Thinking about an autumn trip to New York? Here are 5 events worth travelling for
There’s something about New York in autumn. The summer heat has eased, the leaves are starting to turn and the city’s cultural calendar is well and truly back in full swing.
If you’re thinking about planning a trip this season, there’s plenty happening beyond the usual sightseeing. Think major film premieres, four days dedicated to food and wine, dancing 86 floors above Manhattan and one of the biggest Halloween celebrations in the city.
Here are five events worth timing your New York trip around this autumn.
Catch the New York Film Festival
Film lovers, this one’s for you. The New York Film Festival returns to Lincoln Center from 25th September - 12th October, bringing some of the most talked-about films of the year to the city. The annual festival is one of the biggest dates in New York’s cultural calendar, with a programme spanning major new releases, premieres, international cinema and filmmaker conversations. Screenings and events take place across Lincoln Center, making it a particularly good addition to an Upper West Side day. Spend the afternoon exploring Central Park, head for dinner nearby, then settle in for a film you might not get the chance to see back home for months.
Dance 86 floors above Manhattan
A silent disco is fun. A silent disco 86 floors above New York is considerably harder to beat.
The Empire State Building’s Silent Disco Nights return this autumn, transforming its iconic 86th-floor Observation Deck into a dance floor overlooking Manhattan. On 3rd October, the soundtrack will span Hip-Hop, R&B and Rap, while 17th October is dedicated to EDM. Wireless LED headphones allow guests to switch between music channels throughout the night, all while taking in the Empire State Building’s famous 360-degree views. Tickets start from $69 and also include access to the building’s immersive museum and 86th-floor Observation Deck, so arrive with enough time to explore before the dancing starts.
Eat your way through the NYC Wine & Food Festival
For anyone who plans a city break around restaurant reservations, the NYC Wine & Food Festival is a very good reason to visit New York in October. Returning from 15th - 18th October, the four-day festival brings together chef dinners, tastings, cocktails and special events across the city, with appearances from some of the biggest names on New York’s food scene. The programme ranges from one-off dining experiences to larger tasting events, making it easy to work something into your itinerary without sacrificing all those restaurants already sitting in your saved folder. Our advice? Come hungry.
Celebrate Diwali in Times Square
Times Square is colourful at the best of times, but Diwali takes things up another level.
The annual Diwali at Times Square celebration brings the Festival of Lights to the heart of Manhattan, with the area around Broadway and 46th - 48th Streets filled with music, dancing, live performances and celebrations throughout the day. The event is free to attend and offers the chance to experience one of the world’s biggest celebrations against one of New York’s most recognisable backdrops. If Times Square isn’t usually high on your NYC itinerary, this might be the occasion that changes your mind.
Go full Halloween in Greenwich Village
If you happen to be in New York on 31st October, forget a low-key Halloween. This is the city to do it properly. The 53rd Annual Village Halloween Parade will take over Greenwich Village, bringing thousands of costumed New Yorkers onto the streets alongside giant puppets, performers, live music and some impressively committed fancy dress. The parade has become a New York institution, and you can either get dressed up and join the action yourself or find a spot along the route to watch it all unfold. Make an evening of it with dinner and drinks in the West Village afterwards - preferably still in costume.
