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Best of October: Awesome Things To Do in NYC with Kids

The annual Winter Lantern Festival is back for a fourth year, transforming SIUH Community Park into an immersive world of light. Photo courtesy of the festival
The annual Winter Lantern Festival is back for a fourth year, transforming SIUH Community Park into an immersive world of light. Photo courtesy of the festival
9/30/22 - By Drew Kristofik

Halloween is the name of the game in October, which means New York City is alive with pumpkin patches, haunted houses, fall festivals, and of course trick-or-treating—so many opportunities to wear Halloween costumes!

While October usually feels like a waiting game for Halloween, this year there are tons of amazing happenings. We're super psyched for PaleyWKND, Children's Day at the Brooklyn Book Fest, Atlantic Antic, the Medieval Festival, the Submerge Marine Science Fest, and The Met's World Culture Fest.

Kids get the day off on Monday, October 10—officially recognized as Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples Day on the school-year calendar—and we've found 25 fun things to do, including a rooftop party at the Brooklyn Children Museum and the annual Columbus Day Parade.

Of course, Halloween lurks at month's end, and never fear, we have you covered when it comes to FREE Halloween fun, including a Mommy Poppins Halloween party. Find all our top picks for the holiday in our New York City Halloween Guide.

We'll keep your weekends focused on fun with our Family Activity Calendar, and our Fall Fun Guide is ready for the change of seasons, too.

As always, if an event piques your interest, click through to our listing for all the details, including addresses and times. And keep in mind: Really cool things to do with kids often book up quickly, so register or buy your tickets ASAP.

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Join the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy for its annual Harvest Festival. Photo by Etienne Frossard
Join the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy for its annual Harvest Festival. Photo by Etienne Frossard

Best Things To Do in NYC this October with Kids

PaleyWKND

Midtown West–FREE
Saturday, October 1-Sunday, October 2
The Paley Center for Media hosts two days of interactive experiences and immersive attractions from the exciting worlds of media, sports, gaming, and entertainment.  READ MORE

48th Annual Atlantic Antic

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn–FREE
Sunday, October 2
The largest street fest in New York City, the Atlantic Antic, is a mile long and spans four neighborhoods from 4th Avenue to Hicks Street. The fest features more than 500 merchants and vendors and hosts 10 stages of live performers. READ MORE

The Medieval Festival at Fort Tryon Park

Inwood–FREE
Sunday, October 2
Experience the culture of a bygone era against the backdrop of The Cloisters and the Hudson River during autumn's peak. The Medieval Festival transforms Fort Tryon Park into a medieval market town, decorated with bright banners and processional flags. READ MORE

Brooklyn Book Festival

Downtown Brooklyn–FREE
Through Monday, October 3
Children's Day is Saturday, October 1
The 2023 Brooklyn Book Festival celebrates its 18th anniversary of presenting free literary programming. This year's fest includes events both in-person and virtual. Kid-friendly programming abounds during Children's Day on Saturday, September 30. READ MORE

Dinosaurs in Darkness: The Hatching

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Fridays and Saturdays from Friday, October 7-Saturday, October 29
Dinosaurs in Darkness: The Hatching is a scary Halloween walk-through experience that sends participants on an adventure that brings them up close with prehistoric creatures in a whole new way as they follow the story of a rare dinosaur egg, found intact after 66 million years, that is finally ready to hatch! What could possibly go wrong? READ MORE

Little Red Lighthouse Festival

Inwood–FREE
Saturday, October 8
Celebrate Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse with Urban Park Ranger presentations, readings of The Little Red Lighthouse and The Great Gray Bridge children’s book, fishing clinics, live music, food vendors, and activities for the whole family! READ MORE

Honoring Indigenous Peoples Day

Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Sunday, October 9-Monday, October 10
The Brooklyn Children's Museum's rooftop sets the stage to honor Indigenous Peoples Day with storytelling, live music, theater performances, food demonstrations, games, and art-making. READ MORE

The Annual Columbus Day Parade

Midtown East–FREE
Monday, October 10
The 78th Columbus Day Parade processes up Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 72nd Street—with red carpet performances on Fifth Avenue between 67th and 69th Streets—including high school bands, professional musicians, folk dance troupes, floats, and more.  READ MORE

Italian Heritage/Indigenous Peoples Day in Prospect Park

Prospect Park, Brooklyn–FREE
Monday, October 10
Join the Prospect Park Alliance when school is closed for Italian Heritage/Indigenous Peoples Day. Enjoy free nature education activities, animal encounters, bird walks, and more at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, and take a ride on the beloved Prospect Park Carousel. READ MORE

Submerge: NYC Marine Science Festival

Midtown West–FREE
Friday, October 14-Saturday, October 15
The Hudson River Park presents Submerge—a free, two-day science extravaganza devoted to raising awareness about our coastal waters.  READ MORE

Cookin'

Midtown West
Fridays through Sundays from Friday, October 14-Sunday, October 30
Working against the clock to prepare a wedding feast, four zany chefs make a manic menu of nonstop, high-speed action that whips up into an all-you-can-eat frenzy of martial arts and Korean samul nori drumming. READ MORE

New York Hall of Science Reopening Celebration – SOLD OUT

Flushing, Queens–FREE
Saturday, October 15
More than one year after Hurricane Ida flooded the museum, the New York Hall of Science gears up for a reopening. Join this free community celebration where two new exhibits are set to debut. While you're there, meet NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps and enjoy fun extras like face painting. READ MORE

Jon Scieszka & Julia Rothman present Real Dada Mother Goose

Park Slope, Brooklyn–FREE
Saturday, October 15
Caldecott Honor-winning author Jon Scieszka and acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman visit Community Bookstore for an in-person storytime event, reading from their new book, The Real Dada Mother Goose: A Treasury of Complete Nonsense. READ MORE

Dorothy's Adventures in Oz

Upper West Side
Saturday, October 15
A family-friendly take on this classic tale features an original score, memorable characters, and thrilling dance. READ MORE

Old Home Day Weekend

Richmond, Staten Island
Saturday, October 15-Sunday, October 16
Head to Historic Richmond Town for the annual Old Home Day. Visitors can witness historic trade demonstrations, like blacksmithing, tinsmithing, carpentry, cabinet-making, and more. Enjoy music, food, crafts, and sweet treats.  READ MORE

World Famous Popovich Comedy Pet Theatre

Tribeca
Sunday, October 16
This European-style circus extravaganza includes physical comedy, juggling, acrobats from the Moscow Circus, highly intelligent dogs, and even house cats! Popovich, a fifth-generation circus performer, who learned early on how to develop strong bonds with animals, has rescued a majority of his performers from shelters and transformed them into Las Vegas stars. READ MORE

Indigenuity

Upper West Side
Friday, October 21-Sunday, October 23
Honolulu's Tau Dance Theater performs excerpts from Indigenuity, a work that combines indigenous dance, music, and theatre. The program features musical sensation Pōmaikaʻi and Native Hawaiian storyteller uncle Kealoha Kelekolio. READ MORE

NYC Winter Lantern Festival: Journey to the East

Staten Island
Opens Friday, October 21
The Winter Lantern Festival returns for a fourth run in a new venue, transforming SIUH Community Park into an immersive world of light. The Journey to the East features more than 1,000 Chinese lanterns; all handmade by artisans with decades of dedication to their craft. READ MORE

Open House New York

Citywide–FREE
Friday, October 21-Sunday, October 23
This year's Open House NYC once again offers a hybrid of virtual experiences, self-guided explorations, and in-person tours. Enjoy food trucks, pop-up eateries, outdoor activations, and more. READ MORE

Brooklyn Bridge Park's Harvest Festival

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn–FREE
Saturday, October 22
Celebrate the fall season at the 12th-annual harvest festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park. A fun procession kicks off the event, which includes arts and crafts, storytelling, lawn games, and more—plus BBP's signature pumpkin patch. READ MORE

World Culture Festival: Makers

Upper East Side
Saturday, October 22
The Met invites guests to explore how people around the world find inspiration through materials and technology, and use their own creativity to experiment with new and traditional art-making techniques. Enjoy performances, storytelling, interactive gallery activities, and artist-led workshops throughout the museum. READ MORE

New York Theatre Ballet presents The Alice-in-Wonderland Follies

Midtown East
Saturday, October 22-Sunday, October 23
Once Upon a Ballet presents a one-hour ballet for children and families, re-imagining Lewis Carroll's classic tale. Alice meets some of the most beloved characters in children's literature in an eclectic ballet that draws on many different dance forms—from Irish Step Dancing to African Juba to classical ballet. READ MORE

Queens Theatre's Classical Kids Fair

Flushing, Queens–FREE
Sunday, October 23
WQXR is heading to Queens for a Classical Kids Fair at the Queens Theatre. Families can experience live performances, an instrument “petting zoo,” arts and crafts, radio and dance workshops, and more. READ MORE

Camille's Rainbow

Midtown West–FREE
Monday, October 24-Friday, October 28
Carnegie Hall presents the world premiere of Camille’s Rainbow, an immersive, operatic and theatrical event, especially designed for babies and toddlers, that encourages creative play as children explore a world of colors. READ MORE

Release of the Fishes

West Village–FREE
Thursday, October 27
Help the Hudson River Park’s River Project team return its Wetlab fish residents to the Hudson River as the flow-through aquarium closes for the season. READ MORE

Circus Vazquez

South Bronx
Opens Friday, October 28
Behold the pink-and-blue big top hiding the wonders of Circus Vazquez. Traveling the world from its roots in Mexico City, this international circus overflows with talents from a multi-national cast whose performances dazzle. READ MORE

Campfire Stories and Songs

Battery Park–FREE
Saturday, October 29
Cozy up to a campfire for stories and singalongs with family and friends, featuring award-winning NYC singer/songwriter Suzi Shelton. READ MORE

Mommy Poppins Halloween Party at The Hugh

Midtown East–FREE
Saturday, October 29
This event is at capacity. Register early for our Holiday Party on December 3rd! --Mommy Poppins is partnering with The Hugh for a funtastic Halloween Party! Come in costume for Halloween costume photos with Big Apple Portraits, pumpkin decorating, Happy Dance Club with Lola Star, face painting, games, and more. READ MORE

BAMboo!

Fort Greene–FREE
Monday, October 31
BAM’s annual free community Halloween celebration is back, with candy giveaways, carnival games, arts and crafts, music, and a costume contest. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Little Red Lighthouse (in Fort Washington Park)
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
Citywide and online
BAM Peter Jay Sharp Lobby and Lepercq Space