Here at Nanny Authority, we are so excited about autumn! Chilly breezes and knitted scarves are just around the corner, and we’re rounding up all of the best events in the city to attend with your kiddos. Let us know if you end up attending any of them!
Month-Long Events
Grab your mittens and your scarves! All public ice rinks open up on October 8th. Check out the Winter Village at Bryant Park or the classic Rink at Rockefeller Center. You’ll have to wait for it to get colder outside before you can go skating in Central Park, but you can build up your skills at some of the other rinks around the city!
The NBA season is kicking off in October, and we’re so excited to check out some games! Both the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks put on a great show. Pack up some snacks, and prepare for your kids to be excited to join the basketball team at school.
Weekend of October 4-6
Through Sunday, October 6, head uptown to the New York Historical Society to see the LIFE: Six Women Photographers exhibit, showcasing some of the work of Margaret Bourke-White, Hansel Mieth, Marie Hansen, Martha Holmes, Nina Leen, and Lisa Larsen – all photographers for LIFE magazine from the late 1930s through the early 1970s. A peek into the past!
Saturday, October 5th at 11:00 am
The Met has some of the most wonderful events for families and children in Manhattan. Join them for Start with Art at The Met, a lovely program for families with children aged 3-6. Share ideas and enjoy stories, sketching, and other gallery activities centered around October’s theme, Hispanic Heritage.
Saturday, October 5th at 11:00 am
Are your kiddos a little bit older? For families with children aged 7-11, join the Met’s amazing team for their Art Trek. Travel through time and around the world on a museum adventure to discover favorite works of art around the October theme, Hispanic Heritage.
Sunday, October 6th at 11:30 am
Join the team at the 84th Street Books of Wonder for their Storytime Bonanza! It’s a super special storytime featuring the sweet children’s books My Name is Wakawakaloch, Can I Be Your Dog, and Mama’s Work Shoes.
Saturday, October 6th at 12:00 pm
Head to Urban Farm in Randall’s Island Park for the Harvest Festival! There will be live music, pumpkin-decorating, kite-making, and fun & games for all ages.
Weekend of October 11-13
Saturday, October 12th – Monday, October 14th, at 10:00 am
Head over to the New York Botanical Gardens for Harvest Weekend! Celebrate all things autumn and meet some very busy bees, taste some honey and honey-inspired recipes and help with their vegetable harvest. Who knew you could have a little slice of farming right here in NYC? There will be live music and culinary workshops too, as well as arts and crafts. Fun for the whole family. Don’t forget to check out The Spooky Pumpkin Garden which will be going on at the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden.
Weekend of October 18-20
Friday, October 18th at 6:00 pm
Hurry and get tickets now to see Night of 1,000 Jack O’Lanterns on Governer’s Island. See these incredible and intricately carved pumpkins, enjoy some music and a refreshment. Tickets free for children 2 and under.
Saturday, October 19th at 11:00 am
Boo at the Zoo! Join the team at the Bronx Zoo for their annual Boo at the Zoo! event! Events include a costume parade, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, a corn maze, a magic show, and special Halloween-themed crafts. For the adults, there will be some different “crafts” available at Bootoberfest in the Astor Court, starting at 12pm.
Friday, October 19th at 12:00 pm
Dogs. On. Parade. Need we say more? Well, okay, we will. Join tons of New York City’s best-dressed furry friends at the East River Amphitheater for the Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade. It’s a celebration like no other, as pups compete for thousands of dollars in prizes. Either go to observe, or pop a funny t-shirt onto your pooch and join the parade!
Weekend of October 25-27
Saturday, October 26th at 2:00 pm
Dress up in your finest costumes and make your way to the The American Museum of Natural History for their Halloween Celebration, a very special event full of trick-or-treating, arts and crafts and live performances!
Saturday, October 26th at 5:30 pm
Feel like an escape from the city for a few hours or maybe the night? Head upstate towards one of America’s most famous spooky towns, Sleepy Hollow, and take in the Tarrytown Halloween Parade. Enjoy food, drink, costumes and the changing of the leaves. Let us know if you see any headless horsemen wandering around!
Sunday, October 27th at 3:00 pm
We love the New York Public Library (and all libraries, really)! Join the team at the Children’s Center at 42nd Street for a Family Storytime for children aged 3-8. Learn about some new books and songs, and then go explore the library with your little ones!
Thursday, October 31st (Halloween!)
All-Day
We probably don’t even need to mention it… but go trick-or-treating! It’s a grand tradition of knocking on doors and getting free candy (a thing that would horrify us any other day of the year). Or, just wander around your neighborhood, find a fun block party, and join in! There are some amazingly-decorated homes all around the city, and lots of shops open their doors to trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Check out what’s going on in your neighborhood!
10:15 am
Join the team at the 58th Street branch of the New York Public Library for a Halloween Fashion Parade! A party for kiddos aged birth to 5, where the kids can dance to Halloween-themed music (Monster Mash, anyone?) and show off their fancy costumes!
7:00 pm
One of the great traditions of Halloween in New York City is the Village Halloween Parade, now in its 46th year. It begins on the corner of 6th and Spring and runs all the way up to 16th Street. It’s a fun opportunity to see all of the creativity New Yorkers throw into their costumes and floats! We recommend finding a spot near the end of the parade if you’re watching with kiddos – fewer people means everyone can see more easily without having to give a piggyback ride!
Contact the Nanny Authority today!
At the Nanny Authority, our nannies are familiar with age-appropriate seasonal activities and events so parents can feel at ease knowing their children are engaging in a cultural, educational lifestyle when they’re not around. To learn more about how we can assist you in the search for a professional nanny, contact us via e-mail or at 973-466-2669 today.