Fall Preview: Upcoming events to kick off the autumn season
With the school year now in motion, many of us have reached a slump. Instead of exploring the city on the weekends, we now find ourselves stuck in our apartments studying. What can we do to find excitement in the city again without breaking the bank? Thankfully, this fall there are countless free or inexpensive events happening throughout the boroughs. For those of you who can’t wait for fall to hit the city, try heading to the Big Apple Crunch on October 24th. There are 16 different locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn where this celebration will take place, and it is free to attend. Also on October 24th, the Halloween Harvest Festival will be taking place at Sculpture Park on Broadway. From 11 to 3, you can craft a Halloween costume with artists, enjoy local food, and see a canine costume contest. This great festival is free to attend as well!
For those of you who want to experience culture from around the world, there are a few international festivals taking place in Manhattan and Staten Island this fall. Oktoberfest will be taking place from September 18th through October 4th in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. You can enjoy German foods — who doesn't love pretzels? — and live music with your friends.
The Best of France will be taking place September 26th and 27th in Time Square. This French festival will be full of authentic French cuisine, fashion, and art.
Those who love Italy better not miss the Rome through Richmond Town festival this Columbus Day weekend. On October 10th from 12 to 5, head to Staten Island to enjoy pizza, pastries, and gelato while listening to the music of Louis Prima Jr. and The Witnesses. This will be a day full of Italian heritage and culture, so don’t miss out.
Those of you who need a chance to embrace your inner geek here in New York need to head to the Medieval Festival on October 4th at Fort Tryon Park in Manhattan. Head to the Middle Ages with your friends; costumes are encouraged. Enjoy live performances by dancers, jugglers, and more. And don’t miss out on the jousting tournament that evening!
From October 5th through October 11th, the NYC SuperWeek will be taking place around Manhattan. This is a week full of geekery leading up to Comic Con. Though Comic Con may be expensive, most of the events taking place during SuperWeek will be very inexpensive if not free. Meet comic book artists, partake in Star Trek vs. Star Wars debates, or compete in a Doctor Who costume contest. This will be every geek’s greatest dream.
Make sure to check out events that will let you explore the city, too! Free kayaking is offered on the Hudson River from now through October 12th. Try it out even if you’ve never gone kayaking before. Go stargaze on the high line in Manhattan any night through October 27th. You can borrow a telescope and learn about astronomy for free.
With countless events happening around New York, there is no reason to be bored at any point this semester. So, head out and see the city throughout the next couple months.