If you are free this fall, and are looking for some unusual excitement, your best bet would be to head to the city of all cities, New York City. This time of the year, New York offers a spectacular experience. Even as you feel the joy of the leaves beneath your feet crushing, you can also enjoy the beautiful weather, catch the start of hockey and basketball season at the local arenas or watch a few of the world’s stunning processions. The Village Halloween Parade, the Thanksgiving Day Parade and the New York City Marathon all take place during autumn.
Here’s a low down of when what is taking place in New York this autumn
Coca-Cola Generations in Jazz Festival
Aug 30 – Oct 7
The 2018 line-up of this jazz festival includes shows by Ulysses Owens, Jr. THREE; Ulysses Owens, Jr. Big Band; and Louis Hayes.
Spring/Summer Fashion Week
Sep 6 – Sep 12
A fashion aficionado? Fashion Week returns to New York City in September, showcasing looks for the upcoming spring/summer season. Hundreds of thousands of industry insiders will descend upon the city for seven days of shows and presentations by some of the world’s most sought-after designers. Score an invite, and you’ll be able to see the latest runway looks from the likes of Alexander Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Rag & Bone and Ralph Lauren. Besides, there is also the emerging designers show downtown at MADE Fashion Week.
Brooklyn Book Festival
Sep 10 – Sep 17
If you are a book worm, this is the place for you. Authors and bibliophiles from all over the world congregate for panel discussions and themed readings at one of the city’s largest free literary events. The festival also includes a ‘Literary Marketplace’ showcasing wares from publishers, independent bookstores and non-profit organizations. A special children’s day takes place during the week, as well.
New York Film Festival
Sep 28 – Oct 14
Since 1963, the New York Film Festival has showcased the latest work from the world’s most esteemed filmmakers—the likes of Martin Scorsese, Pedro Almodóvar and Alain Resnais, to name just a few—and has introduced some of the most innovative new voices in cinema to the New York City audience. Organized by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, the festival presents classics, a full slate of documentaries and full-length features, and other special events. This is certainly not to be missed.
Archtober
Oct 1- Oct 31
Among New York City’s architects and building buffs, October is Archtober—or Architecture and Design Month. For 31 days, the city’s design community opens its doors for more than 100 tours, lectures, films and celebrations, offering behind-the-scenes peeks at the buildings that give this metropolis its distinct character. Participants include the Museum of Modern Art, Cooper Hewitt, the Guggenheim, the AIANY and its Center for Architecture, Central Park Conservancy and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Like we said, there’s something in it for everyone!
BAM Next Wave Festival
Oct 3 – Dec 23
Officially inaugurated in 1983, BAM’s annual Next Wave Festival serves as New York City’s most comprehensive and daring survey of avant-garde music, theatre, opera and dance. This year’s performances include acrobatic circus acts from Australian troupe, Circa, choreography from Trisha Brown Dance Company, a contemporary staging of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure and Mark Morris’s playful reimagining of The Nutcracker called The Hard Nut.
New York Comic Con
Oct 4 – Oct 7
With geek culture having established an undeniable influence over mainstream entertainment, New York Comic Con has become a major annual event. At this event, big names show up for signings, screenings and panels. With a multitude of cosplayers (costumed participants dressed like fictional characters) roaming the Javits Center, you’ll find yourself gawking at Spider Man, Wonder Woman, Boba Fett and many others making small talk in the aisles.
The New Yorker Festival
Oct 5 – Oct 7
This annual festival gathers together the biggest and most exciting names in fiction, journalism, poetry, graphic novels, screenwriting, directing and all-around culture, and what you get is a weekend of panel discussions, readings, film screenings, musical performances, walking tours and food tastings. Past celebrity participants have included Jerry Seinfeld, Chelsea Manning, Ava DuVernay, Glenn Close and Ai Weiwei.
New York City Wine & Food Festival
Oct 11- Oct 14
NYCWFF returns for another food-and-beverage-filled few days, featuring Food Network personalities like Rachael Ray and Anne Burrell as well as a deep squad of local all-star chefs, restaurateurs and purveyors. Events include the competitive Blue Moon Burger Bash, a master sushi class with Masaharu Morimoto and Duff Goldman’s Family Ice Cream Fun-dae—just a few of the hundred or so happenings at venues all around the City, with the home base once again at Piers 92 and 94.
Justin Timberlake
Oct 22 – Oct 24
A consummate pro, J.T. mixes a young Sinatra’s swagger and charisma with the airtight funk of Michael Jackson, making magic night after night with a crack big band.
Village Halloween Parade 2018
Oct 31- 2018
Who doesn’t like Halloween? Every year, 50,000 folks parade up Sixth Avenue decked out in some of the city’s scariest, most inventive and most hilarious costumes—while numerous live bands complement the ghoulish revelry. Show up with a creative costume of your own and join the parade (but note that a costume is a must to march!) or stick to your civvies and take in the spectacle from the side lines. Marchers line up on Sixth Avenue between Canal and Spring Streets. The parade gets rolling at 7pm and heads north up Sixth Avenue to 16th Street.
TCS New York City Marathon
Nov 4, 2018
This is the big one—an athletic event that often proves to be as much a life-changing experience as a physical challenge. Like all marathons, the NYC race covers 26.2 miles from start to finish—but no other city offers competitors the sights, sounds and sheer excitement of the New York City Marathon, which starts in Staten Island and winds its way through all five boroughs to reach the finish line in Central Park (adjacent to Tavern on the Green). Close to 50,000 people will run; millions will watch. The week of the race brings a lot of other related events, including the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K, the TCS NYC Marathon Expo and the TCS NYC Marathon Pavilion at Tavern on the Green.
New York Comedy Festival
Nov 5 – Nov 11
The New York Comedy Festival brings dozens of internationally acclaimed stand-up and sketch comedians—including Conan O’Brien, Bill Burr, Anthony Jeselnik, Tracy Morgan and Yvonne Orji—to venues across the city.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Nov 22, 2018
A Thanksgiving tradition for more than 90 years, this parade is one of the most famous holiday events in the world. Millions line the streets of Manhattan to watch celebrities, Broadway performers, clowns, marching bands, floats (including Santa himself riding a reindeer-powered sleigh) and the true headliners of the day: the all-star roster of floating balloons—Snoopy, Hello Kitty and friends—flying high above the route.
For all there is to do and see in New York City, visit nycgo.com
