Studying at Columbia University means living and learning in New York City: a cornucopia of art, culture, sports, food, and fun. With so much to do, it’s hard to know what to choose. This is especially true for newly arrived students, who are busily organizing living spaces and course schedules while attending orientation and first days of classes.
To help you choose, and to give you a heads-up on things to plan ahead of time, we’ve cataloged and updated some of our favorite New York activities by month and proximity, including a few limited-time opportunities. We’ve also included tips from those of us who have lived in the Big Apple for decades. Definitely peruse each month in advance. We want you to take as big a bite as possible out of this city we Columbians call home.
September
Highly local: Make art and new friends as you construct intricate paper lanterns and march them through Morningside Park on a gorgeous September night. Morningside Lights is an annual Columbia tradition that brings together students, faculty, staff, and neighborhood families to celebrate the fall equinox. Lantern-building workshops: September 13–19. Procession: September 20 at 8:00 p.m.
Farther afield: Literature lovers can celebrate the Brooklyn Book Festival’s 20th anniversary on Sunday, September 21, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Meanwhile, film buffs should check out the 63rd edition of the esteemed New York Film Festival, located at the Film Society of Lincoln Center on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and running from September 26 to October 13. Discounted student tickets are available for the festival, movie screenings, and other programs.
Broadly speaking: Each year, New York City hosts more than 20 major film festivals, including the Brooklyn Film Festival, the NYC Independent Film Festival, the Tribeca Film Festival, and the Urban World Film Festival. For year-round independent films, check out the Angelika Film Center, IFC, and Film Forum—all of which will bring you to Greenwich Village. Want to see a blockbuster on its opening weekend? Film enthusiasts can purchase vouchers to several AMC outlets at the Ticket and Information Center inside Columbia’s Lerner Hall on the Morningside Heights campus.
October
Highly local: Animal lovers will not want to miss the Feast of St. Francis and the Blessing of the Animals at the nearby St. John the Divine. In honor of the patron saint of the environment and ecology, animals from every species are processed to the cathedral’s altar amid the howls and meows of attendees’ pets. Yes, your dogs, cats, bunnies, rats—you name it—are welcome to join you at church on the first Sunday of October. There will be music, dance, blessings, and an animal fair to follow. Don’t have a pet? Bring your beloved stuffed animal. Everyone is welcome on Sunday, October 5, and passes are not required. Mass starts at 10:30 a.m. Get there early to find a seat.
Farther afield: Ready for spooky season? October is your last chance to visit Viola’s Room, a sound and light installation at the Shed by the team behind the city’s beloved Sleep No More experience. Visitors experience a (barefoot) sensory journey narrated by Helena Bonham-Carter.
And what’s October in New York without “the nation’s most wildly creative public participatory event in the greatest city in the world”? The Village Halloween Parade, now in its 52nd year, is a can’t-miss. The annual parade kicks off at 7:00 p.m. on October 31 at Canal Street and Sixth Avenue; for the best chance of good views, get there hours in advance. It’s come-as-you-are for spectators, but to join the parade, you’ll need a costume! Check the website for updates on this year’s theme.
But be forewarned: Events like the Halloween and Thanksgiving Day parades and the New York Marathon are popular with locals and tourists alike, and people line up hours in advance. Plan accordingly, or be prepared to take in the scene with a limited view.
Broadly speaking: Theater aficionados can look forward to Off-Broadway week, which runs October 14 to 26. October is peak fall festival season, with various events taking place just outside the city. Consider taking a trip out to the Warwick Applefest on October 5, or take advantage of your final chance to visit the New York Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo, which runs weekends from August 15 to October 5. Take a train up the Hudson Valley for a perfect view of New England’s famous fall foliage, and pick apples at a local orchard on your way to view the exhibits at Storm King Art Center or Dia Beacon. Time Out New York provides a healthy list of orchards from which to choose, but beware: Every New Yorker and their mother are relying on the same list of places, and avoiding city crowds is harder than you think.
If you truly want to get away from it all, consider instead an autumn hike at Bear Mountain State Park. No car? Consider a Circle Line cruise; there’s a festive Oktoberfest boat from late September through October. Think lederhosen, beer, and polka dancing up and down the Hudson River.
November
Highly local: Seven years after closing for construction, the Studio Museum in Harlem makes its long-awaited return on November 15! A Community Day will celebrate the opening across the street at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building plaza, where visitors can enjoy performances, games, giveaways, and DJ sets throughout the day before heading inside to see the new building’s inaugural exhibitions.
Many New Yorkers consider the NYC Marathon an annual holiday, reserving the day to cheer on runners alongside their family and friends. Bring your cowbell, camp out on a patch of curb, and get ready to cheer “Run long, run strong!” on Sunday, November 2. Professional wheelchair athletes start the race around 8:00 a.m., with the first wave of runners beginning at 9:00 a.m. Check the Marathon site closer to the date for more information about this year’s course.
Farther afield: Speaking of holidays, November is the month for the world-famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which begins at the American Museum of Natural History on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and winds its way down Central Park West to Fifth Avenue, ultimately drawing to a close at Macy’s on 34th Street. Too busy tending the turkey on Thanksgiving? On Wednesday evening, you can walk around the museum block and watch as the giant balloons are inflated. Balloon inflation: Wednesday, November 26, late afternoon through the evening. Thanksgiving Day Parade: Thursday, November 27, from 8:30 a.m. to approximately noon. Expect extreme crowds for both events. Pro tip: To circumvent the crowds on parade day, consider entering Central Park on its north end and traversing the mile or so to the parade start. It will be a slightly obstructed view, but you’ll have some breathing space and still very much enjoy the balloons.
Broadly speaking: Get outdoors before the weather turns cold! New York is home to many national monuments and memorials and historic cultural enclaves such as Chinatown, El Barrio, Harlem, Little Italy, Koreatown, Greenpoint, and Little Caribbean. Alexander Hamilton’s country home, Ellis Island, and the African Burial Ground all have free admission. Federal Hall (26 Wall Street) is where President George Washington took the oath of office and where the first U.S. Congress convened. You can also take a tour of Wall Street with experienced former traders and bankers. For great views and photo ops, hop on the ferry from Wall Street to DUMBO and walk the Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan. And for late fall foliage views still within city limits, head up to Fort Tryon Park and the Met Cloisters for a day of medieval art and brisk autumn air.
December
Fairly local: Check out the monthlong holiday market at Columbus Circle for an array of food, festive wares, mulled wine, and hot cider. Want more holiday cheer? Head downtown to Union Square or Bryant Park for their holiday villages. The Rink at Bryant Park is open from October 25 and is free to enter if you bring your own skates—ice skate rentals run between $15 and $50 and vary by date.
Farther afield: Reservations for Restaurant Week 2025 will open in early December. Book early and enjoy prix fixe meals at hundreds of restaurants across the five boroughs. December’s reservation date to be announced; Restaurant Week typically falls sometime in mid- to late January.
Broadly speaking: Check out Chelsea Market for holiday gifting and delicious food, and take a fairy-lit walk on the High Line. Evening hours are a bit quieter, so first treat yourself to an afternoon Chelsea gallery crawl. Free art abounds across the city. From the Met to the Jewish Museum to MoMA PS1, Columbia students have free access to a wide array of museums showcasing arts and culture. Under-25s also have free entry to the Whitney Museum of Art. Museum hours vary, so check websites. Keep an eye out for monthly late hours, when many museums bring in bands, DJs, and dancing.
If you manage to do all of this in the fall semester, you will definitely deserve that winter break! Keep an eye out for the spring semester guide, which will be published in December.
