Your NYC Fall Bucket List 2025
15 Must-dos with the kids this fall!
Fall in New York ushers in a season of vibrant foliage, crisp autumn weather, and traditions that bring families together. It is a time for apple orchards and pumpkin patches, harvest festivals and Halloween parades, lantern trails and scenic hikes. Autumn offers families countless opportunities to make lasting memories. Here are 15 quintessential fall experiences to add to your family’s calendar.
Psst… Check Out Festivals, Fairs, and Parades in NYC October 2025
Pick Your Own Pumpkins and Apples
Pick the perfect pumpkin without leaving the city! Queens County Farm Museum boasts a sprawling patch and festive fall activities, or head just beyond the city to orchards like Fishkill Farms, Alstede Farms, or Masker Orchards for apple picking, hayrides, and cider donuts. Many also offer pumpkin patches and corn mazes, making them perfect for a day of fall family fun.
Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail at NYBG
The New York Botanical Garden transforms into a glowing, immersive “Nightmare Before Christmas” experience (now through Nov. 30). Families can stroll through dazzling light displays inspired by Jack Skellington and friends.
Bronx Zoo Harvest Glow & Boo at the Zoo
The Bronx Zoo comes alive day and night with seasonal favorites, including Harvest Glow, which lights up the evenings (Thursdays through Sundays through October) with giant jack-o’-lanterns, glowing displays, and festive performances. By day, families can join the Boo at the Zoo fun (weekends through October 26), featuring costume parades, magic and puppet shows, face painting, crafts, trick-or-truth mazes, animal-themed pumpkin displays, candy trails, and even a spirited Boo Dance Party.
NYBG Fall Forest Weekend
Explore Fall Forest Weekend at the New York Botanical Garden, where families will enjoy guided foliage walks, hands-on activities, seasonal crafts, and interactive nature programs.
Central Park Foliage Walk
Stroll through Central Park as the park’s 18,000 trees burst into brilliant fall colors, with peak foliage arriving a little later than Upstate—making the city’s most iconic park a perfect autumn day.
Village Halloween Parade
On Oct. 31, join thousands of New Yorkers in costume for the iconic Village Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village. Whether you march or watch, it’s an unforgettable NYC tradition.
Family-Friendly Haunted Houses
Take older kids or brave tweens for a spooky—but not too scary—adventure at one of New York’s many haunted experiences. Options like Halloween House New York, Blood Manor, and Genius Gems Haunted House offer ghostly fun, mazes, and seasonal thrills without the full-on frights, making them perfect for families looking for Halloween thrills without the chills.
Get Lost in a Corn Maze
Corn mazes are a perfect fall outing for families, offering winding paths, pumpkin picking, and seasonal fun. The Amazing Maize Maze, Harbes Family Farm in Mattituck, Fink’s Country Farm in Manorville, and Outhouse Orchards in North Salem are worth the visit. Each offers hayrides, farm animals, and plenty of autumn adventures for kids of all ages.
Fall Festivals
Celebrate the fall season with the entire family by visiting fairs and festivals around New York City, such as the NYC Parks’ Fall Festival, Randall’s Island Harvest Festival, the Harvest Festival at Brooklyn Bridge Park, and Corn Fest at the Queens County Farm Museum.
Road Trip!
Escape the city for a fun-filled fall adventure with the family! Take a quick road trip out of the city to Warwick Applefest for apple picking, artisan vendors, and live music, visit the Pound Ridge Harvest Festival for hayrides, food, and kid-friendly contests, check out the annual Long Island Fall Festival at Heckscher Park, or explore the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck for hands-on farm activities.
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
Wander through thousands of glowing pumpkins at the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze in Westchester, with larger-than-life jack o’lantern displays, seasonal music, and magical fall fun for the whole family.
The High Line
Take a fall stroll along the High Line to soak in the crisp air and colorful views, then meander to The Whitney—where admission is free for kids and everyone 25!
Wave Hill
Visit Wave Hill in the Bronx and take in sweeping Hudson River views framed by fall foliage, then stop by for kid-friendly workshops and seasonal garden activities.
Color Factory
Visit Color Factory’s Haunted Hues exhibit, featuring the iconic pumpkin, playful ghosts, a confetti room, and spooky-but-fun spiders.
Watch a Movie Under the Stars
Enjoy the crisp autumn air at Backyard at Hudson Yards Public Square and Gardens, where you can catch blockbuster movies on the 30-foot big screen. This vibrant, 5-acre outdoor entertainment hub also features live concerts, fitness classes, and family-friendly activities.
Psst… Check Out Green Meadows Farm Brings Pumpkin Weekends to Queens
