September has come, and it means a much needed reprieve from the stifling August heat, sweating, and all that pressure to be outside all the time.
Let's face it. You're excited for the coming of fall, even if you won't admit it.
Here's why: September means gorgeous leaves, exhilarating cold, pumpkin spice lattes, and comfy pea coats. It also means a lot of excellent music festivals, food events, and parades for you to get down in New York City.
No matter what month it is, we still live in the best city in the world.
There is one day this month that isn't for fun, but that's for solemnity, and honor, and respect.
That's September 11th. We include that day on this guide not because we think it's fun or entertainment, but because it's imperative to acknowledge the men and women killed that day, and those who valiantly sacrificed their lives for others.
That said, read on to find out how you can do it big this September in New York City.
1. Electric Zoo Music Festival (September 4th - September 6th)
5square.redux.whoa Let's see if I can get some free #electriczoo tickets with this #electriczoocrew app with this #tbt pic et al. #ezoocrewthrowback
Known by all who discuss it as NYC's premier electronic music festival, the Electric Zoo Music Festival attracts more than a hundred thousand music fans to Randall's Island every year.
This year, the festival's classic zoo theme will be newly introduced with a transformed theme. And it promises to be dope.
So you're staying in the city for Labor Day? Don't fret. You can still have a blast within the city limits. This year's Electric Zoo Music Festival's lineup includes Above and Beyond, Alesso, The Chemical Brothers, and many more.
Snag your tickets here, and do it fast. Like, we mean faster than you can even click that link, because they'll sell out. Mark our words.
2. West Side County Fair (September 6th)
jairoc They're usually taller than #Me but not by #THIS much. #10th #Annual #West #Side #County #Fair #park #WestSideCountyFair #WestSide #Riverside #RiversidePark #Manhattan #NewYork #NY #NYC under the #WestSideHighway #Highway #Stilts #TallWomen
Everyone who loves fun, magic, carnival rides and games, live music and plenty of other excellent activities will be stoked to learn about the West Side County Fair.
It's all going down at Pier 1 in Riverside Park South from 1 - 6 p.m. The day will blast with music from four live bands, food vendors, and plenty of chances to win prizes at the fair's games.
Also, the view will be amazing as it's, you know, on the river. Did we mention it's free?
3. New York Fashion Week (September 10 - September 17th)
dianacrocemodel #TBT Ser modelo es mucho más que ponerse un vestido y salir a una pasarela, es vivir la moda. Es sentir en el sonido de la música, en cada paso, los latidos de tu corazón, con la adrenalina a millón, interpretando ese outfit, y la emoción de cada segundo del recorrido en la piel, porque a través de ti cobra vida esa creación artística... Aquí para Angel Sánchez durante la semana de la moda en New York. #modelvenezuela #modelo #model #modelle #Desfiles #newyorkfashionweek #fotos #TBT #fashion #EMLWF #NFW #angelsanchez
New York Fashion Week is a special bi-annual series of events that make our city sparkle and shine. During this seven-day period, international fashion collections are shown to buyers, the press, and the public.
It's a big deal. Like, one of the four major fashion weeks in the world big deal. (The others are Paris, London, and Milan).
Do you want to be a witness to this radiant spectacle? Check out the official schedule, and be sure to note whether your event of choice is open to the public.
4. Tribute in Light (September 11th)
Two radiant beams will shine up into the sky all night near the World Trade Center as a part of one of the most powerful and healing public works of art ever produced.
These majestic twin blue beams will shoot their light up from dusk until sunrise right beside the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. If it's a clear night, they'll be visible for a sixty-mile radius.
"Tribute in Light" is an iconic remembrance to honor all those whose lives were lost in the September 11th tragedy in 2001. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are affected to this very day.
5. Labor Day Parade (September 12th)
Via NYCLC
On September 12th at 10 a.m. New York will be storming down Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 64th Street.
This parade will celebrate everyone who gets up every morning and gives their all to keep New York City running. It'll celebrate teachers, construction workers, supermarket workers, doctors, bus operators, and everyone else who does their part to keep NYC from grinding to a halt.
So why not come out and cheer for the parade? Or at least raise a glass in all laborers' honor. If you want to apply to be a part of the parade, you can do so here.
6. Vendy Awards (September 12th)
hiddengemofnyc Discovered a food market with authentic Spanish food last weekend! The food market is a nonprofit project by @vendyawards. They invite food vendors to share their passion for food with no charge. Therefore, the food in the market is very affordable! And best of all, it builds a great community. Great music, friendly environment and really authentic/delicious food! Open to public every Sunday. Check it out if you have a chance. 🍴🍗🍖🍝🍛🍤🍹 Thanks for the tip @createnyc. | #hiddengemofnyc
Do you love food? Do you love live entertainment? Have you been completely blown away by Vendy Plaza? Oh, you haven't gone yet? Fix that. Now.
Luckily for you, the Vendy Awards incorporates all of those facets into one stellar food festival. It's a street food competition series that aims to determine the "best of the best" in street food.
Thousands of guests gather on Governors Island every year to eat and vote. Winners are chosen by ticket holders, as well as a panel of celebrity judges, chefs, television personalities and city officials.
Tickets will award you access to a ridiculous amount of food from more than 25 food vendors, unlimited access to beer from Brooklyn Brewery and wine from the Santa Cristina wine bar. Plus, a variety of non-alcoholic beverages, but you don't really care about those, do you?
Grab your tickets to the Vendy Awards online here, and then show up to Governors Island on Saturday, September 12th to grub from 12:30 - 5 p.m.
7. The Dopest #TBT Ever (September 17th)
spoiled_nyc celebrate the #90s with @spoiled_nyc & @tablelist 🗽 free rsvp: SPOILEDTBT.COM 🗽 thursday 9/17 at 7 p.m. @hudsonterrace #spoiledTBT #nyc #nycrooftop #spoilednyc #tablelist #hudsonterrace #TBT #throwbackthursday #bestthursdayever #onehouropenbar #takeover #nolinesthistime #80sbaby #90skid 📠📟📼📟📺
Do you remember the 90s? Remember Gameboys and Tamagotchis and the Backstreet Boys? Okay, so we can't guarantee The Backstreet Boys will be at our party, but we hope they do swing by.
Join us and Tablelist at The Dopest #TBT Ever at the Hudson Terrace on September 17th at 7 p.m. We'll have a one-hour open bar from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., and the party will rock until DJs Franco Finelli, Rodney Hazard, and Nick Zallo decide it's done-- all on a stunning rooftop terrace overlooking the Hudson River.
We'll also have nostalgia on tap, on the house, and free-flowing. We're talking Biggie, Jordans, Nicktoons, and everything else you loved about that spectacular decade. Plus, we'll be there. Which is always a plus.
RSVP here for free.
,8. Harvest in the Square (September 17th)
unionsquareny Get unlimited tastings from over 50 of #UnionSquareNY's best restaurants AND support #UnionSquarePark at the 20th Anniversary of #HarvestintheSquare on Thursday, Sept 17th! This is the last week to save $20 off of General Admission tickets using code "EARLYB" at harvest20th.eventbrite.com (link in bio). #HungryforHarvest #USQEats #eeeeeats
This year will mark the 20th Anniversary of this delicious event, known to many as Union Square's premiere food and wine tasting event.
Why wouldn't you want to munch on delicious food and leave dizzy from some palatable wine?
It's also great to note that you'll be gorging yourself for a cause; Harvest in the Square is an imperative fundraising event for the Union Square Partnership's work to beautify, improve, and hold programs in Union Square Park.
The restaurants in attendance are so numerous our stomachs growl just thinking about it. They'll have food from 5 Napkin Burger, Burger & Lobster, and Blue Smoke, just to name a few. Tickets are available online here.
9. Brooklyn Book Festival (September 20th)
iamlivingcolor Got to see a great talk about #writing about #nyc at the #brooklynbookfestival today. These authors were great!
Do you love reading, books, meeting famous authors and other people who love literature? Does the idea of having an author articulate your soul sound appealing to you? How about free public workshops in pretty gardens where you'll have a couple hours to write and share with kind strangers?
If any of the above sounds good to you, you definitely need to make it to the Brooklyn Book Festival. It's the largest free literary event in New York City, and it presents a variety of national, international, and emerging authors.
This year is the festival's 20th Anniversary, which makes it even more special. The excitement will unfold on Sunday, September 20th from 10 a.m. at the Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza on 209 Joralemon Street.
10. Brooklyn Local Craft Beer Festival (September 20th)
hopwins_brewery Big news folks! We are now part of an insane lineup at the Brooklyn Local Craft Beer Festival Sept 20th #hopwins #hopwinsbrewery #brooklynlocalcraftbeerfestival #craftbeer #beer #supportlocal
At 421 Carroll Street on September 20th, local small to mid-sized breweries will be spreading their beery goodness.
When can you pour this liquid goodness down your throat by the pint? Great question. On September 20th from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., the greatest up-and-coming NYC craft breweries will be organizing at the 2nd annual installment of this craft beer festival.
Yes, there will also be food vendors, and they'll include Hops and Ducks, Carpe Donut, Made of Beer Bakery, Bill's Balls and Sweet Chili. Musical performances will also jam all day. This festival is going to rock, and you should go. Get your tickets here.
11. Global Citizens Festival (September 26th)
Unless you're not at all connected to society, odds are you've heard of the Global Citizens' Festival by now. Headlining this amazing festival will their musical genius will be Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, and Pearl Jam.
Hosting this year's edition of this fabulous festival are Stephen Colbert and Hugh Jackman.
If that wasn't enough information to get you to attend, we're not sure who you are or where your priorities lie, but believe it or not, there are even more reasons to get you to attend. Which is, namely, how you can acquire the tickets.
The platform for this festival was created by the Global Poverty Project, whose goal is to end the world's extreme poverty by 2030. This year's festival will coincide of the launch of the United Nations' new Global Goals, so getting tickets to this festival isn't quite as simple as just purchasing tickets on the internet.
To win tickets, you have to go on an Action Journey, in which you might sign petitions, ask leaders to fund healthcare systems in developing countries, or even call a world leader on the phone. Get started on your Action Journey here. Or, you could just buy VIP tickets.
It's all going down on September 26th on the Great Lawn in Central Park.
12. Museum Day Life (September 26th)
amazing_mooon #daily #여행 #WashingtonDC #Smithsonian #자연사박물관 "Night at the museum"에서 나름 한 비중 차지했던 코끼리. *공룡보다 포스 있었음*
Love art and learning? Want to fill the well of your creative unconscious and curious mind? Then Free Museum Day is perfect for you.
The museums you can attend absolutely free on September 26th include the Society of Illustrators, the Museum of American Finance, the Morgan Library & Museum, and more. Check out the full list here.
You do need to snag a ticket, but you do not need to pay for this tickets. You just need to print them. Grab yours here, which will admit you and a guest into participating museums. For free.
13. Fall Arts and Music Festival (September 27th)
Via Pinterest
This free activity is the perfect reason for you to finally take that PATH train to Hoboken. It's going down at 94 Washington Street in Hoboken, and it's the perfect way to celebrate the coming of fall.
Between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. this fair will feature over 300 artists, crafters, photographers, sculptors, food vendors, local restaurants, and three stages of live music. Performers include Willie Nile, Nicole Atkins, Deaf Rhino and more.
So if you love food from the variety of Thai, Indian, Greek French, Mexican, Cajun, and Italian, you love handmade pottery, metalwork, jewelry furniture and other handcrafted items, and you love music, you should attend.
We're more than just Manhattan. Check out 9 Things You Have to Do in Queens Like, Right Now.
[Feature Image Courtesy: Flickr]