As we enter the crisp days of NYC fall, Hudson RIver Park is the perfect place to take in the beauty of the season while enjoying a vibrant lineup of fall festivities. Whether you’re passionate about sustainability, eager to learn more about local wildlife, interested in joining community celebrations, or looking to explore creativity in nature, this season’s lineup offers something for everyone. Here are some can’t-miss highlights happening in Hudson River Park this fall.
Join the Fall Fun at Community Celebrations
Family-friendly events all along the Park invite everyone to join the seasonal festivities.
Chelsea Waterside Park Celebration
Saturday, October 5
12:00 – 4:00 PM
Chelsea Waterside Park
Head to Chelsea Waterside Park for an afternoon of family-friendly activities, including face painting, lawn games and more. Plus, enjoy performances for all ages to enjoy by MORE Opera, who make professional-level and artistically satisfying opera performances accessible to the community.
Pier 84 Community Celebration
Saturday, October 19
1:00 – 6:00 PM
Pier 84 at W 44 St.
Join us at Pier 84 for lively performances from HONK NYC!, arts and crafts, face painting and kids’ activities galore. HONK NYC! brings the tradition of global street band music and spectacle to public audiences, and we look forward to bringing their energy to the Park.
Diwali in Hudson River Park
Saturday, October 26
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Pier 63 at W 23 St.
Celebrate Diwali in Hudson River Park with dance, music, henna and more! Diwali is a festival of lights, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and new beginnings. Enjoy a performance and dance workshop by Ajna Dance Company, accompanied by the dhol. Also featuring arts and crafts and face painting, the festivities include a DJ and dance party. Come join the celebration!
Barktoberfest
Tuesday, October 29
4:00 – 6:00 PM
Leroy Street Dog Park
Dog owners, dog appreciators and all our Four-Legged Friends are invited to join us for Barktoberfest. Dog and human costumes are encouraged at this annual fall event for our Four-Legged Friends Program. Enjoy food and beverages for humans, delights for dogs, pet photography, and an opportunity to meet local dog-friendly businesses.
Pumpkin Smash
Saturday, November 2
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Pier 84 at W 44 St.
Don’t miss this smashing Hudson River Park fall favorite. Celebrate fall and support Park sustainability as you break down pumpkins to be repurposed into compost by Hudson River Park’s team. BYOP (bring your own pumpkin) and we’ll provide the rest! Enjoy hands-on compost education, family-friendly performances, fall refreshments and more at this annual celebration!
Meet Wildlife in our Wetlab and Help Return them to the Hudson River
Wetlab Look-in hours continue until Release of the Fishes on October 23, where we celebrate the annual return of our wildlife ambassadors to the Hudson River at Release of the Fishes.
Wetlab Look-ins
Tuesdays and Wednesdays through October 23
3:00 – 6:00 PM
Saturdays through October 19
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Pier 40 Wetlab at W Houston St.
Open hours continue this fall in our Wetlab, the Park’s research aquarium that is free and open to the public. Join a drop-in tour during Wetlab Look-in hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays through October 23 led by our River Project team to learn more about fascinating local wildlife including oyster toadfish, lined seahorses and blue crabs.
Release of the Fishes
Wednesday, October 23
3:00 – 6:00 PM
Pier 40 Wetlab at W Houston St.
Celebrate the end of the Wetlab season with our River Project team and help us say farewell to the wonderful wildlife that have greeted visitors all season long. Join us for kid-friendly crafts and activities that teach about local wildlife as you help our team return our fish residents to the Hudson River as we get ready to close the Wetlab for the season.
Enjoy Hands-on Learning and Get Creative at the Discovery Tank
From opportunities to laugh and learn with STEM experts to painting nature, fall programming at the Park’s Pier 57 Discovery Tank keeps the opportunity for learning and creativity going into the colder months.
Guided Gallery
Various days and hours, check our event calendar.
Pier 57 Discovery Tank at W 15 St.
Guided Gallery hours led by our River Project Team at the Park’s Pier 57 Discovery Tank invite the public to explore this interactive technology-powered gallery and classroom for free. Each month, we focus on a particular theme for hands-on STEM activities. This October, learn with us about trees and foliage during the height of a colorful fall in the Park. In November, dig in as we learn about compost.
Ask a Scientist
Thursday, October 3
6:30 PM
Pier 57 Discovery Tank at W 15 St.
Join us for Ask a Scientist, where participants are invited to explore a fascinating science topic and take part in a live Q&A session with the experts. This month’s program is all about oysters, and we’ll be welcoming several local experts to discuss these mighty mollusks. We’re excited to learn from CUNY Brooklyn College’s Phillip Staniczenko along with CUNY Research Fellow Adelia Harrison, who will both be discussing oyster reef research in the Park’s Gansevoort Peninsula, and Shinara Sunderlal, Billion Oyster Project’s Education Outreach Manager who will be discussing the link between oysters and community science.
Painting Nature
Thursdays, November 7-21
6:30 PM
Pier 57 Discovery Tank at W 15 St.
Painting Nature returns this November, offering nature-inspired painting workshops at the Pier 57 Discovery Tank. We’re partnering with the New York Chinese Cultural Center to demonstrate the traditional art of Chinese ink brush painting. All levels are welcome — connect with nature and your creativity as the Park becomes your muse!
Get Active Outdoors
From dance classes to nature walks, there are plenty of ways to get active outside this fall in the Park.
Bollywood and Bhangra
Saturdays through October 26
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Pier 63 at W 23 St.
Kick off your Saturdays with high-energy dance classes. Dancers of all levels and ages are invited to learn Bollywood and Bhangra technique from Ajna Dance Company. These classes offer a great, fun way to get active this fall.
Nature Walks
Sunday, October 13
9:30 AM
Meet at Christopher St. Fountain
Get to know the Park’s many waterfront plant, animal and insect species on a guided Nature Walk. Fall is an ideal time to take a walk along the Park’s waterfront and appreciate the beautiful foliage along our riverfront.
Volunteer with us
Volunteers are a key part of our Park community, helping keep Hudson River Park’s four beautiful miles of riverfront looking great for everyone who enjoys them. Volunteering also offers a great way to connect with friends, community members and like-minded neighbors as you give back in your west side backyard. Our fall volunteers make a huge difference in preparing the Park for the winter and setting up our gardens for a spectacular spring bloom.
HRPK Green Team
Saturdays, October 26, November 16 and December 7
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Various locations, contact [email protected] for more info
Calling all green thumbs. Work with our seasoned horticulture staff and fellow Park neighbors to help beautify Hudson River Park’s landscape. Activities including planting, weeding, pruning and other general gardening activities. Fall volunteer projects often include a favorite autumn activity: bulbing. Over the course of the season volunteers will plant thousands of bulbs to prepare the Park for a beautiful spring. Join us!
Get Ready for an Unforgettable Fall
With so many ways to learn, play, get active, enjoy nature and celebrate the season, we can’t wait for the fall fun to begin. Mark your calendars, invite your friends and family, and come enjoy this beautiful season in the Park. For more info, check out our full events calendar.
Hudson River Park’s diverse lineup of free public programs is made possible by Park supporters and members like you. By donating to Hudson River Park Friends, the Park’s fundraising partner, you can keep New Yorkers discovering new music, enjoying exercise outdoors, connecting with nature and more. Show your support.