Hand-picked every week — checked against organizers’ own pages.
Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best festivals in New York City the weekend of Oct 2–4, 2026: 18 picks, refreshed weekly.
18 picks · checked Sep 28
Avenue of the Americas and West 32nd Street (Koreatown), Midtown / Koreatown, ManhattanFlower floats, marching bands and a giant turtle-ship float roll down Sixth Avenue, then 32nd Street feeds a 500-person bibimbap.
Avenue of the Americas and West 32nd Street (Koreatown), Midtown / Koreatown, ManhattanFlower floats, marching bands and a giant turtle-ship float roll down Sixth Avenue, then 32nd Street feeds a 500-person bibimbap.
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Fort Washington Park (Little Red Lighthouse), Washington Heights, ManhattanBillie Grace Ward · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsClimb inside Manhattan's only remaining lighthouse, tucked beneath the George Washington Bridge, with Rangers, storytime and live music — free.
Fort Washington Park (Little Red Lighthouse), Washington Heights, ManhattanBillie Grace Ward · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsClimb inside Manhattan's only remaining lighthouse, tucked beneath the George Washington Bridge, with Rangers, storytime and live music — free.
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Film at Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square, ManhattanAjay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNYFF's final weekend at Film at Lincoln Center: 32 Main Slate films from 31 countries, closing with Ava DuVernay's world premiere of 14th.
Film at Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square, ManhattanAjay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNYFF's final weekend at Film at Lincoln Center: 32 Main Slate films from 31 countries, closing with Ava DuVernay's world premiere of 14th.
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Floyd Bennett Field, Hangars 3 and 4, Marine Park / Jamaica Bay, BrooklynDerrick Adams, Randy Polumbo and more project 14 new works onto the Floyd Bennett Field hangars after a picnic. Free and only every two years.
Floyd Bennett Field, Hangars 3 and 4, Marine Park / Jamaica Bay, BrooklynDerrick Adams, Randy Polumbo and more project 14 new works onto the Floyd Bennett Field hangars after a picnic. Free and only every two years.
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New York City Center, Midtown, ManhattanThe Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and Martha Graham share mixed bills at New York City Center.
New York City Center, Midtown, ManhattanThe Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and Martha Graham share mixed bills at New York City Center.
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Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO, BrooklynFive hours of Creole cooking on the Brooklyn Bridge Park lawn at Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, with the bridge and the harbour right there.
Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO, BrooklynFive hours of Creole cooking on the Brooklyn Bridge Park lawn at Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, with the bridge and the harbour right there.
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Verdi Square, Broadway at West 72nd Street, Upper West Side, ManhattanThe little triangle at 72nd and Broadway turns into an afternoon arts festival, in the shadow of the Ansonia and the subway kiosk.
Verdi Square, Broadway at West 72nd Street, Upper West Side, ManhattanThe little triangle at 72nd and Broadway turns into an afternoon arts festival, in the shadow of the Ansonia and the subway kiosk.
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Washington Square Park, Garibaldi Plaza, Greenwich Village, ManhattanProhibition-era jazz and 16mm prints screened outdoors on Garibaldi Plaza, two hours of Washington Square after dark.
Washington Square Park, Garibaldi Plaza, Greenwich Village, ManhattanProhibition-era jazz and 16mm prints screened outdoors on Garibaldi Plaza, two hours of Washington Square after dark.
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Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk, Beach 116th Street Island, Rockaway Park, QueensBeach 116th Street throws its fall festival at the Rockaway boardwalk, one of the last big beachfront afternoons of the year.
Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk, Beach 116th Street Island, Rockaway Park, QueensBeach 116th Street throws its fall festival at the Rockaway boardwalk, one of the last big beachfront afternoons of the year.
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Randall's Island Park, Urban Farm & Fields 62/63, Randall's Island, ManhattanTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA pumpkin patch, seasonal cooking demos, face painting and hands-on nature stations fill Randall's Island's Urban Farm — free.
Randall's Island Park, Urban Farm & Fields 62/63, Randall's Island, ManhattanTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA pumpkin patch, seasonal cooking demos, face painting and hands-on nature stations fill Randall's Island's Urban Farm — free.
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3 Dollar Bill, Sony Hall and Le Poisson Rouge, Theater District / Greenwich Village / East Williamsburg, ManhattanBurlesque, drag and variety acts from around the world play 3 Dollar Bill, Sony Hall and LPR for the festival's 24th year.
3 Dollar Bill, Sony Hall and Le Poisson Rouge, Theater District / Greenwich Village / East Williamsburg, ManhattanBurlesque, drag and variety acts from around the world play 3 Dollar Bill, Sony Hall and LPR for the festival's 24th year.
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Fort Totten Park, Parade Grounds, Bayside, QueensA puppet show, performers and family games on the Parade Grounds of a Civil War–era fort on Little Neck Bay — free.
Fort Totten Park, Parade Grounds, Bayside, QueensA puppet show, performers and family games on the Parade Grounds of a Civil War–era fort on Little Neck Bay — free.
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Thomas Jefferson Park, East Harlem, ManhattanEl Barrio Bikes leads a free riverfront ride from Thomas Jefferson Park that ends inside the Randall's Island Harvest Festival.
Thomas Jefferson Park, East Harlem, ManhattanEl Barrio Bikes leads a free riverfront ride from Thomas Jefferson Park that ends inside the Randall's Island Harvest Festival.
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Bowery Ballroom, Lower East Side, Manhattangirlpuppy, DOUBLE STANDARD, Sabrina Song, Screenager and Simone share one bill at Bowery Ballroom in a showcase of women and non-binary indie acts.
Bowery Ballroom, Lower East Side, Manhattangirlpuppy, DOUBLE STANDARD, Sabrina Song, Screenager and Simone share one bill at Bowery Ballroom in a showcase of women and non-binary indie acts.
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218th Street and 131st Avenue, Laurelton, QueensSoutheast Queens closes 218th Street for a district-wide back-to-school parade that rolls into a seven-hour block festival.
218th Street and 131st Avenue, Laurelton, QueensSoutheast Queens closes 218th Street for a district-wide back-to-school parade that rolls into a seven-hour block festival.
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La MaMa — The Downstairs, East Village, ManhattanArgentine actress Maiamar Abrodos turns a stage-design class into her life story as a trans woman — opening La MaMa's Queer New York Festival.
La MaMa — The Downstairs, East Village, ManhattanArgentine actress Maiamar Abrodos turns a stage-design class into her life story as a trans woman — opening La MaMa's Queer New York Festival.
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34th Avenue Open Street, Jackson Heights, QueensThe original uploader was Jleon at English Wikipedia . · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons34th Avenue closes for two days of races, workshops and unicycle basketball in Jackson Heights.
34th Avenue Open Street, Jackson Heights, QueensThe original uploader was Jleon at English Wikipedia . · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons34th Avenue closes for two days of races, workshops and unicycle basketball in Jackson Heights.
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The Post BK, BrooklynTaste specialty roasters and catch live music in two ticketed sessions at 100 Dobbin.
The Post BK, BrooklynTaste specialty roasters and catch live music in two ticketed sessions at 100 Dobbin.
Add to calendarBig weekends coming up — save them now, plan later.
