Queens is absolutely the most underrated borough in New York City.
Why do we think so? Well, it's easily the most ethnically diverse part of NYC, which makes for a ton of incredible cultural events, amazing food, and linguistic diversity. Oh yeah, did we mention amazing food?
Queens is relaxed, unpretentious, and packed to the brim with amazing fall events.
It's got the Halloween Harvest Fest at the Socrates Sculpture Park, the Amazing Maize at the Queens County Farm Museum, and of course the LIC Flea and Food festival every weekend.
Queens also has amazing foliage, which you'll have ample opportunity to gape at if you visit the Queens Botanical Garden.
Read on to see 8 events you absolutely need to cross off your Queens bucket list for this fall.
1. Farmers Market Fridays (until November 20th)
Do you love fresh produce?
If so, you need to get to the Queens Botanical Garden's farmers' market. Every Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. they'll sell fresh produce from two local farms and their own urban farm.
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It takes place on the sidewalk outside the Queens Botanical Garden. You'll be able to snag tons of fruits and vegetables, carving pumpkins, baked goods, apple and pear cider, sauces, salsa, and chocolate.
If you love fresh food, you should make sure to make this happen at some point this fall.
2. Queens International Night Market (until October 31st)
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The Queens International Night Market is a huge, open-air night market in Queens, held from 6 p.m. to midnight on Saturdays at 90-02 618th Street in Downtown Jamaica.
Vendors sell merchandise, art, and food. There are also live cultural performances, all celebrating the rich cultural diversity and heritage of NYC and Queens.
Food vendors include Karl's Balls, Mahalo Bakery, and House of Mac. Plus many more.
It only goes down on Saturday nights until the end of October, so make sure you get to this spectacle before we have to wait another year.
3. LIC Flea and Food (until October 25th)
The LIC Flea and Food is a top-notch weekend activity for everyone who loves amazing food, delicious beer, one-of-a-kind treasures, and live jazz.
Oh wait, that's everyone.
It's open on weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 5-25 46th Avenue in Long Island City, and it's widely heralded as one of the most delicious food festivals in all of the five boroughs.
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It's got an amazing line up of food vendors, curated with the diversity and spirit of Queens in mind. It's also got a beer garden, and antiques, furniture, and jewelry.
Its last day for the season is October 25th, so if you haven't been yet this year make sure you go within the next few weekends, and that you go hungry. You definitely will not regret it.
4. The Amazing Maize Maze (September 19th - October 25th)
On weekends at the Queens Country Farm Museum you'll have the opportunity to venture through a 3-acre corn labyrinth.
The adventure begins with a "Stalk Talk" to prepare you for the challenge of finding clues, solving puzzles, and eventually finding your way out of the maze.
Admission costs $9, and tickets are sold between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
If your deepest and most burning desire is to navigate a corn maze by moonlight, guess what? We've got some excellent news for you.
The Queens County Farm Museum will host Maze By Moonlight on October 17th, when the maze will stay open until 9 p.m. You'll be able to use the stars (or, you know, a flashlight) to find your way out of the maze.
,5. Harvest Fest and Pumpkin Patch (October 18th)
queensbotanicalgarden Ohhh, October! We love the fall season here at QBG; with brightly colored leaves and crisp fresh air there are plenty of ways to enjoy The Garden this fall. Coming up on October 18 is our annual Harvest Fest & Pumpkin Patch. What will you do with this year's pumpkin; will it be a jack o' lantern or baked into a delicious pie? #QBGFest #harvestfestival #HarvestFest2015 #QueensBotanicalGarden #PumpkinPatch #HarvestFestival
On October 18th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Queens Botanical Garden will hold their Harvest Fest & Pumpkin Patch.
It will be an insane day of autumn fun, brimming with live music, games, nature walks, and craft and food vendors.
That's not enough for you? Well, there's more. There will be a petting zoo, pony rides, a beer tent, and of course a pumpkin patch.
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The bird and nature walk will go down at 11 a.m. The Lonesome Moonlight String Band will play at 11:30 a.m. and then again at 1 p.m. Access to the Pumpkin Patch will be available from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Astrograss live bluegrass music will play from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
There will also be a Garden tour at 2 p.m. Admission is a very chill $4. We're certainly going. Are you?
6. Halloween Harvest Festival (October 19th)
Do you have your Halloween costume mapped out yet? No?
Well, never fear. At the Halloween Harvest Festival in Socrates Sculpture Park you'll be able to attend a costume and art-making workshop, led by Socrates Artists and the Free Style Arts Association from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 19th.
What else is going down at the Halloween Harvest Festival? Excellent question.
They'll have a shadow puppet show, face painting, a traditional Gai Jatra harvest festival performance by The Dance Theater of Nepal, and a dog costume contest.
There will also be delicious food for sale all day, as well as cooking demos and harvest food activities by City Harvest/Queens Action Council throughout the day.
The best part about this dope festival is that it's entirely free.
7. Haunted Lantern Tour (October 23rd - October 24th)
The Fort Totten Water Battery is a haunted abandoned military fortress.
It was built in 1885, and guarded New York harbor during the Civil War. Normally, we'd advise you to stay away from such a petrifying place.
During Halloween season, though, we'd advise you to get yourself as close to NYC's haunted landmarks as possible. The Haunted Lantern Tour makes this possible.
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On Friday, October 23rd and Saturday, October 24th, Urban park Rangers will lead a crowd through the haunted Fort Totten Water Battery by lantern. It'll be a spooky, terrifying way to spend your Friday or Saturday evening.
This event is free, but you must be in line at the Fort Totten Park Totten Road and Cros Island Parkway by 8:15 p.m. for guaranteed admittance.
8. Queens County Farm Museum Haunted House (October 24th - October 25th)
Everyone knows touring a haunted house is a fall requisite, right?
Everyone also knows there's no better weekend to do scare your socks of in a haunted house than the weekend before Halloween.
So get to the Queens County Farm Museum's Haunted House, which will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on October 24th and 25th.
There will be hayrides, Halloween treats, and mulled cider. You'll also have the opportunity to to buy pumpkins and apples. Plus, it only costs $4 per person.
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[Feature Image Courtesy Facebook]