Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best things to do in NYC over Columbus Day weekend 2026 (Oct 10–12): 682 picks, refreshed weekly. Concerts, festivals, art, markets, and free outdoor events. Monday is the Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day holiday.
682 picks · checked Sep 17
Fifth Avenue, Midtown to Upper East Side, ManhattanMarching bands, floats and a sea of red, white and green take over Fifth Avenue for the city's big Italian-American heritage parade.
Fifth Avenue, Midtown to Upper East Side, ManhattanMarching bands, floats and a sea of red, white and green take over Fifth Avenue for the city's big Italian-American heritage parade.
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Fifth Avenue, Midtown (formation at East 43rd–47th Streets), ManhattanDelegations from some 20 Spanish-speaking countries dance, drum and parade up Fifth Avenue as Hispanic Heritage Month nears its close.
Fifth Avenue, Midtown (formation at East 43rd–47th Streets), ManhattanDelegations from some 20 Spanish-speaking countries dance, drum and parade up Fifth Avenue as Hispanic Heritage Month nears its close.
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Whitney Museum of American Art, Meatpacking District, ManhattanAchaikon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons56 artists ask what 'American' even means in the Whitney's 82nd Biennial — the full survey's last chance is the holiday Monday.
Whitney Museum of American Art, Meatpacking District, ManhattanAchaikon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons56 artists ask what 'American' even means in the Whitney's 82nd Biennial — the full survey's last chance is the holiday Monday.
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Restoration Plaza, Bedford-Stuyvesant, BrooklynA free three-day African food market takes over Restoration Plaza in Bed-Stuy, with Afrobeat, Amapiano and Soca sets between plates.
Restoration Plaza, Bedford-Stuyvesant, BrooklynA free three-day African food market takes over Restoration Plaza in Bed-Stuy, with Afrobeat, Amapiano and Soca sets between plates.
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Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Hudson Yards, ManhattanMay S. Young from Metro NYC, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsComic Con's 20th edition takes over the Javits with a Coney Island theme, NCIS: New York with LL Cool J and the Crown cosplay finals.
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Hudson Yards, ManhattanMay S. Young from Metro NYC, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsComic Con's 20th edition takes over the Javits with a Coney Island theme, NCIS: New York with LL Cool J and the Crown cosplay finals.
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American Academy of Arts and Letters, Washington Heights, ManhattanBeyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Final Fantasy artist's first New York institutional solo show: a Pandora frieze of drawings, free at Audubon Terrace from opening day.
American Academy of Arts and Letters, Washington Heights, ManhattanBeyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Final Fantasy artist's first New York institutional solo show: a Pandora frieze of drawings, free at Audubon Terrace from opening day.
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The Rink at Rockefeller Center, Midtown, Manhattan(vincent desjardins) from Paris, France · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsOpening day on the sunken rink ringed by Rockefeller Center's Art Deco towers, a Midtown tradition since 1936 — the ice is back this weekend.
The Rink at Rockefeller Center, Midtown, Manhattan(vincent desjardins) from Paris, France · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsOpening day on the sunken rink ringed by Rockefeller Center's Art Deco towers, a Midtown tradition since 1936 — the ice is back this weekend.
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, ManhattanAlex Maisuradze · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons120+ works, 12 chapters and two careers side by side: the Met's first big New York look at Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock in 20 years.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, ManhattanAlex Maisuradze · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons120+ works, 12 chapters and two careers side by side: the Met's first big New York look at Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock in 20 years.
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Wave Hill, Riverdale, BronxWave Hill's Hudson-view gardens open to everyone for nothing on the holiday, with a walking tour on Lenape women leaders called Saunksquas.
Wave Hill, Riverdale, BronxWave Hill's Hudson-view gardens open to everyone for nothing on the holiday, with a walking tour on Lenape women leaders called Saunksquas.
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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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Whitney Museum of American Art, Meatpacking District, ManhattanAbout 130 Lichtensteins, from Look Mickey to Masterpiece, fill the Whitney's fifth floor in a major Pop retrospective opening this weekend.
Whitney Museum of American Art, Meatpacking District, ManhattanAbout 130 Lichtensteins, from Look Mickey to Masterpiece, fill the Whitney's fifth floor in a major Pop retrospective opening this weekend.
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161st Street & Grand Concourse, Concourse, BronxTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsFifty-plus vendors from 40-plus countries take over the Grand Concourse by Yankee Stadium for the market's final free day of the year.
161st Street & Grand Concourse, Concourse, BronxTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsFifty-plus vendors from 40-plus countries take over the Grand Concourse by Yankee Stadium for the market's final free day of the year.
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Mott St between Canal & Hester St, ManhattanChinatown marks 115 years since the 1911 Wuchang Uprising with a Double Ten procession up Mott Street, the heart of Manhattan's old Chinatown.
Mott St between Canal & Hester St, ManhattanChinatown marks 115 years since the 1911 Wuchang Uprising with a Double Ten procession up Mott Street, the heart of Manhattan's old Chinatown.
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Bronx Zoo, Bronx Park, BronxStavenn · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA new hay maze, costume parades with stilt walkers and a pumpkin garden take over the Bronx Zoo — opening weekend, included with admission.
Bronx Zoo, Bronx Park, BronxStavenn · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA new hay maze, costume parades with stilt walkers and a pumpkin garden take over the Bronx Zoo — opening weekend, included with admission.
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Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Heights, BrooklynMore than 600 original manga drawings, from ONE PIECE to JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and Inuyasha, fill the Brooklyn Museum's Great Hall galleries.
Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Heights, BrooklynMore than 600 original manga drawings, from ONE PIECE to JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and Inuyasha, fill the Brooklyn Museum's Great Hall galleries.
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Brooklyn Children's Museum, Crown Heights, BrooklynDisco roller skating on a rooftop with skyline views returns to Brooklyn Children's Museum, a nod to the legendary Empire Rink — reopening weekend.
Brooklyn Children's Museum, Crown Heights, BrooklynDisco roller skating on a rooftop with skyline views returns to Brooklyn Children's Museum, a nod to the legendary Empire Rink — reopening weekend.
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Museum of the City of New York, Upper Manhattan, ManhattanJakub Hałun · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA rescued New Deal mural cycle painted for a hospital children's ward goes back on public view in East Harlem.
Museum of the City of New York, Upper Manhattan, ManhattanJakub Hałun · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA rescued New Deal mural cycle painted for a hospital children's ward goes back on public view in East Harlem.
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New York Hall of Science parking lot, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, QueensTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsDozens of stalls cooking the food of dozens of countries fill a Flushing Meadows lot until midnight, free to walk in, with the season's end near.
New York Hall of Science parking lot, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, QueensTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsDozens of stalls cooking the food of dozens of countries fill a Flushing Meadows lot until midnight, free to walk in, with the season's end near.
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East 186th Street at Arthur Avenue, Arthur Avenue/Belmont, BronxPane e Cioccolato plays Italian classics at 186th and Arthur Avenue as the Bronx's Little Italy marks the holiday among its bakeries and delis.
East 186th Street at Arthur Avenue, Arthur Avenue/Belmont, BronxPane e Cioccolato plays Italian classics at 186th and Arthur Avenue as the Bronx's Little Italy marks the holiday among its bakeries and delis.
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The Mount, 6581 Hylan Boulevard, Pleasant Plains, Staten IslandRides, sangria gardens, eating contests and a fireworks show make this Staten Island's biggest Italian feast, all Columbus Day weekend.
The Mount, 6581 Hylan Boulevard, Pleasant Plains, Staten IslandRides, sangria gardens, eating contests and a fireworks show make this Staten Island's biggest Italian feast, all Columbus Day weekend.
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Alice Tully Hall and Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square, ManhattanAva DuVernay's sequel to 13th, on attacks against the 14th Amendment, premieres as NYFF's closing film with AOC and Hasan Piker on screen.
Alice Tully Hall and Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square, ManhattanAva DuVernay's sequel to 13th, on attacks against the 14th Amendment, premieres as NYFF's closing film with AOC and Hasan Piker on screen.
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New York City Center (Mainstage), Midtown, ManhattanChristopher Wheeldon's Oscar Wilde ballet, danced by the Australian Ballet at City Center with the 48-piece Orchestra of St. Luke's live.
New York City Center (Mainstage), Midtown, ManhattanChristopher Wheeldon's Oscar Wilde ballet, danced by the Australian Ballet at City Center with the 48-piece Orchestra of St. Luke's live.
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NYC Parks (citywide), All five boroughs, CitywideU.S. Army 353CAG by Staff Sgt. Emilie Lenglain · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsOver 300 free screenings light up park lawns in all five boroughs, from Encanto to Lilo & Stitch and they start when the sun goes down.
NYC Parks (citywide), All five boroughs, CitywideU.S. Army 353CAG by Staff Sgt. Emilie Lenglain · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsOver 300 free screenings light up park lawns in all five boroughs, from Encanto to Lilo & Stitch and they start when the sun goes down.
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Artist studios throughout Red Hook, Red Hook, BrooklynRed Hook artists throw open their working studios for two afternoons — painters, printmakers and sculptors, free, across the waterfront neighborhood.
Artist studios throughout Red Hook, Red Hook, BrooklynRed Hook artists throw open their working studios for two afternoons — painters, printmakers and sculptors, free, across the waterfront neighborhood.
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Big weekends coming up — save them now, plan later.
