Fun places to go in the fall near me

1. Visit a Halloween town

From September 30 to October 31, Los Angeles’ beloved Haunt O’ Ween will finally pop up on the East Coast in Holmdel, New Jersey—an hour’s drive from NYC. Haunt O’ Ween gives similar spooky but quirky, family-friendly vibes with around-the-clock trick-or-treating, a carnival with rides and face painting, and a walkthrough and tunnel of glowing jack o’lanterns, including nine “worlds” you can explore across 200,000 square feet. Of course, there is a pumpkin patch perfect for picking out your gourd and a carving station where you can bring it to life with a design. There will also be a DIY Potion Bar at “Moonlight Magic,” Dance Domes in a “Beyond The Grave Rave.”

2. Get a glow up at Lightscape

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is bringing back its gorgeous, after-dark illuminated spectacular to its grounds in November. Lightscape, which is a one-mile, illuminated trail of art from local and international artists, hits BBG starting November 16 and will once again feature the iconic Winter Cathedral and a larger Fire Garden—all set to over a million lights, color, and music.  Food concessions along the trail will offer seasonal treats like s’mores and spiked hot chocolate for adults.

3. Watch a film at the New York Film Festival

Easily one of the best things to do in the fall, the annual New York Film Festival dates back to 1963 when it established a mission of bringing the best work from around the world to Lincoln Center. Excitement is already feverish for this year’s 60th edition, thanks to the August announcement of this year’s main slate lineup which will include Noah Baumbach’s White Noise, Chinonye Chukwu’s Till Will World, Mathieu Amalric’s Hold Me Tight, Kiro Russo’s, 4K restorations of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colors trilogy, and a long-overdue retrospective featuring selected works from director, producer and screenwriter King Vidor.

There’s loads to see—which is why we’ve broken it all down for you. Here are the 18 must-see films at this year’s New York Film Festival.

4. See if you can make it out of this artful three-acre corn maze in Queens

Add this one to your fall bucket list: Get into the fall spirit by seeing if you can navigate this three-acre corn maze at a farm in Queens. 

Called The Amazing Maize Maze, this plant puzzle at the Queens County Farm Museum lives up to the hype. This year, the maze pays homage to Georgia O’Keeffe’s iconic “Ram’s Head, Blue Morning Glory” painting, and it was developed in collaboration with Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. 

The maze is open on Fridays (noon-4:30pm), Saturdays (11am-4:30pm), and Sundays (11am-4:30pm) from September 16 through October 29. It’s also open Monday, October 10 (11am- 4:30pm). Pricing is $12 for adults and $8 for kids — get your tickets here.

5. Explore Green-Wood Cemetery with eerie events

Thousands of stories lie beneath the grounds at the historic Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, and this season, those tales are coming back to life through a variety of tours. 

Dozens of events are on the calendar at Green-Wood this fall, including trolley tours, a Dia de Los Muertos event, and after-hours tours if you dare.

6. Laugh it up at The New York Comedy Festival

The New York Comedy Festival is where the best of the best comedians of NYC gather each year, and this year, it’s going to be an all-out hoot with more than 200 comedians performing more than 100 shows at venues throughout the five boroughs. This year, don’t miss John Mulaney, Mo Amer, Tracy Morgan, JB Smoove and Wanda Sykes, among others!

8. Geek out at New York Comic Con

Comics fans across the city have been waiting with bated breath to see if New York Comic Con would return this year — it is! While it's back in person, it's also online again because that capacity is limited. That being said, it's set to be a great one with can’t-miss panels, celebrities and all the cosplay you could ever fantasize about.

9. Head to these great spots for leaf-peeping

Going upstate to see fall leaves is great, but it's a trek. Luckily, if you know where to look here in NYC, there are some truly stunning foliage to see in many parks and gardens across the boroughs, including at Fort Tryon Park, the Greenbelt Nature Center, and Sunken Meadow State Park. Happy peeping!

10. Dig into apple cider donuts from NYC’s farmers market

As the fall rolls in, there are probably a few things you crave—no, no, not pumpkin spice lattes—apple cider donuts. NYC’s network of open-air markets have all-things apple, year after year. Snag the sugary confection, and stock up on apple cider while you’re at it, too. You can hop over to grownyc.org to find a market nearest you. 

11. Roam the grounds at the New York Botanical Garden

Head to the garden's Seasonal Walk, where you'll find yellow lace flowers, dahlias and 'Midnight Dancer' daylilies or get lost in the Thain Forest, where you'll hear the trickling of the Bronx River and its waterfall. In the fall, the forest is an incredible setting to see the leaves changing. Also, don't miss the duck families in the Conservatory Courtyard Pools that feed on small plants and insects around the water lilies.

12. Go apple picking just outside the city

Grab an empty basket and don your best plaid for a fall PYO adventure. At local farms in the tristate area, you'll find a generous offering of apple varieties and fun seasonal activities like petting zoos and corn mazes. We guarantee you're bound to stumble upon some apple cider doughnuts along the way.

13. Go kayaking (for free) until October

Missed your chance to paddle along the East River this summer? Fear not: Free kayaking at Brooklyn Bridge Park will take place on Wednesdays this fall. New reservation slots open every Wednesday and Saturday, but sign on early as spots are likely to fill up.  

14. Get rustic at the Queens County Farm Museum

This Queens County treasure is well worth the bus trek or car ride. As the city’s longest continually farmed site in the city (it’s been in operation since 1697), the 47 acres feels like an entirely different world compared to Manhattan. Feed and pet the barnyard animals, including sheep, ponies and goats, hop aboard a hayride and take advantage of the fall harvest season when you can go pumpkin picking and attempt to find your way through the Amazing Maize Maze (yes, that’s a corn maze).

15. Cheer on the runners at the New York Marathon 2022

The massive 2022 NYC Marathon, the 51st annual iteration of the event, will take place on Sunday, November 6, starting at 8am. 

Some 50,000 runners from all over the world will descend upon the city to blaze through all five boroughs on foot, with top athletes training all year for a chance to be a part of this huge event.

For those who think 26.2 miles is an ungodly distance to run, watching the marathon is a thrilling way to be a part of the action. Here's our guide on where to cheer on the runners.

The best fall date ideas in NYC

We’re familiar with “summer loving,” but once you take a gander at our list of fall date ideas, you’ll soon see that “autumn loving” is what it’s all about. Just think of all the possibilities! From admiring fall foliage at the best NYC parks, to holding your S.O.’s hand during New York’s spookiest ghost tours, we think these activities are the foundation for a long-lasting relationship. And, hell, these date ideas will get your through cuffing season at the very least. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in the fall in NYC

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