Fall

Since we're spotlighting the Upper West Side this month, it seems like the perfect time to post about one of the neighborhood's favorite family events: the annual show by the Big Apple Circus. Every fall, the homegrown troupe hits Lincoln Center to debut its latest spectacle. I've been going ever since my mother took me to the very first show 34 years ago (yes, seeing this circus always makes me feel old).

There's a bittersweet undertone to this year's show, Dream Big: After 25 years, the Big Apple Circus' mischievous clown Grandma, played by Barry Lubin, is leaving. It's hard for me to imagine the circus going on without him (although it most certainly will). If your family loves Grandma as much as mine, make sure you don't miss her swan song in this fun family production.

Recently we asked you to tell us about your favorite fall outings, and the response was fabulous. We received lots of tips about fall festivals, apple and pumpkin picking places, and your favorite spots to get outdoors and enjoy playing in the leaves.

Below, we've compiled our readers' favorite fall day trips and outings in or near New York City, perfect for a last-minute Columbus Day weekend getaway.

It feels like school just started and yet somehow October is right around the corner. Time to start thinking about finding that perfect pumpkin. You could grab one from your local farmers' market, grocery store or one of the two pumpkin patches right here in New York City. But for a more memorable experience, head to the country to a pumpkin picking place. Many of these spots offer additional activities for families, like hay rides, bouncy houses and corn mazes so you can turn your hunt into a fun seasonal day trip.

Like our recent roundup of nearby pick-your-own-apple orchards, these 11 pumpkin patches are all about an hour (or less) from midtown Manhattan by car. We even found a few that you can reach via mass transit.

One word of caution before you start planning your trip: Farmers across the northeast are reporting that Hurricane Irene took a toll on their crops, so we're looking at a potentially poor pumpkin harvest this year. Be sure to call ahead to find out if the patches are bare!

Celebrating the harvest is a fun fall activity, and you don't even need to leave town to do it. While they're certainly plenty of wonderful fall fairs and festivals on Long Island and in New Jersey, you can enjoy an authentic harvest experience right here in New York City.

Local festivals bring country fun to the five boroughs with pumpkin patches, hay rides, corn mazes and other autumnal activities. So put your gas money into the college fund and hit these harvest spots and fall fetes, all accessible via the MTA.

One word of warning before you leave home: Hurricane Irene took a toll on many local farms, so we're looking at a potentially poor pumpkin crop this year, which means these patches may be kind of bare. Happily, most of these festivals offer plenty of other seasonal attractions.

So far this week we’ve highlighted 16 cool concerts and 8 awesome museum exhibits that we’re excited to take our kids to this fall. Now we come to my personal favorite: theater.

Although a few of veteran children’s troupes, like TADA! Youth Theater and the Atlantic Company for Kids, won’t be debuting new productions until spring, there are still plenty of wonderful children’s shows hitting New York City stages this fall.

We’re skipping pricey Broadway musicals and familiar fairy tales in favor of more eclectic and inexpensive fare, like Eric Carle’s classic stories told through black-light puppetry, a multi-genre dance mash up and a lot of stage adaptations of beloved children’s books. Here are our top picks for children’s theater this autumn.