Highs ~15 °C / 59 °F, lows 10 °C / 50 °F; low humidity, rare rain.
Crisp air, amber leaves, and shorter ticket lines make October a sweet-spot month. Expect comfy 15 °C / 60 °F afternoons and jacket-cool evenings. Time-saver: many museums add Friday “pay-what-you-wish” hours—arrive by 5pm to walk straight in.
Category
September
October
November
Weather
Warm 18–25 °C; some humidity.
Cool 10–15 °C, crisp skies, low rain.
Chilly 5–12 °C; first frost possible.
Crowds & vibe
Back-to-business buzz, UN traffic snarls Midtown.
Relaxed until Halloween week, then party-packed.
Marathon energy first weekend; holiday shoppers late month.
Key events
Feast of San Gennaro, Fashion Week, Climate Week.
Comic Con, OHNY, Halloween Parade.
NYC Marathon, Veterans Day Parade, holiday markets open.
Best for
Culture vultures seeking premieres, mild nights.
Photographers, architecture nerds, costume lovers.
Value hunters after early-winter hotel deals.
Book early?
Hotels near UN by July; Broadway Week tix fast.
Parade-view rooms and OHNY tours open midsummer.
Marathon hotels sell out a year ahead; book now.
Transport notes
Midtown street closures during UNGA.
6th Ave closed Halloween night; subway runs extra.
Marathon day bus diversions; subway 24 h but crowded.
Budget
Flights dip post-Labor Day.
Mid-range—lower than summer, higher during Halloween.
Hotel rates bottom out after Thanksgiving weekend.
Event/Festival
Dates
Event type
Location
What to expect
New York Comic Con
09–12 Oct 2025
Exhibition
East Coast’s biggest pop-culture con sells out months ahead—grab Friday badges for lighter aisles and shorter autograph lines.
Open House New York Weekend
18–19 Oct 2025
Cultural Festival
Citywide
Reserve rare building slots the moment the schedule drops; standby queues move fastest before 10am.
Diwali Motorcade
21 Oct 2025
Cultural Festival
Floats, fireworks, and Bollywood beats light Queens’ “Little Guyana.” Arrive by 6pm for roadside sweets stalls.
Brooklyn Horror Film Festival
15–20 Oct 2025
Film Festival
Midnight premieres sell fastest; snag a festival pass for priority entry and free popcorn refills.
Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day Parade
13 Oct 2025
Parade
Bands start marching 11 am; north-facing curb near 54th St offers shade and clear photo angles.
Village Halloween Parade
31 Oct 2025
Parade
Costumed marchers line up 6pm at Spring St; spectators should claim curb spots by 5pm to avoid shoulder-to-shoulder squeeze.
World Series Watch Parties
Late Oct 2025
Sporting Event
Sports bars citywide
Even if Yankees miss the cut, rooftop big-screens in Midtown blast every inning—arrive by first pitch for happy-hour drafts.
Dominique Ansel swaps sugar glaze for pumpkin-maple; daily batches sell out by 11 am.
Where to eat: Dominique Ansel Bakery, 189 Spring St.
Fresh-fry at Greenmarket stalls; best warm with cinnamon sugar.
Where to eat: Union Square Greenmarket, Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat.
Autumn-comfort plate.
Where to eat: Lilia, 567 Union Ave, Williamsburg.
Served in reusable mason jars at Bryant Park Winter Village preview from 28 Oct.
Where to eat: Holiday kiosk, Bryant Park rink edge.
MetroCard obsolete: tap any contactless card on OMNY readers; transfers auto-apply within 2 h.
Layer up: mornings can be 8 °C while midday hits 17 °C—packable puffer beats bulky coat.
OHNY reservations open 8 Oct 12pm EDT—set a calendar alert; top tours vanish in five minutes.
For Halloween Parade, exit West Fourth St station; Spring St gets gridlocked.
Leaf-peep photos pop at 3pm golden hour—stand on Gapstow Bridge facing south for skyline splash.
Broadway rush tickets shift indoors by 9:30am as temps dip; bring ID and a paperback.
Citi Bike e-bikes—cheaper to pedal upriver and subway back downhill.
Patches start in first week but full peak usually lands 18–25 Oct in Central Park and Prospect Park.
Average precipitation is low—about 7 days of light showers. Carry a foldable umbrella, just in case.
Water-resistant sneakers or ankle boots; leaves can hide puddles and subway grates get slick after rain.
Yes—ferries, observation decks, and rooftop bars run through October; many add heaters after mid-month.
Expect 10 °C / 50 °F; pack a scarf and thin thermal for nighttime cruises or parade-watching.
Absolutely—four-day and Saturday passes sell out by July.
Generally yes—ride in conductor car, keep valuables close, and avoid empty stations after midnight.
Queens County Farm Museum runs weekend patches and a corn maze; subway E → Q46 drops you outside the gate.
