How Family Fall Festivals In NYC Can Help You Survive Until Winter!

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

Sure, fall brings with it crisp weather, colorful leaves, pumpkin spice and the arrival of football season – however, the best reason to get excited about the autumn season is the multitude of amazing fall festival activities that take place throughout New York City once the summer swelter and Manhattanhenge fever has been replaced in the air by cooler climates. In fact, family fall festivals in New York City range from colorful harvest festivals and bustling street fairs to weird things to do in NYC at night, including a veritable bevvy of scary Halloween festivals, cutting-edge cultural and arts events, juicy live concerts, NYC holiday markets, and everything in between. So, get outside and check out one of these great, must-attend NYC fall festivals before the chill of winter arrives:

Fall Festivals in New York City For Foodies & Wine Lovers

Since New York City is the culinary capital of the world, the Big Apple naturally hosts plenty of great fall festivals where you can look forward to delicious cuisine and so much more! Here are just a few of the most popular New York City festivals for foodies and wine lovers:

• Feast of San Gennaro: One of New York City’s longest-running street fairs, the Feast of San Gennaro honors the patron saint of Naples with a 11-day celebration that allows you to delve into Italian culture with parades and religious processions, live entertainment, savory Italian cuisine and, of course, a cannoli-eating contest. (Little Italy, Manhattan, September 13-23, 2018, Tel: 212-768-9320)

• Oktoberfest NYC 2018: Prepare to raise your beer stein and shout “Prost!” at Oktoberfest NYC 2018, a series of lively Bavarian celebrations that takes place at some of the best beer halls and beer gardens throughout New York City. Oktoberfest celebrations can be found in all of New York City’s five boroughs with the largest events being Oktoberfest in Central Park (September 15), Munich on the East River (September 28 – October 7, 2018) and Watermark’s Oktoberfest (September 21-23, September 27-30, October 4-7 and October 11-14, 2018).

• Atlantic Antic: New York City’s largest street fair, Atlantic Antic in Brooklyn offers something for everyone – including great food, features live performances, approximately 300 vendors and children’s activities. (Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, September 23, 2018, Tel: 718-875-8993)

• New York City Wine & Food Festival: A four-day “gastro fest” sponsored by the Food Network and the Cooking Channel, the New York City Wine & Food Festival (NYCWFF) features rooftop tastings, celebrity chef demos, happy hours, sit-down dinners, family events, educational seminars, late-night parties, wine tastings and even a burger bash. (Various NYC locales, October 11-14, 2018, Tel: 800-764-8773)

• New York Coffee Festival: Only NYC could host a festival entirely dedicated to coffee! The New York Coffee Festival boasts tastings, interactive workshops, barista demonstrations and coffee cocktails, as well as street food, live music and coffee-inspired art. (Metropolitan Pavilion, Manhattan, October 12 – 14, 2018)

Haunted Fall Festival Action in The Big Apple

There’s no shortage of spooktacular fall festivals in New York City to coincide with Halloween. Here are some of the most ghoulishly delightful NYC Halloween events for 2018:

• The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze: Highlights of this extravagant Halloween display include 10,000 individually hand-carved, illuminated jack o’ lanterns, as well as the Pumpkin Promenade, Pumpkin Zee Bridge, Pumpkin Planetarium and Pumpkin Carousel. (Van Cortlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson, September 28 – November 24, 2018, Tel: 914-366-6900)

• Horseman’s Hollow: Billed as “Sleepy Hollow’s Premier Haunted Attraction,” Horseman’s Hollow features 15 days of “haunted mayhem” – including a haunted trail full of vampires, witches, ghouls, ghosts and, of course, a special appearance by the Headless Horseman himself, as well as some state-of-the-art special effects. (Philipsburg Manor, Sleepy Hollow, select dates between October 15 and 31, 2018, Tel: 914-366-6900)

• Ghouls & Gourds 2018: Sponsored by the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Ghouls & Gourds has evolved into “Brooklyn’s wackiest costume parade and drum circle.” Highlights include Stilt Dancing Insanity, Giant Spider Web, Rutabaga Skee-Ball, Waltzing Woodland Creatures, Autographs on Author Avenue, and Dynamite Drum Circle and Costume Parade. (Brooklyn Botanical Garden, October 27, 2018, Tel: 718-623-7200)

Historical & Educational Fall Festivals in NYC

With its world-class museums and historic sites, New York City is the perfect destination for history buffs and several NYC fall festivals cater to those seeking a somewhat more educational festival experience:

• Medieval Festival: Step back in time and wander through a medieval village and enjoy authentic period music, dance and magic at this lively family-friendly celebration, which ends with a thrilling joust between knights on horseback. (Fort Tyron Park, Manhattan, September 30, 2018)

• Halloween at the Museum: Hosted by the American Museum of Natural History, Halloween at the Museum offers trick-or-treating, music, craft projects and live storybook characters. (American Museum of Natural History, October 27, 2018, Tel: 212-769-5100)

Pop Culture Fall Events in NYC

Last but certainly not least, a fall festival guide to New York City would not be complete without a special mention of the East Coast’s largest pop culture convention:

• New York Comic Con: New York Comic Con draws approximately 200,000 superfans, cosplayers, gamers and comic book lovers each year. Check out some of the most-hyped releases in comics, movies, television and video games. Special guests for 2018 will include Peter Jackson, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Adam Savage, Aisha Tyler, Bill Nye, Teri Hatcher, Ben Savage, the cast of Impractical Jokers and many more. (Javits Center, Manhattan, October 4-7, 2018, Tel: 203-840-4800)

Feelin' Festive? Join Us In New York City This Fall!

Make sure to coincide your fall vacation getaway to New York City with one of these great fall festivals! Best of all, you can enjoy quality NYC accommodations in the heart of Manhattan’s Midtown East at Westgate New York Grand Central. Ideally located in the scenic Tudor City neighborhood, our Westgate New York hotel lies with walking distance of such NYC landmarks as Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station, United Nations Tours and the Empire State Building, with great views of Manhattanhenge and the surrounding locale.

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