What to Do in New York City this Fall Semester

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 some of our favorite New York activities by month and proximity. We’ve also included tips from those of us who have lived in the Big Apple for decades. Do yourself a favor and 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: Sept. 14-20. Procession: Sept. 21 at 8:00 PM. 

Further afield: Check out the 62nd 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 27 to October 13. Discounted student tickets are available for the festival, movie screenings, and other programs.

Broadly speaking: Each year, New York City hosts over 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 Anjelika Film Center, IFC, and the 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 6, but RSVPs for free tickets are required (see website). Mass starts at 10:30 a.m. Get there early to find a seat. 

Further afield: Billed as, “The nation’s most wildly creative public participatory event in the greatest city in the world,” the Village Halloween Parade is a can’t-miss. The 51st annual parade kicks off at 7:00 p.m. on October 31 at Canal Street and 6th Avenue; for best chance at good views, get there hours in advance. Spectators come as you are, 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: If urban crowds are not your thing, consider a day out of the city to peek at New England’s infamous fall foliage and pick apples at a local orchard. 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, which runs a festive Oktoberfest boat from late September through October. Think lederhosen, beer, and polka dancing up and down the Hudson River.

November

Highly local: Many New Yorkers consider the NYC Marathon an annual holiday, reserving the day to cheer on runners alongside their family and friends. For Columbians, the nearest place to watch is between Miles 22 and 23 (around 116th and 5th Avenue). Bring your cowbell, pull up a patch of curb, and get ready to cheer. “Run long, run strong!” Sunday, November 3. Professional wheelchair athletes and frontrunners will reach Mile 22 just after 9:00 a.m. followed by a steady stream of athletes from late morning to late afternoon.

Further afield: Speaking of holidays, few things say “New York” more than the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which begins at The Museum of Natural History on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and winds its way down Central Park West to 5th Avenue, ultimately to Macys 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 27, late afternoon through the evening. Thanksgiving Day Parade: Thursday, November 28, 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. Can’t get enough of lower Manhattan? For the best views and photo opps, hop on the ferry from Wall Street to DUMBO and walk the Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan. 

December

Fairly local: Check out the month-long holiday market at Columbus Circle for an array of food, wares, mulled wine, and hot cider. Do you want more holiday cheer? Head downtown to Union Square for its holiday village.