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Best Events This Fall for NYC Preschoolers

Get spooky at the Bronx Zoo's Boo at the Zoo. Photo by Julie Larsen Maher for WCS
Get spooky at the Bronx Zoo's Boo at the Zoo. Photo by Julie Larsen Maher for WCS
9/8/19 - By Rosalind Muggeridge

Let the fall fun begin! This autumn there are loads of events, festivals, and shows in NYC just right for the preschool set, and as an added bonus, many are FREE! With fall fairs, petting zoos, and musical performances to choose from, you're bound to find the perfect event for your preschooler.

If you're looking for a festive day trip, find out where preschoolers can pick their own apples or even find the perfect pumpkin.

Read on for 30+ fall events for NYC preschoolers and check out our September GoList, Best NYC Fall Festivals, and Fall Fun Guide for even more great fall events. 

And don't forget to sign up for our FREE newsletters to get the best local events and reviews delivered right to your inbox.

 

Celebrate fall at the 37th Annual Queens County Fair. Photo courtesy of the Queens County Farm Museum
Celebrate fall at the 37th Annual Queens County Fair. Photo courtesy of the Queens County Farm Museum

September Events for Preschoolers

15th Annual NYC Unicycle Festival

Saturday, August 31- Sunday, September 1 – Governors Island
The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus rolls out its annual NYC Unicycle Festival across New York City, bringing together recreational riders, world-class performers, mountain and off-road unicycle enthusiasts, and mono-wheel vehicle inventors.  READ MORE

27th Annual Running of the Great North River Tugboat Race & Competition

Sunday, September 1 – Hell's Kitchen
More than 15 tugboats are expected to participate in the 27th Great North River Tugboat Race and Competition, which features the race, nose-to-nose pushing contests, and a line-throwing competition by tugboat crew members. READ MORE

Mid-Autumn Family Moon Festival at MOCA

Saturday, September 7 – Chinatown
Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节) with mooncakes, magic, and the Jade Rabbit on the moon! Stop by for an afternoon of storytelling, drop-in arts and crafts, mooncake making, and more. READ MORE

West Side County Fair

Sunday, September 8 – Upper West Side
Summer on the Hudson's biggest event of the season—the West Side County Fair—returns, bringing with it a full afternoon of county fair magic in Manhattan. READ MORE

NYC Honey Fest

Saturday, September 14 – Rockaway Beach
Now in its 12th year, the NYC Honey Fest celebrates the buzzing pollinators that live in NYC. Enjoy art, food, music, film, kids’ arts and crafts, and a bee-product marketplace. READ MORE

Sunday Social on Montague Street

Sunday, September 15 – Brooklyn Heights
Thanks to the Montague Street BID, the street is car-free from Hicks to the Promenade, and packed with free entertainment and activities for families. The Brooklyn Bridge Parents Kids’ Zone, between Clinton and Henry Streets, promisess plenty of fun.  READ MORE

18th Annual Brooklyn Children’s Book Fair at the Brooklyn Museum

Saturday, September 21 – Downtown Brooklyn
The annual Brooklyn Children's Book Fair brings together 40 Brooklyn authors and illustrators to share their latest books. Throughout the day, children and their companions can attend readings and presentations, learn about the creative process, get books signed, and have fun drawing and coloring. READ MORE

The Village Alliance Presents Astor Alive! Festival

Saturday, September 21 – Noho
Astor Place Alive is back, presenting Take Dance’s Somewhere Familiar Melodies and Megan Williams Dance Project's One Woman Show, hosted by TruDee (Deborah Lohse). READ MORE

Corn Fest at the Queens County Farm Museum

Saturday, September 21-Sunday, September 22 – Floral Park, Queens
The Queens County Farm Museum hosts an all-new Corn Fest to celebrate the grand opening of the 2024 Amazing Maize Maze. The event is jam-packed with a-maize-ing activities, games, and food.  READ MORE

The Amazing Maize Maze at Queens County Farm

Saturdays and Sundays, September 21 - October 26 – Floral Park, Queens
NYC's only corn maze begins with a "Stalk Talk" to prepare you for the 3-acre challenge of finding clues on your way to Victory Bridge where the maze's stunning vista is revealed. READ MORE

92Y Street Festival 2019

Sunday, September 22 – Upper East Side
92Y’s annual street fest brings its programs out onto Lexington Avenue from 79th – 94th with fun for all ages. READ MORE

Submerge: NYC Marine Science Festival at Pier 84

Saturday, September 28 – Hell's Kitchen
The Hudson River Park presents Submerge—a free, two-day science extravaganza devoted to raising awareness about our coastal waters.  READ MORE

Chile Pepper Festival 2020

Saturday, September 28 – Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Save the date for New York’s hottest fall tradition! Brooklyn’s end-of-summer blowout sets the garden ablaze with scorching bands from around the world, dozens of fiery food artisans, and hours of chile-chocolate debauchery. READ MORE

56th Annual Ragamuffin Parade

Saturday, September 28 – Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Halloween costumes get an early airing at the 56th annual Ragamuffin Parade. Bonus: At the end of the parade, every child who is registered and marches the whole route in costume receives a gift. Rain or shine. READ MORE

Bronx Zoo: Boo at the Zoo

Saturdays and Sundays, September 28 - November 3 – Bronx Park, the Bronx
Trek the candy trail, explore an extinct animal graveyard, and take in pumpkin carving demos as the Bronx Zoo's annual Halloween tradition returns, bringing with it tons of family-friendly activities. New this year: a trick-or-truth maze, face painting, a creepy mystery wall, and a Halloween mashup. Costumes are welcome. READ MORE

49th Annual Atlantic Antic: Playtopia, Powered by Prospect Schools

Sunday, September 29 – Atlantic Avenue from Park Slope to Brooklyn Heights
The largest street fest in New York City, the Atlantic Antic spans 10 blocks of Brooklyn’s Atlantic Avenue with food and craft vendors, family fun, and amazing performances. This year, Playtopia with Mommy Poppins and Brooklyn Bridge Parents, sponsored by Prospect Schools, is located between Hicks and Henry Streets in Cobble Hill near Brooklyn Bridge Park.  READ MORE

The Medieval Festival at Fort Tryon Park

Sunday, September 29 – Washington Heights
Experience the culture of a bygone era against the backdrop of The Cloisters and the Hudson River during autumn's peak. The Medieval Festival transforms Fort Tryon Park into a medieval market town, decorated with bright banners and processional flags. READ MORE
The Coney Island Children's Halloween Parade promises to be the best one yet. Photo courtesy of the event
The Coney Island Children's Halloween Parade promises to be the best one yet. Photo courtesy of the event

October Events for Preschoolers

Little Red Lighthouse Festival

Saturday, October 5 – Washington Heights
Celebrate Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse with Urban Park Ranger presentations, readings of The Little Red Lighthouse and The Great Gray Bridge children’s book, live music, and activities for all ages. READ MORE

Just Kidding: Oran Etkin and Timbalooloo

Saturday, October 5 – Upper West Side
The internationally touring jazz clarinetist and educator performs songs from his new globe-spanning album, Finding Friends Far from Home: A Journey with Clara Net. READ MORE

RIPA's Harvest Festival

Sunday, October 6 – Randall's Island
The Randall’s Island Park Alliance hosts a free, family-friendly celebration of fall. Enjoy live musical performances, face painting, arts and crafts, and more. READ MORE

Blessing of the Animals at St. John the Divine

Sunday, October 6 – Upper West Side
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine welcomes families for a day of music, prayer, joy, blessings, and fun in honor of Saint Francis, the patron saint of animals and the environment. READ MORE

Honey and Harvest Weekend

Saturday, October 12 - Monday, October 14 – Bronx Park, the Bronx
Celebrate the Edible Academy’s bounty with a cornucopia of harvest traditions. READ MORE

Big Apple Circus: Hometown Playground at Lincoln Center

Saturday, October 12 - Sunday, February 2, 2020 – Upper West Side
For its 47th anniversary season, Big Apple Circus: Hometown Playground celebrates the joy, wonder, and amazement of New York City. This show's theme celebrates the diverse neighborhoods and unique landmarks that make NYC like none other in the world. READ MORE

Little Orchestra Society

Saturday, October 19 - Sunday, October 20 – Upper East Side
Entering its 72nd Season, Little Orchestra Society (LOS) is devoted to bringing innovative classical music concerts to young concertgoers and families, featuring fabulous music -- from classical to jazz -- and enchanting storytelling, as well as music learning and humor appealing to older kids and adults. READ MORE

Picture This! Sunday: Dan Zanes & Claudia Eliaza

Sunday, October 20 – Upper East Side
Grammy Award-winner Dan Zanes and Haitian-American jazz vocalist Claudia Eliaza perform Zanes’ greatest hits, along with folk and blues classics—music where sea shanties, English Music hall, play party songs, the spirit of early rock-n-roll, soul, North American, and West Indian folk music collide. READ MORE

A Swingin' Sesame Street Celebration: 50 Years and Counting

Friday, October 25 – Upper West Side
Sesame Street comes to Jazz at Lincoln Center for a swinging celebration of the show’s 50th anniversary. See some of your favorite feathered and furry friends like Big Bird and Elmo sing classic Sesame Street songs alongside the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.  READ MORE

Coney Island Children's Halloween Parade

Saturday, October 26 – Coney Island, Brooklyn
The 11th annual Children's Halloween Parade offers FREE entertainment, face-painting, a costume contest, and of course, trick-or-treating. READ MORE

Bklyn Boo! at Albee Square

Saturday, October 26 – Downtown Brooklyn
Downtown Brooklyn hosts a Halloween fete at Albee Square with slime-making, a costume dance-off, and puppet shows. READ MORE

Halloween Harvest Festival

Saturday, October 26 – Long Island City, Queens
Socrates Sculpture Park's high-flying Halloween Harvest Festival returns with its third-annual “Flight of the Gourds” pumpkin carving contest and compost launch. Celebrate the autumn season with pumpkin art workshops, creative costume making, face painting, and the epic launch of the pumpkin catapult! READ MORE

Laurie Berkner Band at Adler Hall

Saturday, October 26 – Midtown West
The Laurie Berkner Band returns to Ethical Culture for a family concert. Bring your dancing shoes and a stuffed animal (for your head)!  READ MORE

Halloween on the Farm

Sunday, October 27 – Floral Park, Queens
Halloween at the Queens County Farm Museum brings a monster mash to life. Costumed kids and their grown-ups are invited for fall-themed farm fun with hayrides, kids crafts, a run through the Amazing Maize Maze, a spooky farmhouse to explore, and best of all: trick-or-treating with furry farm friends. READ MORE
Come out to see Canstruction at Brookfield Place. Photo by Janet Bloom
Come out to see Canstruction at Brookfield Place. Photo by Janet Bloom

November Events for Preschoolers

Just Kidding: The Magic of Harrison Kramer

Saturday, November 2 – Upper West Side
Slight-of-hand tricks, magic, illusions, and even a bit of juggling dazzle in this interactive show for the whole family. READ MORE

32nd Annual Canstruction Competition at Brookfield Place

Thursday, November 7 - Thursday, November 21 – Financial District
This extraordinary annual design competition is the most unique food charity in the world, Canstruction challenges teams of architects, engineers, and contractors to build sculptures made entirely out of unopened cans of food.  READ MORE

Baby Shark Live

Friday, November 8 – Flatbush, Brooklyn
Baby Shark Live! is based on Pinkfong’s viral earworm and global dance phenomenon, Baby Shark. Fans of all ages will delight as Baby Shark joins up with his friend Pinkfong to take an adventure into the sea, singing and dancing through new and classic songs including Five Little Monkeys, Wheels on the Bus, Jungle Boogie, Monkey Banana Dance and of course, Baby Shark!  READ MORE

Just Kidding: The Okee Dokee Brothers

Saturday, November 9 – Upper West Side
This GRAMMY winning Minnesota duo performs songs with witty lyrics, off-the-wall humor, strong musicianship, and a unique folk/bluegrass style. Prepare for a hoe-down without leaving the city. READ MORE

New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show

Saturday, November 23 - Sunday, January 26, 2020 – Bronx
The New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show returns for its 33rd year! Model trains zip through a miniature wonderland of nearly 200 New York landmark replicas, each re-created from natural materials such as leaves, seeds, twigs, bark, acorns, and cinnamon sticks. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Multiple locations around NYC
Riverside Park South - Pier I
Little Red Lighthouse (in Fort Washington Park)
Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
Socrates Sculpture Park
Adler Hall @ NY Society For Ethical Culture