Summary
- The Jack O' Lantern Blaze is a spooky, must-see event in New York during the fall season, featuring over 7,000 intricately carved pumpkins.
- Explore the haunted side of Manhattan with a ghost tour in Greenwich Village, where you'll learn about real-life crimes and paranormal activity.
- Don't miss the opportunity to have a hearty meal as Turkey Day nears.
Manhattan is bursting with experiences and excitement. When in New York, visitors can take a tour of the oldest-standing buildings in Manhattan such as the Wyckoff House and the Lent-Riker-Smith Homestead. Manhattan has hundreds of comfortable hotels that range from affordable such as the Hilton Homes2 Suites to grand hotels like the Mandarin Oriental.
New York City is great all year round and every season brings something new for tourists. With the holidays approaching, the fall is most definitely the best time to find things to do in Manhattan. Whether it’s a love of food, shows, shopping, or just wanting to see the sights, Manhattan has it all.
10 Jack O’ Lantern Blaze
New York state in the fall is steeped in spooky goings-on and with Halloween getting closer, the Jack O’ Lanterns will return to the Hudson Valley region.
Bringing the fright of the Sleepy Hollow legend to New York, the Jack O’ Lantern blaze will be back for another year of spectral delights. The tour takes place between September 15 through November 19. The Jack O’Lantern spirit includes over 7,000 finely carved Jack O’Lanterns.
The tour takes place between September 15 through November 19.
- Service dogs are welcome on the tour.
- Entry starts at 7:00 Pm with ticket prices ranging from $34 to $42. Later times have cheaper entry tickets at $24 to $34.
9 Haunted Ghost Tour In Greenwich Village
Back to the theme of ghosts and ghouls, and the famous ghost tour held in Greenwich Village. This walking tour, led by local historians, visits some of the city's most famously haunted locales, including Washington Square Park and New York University.
Manhattan ghost tours go through all the nooks and crannies where real-life horrors and paranormal sightings happened and include graphic details of past crimes and horrific events. Ghost hunting is one of the many things to do in Manhattan.
Under 18’s must be accompanied by a person over 21 years to go on the tour.
- Many of the haunted areas of New York figure in TV ghost-hunter shows.
- Wrap up warm; it will be cold.
8 Have A Traditional Fall Dinner
October might be a bit early for Turkey Day, but there's no better time to enjoy a hearty meal than during the brisk fall season in Manhattan. Plus, October is an excellent time for everything apple, pumpkin spice, and cinnamon; check local restaurants for seasonal specials to enjoy.
7 Feast Of San Gennaro
For those arriving in Manhattan a bit early, this ten-day culinary festival celebrates Italian ancestry with wonderful food, live music, and colorful processions. New York in the Fall includes the cannoli eating contest. The festival embraces all things Italian and is an ideal venue to sample some of the best wines of Italy.
Every year, the feast attracts both locals and visitors to Little Italy. Anyone searching for a festive way to enjoy the autumnal weather should head down to San Gennaro's Feast.
- Italian food has a lot of sauce and can be messy. Make sure that you cover up.
- The San Gennaro festival runs from September 14th for ten days. Costs vary from around $12 for street food and $80 for a formal dinner.
6 Ice Skate
Many neighborhoods in Manhattan that are perfect for first-timers offer ice skating. What better way to enjoy the cool weather than to put on some skates and glide around a rink of ice?
Wollman Rink, Rockefeller Center, and Bryant Park are just a few of the city's outdoor skating rinks.
The ice-skating scene in Manhattan is big business and rinks will be surrounded by food huts to suit all tastes.
- A General Admission ticket guarantees a spot on the ice on the date and time selected.
- Ice skating isn’t free and skate rental isn’t included. At most sites, general skating will cost $12 with a $6 skate hire.
5 Shop In Times Square And Other Locations
During fall, the shops are starting to gear up for the Holidays and that means that they need shelf space for festive stock. At this time, it is possible to find some great bargains as stores start to turn the stock around.
Times Square stores are a great place to grab something stylish. Manhattan has many hot spots like Macy's, Fifth Avenue, and the ultra-cool artisan feel of the Chelsea Market.
- The best deals are found on Black Friday – the day after Thanksgiving, so consider extending a trip!
The biggest Manhattan shopping center is the Westfield World Trade Center Shopping Mall, and it’s easy to get lost in it.
4 Experience Fresh Cider At The Farmers Market
C Lauretano, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Of all the things to do in Manhattan, cider tasting is definitely one of the best. While there are many markets in the city, including Tucker Square Greenmarket and Dag Hammarskjold Plaza Greenmarket, one of the largest and best is the farmers market at Union Square.
This features farmers from all around, wanting to show off their wares and handing out free samples.
- Cider has numerous health benefits.
- The word ‘Cider’ comes from the Old English word ‘Ciser’ meaning strong drink.
3 See New Broadway Shows
New York in the Fall is traditionally the time that the shows on Broadway start to switch around. In September, there will be plenty of new shows to enjoy. Several highly anticipated shows make their premiere each autumn.
While Manhattan is regarded for its premiere shows, cheaper tickets can be for some tried-and-true options such as The Lion King and The Phantom of the Opera. Keep in mind that the prime locations sell out quickly, so pre-purchasing tickets is usually recommended.
The TKTS booth in Times Square is another option for purchasing last-minute tickets at a discount.
- Broadway ticket prices vary according to the show but Regular Price tickets generally range from $20 to $145.
Beware of fake ticket sellers. Always purchase from reputable vendors.
2 Remember The Fallen
September 11th is always going to be a bittersweet day for both New Yorkers and anyone visiting the city during that period, especially as the cleanup took months, heading into fall.
The Remember the Fallen vigils have become an essential part of New York in the fall, and they are an ideal time to really connect with the people of America.
The Remembrance includes the iconic feature of the Blue Light beams that are shot up from the site of the original Twin Towers.
- Each tower's footprint and floors were approximately an acre in size.
- Callery pear tree was the last living thing to be pulled from the rubble in October 2001.
1 Walk The High Line
Amongst the unusual things to do in Manhattan, visiting the High Line is a great experience. The High Line is an elevated train line on Manhattan's West Side that spans from West 14th Street to West 33rd Street along the Hudson River.
As the sun sets over the river, you can stop at several spots along the High Line to see the spectacular colors. Many official guided tours are available, and it is worth taking one of these.
The High Line is an old, now unused rail track.
- Entry to the High Line is free, but private guided tours start at $250 for ten people.
For those looking for an autumnal trip elsewhere in New York State, consider a scenic fall trip for a weekend (or longer).