So October's starting off to a bit of a rainy beginning, but don't commit to spending the entire month on your couch, watching Halloween specials, just yet.
You can't waste the first actual Fall month of the season (peace out, September) when there's seriously, soooo much to do in New York City.
We've got you covered with Oktoberfest celebrations, live music, more festivals than you'll know what to do with, and of course– Halloweekend celebrations.
You have a month to find a costume that would make your grandmother cry– sorry, it's the NYC way.
So if you haven't already, dig all 7 of your flannel button downs out of your closet, you're gonna need them.
The Meadows Music & Arts Festival (October 1st & 2nd)
UMMM have we not given you enough reasons to go to The Meadows? TBH, the food is reason enough.
Unfortunately Sunday tickets have already sold out so, sorry, no Kanye West for you. Don't miss out on The Weeknd, J. Cole, and more on Saturday!
[anad]
The 2-day grand-scale festival will kick off at Citi Field; the party's actually already started and will continue at these dope afterparties.
Check out the full lineup + buy tickets here.
The Roots NYC Picnic Festival (October 1st & 2nd)
It’s a well-known fact that The Roots are one of the finest groups out here in NYC, on late-night or otherwise.
They’ve assembled a stupendous weekend featuring tons of talented musicians, and it’s going down October 1st and 2nd in Bryant Park.
You’ve missed out on grabbing tickets for Saturday, and that’s no excuse for missing out on getting them for Sunday. So. Get them. Here. Now.
Chile Pepper Festival (October 1st)
Feel the bern– no, burn (sorry, it's a habit now) at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden this October.
This festival, celebrating your favorite fiery fruits– yeah, according to Wikipedia, Chile Peppers are fruit, so let us know if that changed– will feature tastings from 62 artisanal food vendors.
You'll be able to sample a variety of hot sauces, chile-chocolate (YAS), some other sweets, salsas, and pickled spicy treats like kimchi.
There will also be musical performances from 6 "scorching" global bands– listen to some clips over at their website. Grab your tickets here, they're $20 each but if you have a student ID, they're $15.
The Stoop Series: It's Brewing in Brooklyn (October 4th)
Interested in brewing your own beer? There's really no excuse for you not to attend this panel discussion on hoppy topics like home brewing advice, entering brew contests, and launching a successful commercial brewery.
Beer tastings with food pairings will be provided by City Farm Cafe.
Head over to the BRIC House Stoop on Fulton Street at 7 p.m. after you register here.
Oktoberfest DUMBO (October 6th- October 8th)
ICYMI, Oktoberfest, which runs from late September to the first weekend in October, attracts more than 6 million beer-lovers from around the world. If you haven’t made plans to celebrate Oktoberfest yet, what are you even doing?
But it’s not too late! The Archway under the Manhattan Bridge in DUMBO is gonna be transformed into a traditional German beer hall for the neighborhood’s first-ever Oktoberfest celebration. Come prepared with an empty stomach to fill with pretzels, brats, sauerkraut, and of course, draft brews.
City Winery VIP Wine Garden (October 9th)
City Winery brings their urban winery vibes to Queens with the City Winery VIP Wine Garden at Forest Hills Stadium.
Savor unlimited wine and light snacks before and during performances. A limited number of tickets to the Wine Garden will be available for each show.
This fall, City Winery VIP Wine Garden tickets are available for the Van Morrison concert.
Snag your VIP admission + wine garden access here.
NVR Sleep (October 12th)
Awwwwww yeah! Lit AF producer and spoiled Media Creative Director, Rodney Hazard, fresh off engulfing the world in flames with his exclusive Kanye West remix, “Tight Dress,” is back at it again at Kinfolk in Williamsburg for 5 hours of slick jams.
We know you remember the reggae dancehall party, the 90s R&B party, and the Afrobeats party this past month, but this October he’s swingin’ it from the South with this Southern Swang party. Oh, and it’s free. Completely free. All you’ve got to do is RSVP right here.
NYC Wine & Food Festival (October 13th- 16th)
Really, how much do you need to know about this epic event? It's four days long with more than 100 different events you can attend.
You'll have access to more than 500 world-renowned chefs, culinary personalities, entertainers, wine and spirit producers and all of your favorite Food Network and Cooking Channel stars.
It's in its 9th year, and if last year's festival is any indication of what to expect, well, you might want to come dressed in your sweatpants. You're going to be full. And drunk.
But, let's not forget that it's for a good cause. 100% of the net proceeds benefit the No Kid Hungry campaign and the Food Bank for New York City. Get your tickets here!
Bronx River Full River Paddle (October 15th)
This event is definitely not for beginners. If you're up for it, join this epic paddle that starts at 219th Street and will leave you in the Estuary section of the Bronx River by Concrete Plant Park (uh, it will actually leave you there, but you can catch public transportation a couple blocks away).
The trip will have you exploring Shoelace Park, The Bronx River Forest, The Botanical Garden, the Bronx Zoo, and into the Estuary via the 182nd Fish Passage. Again, this will definitely be a challenge– but totally worth it.
Grab your tickets here.
Morbid Anatomy Halloween Flea (October 16th)
Get a jump start on holiday gifts for your weird friend (unless you are the weird friend) and explore this flea market filled with taxidermy, artful bones, unusual antiques, obscure books, and assorted oddities and curiosities.
The flea is hosted by The Morbid Anatomy Museum, which is a whole other trip you should consider, and will be at The Bell House on 7th Street.
Blocktoberfest (October 22nd)
This will be the New York City Brewers Guild's 3rd Annual Blocktoberfest, their spin on Oktoberfest. Support New York City Beer Week and enjoy samples from over 15 local NYC craft breweries, and some tasty noms from The Well's backyard taco truck.
The party runs from 12:30 until 5:30 at The Well on Meserole Street, grab your tix here. There are options that include 12oz beers, 4oz beer samples, and general admission for non-drinkers.
Dessert Goals (October 23rd)
"Wait, how is this the first dessert festival in NYC?! How has no one thought of that?" You might be asking. WE DON'T KNOW EITHER, so definitely do NOT miss Dessert Goals, the Dessert Fest of your dreams.
They'll be selling sweet treats, with an average price point of $5 per dessert, from 20 vendors. The first round-up includes Boba Guys and Baba Cool beverages like bubble tea, Hong Kong egg waffles from Wowfulls, ice cream sandwiches from Melt Bakery, and artisinal twinkies (um, yes pls) from Jae NYC Eats.
These guys also know our priorities, which start and end with our 'gram game. They'll be setting up a photo garden specifically for Instagram and will offer dessert photo styling workshops so you can rack up the likes.
Tickets have been going stupidly fast. Hopefully you can still get yours.
Giant Pumpkin Carving at The New York Botanical Garden (October 24th, 25th)
If you haven't been around for this Botanical Garden tradition– or even if you have– definitely be a part of this year's Halloween celebration.
"Master Carver" Ray Villafane, who you've probably spotted on The Food Network, will transform giant pumpkins from all around the world into a Day of the Dead tableau.
Both days there will also be a question & answer session with Villafane's additional carvers. And if past years have been any indication, expect some seasonal treats to munch on, as well.
Brooklyn Bridge Park's Harvest Festival (October 29th)
This will be Brooklyn Bridge Park's 7th annual Harvest Festival and will be hosted on the newly opened Pier 6 lawns. This family friendly event will feature pumpkin carving, arts and crafts, puppetry, games, and live music. Also, don't forget to stop by the pumpkin patch, photo booth, and the haunted marsh.
The event runs from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. but strolling around Brooklyn Bridge Park is quite possibly one of the best ways to spend a Saturday ever.
Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest (October 29th)
Fort Greene Park has been hosting the cutest Halloween Costume Contest for 18 years. The event got so popular that this year, they are limiting the total number of entrants to 120, so if you're interested in registering your furry friend, do so in advance or the day of at 10:30 a.m. on the monument plaza.
If you're just going to spectate, the puppy parade will start at 11:30 a.m.
Brew at the Zoo (October 29th)
ICYMI, The Bronx Zoo is hosting this dope, adults-only overnight camping party, but unfortunately, it sold out.
Brew at the Zoo is no consolation prize, though– you might not be able to stay at the zoo the whole night, but drown your sorrows with 100 varieties of beer samples from over 40 beer vendors, and munchies from a bunch of food trucks.
DJ's will be spinning the soundtrack for this fun-filled night, where you'll also get to see lemurs, sea lions, snakes, and more... because well, you're gonna be at the zoo, duh.
It'll be Halloweekend so if you come to this bash decked out in costume, you have a chance to win a costume contest too.
There are three types of tickets available, General Admission, VIP, and Designated Driver (snaps for the Bronx Zoo!). Grab them here– and soon, because we have a feeling this one will fill up too.
Halloween Headphone Costume Party (October 30th)
If you've never been to a headphones party, you're missing out. Grab yo' squad and tell them you're celebrating Halloween at this quiet but trendy AF rager.
So find a dope costume and get ready to dance the night away at the Tropical Paradise Ballroom from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. Each ticket comes with a set of headphones, grab yours here.
Annual Halloween Masquerade Ball (October 31st)
Better call Q, ‘cause you’ll need to some serious state-of-the-art costume for this shindig.
We’ll refrain from making too many Bond-themed puns and references, we promise. There’s a complimentary vodka open bar, live music, a best of Bond highlights reel, a costume contest, and a view to kill for.
Get your tickets here, and have your Bond-inspired quips at the ready.
[Feature Image Courtesy Barnorama]