Croton-on-Hudson, this event features thousands of hand-carved pumpkins illuminated in intricate and creative designs.
Sept 13 - Oct 31
Head to Clarence for this family-friendly festival with pumpkin picking, corn mazes, hayrides, and various attractions for kids and adults.
Oct 4 - 5
Throughout the weekend, hundreds of attendees indulge in festival cuisine, partake in hayrides, explore locally crafted goods, and pick the season's first pumpkins.
Oct 4 - 5
The annual Newark Valley Apple Festival celebrates fall with music, historic tours, crafts, re-enactors, and various activities for all ages.
Oct 10 - 12
RetroGameCon is the premier Video Game Expo in Upstate NY, offering a wide range of attractions including special guests, exhibitor tables, industry panels, tournaments, tabletop games, art, free play, charity events, and more.
Oct 11
Explore and purchase unique handcrafted products from top Hudson Valley artisans, vintage collectors, farmers, chefs, and distillers in a charming 19th Century village setting.
Saratoga International FLAVORFEAST
Oct 11
In Saratoga Springs, you can enjoy a global culinary experience with this food festival featuring a diverse selection of international dishes from local restaurants.
Oct 11 - 12
Ellicottville hosts a vibrant fall festival with live music, arts and crafts vendors, food stalls, and a nod to the changing colors of the season.
Various Dates
The Lake George area is home to many a fall festival, each with its own unique seasonal charm.
Oct 25
Children and their parents can dress up in costumes and enjoy trick-or-treating at participating businesses, along with additional activities such as a petting zoo, face painting, and juggling.
Oct 26 - 27
Enjoy the fourth annual Walktoberfest Farmers & Makers Market presented by Walkway Over the Hudson, featuring a curated selection of the Hudson Valley's top producers.
Oct 26 - 29
The Lake Placid Film Festival is a celebration of the film community, showcasing award-winning shorts, feature films, seminars, and events in the enchanting village of Lake Placid, NY.
Nov 5 - 9
An engaging exploration of music and arts along Main Street that ignites dialogue, inquisitiveness, and creative cooperation.
Please note that specific dates and details for these festivals can vary from year to year, so be sure to check the official websites for the most up-to-date information before planning your visit.
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