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: 8 picks, refreshed weekly.
8 picks · checked Sep 28
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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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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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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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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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.
Add to calendarBig weekends coming up — save them now, plan later.
