Enjoy author meet-and-greets plus a family-fun zone at the Chappaqua Children's Book Festival this Saturday. Photo courtesy of the event
Top Things To Do This Weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids
Book your tickets now if you want to see the annual spectacle that is The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor. Photo by the author
21 Best Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids September 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors
Outhouse Orchards Corn Maze. Photo by Matt Nighswander
GUIDE
Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids Fall Guide: Best Things to Do in 2025
The pie eating contest is just the start of the fun at the Armonk Cider and Donut Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival
Best Harvest Festivals & Pumpkin Festivals in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for Fall Fun in 2025
The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze in Van Cortlandt Manor is a must-do Halloween event in the tri-state area. Photo courtesy of the Historic Hudson Valley
Best Halloween Events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley 2025 for Kids and Families
Pick from a number of apple varieties at Hudson Valley orchards. Photo by Leslie Seaton via Flickr
Apple Picking in the Hudson Valley: Best Apple Farms and Apple Festivals
Apple picking is one of the family-friendly fall activities you can enjoy in the Hudson Valley with Kids. Photo courtesy of the author
Your 2-Day Itinerary for a Kid-Approved Fall Weekend in the Hudson Valley
Woodstock is the perfect fall getaway and just a two-hour drive away. Photo by Diana Kim
30 Fall Day Trips from NYC for Families
Get ready for back to school with all the right supplies, classes, and tips.
GUIDE
Back-to-School Guide 2025-2026
Enjoy glorious views on the Walkway Over the Hudson. Photo by Fred Schaeffer/courtesy of the Walkway.
50 Best Things To Do in the Hudson Valley with Kids
A visit to the United States Military Academy is a lesson in history and patriotism, but also tons of fun for families.
Visiting West Point with Kids: 37 Top Things To Do near the United States Military Academy
Kids can run, swing, slide, and even make music at Sally’s Dream Playground in Montgomery. Photo by Katherine Dhurandhar
Top Playgrounds in Westchester and the Hudson Valley Worth Driving To
The Saugerties Lighthouse is a stunning getaway no matter the season.
Sleep in a Lighthouse and More Hudson Valley Family Resorts and Hotels
Summer camps are a great way to make new friends and develop new skills
GUIDE
Summer Camps Guide for Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids
The Play Place in Elmsford is one of Westchester's top indoor play spaces.
Top Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Westchester
Roam the the cedar walk and gardens at Caramoor for a free, fun outing. Photo by Gabe Palacio
41 Free Things To Do in Westchester with Kids
Enjoy water sports at Westchester Summer Day in Mamaroneck. Photo courtesy of the camp
Best Summer Camps in Westchester for Kids
Palisade Center's Climbzone features themed rock walls as high as 40 feet. Photo courtesy of Climbzone.
20 Best Things To Do at the Palisades Center Mall with Kids
The Ausable Chasm has been described as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks and it's one of our top 100 things to do in New York State with kids. Photo by Anna Fader
Ultimate New York Bucket List: 100 Things To Do with Kids in NY State
Poughkeepsie's Gravity Vault is an indoor rock-climbing gym with classes for kids as young as 5. Photo by Kaylynn Ebner
Best Kids' Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in the Hudson Valley
Mount Kisco's Grand Prix New York, a go-kart hot spot, offers birthday parties with racing, arcade play, and virtual reality.
17 Best Indoor Party Places for Kids in Westchester
GUIDE
Guide to Indoor Fun for Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids
Kids explore the great outdoors Hudson Highlands Nature Center. Photo courtesy of the center
School Break Camps in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Winter and Spring Break Camps
At Moe's Southwestern Grill, kids eat free on Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult entree. Photo courtesy of the restaurant
Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
Kids under 1 are FREE hours at the Westchester Children’s Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum
GUIDE
Guide to Free Fun Things to Do with Westchester Kids
Kids can peek into the marine life in the aquariums at the Marine Education Center in Mamaroneck. Photo by Susan Miele
19 Free Things To Do Indoors in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Indoor Places to Play
Castle Fun Center in Chester has a giant inflatable park, a rock wall, laser tag, and more. Photo by Katherine Dhurandhar
15 Family Fun Centers in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
Grab a colorful treat at Harley's Sweet Shop in Woodstock. Photo courtesy of the shop
25 Best Things To Do in Woodstock, NY, with Kids
Kids can climb the walls at the Cliffs in Valhalla. Photo courtesy of the Cliffs
32 Things To Do on a Rainy Day Indoors in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
Touch the soft rabbits at the Greenburgh Nature Center's petting zoo in Scarsdale. Photo courtesy of the center
Best Animal Petting Zoos near Westchester and the Hudson Valley Where Kids Can Meet Animals
Peekskill, NY, is a lovely riverfront community that acts an the unofficial gateway to the Hudson Valley.
25 Best Things To Do in Peekskill, NY, with Kids
Explore what makes things fly with the Westchester Children's Museum's Wind Tunnel Design Challenge. Photo courtesy of the museum
Visiting the Westchester Children's Museum in Rye: New and Ongoing Exhibits
Romp through the woods in the beautiful Catskills. Photo by Deborah Dadlani
40 Best Things To Do in the Catskills with Kids
GUIDE
Classes Guide for Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids
Tig & Peach offers drop-in, no reservations required, open play 7 days a week.
7 Indoor Playgrounds in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for a Wild Romp
Friends young and old enjoy the attractions and Legoland New York, the first major theme park in the Northeast in 40 years.
  VIDEO
Legoland New York: A Guide to Visiting the Hudson Valley Theme Park with Kids
Frost Valley YMCA offers a variety of day and overnight camps for kids ages 5-14. Photo courtesy Frost Valley YMCA
Affordable Summer Camps in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
Kids love a birthday party filled with games and pizza at Chuck E. Cheese. Photo courtesy of Chuck E. Cheese
Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in Westchester
Head to the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum from 5-8 pm on the third Saturday of the month to explore the museum for free, Photo by the author
Free Museums and Museum Days in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home
Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting. Photo by Sara Marentette
Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects
These kids' movies are classic hits!
75 Best Movies for Kids: Top Family Movie Night Ideas
GUIDE
Guide to Playgrounds & Parks in Westchester & the Hudson Valley
Suncatcher_Liz Baill @creativishmom
GUIDE
Crafts for Kids Guide: Thousands of Craft Ideas

Toast Oktoberfest in NYC at these Family-Friendly Celebrations

Stone Street goes all out with its decorations in honor of Oktoberfest. Photo courtesy of the event
Stone Street goes all out with its decorations in honor of Oktoberfest. Photo courtesy of the event
9/17/24 - By Drew Kristofik

Line up your lederhosen, it's time to celebrate Oktoberfest in NYC. We've found Oktoberfest celebrations in all five boroughs. Choose from playing giant games and eating oversized pretzels at Watermark, or riding The Standard's Ferris wheel, and then work off all those carbs during Hike-toberfest in Van Cortlandt Park!

For even more seasonal celebrations, check out our list of the best beer gardens for kids and families in NYC.

Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Best Family-Friendly Celebrations for Oktoberfest in NYC

Radegast Hall Oktoberfest

Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Saturdays from Saturday, September 21-Saturday, October 5, 2024
Oktoberfest competitions entertain at Rasegast Hall, with mug-holding challenges, music, and—of course—the Hall's signature German food menu. READ MORE

Oktoberfest Block Party at The Standard

Greenwich Village
Saturday, September 21-Saturday, October 5, 2024
The Standard High Line celebrates Oktoberfest with an incredible array of activities over a two-week run. Biergarten regulars and Oktoberfest fans alike can enjoy activities like flower-crown making, cookie decorating, beer tastings, carnival games, and more. The festivities kick off with a day-long block party on Saturday, September 21, complete with a Ferris wheel, an oompah band, pretzels, bratwurst, and more. READ MORE

Oktoberfest at Black Forest

Fort Greene and Cobble Hill, Brooklyn
Select dates from Saturday, September 21-Saturday, October 26, 2024
Authentic decorations, a live German oompah band, drink and food specials, and a mug-holding costume contest with prizes are the hallmarks of Oktoberfest at Black Forest's two Brooklyn locations. READ MORE

Stone Street Oktoberfest

Financial District
Saturdays from Saturday, September 21-Saturday, October 26, 2024
Stone Street Oktoberfest is one of the largest Oktoberfest celebrations in New York City, with German beer served in traditional German glassware, food, stein-holding contests, live music, fun games, and serving staff dressed in traditional dirndls and lederhosen. READ MORE

Zum Schneider Oktoberfest

Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Thursday, September 26-Sunday, October 6, 2024
Zum Schneider offers originality and authenticity in a fully decked-out Munich Oktoberfest tent, seating more than 600 people. This traditional fair features imported Oktoberfest Bier from Bavaria and greater Germany, paired with the great musical atmosphere by Mösl Franzi and the JaJaJas Oompah band.  READ MORE

Sunnyside Gardens Park Annual Oktoberfest

Sunnyside, Queens
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Sunnyside Gardens Park transforms its picnic grove into an authentic biergarten with German-style beer, traditional German food, and live music and entertainment for the whole family. READ MORE

Staten Island Oktoberfest at University Hospital Park

St. George, Staten Island
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Staten Island's big Oktoberfest is a day filled with the best of German tradition and community spirit. Indulge in delicious traditional foods, savor refreshing beers, and sway to the tunes of lively music, with plenty of kids games and activities to keep the little ones entertained and an array of vendors offering unique goods and crafts.  READ MORE

TorchFest: Oktoberfest in Union Square

Union Square
Sunday, October 6, 2024
Raise your steins at Torch & Crown in Union Square Park for NYC's ultimate Oktoberfest celebration, including German food, games, and more. READ MORE

Hike-toberfest in Van Cortlandt Park

Kingsbridge, Bronx
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Hike in the park followed by a classic Oktoberfest celebration, complete with local beer, German food, live music, lawn games, and more. READ MORE

Oktoberfest in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza

Midtown East
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Families, kids and dogs frolic among hundreds of pumpkins when Hammarskjold Plaza is transformed into a country farm for its annual Oktoberfest, featuring pumpkin decorating, face painting and balloon art with games and crafts. READ MORE

OktoberFest NYC 2024 at the Watermark

South Street Seaport
Through Sunday, October 27, 2024
Dive into the ultimate Oktoberfest with bratwurst, beer (for adults, of course) and pretzels bigger than your head, all while enjoying a festive, family-friendly atmosphere. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

About the Author

Drew Kristofik
Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
Recent Articles By Drew Kristofik:
Read more articles by Drew Kristofik.