15 fun things to do in NYC this fall that won’t break the bank

Fall is when New Yorkers finally reunite after dispersing for the summer and get serious about what the city is known for: culture, fun, community and a surfeit of pumpkin-flavored things.

After having some time and space to process the pandemic against the backdrop of the ongoing writers' strike and the increasing presence of AI, New Yorkers are hungry for the type of raw, vulnerable and passionate art that only humans can make.

And as always, New York delivers. From Hispanic Heritage Month to the 50th anniversary of the Village Halloween Parade and more, here are 15 ideas to help you sink your teeth into the city's vibrant fall offerings.

Eat, drink and dance at the Latin Night Market in Inwood

Food, beverage and sweets vendors will set up shop in and around Quisqueya (formerly Dyckman) Plaza for this first-ever festival that has set out to be the world’s largest and most authentic celebration of Latin and Hispanic culture. The event promises music and dance — salsa, reggae, rumba, jazz, Latin pop and hip-hop — along with art installations, raffles and other family-friendly activities. This one-day only event kicks off at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22 in Inwood. Admission is free; food is extra.

See “Michael Richards: Are You Down?” at the Bronx Museum

Richards movingly explored the Black experience through opposing themes of persecution and freedom, flight, and downfall. He often used his own body to cast figures for his sculptures, which depicted saints and pilots in states of repression and possibility. "Are You Down" is the first museum retrospective of the Brooklyn-born visionary, who died in the 9/11 attacks at age 38. The show opens Sept. 8 and runs through Jan. 7, 2024 at the Bronx Museum. Admission is free.

Check out the New York Latino Film Festival

With a mix of film screenings and panels in five Manhattan venues, this nine-day event aims to celebrate and build an audience for Latino cinema. Through a packed schedule, the festival showcases extraordinary talent and storytelling — one example of many: "I Have Electric Dreams," which nabbed best picture at the Locarno Film Festival last year. The event opens Sept. 15 and culminates in a block party in Inwood’s Quisqueya Plaza on Sept. 24. Admission ranges from free to $25 at various locations across Manhattan and online.

Celebrate at the Queens Hispanic Day Parade

Celebrate the clothing, art, music and dance of diverse Hispanic cultures on 37th Avenue from 69th to 89th streets. Pro tip: Before you go, make a meal plan to sample the neighborhood’s unmatched, delicious selection of Latin American cuisine — 37th Avenue itself has good options, and Roosevelt Avenue, located just one block south, offers even more. The free event happens Sunday, Sept. 24, from noon to 3 p.m. in Jackson Heights. Admission is free.

Hear amazing stories at The Moth in a Brooklyn cemetery

There’s magic in a well-told story — how it spins up meaning, sympathy and empathy, and sheer admiration for the courage and vulnerability of the teller. The Moth is a standout, as real people tell real stories with guidance from the brand’s narrative masters. Make it live, in the context of a beautiful, old cemetery? Nailed it. The event is Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. Tickets start at $65.

Hit up Astronomy Night at the Intrepid

Star-starved New Yorkers can gaze into the heavens and contemplate their position as a tiny speck with the help of high-powered telescopes from pros. Additionally, this family-friendly event includes space-themed art projects, science experiments and demos, and discussion (also streaming on Facebook and YouTube). Astronomy Night is Friday, Sept. 29, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Intrepid Museum in Manhattan. Admission is free.

Head to City Wintery to see Patton Oswalt’s new standup tour

Patton Oswalt’s preferred material is the absurdity of modern life, and with modern life now evolving at breakneck speed, it seems reasonable to hope that this tour, “Effervescent,” which kicks off only days before his NYC shows, will be thought-provoking and hilarious. Oswalt will be at City Winery on Sept. 29. As of this writing, there are still tickets available for the 10 p.m. show, which start at $55.

Hear Anderson Cooper in Conversation with Andy Cohen at 92NY

A new Anderson Cooper emerged last year with the debut of his deeply personal podcast on love and grief, “All There Is.” In that series, he touched on the rise and fall of his family, the Vanderbilts, and now he’s releasing a new book on their Gilded Age rivals, the Astors. He’ll be discussing that book, “Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune” Sept. 30 at the 92nd Street Y. In-person tickets are sold-out, but online tickets are available for $25.

See “Henry Taylor: B Sides at the Whitney"

In the largest exhibition of Henry Taylor's work to date, we’ll get a keen sense for the artist's love of people and painting them. It’s said that Taylor rejects categorization as an artist; indeed, his drive to create has led him through almost every medium (including cigarette packs and cereal boxes). This show opens Oct. 4 and runs through Jan. 28, 2024 at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Tickets start at $30 for non-members.

Get some laughs at Michelle Buteau’s “Full Heart, Tight Jeans”

Michelle Buteau's timing and facial expressions are impeccable, and she manages to nail an authentic combo of self-confidence and self-deprecation. (On being a man’s type, she quipped that “I realized way too late in life that I am an achievable Beyoncé for government workers.") This show is part of Buteau’s 2023 U.S. tour. The event is Oct. 4 at the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan. Tickets range from $67 to $85.

Go wild at the 50th Annual Village Halloween Parade

The event’s organizers name it “the most wildly creative parade in NYC,” and one gets the sense that this year’s 50th anniversary event might be extra-fierce. The theme: “Upside Down and Inside Out,” a nod to shaking things up, getting freaky and relinquishing control — the most human of human conditions. PSA: There’s an after-party at Webster Hall with a $5,000 cash prize for the best costume. It’s free to march in the parade, which happens Oct. 31. It steps off at 7 p.m. at Canal Street and Sixth Avenue, and heads north along the avenue to 15th Street. If you prefer to see the parade from the comfort of home, you can watch on NY1.

Listen to “Price in Purgatory”

Poet and playwright Drew Pisarra brings us this radio play about Vincent Price, the famous actor with a penchant for portraying evil characters. After death, he’s found himself in Hell, but the Mormons are lobbying God to make a trade with the devil on account of one role Price played: Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism. The show is part of the 2023-2024 Fresh Fruit Festival; contact matt@jaymichaelsarts.com for reservations. It’s on Nov. 4 and 5 at 3 p.m. at 53 Above in Manhattan. Admission is $15 with a two-drink minimum.

See “Johnston Foster: Darken Your Doorstep” at Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Through his trademark method of found-object assemblage, Foster creates figures inspired by anatomy and the animal kingdom to explore humankind’s relationship with the natural world: craft and waste, globalization and consumerism, ingenuity and folly. In his first NYC exhibition since 2019, the sculptor presents perhaps his wildest collection yet, using discarded and broken furniture to present three featured works — including a massive 8-foot wolf, “The Loner” — along with an assortment of smaller improvised pieces. The show opens Nov. 9 and runs through early March 2024 at Stumptown Coffee Roasters in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Admission is free.

Go leaf-peeping all season long

Every Wednesday throughout the fall, New York’s tourism board, I Love NY, releases an updated fall foliage report: a real-time guide to the best spots to peep the most vibrant leaves across the state. The guide is based on field reports from leaf-lovers in the Catskills, the Adirondacks and more. To get the most out of foliage in New York City, check NYC Parks’ leaf tracker for updates. The city’s website also offers tips on the best hiking and walking routes for your autumn enjoyment.

Find Flaco. For real.

Remember Flaco — the owl who flew his coop at the Central Park Zoo after it was vandalized? Experts thought the Eurasian eagle-owl wouldn’t be able to hunt after spending his entire life in captivity, but Flaco’s been doing just fine, hunting rats and more in Central Park. The story sparked international headlines and sent fans to the park in droves. As the leaves change color and fall, it might be easier to spot Flaco and his owl friends. Check Manhattan Bird Alert for sightings; NYC Audubon has a guide to general birdwatching across the five boroughs.