As the seasons change and the month of October comes back around, New York City has never had so many free events open to the public to celebrate Halloween and the gorgeous autumn season in hopes of bringing people together.
When I think of October in New York, I think of the famous scene from When Harry Met Sally as the two main characters walk through The Metropolitan Museum of Art. An endless afternoon can be spent walking throughout the city’s finest museum full of historical and enriching artifacts. For Pace University students, The Met holds a “pay as you wish” policy, meaning you can pay only one singular penny if you wish. In doing so, you can access all current exhibitions and same-day entry to The Met on Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters in upper Manhattan. In addition, the Bronx Museum of the Arts has three new exhibitions opening on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at 6 p.m. The exhibitions will feature cutting-edge contemporary artwork exploring cultural identity and science fiction; the perfect way to open your mind on a free weekend, evening, or whenever you please. Lastly for free museums: The Museum at FIT has a free showcase of fashion, textiles, and historical costumes staged in Chelsea, Manhattan. As a lover of fashion, seeing this museum first hand was absolutely brilliant. Showcasing real talent from fellow students such as yourself is so important, so go out and show your support for your friends at FIT!
Spending my first Halloween in New York City is very important and my expectations must be exceeded. The best free Halloween events I’ve heard about — that I’m definitely writing down in my planner — are the Tompkins Square Park Dog Parade and the Village Halloween Parade. On Saturday, Oct. 17, the 36th annual dog parade will feature hundreds of the cutest puppies dressed in costume, surrounded by floats, a spotlight on shelter dogs up for adoption, photo ops, and of course, the costumed dog competition. The parade is expected to start around the late morning or early afternoon, specific times are unknown, but it is best to hangout in that area to stay updated. New York City’s most famous October parade, the Village Halloween Parade, will commence on Oct. 31, 2026, at 7 p.m. If you’d like to join the actual parade, you’re expected to show up in full costume, but if you choose to watch in awe on the sidelines, costumes are recommended, but not necessary. Enjoy a long line of floats, marching bands, unique people dressed to the nines, and a night of fun. Sounds like a spooktacular display you can’t miss!
Lastly, if you’re more of a “spend the day on a whim” type of person, I have to recommend Central Park during late October to see its peak fall foliage. Nothing is more relaxing than sitting under those trees with a good book, headphones on, people watching, and just taking a moment to pause and look at the world around you. This is especially one of my favorite activities because you really are connecting with nature, and during the best time of year for trees of all colors. In addition to Central Park, free art galleries in Chelsea and the West Village are available throughout the month of October. This is a great way to spend a free morning or afternoon because you can find them as they come and choose not to plan anything. Artists are always looking to showcase their work, so feel free to roam about those areas and show the artists some love.
In the words of musical genius Nat King Cole, “‘Tis Autumn.” New York City holds amazing opportunities to go out and see things you’ve never seen before in the month of October — and for free! This next month emulates the magic of fall, and I encourage you to go out and take advantage of it. I, for one, will definitely be partaking in most of these activities, if not all of them. I hope to see you there!