Hi everyone! October is zipping by so fast and there are so many Fall events to enjoy here in NYC!
This weekend check out L.O.S. Halloween Bash! – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, DUMBO Drop 2020, October Family Day & Pumpkin Patch at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum, Open House New York, The Jewish Museum: Dan + Claudia Zanes Virtual Family Concert, Art in the Garden: Fall Sundays in Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Town Square’s Pumpkin Day 2020 at Greenpoint Terminal Market, Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre Presents: Puppet Slam, Old Home Day at Historic Richmond Town, The Yard on Governors Island, Amazing Animals with the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Pumpkin Patch at The William Vale and the reopening of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.
Don’t forget to check out the long running events like Boo at the Zoo at Prospect Park Zoo, Pumpkin Picking at Decker Farm, Great Pumpkin Path at New York Botanical Garden, Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo, The Amazing Maize Maze® at Queens County Farm Museum, Jack & the Beanstalk at Puppetworks, Biking & Boating at Lakeside in Prospect Park, the Spineless Exhibit at The New York Aquarium and The Nature of Color Exhibit at American Museum of Natural History.
These are just some of the events this weekend so check the calendar to see everything going on. Also like us on Facebook for last minute events and updates.
Enjoy the weekend!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday October 16th
Amazing Animals with the Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Friday October 16th 10-1030a. Free. RSVP here. This program is intended for children ages 2 – 10. Whether they can regrow a tail or lift 1,000 times their weight, our animal friends at Brooklyn Children’s Museum have super powers! All animals, including humans, have unique gifts that help us to survive, grow, solve problems, and live our daily lives. In this online program, we’ll explore the science of regeneration and expert survival skills through this interactive workshop with our reptiles, insects, and spiders. Families will identify their favorite animal super power and reflect on their own superpowers!
Children’s Museum of Manhattan Reopens (UWS)
Friday October 16th various times depending on the adventure you pick. Museum will be open Wednesday-Sunday. Tickets: $15 for adult & child, $12 senior & visitor with disabilities. Infants under 1 free. All visitors must buy a timed ticket in advance. Each session will have limited capacity. Tickets are free for members. Choose from two new family adventures and come play and learn with our team. Explore curated family experiences, specially designed to your child’s interests. Each one hour and forty-five minute session will have limited capacity and includes a visit to two of the Museum’s award-winning exhibits, allowing increased space to safely explore, climb, move, and play. Choose from Playful Explorers Adventure and Superpowered Creators Adventure. See the website for all the details.
DUMBO Drop 2020: The Virtual Drop
Friday October 16th 6p. Free. DUMBO is still hosting a super fun contest in which elephants will fly to raise money for PS307 + Dock Street School – only this year, its streaming on Facebook instead of floating down from the rooftops. Tune in on Facebook Live for the reveal of our community video + a virtual Dumbo Drop with surprise guests + announcements of the winners (you can purchase a raffle ticket for $20. Purchase tickets by 12n on Friday October 16th. See the website for all the details. Also check out (RE)DISCOVER DUMBO SCAVENGER HUNT Saturday 10a-5p and The Etsy Art Extravaganza Sunday 10a-5p.
See all the Friday events here.
Saturday October 17th
A L.O.S. Halloween Bash! – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice [sponsored]
Starts streaming Saturday October 17th. The Little Orchestra Society’s 2020-2021 streamed season of L.O.S. KIDS will debut on October 17th with “An L.O.S. Halloween Bash! – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” Now in a new streamed format, the innovative L.O.S. concert series is a fantastic way to introduce kids (ages 3-10) to great composers and help them develop a love of orchestral music right in their own homes. This year’s programs are bringing to life a Halloween-themed concert, Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel, the music of Dvořák, and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition for a new generation. Each program introduces the audience to composers as people, with selections from their most cherished works, ways in which their music is unforgettable, and fundamentals of music through audience participation. “An L.O.S. Halloween Bash! – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is conducted by L.O.S. Artistic Advisor David Alan Miller. Each streamed concert features specially created videos and animations, performances by accomplished young soloists along with our professional orchestra, and an original script – all designed to enhance audience engagement with the orchestral music that is at the core of all L.O.S. performances. L.O.S. KIDS streamed concerts are available for the 2020-21 season with an L.O.S. Membership. Memberships begin at $199. For Membership details, visit littleorchestra.org/
October Family Day & Pumpkin Patch at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum (Canarsie)
Saturday October 17th 11a-3p. Free. Enjoy all things Fall out on the Wyckoff Farm this October Farmhouse Family Day. Festive Fall outdoor activities continue during this month’s Farmhouse Family Day! Families can roll up their sleeves and get dirty assisting with our sweet potato harvest, learn about compost, snap photos in our Fall Harvest Photo booth, take a stroll around our pumpkin patch, or visit one of our craft tables. While you’re here make sure to stop by the Local Market Fall Pop Up (noon to 4:00 p.m.), featuring local Black-owned small businesses, presented by our partner Danne Promotions and the Wyckoff Farm Stand (11a-1p). Note: Pre-reservation ticket (limited) required for free sugar pumpkin from the Pumpkin Patch! Register here. See website for all the event details.
Town Square’s Pumpkin Day 2020 at Greenpoint Terminal Market
Saturday October 17th 11a, 12n, 1p & 2p. Pumpkin tickets: $20 in advance ($30 at door). $5 mommy/daddy ticket & $20 for additional adults. Outdoors fun on the Brooklyn waterfront! Pick your own pumpkin. Decorate it with paints, glitter, and colorful ribbons. Enjoy arts and crafts and other fun activities with your family. What a fun way to celebrate the fall! All children, including babies, must have a Pumpkin ticket. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Entries to the pumpkin patch will be timed. Pick the hour of your choice when purchasing your ticket and families will be allowed into the pumpkin patch, up to 25 kids at a time. After you leave the pumpkin patch with your pumpkin, head over to one of the many pumpkin decorating stations and enjoy the fun! You are welcome to stay all afternoon at the Greenpoint Terminal Market with their many exciting vendors and amazing views from the Brooklyn waterfront. Purchase tickets here.
The Yard on Governors Island
Saturday October 17th 12n-4p and also Sunday October 25th 12n-4p. The Yard is free. Ferry tickets need to be reserved in advance and there are fees. See the website for the details. The Yard, NYC’s only adventure playground located on Governors Island will open to the public. Safety protocols will be different this year due to the current conditions. Timed slots will be available on a first-come first-served basis at the gate. Masks will be required. No more than 30 kids in the Yard and no children under 5. Waivers: Each child will need a separate waiver to participate in either adventure play or family play area. We recommend you fill out the waiver ONLINE HERE prior to your visit. Waivers are also available at the entrance of play:groundNYC and closed-toe shoes are required. See website for all the details.
See all the Saturday events here.
Sunday October 18th
The Jewish Museum: Dan + Claudia Zanes Virtual Family Concert
Sunday October 18th 10-1045a. RSVP here. Heralded duo Grammy Award-winner Dan Zanes and jazz vocalist Claudia Zanes will perform a concert for families of all ages featuring timeless Dan + Claudia Zanes Virtual Family Concerthttps://www.achildgrows.com/event/the-jewish-museum-dan-claudia-zanes-virtual-family-concert/The Jewish Museum: Dan + Claudia Zanes Virtual Family Concertfolk classics, blues, and other favorites which speak about social justice and coming together as a community for peace. Hear tunes such as “Which Side Are You On,” “Shalom Rav,” and “Let Love Be Your Guide,” an original song about love and non-violence in the struggle for freedom inspired by Congressman and Civil Rights leader John Lewis’ final writings.
Old Home Day at Historic Richmond Town (Staten Island)
Sunday, October 18, 2020 11a–5p. Admission will be by timed entry ONLY, with a reduced number of tickets sold every hour starting at 11a and ending at 4p. Online – $10.00/person (adults and kids of all ages). At the gate – $12.00/person (availability NOT guaranteed). Find a home at Historic Richmond Town! The world of the past comes alive. A local favorite for generations, Old Home Day returns this October featuring historic trade demonstrations, food, crafts, and sweet treats. The village is alive with the smell of fresh bread baking in the kitchen of the historic Guyon-Lake-Tysen farmhouse. Enjoy hearty soup served in the rear-yard of the Tavern. Visit with tradespeople such as the tinsmith, leather-worker, carpenter, blacksmith and basket-maker to discover how household items were made in the 18th and 19th centuries. Weavers, quilters and tailors complete the image of a county seat from centuries passed. See the website for all the event details.
Pumpkin Patch at The William Vale (Williamsburg)
Sundays 1130a-3p until October 25th. Free admission. Bring the whole family to Vale Park to pick your own pumpkins and get into the fall spirit. Cozy beverages will be available including hot chocolate, ciders, and mulled wine. Lots of sizes to choose from and pumpkin prices vary by size.
Art in the Garden: Fall Sundays in Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Sundays 1-6p until October 25th. Free with Garden admission. Purchase tickets here. For these two special Fall Sundays, the Garden’s 52 acres will flourish with live music and dance as performers present duets and solo work throughout the grounds. Attendees are encouraged to take an artistic stroll, finding drummers, dancers, and bluegrass players along their way. The Garden will also offer self-guided, autumn-themed tours.
See all the Sunday events here.
All Weekend
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre Presents: Puppet Slam
Saturday-Sunday October 17th-18th 11a-1p. Free. The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre is proud to announce a virtual open house presented with Open House New York. The open house will offer an in-depth look into the history of the theatre and its puppeteers, followed by “Puppet Time” a family-friendly, first-ever Puppet Slam showcase. Tune in on the Open House New York website, City Parks Foundation YouTube or the City Parks Foundation Facebook page. See the website for all the event details.
Open House New York
Saturday-Sunday October 17th-18th. Free. Founded in 2003, Open House New York Weekend is a citywide festival that unlocks the doors of New York’s most architecturally and culturally significant buildings and highlights the people who design, build, and preserve New York. Of course, the 2020 OHNY Weekend will be unlike any other year. To protect the safety of our community, there are no in-person tours or group activities. That said, we are thrilled to present more than 150 ways to explore and experience the city. Note: Content links will go live on October 17 and remain active through midnight on October 18. See the website for all the event details.
Boo at the Zoo at Prospect Park Zoo
Daily until October 31st. Zoo hours are: Monday-Friday 10a-5p, weekends & holidays 10a-530p. Included in Zoo admission. Timed entry tickets can be purchased here. Prospect Park Zoo is going batty every day in October with Halloween-themed educational (and fun) decorations. Download a spooky scavenger hunt and see if you can answer the clues as you wander through the zoo. Visit the tombstones of extinct animals in sea lion court and learn why extinction isn’t inevitable with your help! Our Spooky Trail will show you some of our “spooky” neighbors who come out at night. Get creative with your masks and take a photo at one of our beautiful harvest decoration areas.
Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo
Thursdays-Sundays until November 1st. Zoo hours are 10a-5p. Tickets are required and must be reserved in advance. Reserve tickets here. Included with zoo admission. Our annual Halloween tradition is back at the Bronx Zoo. We have family-friendly activities and have taken all safety precautions for you to have a great experience. Come dressed in your Halloween best and enjoy! See the website for all the event details.
Great Pumpkin Path at New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
On display 10a-6p until November 1st (Tuesday to Sunday, and Monday federal holidays). Free with Garden admission. All visitors, including Members, must purchase or reserve timed-entry tickets in advance. Purchase tickets here. Discover plentiful pumpkins and hordes of gourds along the twists and turns of our Great Pumpkin Path on the Conservatory Lawn, culminating with some of the largest pumpkins in the world with the arrival of giant pumpkins on October 24. Keep an eye out for a display of whimsical scarecrows throughout the Garden as well. Note: Everyone is required to wear face coverings throughout the Garden grounds.
Pumpkin Picking at Decker Farm
Saturdays-Sundays 11a-5p until October 25th. Tickets online – $6/person (adults and kids of all ages) at the gate – $8/person (availability NOT guaranteed). Admission will be by timed entry ONLY, with a reduced number of tickets sold every hour starting at 11:00am and ending at 4:00pm. Any tickets remaining for each time slot can be purchased on-site on the day-of for an additional $2. Ticket availability is NOT guaranteed for any walk-up sales. Pumpkin Picking at Historic Richmond Town’s Decker Farm returns Saturday, October 3, with all of your favorite autumnal activities! Search the patch for the perfect pumpkin, learn about 19th century farm life, and indulge in delicious fall food favorites, all without leaving Staten Island! See the website for all the event details and to purchase tickets.
The Amazing Maize Maze® at Queens County Farm Museum
Fridays-Sundays 11a-430p (last ticket sold at 430p) in October. Advance Tickets: $12; $8 (ages 4-11) (plus fees). Free for ages 3 & under. Purchase tickets here. Get lost in NYC’s only corn maze! The Amazing Maize Maze adventure begins with a Stalk Talk to prepare you for the 3-acre challenge of finding clues on your way to Victory Bridge where the full vista of Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ masterpiece is revealed. Maze entry will be staggered in order to maintain event capacity.
Jack & the Beanstalk at Puppetworks (Park Slope)
Ongoing Wednesdays-Fridays at 4p and Saturdays-Sundays at 1230p & 230p until December 23rd. Tickets: Children $10 each, Adults $11 each (suggested for ages 3 and up). Jack & the Beanstalk with an original song score adapted for Marionettes by Nicolas Coppola. Call for Reservations: 718-965-3391 or e-mail to: puppetworksinfo@gmail.com NO Same Day e-mail reservations please. Performances are @ 25% Capacity, Masks Required.
Brooklyn Public Library Vitural Storytimes
Daily usually at 11a & 2p. Free. Sometimes the storytimes are on the Brooklyn Public Library Family facebook page and other times they are on a specific branch facebook page. See the website for all the details.
Biking & Boating in Prospect Park
Saturdays-Sundays 10a-630p until November 1st. See website for biking & boating rates. LeFrak Center at Lakeside will be open daily for biking, boating, with food and drink available for takeaway from the Bluestone Cafe.
Rollerskating at Lakeside in Prospect Park
Daily 12n-7p until November 1st. Pricing: $6 admission & $7 skate rentals on weekdays and $10 admission, $7 skate rentals on weekends (weekend pricing begins 4p Fridays). Roller Skating is BACK! COVID-19 safety guidelines will be followed, including mask-wearing and social distancing protocols. Skating will operate at reduced capacity. Come get moving with us at Lakeside! Lakeside’s outdoor roller skating rink provides fun for kids, tweens, and adults alike. Skate to a mix of pop hits while taking in views of Prospect Park Lake. Skate rentals are available in children and adult sizes. See website for all the details.
Spineless Exhibit at The New York Aquarium (Coney Island)
Daily 10a-4p (park closes 5p) until October 31st. Admission included with ticket. All visitors must reserve a date-specific ticket in advance. Please check Know Before You Go for details. We have great news: The New York Aquarium is reopening on August 27! Buy tickets to see all of your favorite marine animals today and enjoy summer on Coney Island! Explore Spineless, our latest exhibit, and marvel and the jellies, octopus, and more. Come wave hello to Erie the sea lion and Murphy the Harbor Seal. Relax in Ocean Wonders: Sharks! and watch the rays, sharks, and turtles.
The Nature of Color Exhibit at American Museum of Natural History (UWS)
Museum is open Wednesdays-Sundays with timed entry tickets are available 10a-4p (museum closes 530p). Exhibit is open until March 8, 2021. Select a General Admission + One or General Admission + All ticket, choose date and time of entry to the Museum, then select The Nature of Color. Reserve tickets here. Our world is awash in color. Color makes the world feel vibrant and alive. But that’s not all. Color helps us make sense of the world. It contains vast amounts of information—about the natural world, and the human world. Come and explore the world of color in this immersive exhibition.