Looking for what to do in NYC today, or this week, or this weekend (9/30-10/6)? There's tons of things to do in New York, like festivals, pop ups, photo ops, and more. We've got the full roundup of New York activities here.

• Things to do in NYC this weekend
• Cultural things to do in NYC
• Immersive things to do in NYC
• Even more things to do in NYC
• Live performances this week in NYC

THINGS TO DO IN NYC THIS WEEK AND COLUMBUS DAY WEEKEND

COLUMBUS DAY PARADE

Image: Eric Vitale Photography.

People of Italian descent make up the largest ethnic group in NYC. The metro area is two and a half million Italian Americans strong. The city expresses its Italian pride every day, in our cuisine and our culture. One special celebration is the Columbus Day Parade, the largest event of its kind in the U.S. Look for bands, floats, and over 100 marching groups making their way up Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 72nd Street. The 80th version of this New York City tradition takes place on Monday, October 14th. For more authentic New York Italian spirit, head up to Bronx Little Italy. Monday features live traditional music on top of the great shopping and eating that Arthur Avenue offers. 

MUSEUM OF THE WEEK

On Monday, the Seaport Museum hosts a special open day in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Pay What You Wish admission includes access to the 1885 tall ship Wavertree, Indigenous games, exhibitions on "Where New York Begins," and tours of the 1908 lightship Ambrose. (Randall's Island is also in action, Sunday and Monday, with 24 hours of cultural performances, music, food, art, and vendors for the 10th Annual Gathering and Celebration: Indigenous Peoples Day New York City. 

EEEEEATSCON

Head out to Queens this weekend for EEEEEATSCON, a two-day food experience that works like a music festival where restaurants are the headliners. Look for live music, panels, and a highly curated group of restaurants—local and national.

FOOD FEST

Taste of Sunnyside returns this Sunday for its 14th year, featuring food and drink from 64 local restaurants and breweries. This year's version includes block party access and live entertainment.

SLEEPY HOLLOW IMMERSIVE

Step into Washington Irving's classic story "The Legendy of Sleepy Hollow," as multisensory space Hero embraces spooky season. Sleepy Hollow: Autumn’s Harvest brings costumed characters, fresh-pressed cider, a cornfield, a bouncy house, pumpkin carving, and, of course, an encounter with the Headless Horseman.

BLOODMANOR

Favorite haunted house BloodManor is back for another year of scaring the pants off New Yorkers. Walk through 10,000 immersive square feet full of corridors and themed rooms, standing by to seed your nightmares.

SQUID GAME: THE EXPERIENCE

Squid Game meets real life (with some modifications) at this new immersive, opening on Friday. Find out if you outsmart the Young-hee doll in Red Light Green Light. (There's also a Korean-inspired Night Market with merch, photo stations, and soju-infused cocktails.)

SISTINE CHAPEL IMMERSIVE

Vatican City meets Industry City as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition opens in Brooklyn. Starting Friday, immerse yourself in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes. Engage with every detail, brushstroke, and color up close, from “The Creation of Adam” to “The Last Judgment.”

SKYLIFT OPENS

Rock Center has a new thrill. Atop the observation deck at Top of the Rock you'll find the just-launched Skylift. A revolving platform rises up three stories, making you feel like part of the skyline. At the peak you'll get your photo taken in front of the panoramic views, resulting in a memento that will be hard to beat.

MAIZE MAZE

Skyviewsurvey.com, courtesy Queens County Farm Museum.

New York City has everything, including the city's own corn maze. Head out to the Queens County Farm Museum for the three-acre challenge of the Amazing Maize Maze. It's open Fridays to Sundays through October 26th (and Columbus Day as well).  For an extra challenge, try it by night: the Maze by Moonlight runs Saturday, October 19th, and Saturday, October 26th.

HAUNTED HOUSE

Image courtesy NBCUniversal.

Spooky Season is here and there's a new haunted maze experience in Rock Center. Jimmy Fallon’s Tonightmares brings Jimmy’s nightmares to life through 10 rooms and plenty of unnerving surprises.

LEAF PEEPING

Make the most of the season aboard Seastreak. Boat tours leave from Wall Street near the Seaport, taking in stunning skylines and historic bridges on the way to multiple scenic destinations. On Saturdays and Sundays you can cruise to Cold Spring for an idyllic day of exploring, shopping, and dining in one of the most charming towns of the Hudson Valley. Board in Highlands, NJ or at the Wall Street pier in Lower Manhattan for a picturesque cruise up the Hudson River. The boat returns in time to see the autumn colors by sunset and the city start to light up for the night. Other options include a Fall Foliage Brunch Cruise; a narrated cruise to the forested landscapes of Bear Mountain; and a cruise to Milton, NY that includes options for apple picking, wagon rides, vineyards, and wine tastings, and The Walkway Over the Hudson, which features unforgettable views from the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge. Seastreak’s vessels are built for comfort, with smooth rides, spacious seating, open-air top decks, and both bites and full bars available.

MAD SCIENTIST COCKTAIL LAB

Enter Frankenstein’s lab (okay, Saint in the East Village) for a potion pop up. Frankenstein's Mad Scientist Cocktail Lab will let you test the limits of mixology, with Mad Scientists on hand to guide you through the experience. Launches tonight, through Halloween.

SPOOKY SEASON LIGHT TRAIL

Image: LETSGO COMPANY, Creative Director: Felype de Lima, Illustrator: Borja Arrufat.

Join Jack Skellington, Sally, and Zero on a walk of wonders at the world premiere of  Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail. The spectacle is up for a nine-week run at The New York Botanical Garden.

NEW INTERACTIVE

Step through a secret speakeasy door as the spiritualist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle welcomes you as his personal guest. New interactive soirée The Spirits' Speakeasy is now open for a six-week run with close-up magic, séances, and vintage cocktails.

OKTOBERFEST

Oktoberfest is a September phenomenon and Watermark has launched its 2024 version. Running until October 27th, hit Pier 15 for traditional music and dress, jumbo pretzels, turkey legs, brats, mini kegs, games, and killer skyline views. Through Sunday, October 27th.

MOVIE NIGHTS

Movie Nights on the big screen are back at Hudson Yards. Grab a seat or bring a blanket; Mexican street food-inspired bites are available.

ELECTRIC SHUFFLE

Photo credit: Electric Shuffle.

Shuffleboard gets the modern-day treatment at newly opened Electric Shuffle. Shuffleboard tables use camera vision technology to track every puck, keep score, and create live shareable replays. Bites and drinks are modern as well, with cocktails like the Salted Caramel Espresso Martinis and snacks like truffle parmesan fries.  

SATIN DOLLZ

Photo by: Joshua Kessler.

Vintage pin-up-inspired performers The Satin Dollz are once again hosting enchanted evenings at the USA Brooklyn Delicatessen in Times Square. Drawing on the timeless classics of the ‘40s and ‘50s, the Satin Dollz give a high-energy performance as they weave their way through the aisles while you dig into first-rate comfort food. Expect plenty of sizzle and sass. Show nights are weekly, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, no cover charge.

NEW IMMERSIVE INSTALLATION

Image: INTER_.

SoHo/Tribeca’s interactive art space INTER_ presents two floors of otherworldly environments. Be among the first to explore the newest installation here: The INTERnet. In collaboration with The Treenet Collective, 80,000 feet of hand-woven rope now floats over the space. Guests are invited to jump, climb, relax, and get lost, taking in the artwork from within.

BEHIND THE CURTAIN

Madame Tussauds New York pulls back the curtain for a behind-the-scenes tour, newly launched. For the first time ever you can access the attraction's studio and see the work that goes into making and maintaining the world's most famous wax figures. You'll see the intricate painting and sculpting process (every single hair has to be set in by hand), plus a look at clothes and accessories—many straight from celebrity closets!

DINNER AND A SHOW

Italian favorite Bond 45 is now also the home of legendary comedy club Stand Up NY. Take advantage of a new “Dinner and Show” package, with a three-course prix fixe highlighted by house signatures like Nonna’s Shortrib Meatballs, Famous Chicken Parmigiana, and chocolate blackout cake. After the meal, head downstairs for premium seating for live comedy.

BANKSY MUSEUM

Image courtesy the Banksy Museum.

He may be anonymous, but he's one of the world's most famous artists. The world's largest collection of Banksy’s life-sized murals and artwork is now open in NYC. An immersive experience, the Banksy Museum also features some of the artist's studio work, animated visual elements, and videos.

NYC MAKERS BAZAAR

Every Sunday on the Upper West Side you can check out Grand Bazaar NYC, the city’s largest curated market—and most distinctive. This week you’ll also find the NYC Makers Bazaar. Meet and shop directly from over 150 local makers, including 40 top members from the NY Handmade Collective, formerly known as the NY Etsy Street Team. Come hungry! There are great artisanal bites as well. 10am-5pm, both indoors and out.

CULTURAL THINGS TO DO IN NYC

Walton Ford (b. 1960), Study for “Ars Gratia Artis,” 2017. Watercolor, gouache, and ink over graphite. The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, gift of the artist; 2019.196. © 2024 Walton Ford. Photography by Janny Chiu.

American artist Walton Ford (b. 1960) established his reputation in the 1990s with monumental watercolor paintings of wild animals. Now open at the Morgan Library, Walton Ford: Birds and Beasts of the Studio celebrates the artist's recent gift of 63 studies and sketches, being shown publicly for the first time. The exhibition also features work that ranges from Rembrandt to Eugène Delacroix to John James Audubon, selected by Ford himself from the Morgan’s collection. Through October 20th.

Yäma Munuŋgirritj, ca. 1920–1987, Yarrwiḏi-Gumatj clan. Gurruŋawuy, 1961. Natural pigments on  bark. H. 28 x W. 15 in. (71.1 x 38.1 cm). Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia. Edward L. Ruhe Collection, Gift of John W. Kluge, 1997. 1993.0004.041.

Take advantage of a rare look at Aboriginal Australian bark painting curated by Yolŋu knowledge holders from Arnhem Land in Northern Australia. Now open at Asia society is Maḏayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Painting from Yirrkala, a new exhibition that serves both the sacred and the beautiful. The art represents eras from 1935 to the present, including 33 new works commissioned especially for the exhibition.

"Greetings from New York," 1940s, published in New York City by Manhattan Post Card Publishing Co., Inc., Leonard A. Lauder Postcard Archive. Promised gift to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Art Deco is on deck at the Museum of the City of New York. Now open is Art Deco City: New York Postcards from the Leonard A. Lauder Collection, a new exhibition that shows off the stylish exuberance of the city as it transformed into an international capital.

Photo by Linda Sheridan.

How do elephants “hear” with their feet, use the 16 muscles in their trunks, or reshape the forests and savannas they live in? The Secret World of Elephants, a new interactive exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History, explores the astounding minds, bodies, and interactions of the Earth's largest land mammals.

Image Credit: Courtesy of SK Films.

The American Museum of Natural History has a new offering on the giant screen. The 40-foot-high, 66-foot-wide projection in the Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Theater is now showing Turtle Odyssey. Russell Crowe narrates the journey of an Australian green sea turtle named Bunji as she grows from a hatchling into adulthood. Screens daily.

In a city where dogs seem to be prancing down every street corner, and napping by every outdoor table, it’s no surprise that there’s an entire museum dedicated to them. The permanent collection at the AKC Museum of the Dog includes a treasure trove of dog-related art and artifacts, from watercolors and prints to bronzes and ceramics (including some of the world’s finest porcelain makers, from Royal Doulton to Meissen).

Toyin Ojih Odutola, The Treatment 20, 2015. Pen ink, gel ink, and pencil on paper, 12 × 9 1/16 in. (30.5 × 23 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase with funds from the Drawing Committee 2016.102. © Toyin Ojih Odutola. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.

The Whitney is keeping things fresh with a new season of shows. Open now is What It Becomes. New and rarely seen works from the Whitney’s collection spotlight renowned artists like Darrel Ellis, David Hammons, Ana Mendieta, and Catherine Opie. Explore the transformative power of drawing and its ability to reveal the unseen. Through January 12th.

Mark Rothko (1903–1970), Untitled (The Subway), 1937. Oil on canvas. New-York Historical Society, Promised gift of Elie and Sarah Hirschfeld, Scenes of New York City, IL2021.51.80 / © 1998 Kate Rothko Prizel & Christopher Rothko / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

The inaugural exhibition in the new Hirschfeld Gallery and Hall is now open. Scenes of New York City: The Elie and Sarah Hirschfeld Collection presents vivid images of NYC and its streetscapes, including priceless works by Mark Rothko and Roxie Munro.

The Museum of Food and Drink is back open, in a new home at Empire Stores in DUMBO. The latest exhibition, Flavor: The World to Your Brain, was designed by food scientists and culinary anthropologists.

Get out in the fresh air on Saturdays and Sundays for weekly walking tours of Sinister Secrets of the Seaport, hosted by the Seaport Museum. Learn the scandals lurking in the cobblestone streets across two centuries. There's also an “Ear for Crime” interactive game and a drink at the bar.

Shushank Shrestha; Male Guardian Lion Dog (one of a pair from Two Guardian Lion Dogs); 2023; ceramic, in glaze lustre; 52 × 27 × 44 in.; photo courtesy of Shuhank Shrestha, Massachusetts, USA.

The Rubin Museum of Art will be closing the doors to its building in October. But there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy a visit, including the final in-person show. Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now is a museum-wide group show of 32 contemporary artists whose work is presented in dialogue with objects from the Rubin’s permanent collection.

More on NYC museums can be found here.

IMMERSIVE THINGS TO DO IN NYC

New York City is famous for its gala culture. For the first time ever, you can immerse yourself in the scene right in Times Square. The Madame Tussauds flagship holds 19 celebrity figures, including new and never-before-seen wax figures of Ariana Grande and P. Diddy, at the Glow Gala.

(If your tastes are darker, don’t miss Madame Tussauds’s Warner Bros. Icons of Horror, displaying chillingly lifelike wax figures within four fully immersive scenes. Celebrate legends, including Pennywise and Regan from The Exorcist. If you dare.)

THINGS TO DO IN NYC: LIVE PERFORMANCES

LIVE JAZZ

Photo by Lawrence Sumulong.

For world-class musical experiences, head to Jazz at Lincoln Center’s intimate Dizzy’s Club. You’ll find a warm ambiance, a tasty seasonal menu, and panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline. There are shows nightly, in addition to Late Night Sessions Thursdays through Saturdays, starting at 11pm. On Monday, alto saxophone leads the way for the Ted Nash Big Band: The Presidential Suite. Tenor saxophonist Odean Pope of Philadelphia leads a quartet on Tuesday while Wednesday and Thursday see tributes to legendary pianist and singer Bobby Short. 

THE ORIGINAL NYC TALENT SHOW

For coming up on 15 years, The Original NYC Talent Show has stood out as a rare stage experience showing off the eccentric, unparalleled talent native to New York City. A relaunch sees it taking up residence at the Parkside Lounge on Monday nights. The weekly show features artists, musicians, dancers, comedians, and guests who defy classification.

EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO IN NYC

Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash.

After a long Covid pause, the crown of Lady Liberty is once again open to visitors. This icon requires a 162-step climb (there is no elevator) but will reward you with an entirely unique perspective on the city. Along a double-helix spiral staircase you'll see the intricate structure that keeps the statue standing, capped by 25 windows overlooking New York Harbor.

GAME ON

There's a new recreation spot open in the Seaport. Lawn Club's indoor and outdoor games include Bocce, Cornhole, Croquet, Shuffleboard, Beersbee, Kan Jam, and its own exclusive Putting Pool. Dedicated "Lawncierges" facilitate the fun and there are also two bars for food and drink and big-screen TVs.

THE BEAM

Image courtesy of Rockefeller Center.

Top of the Rock has a new thrill, and a new way to memorialize a visit here. Re-create an iconic 1932 photo as you're strapped onto a modern version of The Beam and lifted 12 feet above the observation deck. (The Beam rotates for even better views.)

BUCKET LIST

Ever since its 1931 completion, the Empire State Building has been the most famous skyscraper in the world. It remains a vital part of NYC and an inspiration to the millions who ascend to the ESB observation deck in every season. For a limited time, you can be among the first in the city to see the new day dawning from 86 stories up. The Starbucks Reserve Sunrise Experience, available on Saturday mornings, provides early bird access to the observatory deck. Tickets include Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building Microblend Coffee, artisanal pastries, and views of a lifetime. Perfect for bucket lists!

NEW FROM DAVID BURKE

Midtown’s happy hour landscape just got happier with the launch of Park Ave Kitchen’s version. Presented daily from 4 to 7pm, options range from Humpty Dumpty Deviled Eggs to steak frites with unlimited frites, with $9 wines, $12 cocktails and $15 martini flights. The casual cafe side offers a nightly three-course dinner special for $33.99, dine in or take out. (There's also a great $65 pre-theater prix fixe from 4 to 7pm nightly, including Chef Burke signatures like lobster dumplings and bison short ribs.)

A NEW INDO CHINESE MENU!

Woman-owned Utsav Indian Cuisine has been serving NYC fresh and flavorful Indian cuisine for more than twenty years. A recently introduced Indo Chinese menu brings new flavors to Times Square/the Theater District for the first time. You'll find fried rice, noodles, appetizers like chili prawn dry and chicken lollipops, and entrees like fish with hot garlic sauce and lamb with chili soya sauce. (Chefs are trained in the Calcutta style of Chinese food, where the cuisine has its home in India.) Don't miss the new Bengali selection!

HAVANA IN TIMES SQUARE HAPPY HOUR SPECIAL

Havana Central has introduced 1/2 price empanadas during Happy Hour at the bar! Diners must purchase a drink, 3 empanadas max per drink purchase. Available in the bar only, Monday-Friday from 3-7pm. Choose from a variety of homemade savory pockets including beef, chicken, cheese, shrimp, and ropa vieja! Havana Central also features Happy Hour drink specials including $7 classic mojitos, classic margaritas, and red sangria, in addition to other specials.

WHAT TO DO IN NYC

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TALKS, LECTURES, AND EVENTS

Thought Gallery has hundreds of livestream talks, lectures, performances, and more. Check out sessions with celebs, live concerts, and opportunities to learn the latest on everything from science to philosophy to social justice.

We were named an expert in a Rent. article. Check out the featured article: Unique Things to Do in New York City: 8 NYC Must-Dos Off the Beaten Path | Rent.

NEW YORK'S ACTIVITY AUTHORITY

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