Time to break out your Uggs, knit sweaters and pumpkin spice everything, for the first day of fall has finally arrived. Along with the wind blowing and leaves changing colors, the arrival of fall is also met with the arrival of seasonal fun, and New York City is no exception.Though the city might not be the first place to come to mind when thinking about fall activities, New Yorkers make do with a variety of fantastic opportunities to have some fall fun.
When you think of fall, what comes to mind? For most people, it is pumpkins, whether that be pumpkins themselves, Jack-O-Lanterns or the unavoidable pumpkin spice latte. Perhaps the most iconic activity of the fall season is the pumpkin patch. Being able to stroll through the patch and pick out your favorite to later carve a spooky face into, is one of the best parts of the season. Although you may not find the typical pumpkin patch in the city, NYC does have an amazing alternative. The Cityside Pumpkin Patch is located on a rooftop in Queens, offering over 10,000 pumpkins sourced from Upstate New York, as well as a variety of fall-themed activities and photoshoot opportunities.
Another classic fall activity is corn mazes, which can either be a lot of fun or truly terrifying, depending on how you feel about getting lost. You may be thinking this isn’t “Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest,” there’s no corn maze anywhere near the city, but you would be wrong. Only a few train rides away is Queens County Farm Museum, which has a variety of fall activities, but most notably The Amazing Maize Maze. It serves as a one-stop shop if you want to do a variety of fall activities in one place. They have a more typical approach to a pumpkin patch, donut shop, cider booth, petting zoo and hayrides. They also have special events like the Queens Agricultural Fair, Maze by Moonlight, Harvest Dance Celebration and even an 18th century tavern night.
Fall also signifies the coming of All Hallow’s Eve, better known as Halloween, which comes with its own set of activities that add to the fall festivities. Halloween is known for its relationship with ghosts and all things spooky,so it is only right that haunted house attractions begin to pop up everywhere. Now, these are not for the faint of heart, but everyone needs a good scare once in a while. So much work and attention to details goes into these attractions, making them extremely immersive and terrifying. And, of course, NYC is filled with them. Such as Blood Manor in Manhattan, which is located in a 10,000 square foot mansion with a labyrinth of frightening corridors and blood curdling rooms. Pairing this with great actors and elaborate special effects, Blood Manor ensures to scare your socks off. If you are not one for frights, an exciting alternative is happening at the New York Botanical Gardens. The worldwide debut of a light trail inspired by the iconic Halloween film from Tim Burton, “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” The trail involves 3D printed sculptures of the characters, interactive video projections and over 8,300 square feet of light installations.
Now, if you are living on a budget but still want to make the most of the fall season, there is still a lot you can do. Check on Pinterest for inspiration for super cheap DIY activities and crafts to get you in the spirit. For instance, a classic one is leaf rubbing varieties of leaves and identifying them. Fall is also known for its cozy vibe, so grab a few friends and make some popcorn balls or caramel apples and have a cozy night in with a fall movie. Classic fall movies such as “Practical Magic,” “The Dead Poets Society,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox, “The Craft” and “Good Will Hunting” are great ways to start off the season. But if you’re all the more inclined to Halloween horror movies to get into the spirit, be sure to check out “Beetlejuice,” “Halloween,” “Children of the Corn,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “Hocus Pocus” or “Halloweentown.”
Fall would not be complete without the iconic array of snacks and drinks that come along with it. As you are well aware by now, there is a pumpkin spice flavored everything. But there are so many more (and better) fall snacks out there. Apple is another big flavor we see around this time, so you definitely want to find time to stop and get a hot apple cider and apple cider donut. Sticking with this apple theme, no fall season is complete without caramel apples, which are also incredibly fun to make and decorate yourself. Another can’t miss treat is the pumpkin cream cheese muffin, most notably found at Starbucks, but you can definitely attempt to make them yourself as well. Of course, one of the most controversial seasonal candies that Halloween would be incomplete without is candy corn. So often there is debate whether candy corn is actually good, but either way, it is a staple of Halloween that must be appreciated.
The fall season arrives too quickly and leaves too soon. We are often left longing for all that we missed out on, so be sure to make the most of this season. Jump in a pile of leaves, go to a farmers market, go apple picking and pick out a unique halloween costume, because the downside of the first day of fall is that means the last day of fall is quickly approaching.
