Things to do in NYC in October 2021 depend on the progress of the COVID-19 Pandemic. We won’t know the situation on the ground until September.
The Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples Day long weekend at the end of Hispanic Heritage Month is one of the peak times for Latin culture in New York.
October is peak fall weather in New York City. Average temperatures range from 50° to 64°F, so it is cool. It’s the end of the March to October rainy season. October is the nicest month of fall because New York returns to full stride, the weather is perfect and the changing colors are beautiful.
Things to do in NYC in October 2021 Week 39
August 30 – September 5, 2021
Things to do in NYC in October 2021 Week 40
September 6-12, 2021
Things to do in NYC in October 2021 Week 41
September 13-19, 2021
Things to do in NYC in October 2021 Week 42
September 20-26, 2021
Things to do in NYC in October 2021 Week 43
September 27 – October 31, 2021
Categories of Things to Do in NYC in October 2021
October is a peak month for Latin culture in New York City. The COVID-19 Pandemic adds a bit of uncertainty to things this year.
OCTOBER HOLIDAYS
- Columbus Day / Indigenous People Day Monday, October 11, 2021
- Columbus Day/Indigenous People Day Weekend October 8-11, 2021
OCTOBER INDEPENDENCE DAYS
- Spain National Day 🇪🇸 October 12
OCTOBER FESTIVALS
- Hispanic Heritage Month 🇺🇸 September 15 – October 15
- Medieval Festival 🏰🎪 TBD (2020: October 4)
- St. Francis of Assisi 😇 October 4 🐕🐈 Blessing of the Animals
- Celebrate Mexico Now 🇲🇽🎪 TBD (2019: October 7-13, 2020: Nov 1-2)
- Redhawk Indigenous People Day Pow Wow 🎪 Sunday-Monday, October 10-11, 2021
- St Jude Thaddeus 😇 October 28
- Halloween 🎃 October 31
- Day of the Dead / Día de Muertos 💀 October 31 – November 2
OCTOBER PARADES
- 25th Panamanian Parade 🇵🇦🥁 TBD (2020: Saturday, October 3)
- Hispanic Day Parade 🥁 Sunday, October 10, 2021
- Columbus Day Parade 🇮🇹🥁 Monday, October 11, 2021
- Tompkins Square Park Dog Parade 🎃🐕🥁 October 31
- Jackson Heights Children’s Halloween Parade 🎃🥁 October 31
- Village Halloween Parade 🎃🥁 October 31
OCTOBER STREET FAIRS
- Panamanian Street Fair 🎪 TBD (2020: Saturday, October 3)
OCTOBER ART
- TEFAF New York 🎨🎪 TBD
OCTOBER DANCE
- American Ballet Theatre 🩰 fall TBD
- Fall For Dance festival 💃🏽🎪 TBD (2020: October 21 & 26)
- New York City Ballet 🩰 September 21 – October 17, 2021
OCTOBER FILM
- 59th New York Film Festival 🎞🎪 TBD (2020: through October 11)
OCTOBER FOOD
- 14th NYCWFF – New York City Wine & Food Festival 🍷🍽🎪 TBD (2020: October 2-11)
OCTOBER LITERATURE
- Brooklyn Book Festival 📚 TBD (2020: September 28 – October 5)
- New Yorker Festival 📚 TBD (2020: October 5-11)
- New York Comic Con 📚 TBD (2020: October 5-11)
OCTOBER MUSIC
- Global Music Month 🎶 TBD (2020: August 29 – October 1)
- Billboard Latin Music Awards 🎶🏆 TBD (2020: October 21)
- Metropolitan Opera 🎼🎶 September 27, 2021 – June 11, 2022
- New York Philharmonic 🎼🎶 TBD
OCTOBER SPORTS
- New York Mets ⚾️ baseball, April 1 – October 3, 2021
- New York Yankees ⚾️ baseball, April 1 – October 3, 2021
- NYCFC ⚽️ soccer TBD (early March to October, playoffs through December)
- NY Red Bulls ⚽️ soccer TBD (early March to October, playoffs through December)
- Sky Blue FC ⚽️ women’s soccer TBD (April to October)
OCTOBER THEATRE
- Broadway 🎭 TBD
OCTOBER NATIONAL DAYS
- International Coffee Day ☕️ October 1
- National Coming Out Day 🏳️🌈 October 11
- Indigenous People Day 🇺🇸 October 12
- National Pasta Day 🍝 October 17
- National Mezcal Day 🇲🇽 October 21
- International Creole Day 🇭🇹 (last Friday) October 28
- National Chocolate Day 🍫 October 28
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS
It’s strange that Celia Cruz and Dizzy Gillespie were born on the same day of the year, and that Bebo and Chucho Valdés (father and son) were also born on the same day of the year.
- Gerardo Ortiz 🇲🇽 regional Mexican star, “The King of Corrido”, October 5, 1989
- Ismael Rivera 🇵🇷 salsa legend, October 5, 1931
- Bebo Valdés 🇨🇺 Tropicana Music Director, October 9, 1918
- Chucho Valdés 🇨🇺 timba and Latin jazz, October 9, 1941
- Vinicius de Moraes 🇧🇷 bossa nova, October 19, 1933
- Celia Cruz 🇨🇺 Queen of Salsa, October 21, 1925
- Dizzy Gillespie 🇺🇸 Bebop jazz & Latin jazz, October 21, 1917
- Miguel Calo 🇦🇷 tango composer, October 28, 1907
- Espinoza Paz 🇲🇽 regional Mexican star, October 29, 1981
- Omara Portuondo 🇨🇺 Buena Vista Social Club singer, October 29, 1930
- Diego Maradona 🇦🇷 soccer legend, October 30, 1960