Fall is upon us, and there's no shortage of fun activities to enjoy with your family in and around New York City this season! From haunted pumpin patches to creepy corn mazes to old-fashioned harvest days, there's plenty to do before winter's chill. Get out and have fun!
Haunted Pumpkin Garden: New York Botanical Garden. The crowd-pleasing Haunted Pumpkin Garden is back at the New York Botanical Garden. Hundreds of intricately carved pumpkins are on display at the Everett Children's Adventure Garden, where Halloween Parades take place throughout the month. On weekends, kids can confront bugs, bats and other creatures in the garden. On October 18 & 19, Ray Villafane will work his carving magic to create intricate pumpkin sculptures, while the largest pumpkins from North America will once again call the Garden home on October 25 & 26.
The Amazing Maize Maze: Queens Country Farm Museum. One of New York's hidden treasures, the Queens County Farm Museum is the five boroughs' only honest-to-goodness working farm—a welcome refuge of agrarian bliss tucked away in our vast metropolis. The farm's annual Amazing Maize Maze finds kids of all ages making their way through a three-acre cornstalk labyrinth. (It's like The Shining, but dread-free.) The adventure begins with a "Stalk Talk" to prepare you for the challenge of finding clues, solving puzzles, and making your way out of the maze. Kids can also pick pumpkins at the Pumpkin Patch. You can also check out "Maze by Moonlight" on Saturday, October 4 and October 18. On both nights the maze will stay open until 9:00 p.m. for a special night-time exploration, where visitors will use the starry sky (or flashlights) to guide them through their adventure. Sept. 20 – Oct. 26.
Pumpkin Picking and More: Head to Staten Island and visit the Historic Richmondtown pumpkin patch. This 19th-century farm stand is part of the Historic Richmondtown living history museum. Pumpkins are set out in a field for kids to "pick," and there's also a hayride, a small cornstalk maze and face painting. Call ahead to confirm times. If you visit on Old Home Day on Sunday, October 19, you can also see blacksmiths and tinsmiths, a chair-caner, Colonial cooks, expert quilters, beekeepers and spinners at work. Open every weekend in October plus Columbus Day; $5 per person, plus cost of pumpkins; prices are based on weight.
Breukelen Country Fair: Wycoff Farmhouse Museum. Join the Wyckoff Farmhouse museum for a day long extravaganza of crafting, creating and hands on fun! Meet the makers and learn from the past to present how Breukelen does it best. Drop by our Breukelen MakerSpace to handcraft some historic, steam punk, old fashioned coolness. Explore everything from A-Z: Art, Butter churning, Crafts, Dyes, Experiments, Fire works, Food trucks, Colonial Games, Gardens and so much more, at the Breukelen Country Fair. This day long extravaganza of local making and creativity, turns the traditional harvest festival on its ear, and hosts an array of games, crafts, food, music, demonstrations and family friendly workshops led by Brooklyn based participants. September 27.
Harvest Day: Prospect Lefferts Gardens: Head to Lefferts Historic House in Prospect Park to help dig up potatoes in the garden. Afterward, cook and sample the harvest, and participate in potato sack races and other retro games. Sunday, September 28. Suggested donation of $3 per person.