Things To Do in NYC in October 2026

Things to do in NYC in October, Hispanic Heritage Month (PintoArt/Adobe)

Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations are among the many Latin things to do in NYC in October 2026.

DANCE

Limón Dance Company: 80th Anniversary Season

New York Mexican modern dance pioneer legacy
Joyce Theater
Chelsea, Manhattan
Tue-Sun, October 6-11, 2026 | 7:30pm, 2pm weekend matinees
$17+

HOLIDAYS

Columbus Day

The day in 1492 when a Spanish sailor first sighted land in the Americas. Columbus claimed he saw it first to claim the reward for himself. He lied (just like you know who). The US made it a national holiday in the hope that Americans would stop lynching Italians for living with African Americans. It worked and Italians went from being an “other” to being American. That’s why Italian Americans are attached to Columbus.
Mon, October 12, 2026

NOTE: We know Columbus was evil. He became an Italian American symbol before this was common knowledge.

MUSIC

Don Omar: The Last King World Tour

Puerto Rican reggaeton
Prudential Center
Newark, New Jersey
Sun, October 11, 2026 | 8pm

Rawayana: Dónde es el after? World Tour

Venezuelan Latin alternative
Barclays Center
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
(Halloween) Sat, October 31, 2026 | 8pm
$53+

PARADES

Queens Dominican Parade
Desfile Dominicano de Queens

37th Avenue (69th St to 89th St)
Jackson Heights, Queens
October 4, 2026 | 12-3pm
FREE

Panamanian Parade & Street Fair

The biggest Panamanian festival outside of Panama celebrates Panamanian Independence with marching bands, folk dancers in polleras and montunos, Panamanian music, and a street fair of Panamanian food and artisanal crafts. The Diaspora from the entire East Coast comes to celebrate.
Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Sat, October 10, 2026
– 9am: Opening Ceremony at Bergen St & Franklin Ave
– 10am: Parade down Franklin Ave
– 2-6pm: Street Fair on Classon Ave
FREE

Hispanic Day Parade

Hispanic Day Parade Mass
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Midtown East
Sun, October 4, 2026

Hispanic Day Parade
Fifth Avenue
44th St to 69th St
Midtown to Upper East Side
Sun, October 11, 2026 | 12-4pm

Over 10,000 marchers from 21 Spanish-speaking countries celebrate their culture and contributions.

Columbus Day Parade

Fifth Avenue
44th St to 69th St
Midtown to Upper East Side
(Columbus Day) Mon, October 12, 2026 | 12~4pm

National Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Parade

Broadway
Madison Square Park to Union Square
(EXPECTED Sat, October 17, 2026)
– 9am Line-up in Madison Square Park
– 10am Opening Ceremony
– 12pm Parade
– 2pm Closing Ceremony

Festival de Las Flores Jackson Heights
Colombian Flower Festival New York

NYC’s version of Medellín’s famous Feria de las Flores, where silleteros carry huge flower displays on chairs tied to their backs in remembrance of the way Colombian farmers used to carry people and products up and down Andes Mountains trails. Colombia dominates the US fresh-cut flower trade.
37th Avenue (69th to 89th St)
Jackson Heights, Queens
Mon, October 19, 2026 | 12-3pm
FREE

Jackson Heights Halloween Parade

NYC’s largest children’s Halloween Parade
37th Avenue (89th to 76th St)
Jackson Heights, Queens
(Halloween) Sat, October 31, 2026 | 12-5pm
FREE

SPORTS

NYCFC: Día de Muertos Night

New York City FC vs CF Montréal
Major League Soccer
Fan Appreciation Night at last home game
Yankee Stadium
Concourse, The Bronx
(Halloween) Sat, October 31, 2026 | 4pm
$11+
More…