The Best September Festivals in NYC

As a crisp new fall begins, September in New York is brimming with festivals-a book festival, a Brazilian Day Festival, the Feast of San Gennaro, a robot making festival, and more! Here's a roundup of some of the most can't-miss September 2017 festivals.

8/31-9/3 NYC UNICYCLE FESTIVAL 

Calling all unicycle enthusiasts! This free, fun festival spans Manhattan, Brooklyn and Governors Island. The New York City Unicycle Festival brings together riders from all walks. There will be races, exhibitions, workshops, and a variety of unicycle sports, including basketball, hockey and sumo. nycunifest.com

9/3 BRAZILIAN DAY FESTIVAL 

The annual Brazilian Day Festival returns to Manhattan's Little Brazil (around 46th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.) Load up on tasty food, music, vendors and more. brazilianday.com.

9/14-12/16 BAM NEXT WAVE FESTIVAL 

Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)'s signature fall festival returns, presenting a dynamic lineup of work by emerging artists and innovative modern masters. The 2017 Next Wave Festival showcases the very best in contemporary performance, plus artist talks, storytelling, visual art, and film.  bam.org

9/14-9/24 FEAST OF SAN GENNARO 

At the 91st Annual Feast of San Gennaro, New York City's longest-running, biggest and most revered religious outdoor festival in the United States, everyone is Italian for a day! Although this is an annual celebration of faith, the Feast of San Gennaro is known the world over for its festive atmosphere, an 11-day event featuring religious processions and colorful parades, free musical entertainment every day, a wide variety of ethnic food delicacies, charming restaurants and cafes and even a world-famous cannoli-eating competition! The central focus of the celebration takes place every September 19th, the official Saint Day when a celebratory Mass is held in Most Precious Blood Church, followed immediately by a religious procession in which the Statue of San Gennaro is carried from the church through the streets of Little Italy. sangennaro.org

9/11-9/17 BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL 

The popular Brooklyn Book Festival returns this fall, and hundreds of authors will be participating! Literary events will be taking place at various locations around the city, with Children's Day (9/16), and the main festival day taking place by Borough Hall.  Scheduled so far: Karl Ove Knausgård, Joyce Carol Oates, Colson Whitehead, Jacqueline Woodson, Jonathan Lethem, Claire Messud, Chris Hayes, Carolyn Forché, Sarah Dessen, Alexandra Bracken, Thi Bui, Lynn Nottage, Hisham Matar, Maira Kalman and hundreds more. Keep checking for updates. brooklynbookfestival.org

9/23-9/24 35th ANNUAL QUEENS COUNTY FAIR

Now in its 35th year, the traditional county fair at Queens County Farm Museum features blue ribbon competitions in produce, livestock, arts and crafts, and more. Enjoy the Amazing Maize Maze, pie-eating and corn-husking contests, pig-racing, hayrides, carnival rides, and a midway. Visit craft vendors, food vendors, enjoy music, and more. 11am-6pm. queensfarm.org

9/21-9/24 THE 15TH ANNUAL NEW YORK BURLESQUE FESTIVAL

The popular New York Burlesque Festival turns 15, and it's hotter than ever. With starting events at Brooklyn Bowl and  Bell House, the festivities continue at Highline Ballroom and culminate with the Saturday Spectacular at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in the heart of Times Square! The festival's sexy finale features 20+ of the best Burlesque performers on the circuit, in a 1920s supperclub atmosphere. bbkingblues.com, thenewyorkburlesquefestival.com. 

9/23-9/24 WORLD MAKER FAIRE AT NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE 

The popular, competitive World Maker Faire returns to the New York Hall of Science! Get inspired to make, create, learn, invent, craft, recycle, build, think, and play while celebrating art, science, and technology. Hundreds of "makers" will present fun and unusual creations such as rockets and robots. There will also be arts and crafts, artisanal foods, live music, and much more. 10am-6pm. Specially priced family passes available. nysci.org, makerfaire.com

Honorable mention 

10/1 CLOISTERS MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL

Ok, it's at the very beginning of October, but so close! The Medieval Festival at The Cloisters brings to life the customs and spirit of the Middle Ages. Manhattan's Fort Tryon Park is transformed into a medieval market town decorated with bright banners and processional flags. Performers, guests and festival goers dress in medieval costume. Visitors are greeted by authentic medieval music, dance, magic, and minstrels, as well as jugglers and jesters. The afternoon is concluded with a thrilling joust between four knights on horseback. Costumed vendors will be on hand to demonstrate and sell a wide variety of medieval crafts as well as food and drink. 11:30am-6pm. Fort Tryon Park, Linden Terrace, Cabrini Boulevard and Fort Washington Avenue, NY, whidc.org.  (If you have more time to travel upstate to Tuxedo, NY, you can also catch the 40th annivesary of the Renaissance Faire, taking place weekends & Labor Day, Aug. 5-Oct. 1.)