Because I enjoy scrolling through Facebook events pages rather than actually doing homework, I have a pretty extensive knowledge of all the fun stuff that's happening in New York City at any given moment. And because I'm obsessed with the entire fall season (Pumpkins! Apple cider! Cute ankle boots!), I've obviously done my research on all the seasonal celebrations within a fifty-mile radius. Thus, I present the College Girl's Comprehensive Guide to Fall In New York City, a round-up of my all my favorite fun, frightening, and fanciful events that will be going down this October. Please remember to dress accordingly in your most fetching puffy vest, and watch out for black cats!
1. Queens County Farm Museum Weekends
If you, like me, grew up going to apple orchards every October, it can be a bit of a bummer to be living in a concrete jungle when all you want to be doing is hunting for the perfect carving pumpkin. What we forget sometimes is that there is, in fact, a world outside of Manhattan...and that world has pumpkins. Enter Queens County Farm Museum, New York's oldest and largest piece of continuously-worked farm land. Trade your cab rides for hay rides by visiting the museum any weekend in October, when apple picking, pumpkin patches, and tons of home-baked goodies are all available for visitors. There 's also a giant corn maze, a haunted house, and (for those lucky enough to visit on the first of October) a sheep shearing demonstration. Please bring me back some apple cider donuts!
2. Giant Pumpkin Weekend
On October 22 and 23rd, the Great Pumpkin is coming to the Bronx. Or, more specifically, multiple pumpkins weighing over a ton are on show at the New York Botanical Garden. Smaller, beautifully carved pumpkins are on display as well, with their growers on hand for a little Q&A for the budding botanist. The garden will also have a spooky scarecrow event--which I'll be skipping because I don't need that sort of fear in my life--if you're more of a Lucy than a Linus.
3. Halloween Dog Parade
Though Halloween is on a Monday this year (insert chorus of heckling here), I'm still determined to make the Hallow-weekend as fun as possible. Enter the NYC Halloween Dog Parade, which is taking place on October 22nd in Tompkins Square Park. Dogs big and small will be showing off their most creative costumes (with a prize going to the best dressed), and you can be sure that you'll be on the receiving end enough puppy love to get through to Thanksgiving.
4. Blood Manor Haunted House
If you need a little variety in your life after petting all those dogs at the pet parade, why not shake things up and go scare yourself silly at Blood Manor, one of the most popular haunted houses in the city. Located in a huge warehouse and practically dripping in fake blood, you're sure to be in the Halloween mood once a ghoul with a chainsaw chases you through a pitch black room. I went last year, and all I'll tell you is that I've never seen so many fake severed legs in my life. Sleep tight!
5. Harry Potter Trivia Night
If none of the above tickles your fancy (you monster!), then here's a last-ditch attempt to get you in the autumn spirit: the Bell House in Brooklyn is hosting a Harry Potter trivia night on October 3rd. Tickets are $10 and, as of this writing, still available. The questions will be based on the seven books and give you a perfect excuse to procrastinate reading for class in favor of a little trip down memory lane.
And remember...
