The Ultimate Guide to Fall in Astoria
“Don’t you love New York in the fall?” Tom Hanks once asked Meg Ryan in *You’ve Got Mail*. If your answer is anything other than a resounding yes, well, you may want to check your lease because you probably don’t belong here. If you can’t love New York in the autumn, then you can’t love it at all. This city comes alive this time of year. The crisp air. The changing leaves. The sweaters. And the much-needed end of the unbearable humidity. Here in Astoria, the arrival of fall means a ton of opportunities to get out, celebrate, and enjoy the neighborhood. From Halloween parties and horror movie screenings to outdoor markets and art festivals, there is so no shortage of ways to embrace the season. That’s why we’ve curated a list of the best spooky, festive, and fun fall events our neighborhood has to offer. So grab your calendar because you won’t want to miss out.
Halloween Spooktacular at Victory Garden Cafe
Halloween celebrations don’t necessarily have to wait until the 31st. On Sunday, October 25, Victory Garden Cafe will be getting into the spirit with its Halloween Spooktacular, an afternoon celebration filled with prizes, treats, costumes, and plenty of seasonal fun. The event starts at 3:00 pm and is open to everyone, so grab your favorite costume and head over to Steinway for a festive afternoon at one of Astoria’s best neighborhood cafes.
21-69 Steinway St I October 25th I victorysweetshop.com
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Screening at SingleCut
For cinephiles in the neighborhood, there are plenty of incredible movie screenings and film events around Astoria this month, including a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at SingleCut on October 7th. The screening is being hosted by Zero Vision Cinema, an organization that does incredible work with SingleCut and plenty of other local venues throughout the year. Tickets are just $10, making this event an appropriate and affordable way to kick off spooky season. The 1975 cult classic is exactly the kind of movie that belongs in a brewery on a fall night, so assuredly there will be plenty of beer to go along with the fun.
19-33 37th St I October 7th I singlecut.com
The 5th Annual Ditmars Boulevard Halloween Parade & Block Party
The 5th annual Ditmars Boulevard Halloween Parade and Block Party will certainly be one of the most festive events of the fall season. With community organizations and local businesses joining in to support the fun, this truly is one of the most inclusive and Astoria-centric events on the list. Folks of all ages should show out, and parents are welcome to bring their kids, as there will be a family costume parade, spooky activities, art markets, live music, and more. The celebration takes place from morning to night on Saturday, October 24th, and will be one that you don’t want to miss.
Ditmars Blvd I October 24th
Astoria Farmers Market
Image via Instagram (@astoriafarmersmarket)
From May through November, the Astoria Farmers Market is one of the highlights of our neighborhood. But there is perhaps no better time to visit than this month. With dozens of vendors from New York City, Long Island, Hudson Valley, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, there will be an incredible selection of fresh produce, baked goods, and seasonal goodies for you to browse while you brainstorm ideas for your next cozy, autumnal, home-cooked meal. With their season ending November 8th, you only have a few more chances to visit the market this year, so be sure to visit soon.
31st Ave I October 11th, October 25th I astoriafarmersmarket.com
Central Astoria’s Batty Over Halloween Celebration
Central Astoria’s annual Batty Over Halloween celebration is returning to Astoria Park for an afternoon of Halloween fun. The family-friendly event is scheduled for Sunday, October 25, from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. The celebration offers a chance for neighborhood families to enjoy Halloween-themed activities together in one of Astoria’s most beloved outdoor spaces, the great lawn at Astoria Park. It’s also a pretty good excuse to take advantage of what could be one of the last truly pleasant park afternoons before the weather turns decidedly less cooperative.
Astoria Park I October 25th I centralastoria.org
A Monday Night Creature Feature
On October 5th, Astoria Bookshop and Creature Publishing are coming together to host a night celebrating the best in intersectional feminist horror and indie publishing at QED. The event, which costs $15 to attend, will consist of drinks, games, prizes, and a festive costume contest. The whole night will be emceed by Stoker Award-winner RJ Joseph, who will lead conversations with other experienced and knowledgeable horror writers. For any horror lover or bookworm, this event is the perfect chance to meet like-minded genre enthusiasts and celebrate the works and authors you love while having some drinks and playing some games in costume.
27-16 23rd Ave I October 5th I @qedastoria I qedastoria.com
Horror Movie Screenings at the Museum of the Moving Image
One of Astoria’s most beloved institutions, the Museum of the Moving Image, has a jam-packed October calendar for spooky season. Appropriately, MoMI is leaning heavily into horror throughout the month, with screenings ranging from classic monster movies to more contemporary fare. Highlights include The Wolf Man and Magic on October 25th, Nosferatu with a live piano accompaniment on October 30th, and a Halloween Day lineup featuring The Vourdalak, The Exorcist, and Poltergeist. And on the last three Saturdays of the month, the museum is also hosting its MoMI After Dark guided lantern tour, which takes visitors through the darker side of the museum’s galleries, including props from films like The Exorcist and The Silence of the Lambs, along with special-effects demonstrations. In other words, if you’re a film buff, MoMI definitely has you covered this October.
36-01 35th Ave I movingimage.org
Halloween Moove at Bohemian Beer Garden
Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden is giving Astorians a unique Halloween celebration this year with Halloween Moove, an all-day Brazilian celebration of the holiday on Saturday, October 24th. From 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm, the neighborhood’s favorite beer garden will play host to live music performances, a costume contest, games, family-friendly activities, dancing, and, of course, plenty of food and drink. Early bird tickets are on sale currently for just $8, but all kids can attend for free until 8:00 pm, before the celebration becomes adults-only.
29-19 24th Ave I October 24th I bohemianhall.com
5 Boro Foto Fest
If you want to support local art and artists this month, the inaugural 5 Boro Foto Fest at Culture Lab LIC is the perfect opportunity. Taking place on October 25th, the festival is a celebration of local photographers and authenticity, proudly boasting that no AI art of any kind is allowed. Tons of impressive work will be on display and for sale, including fine art prints, zines, books, and mixed media. Best of all, admission is free. So if you love photography, believe in the importance of human-made art, and want to support indie artists and storefronts, then be sure to mark this one down on your calendar.
5-25 46th Ave I October 25th I 5borofotofest.com
Halloween Harvest Festival at Socrates Sculpture Park
Astoria is home to so many incredible Halloween-themed events in October, but the Harvest Festival at Socrates Sculpture Park may just be at the top of the list. Taking place on Halloween day, from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, this festival is community-driven and fun for the whole family. The afternoon includes art-making workshops, local food vendors, a community resource fair, and even New York’s second-largest dog costume contest in collaboration with Chateau le Woof. You would definitely have a tough time finding a free-to-attend event with more to offer than the Harvest Festival this October.
32-01 Vernon Blvd I October 31st I socratessculpturepark.org
Ceramic Slumber Parties at Mostly Good Studios
If your ideal October is filled more with cozy vibes than scary ones, then the ceramic slumber parties hosted at Mostly Good Studios are the perfect fall events for you. Taking place on October 9th and October 29th from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, each party consists of a movie night and a low-instruction, play-based ceramic clay session. Your sculpting will be inspired by what’s shown on screen, which will be the beloved animated series Over the Garden Wall on the 9th and the autumn classic Practical Magic on the 29th. As the night is all about low-stakes crafting and cozy vibes, you don’t need to be a master ceramicist to participate. Just show up, get comfortable, and spend a few hours making art and watching something great with new friends.
920 35th Ave I October 9th, October 29th I mostlygoodstudios.com
Heart of Gold’s Hogtoberfest 2026
For a festive and boozy fall celebration at one of Astoria’s most treasured neighborhood watering holes, look no further than Heart of Gold’s Hogtoberfest. Going down on October 11th, the event will feature costume and stein-holding competitions, as well as food and drink specials. Hearty options like cheddar bratwursts and roasted potatoes will be available to pair with however many pints you may end up having. Bring your friends, grab some drinks, and embrace the seasonal festivities.
37-14 31st Ave I October 11th I heartofgoldnyc.com
A Month of Haunting Events at Medusa Art Studios
If you’re looking to celebrate Halloween all month, Medusa Art Studios has you covered. The neighborhood art studio and event space will be decked out in Halloween decorations throughout the month, with public hours designed as hangout time where visitors can stop in and enjoy the space. The weekly schedule will feature Halloween-themed programming including Tuesday night comedy, movie nights with tarot readers on Wednesdays, Thursday crafts and D&D, music and tarot every Friday, and spooky brunches on Saturdays. Horror book club meetings, karaoke, and other community events will be taking place throughout the month as well, and there will also be plenty of ticketed events, including a witches ball on October 17th. Basically, if you love Halloween and the arts, Medusa is the place to be this month.
18-14 Astoria Blvd I medusaartstudios.com
Spooky Movie Nights at The Bier & Cheese Collective
Throughout the month, the Bier & Cheese Collective is hosting spooky movie nights every Sunday. Family-friendly movies will be shown at 3:00 pm, and more adult fare will be screened at 7:00 pm so there’s something for everyone, including a complimentary popcorn with every purchase of a draft beer or wine. With seasonal beers on tap and plenty of food to keep you fed throughout the film, this is a great way to get your horror fix throughout October. After all, what’s better than craft beer, artisanal cheese, a delicious soft pretzel, and a spooky movie?
35-11 Ditmars Blvd I bierandcheese.com
The 3rd Great Astoria Bake-Off
For the most delicious fall event of the year, check out the third edition of the Great Astoria Bake-Off at Bench Flour Bakers on Sunday, October 11th. Here, dozens of local bakers will be coming together for an afternoon consisting of a little friendly neighborhood competition and a lot of delectable homemade treats. Last year, over 150 Astorians showed up to this tremendous event, and that number will probably be topped this time around so don’t miss out. As far as price goes, tickets are pay-what-you-can at the door and, since the bake-off is benefiting Astoria Food Pantry, it is encouraged that you bring a non-perishable food item or sanitary supplies to donate.
43-18 25th Ave I October 11th I benchflourbakers.com
The 4th Annual Mystic Mega Market
Astoria Mystic Circle is bringing a little magic to the 31st Ave Open Street with the fourth annual Mystic Mega Market on Sunday, October 4. From 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm, the open street between 33rd and 35th Streets will transform into a marketplace filled with crafts, art, food, workshops, astrologers, tarot and palm readers, psychics, healers, and other mystical offerings. There will also be workshops covering topics such as tarot study and magical herbalism. Admission is free, making this an easy way to spend a fall Sunday wandering around the neighborhood and discovering something you probably didn’t know you needed.
31st Ave I October 4th I @astoriamysticcircle
Halloween Variety Show at QED
If you’d rather laugh than get scared during Halloween weekend, QED has a great Halloween Eve event for you. On October 30th, the Spooky Flamingoes Halloween comedy/variety show is returning to the beloved neighborhood performance space. There will be plenty of laughs and a costume contest to get you in the proper spooky spirit right before the 31st. Tickets are only $20 and can be purchased on QED’s website.
27-16 23rd Ave I October 30th I qedastoria.com
Tag Sale at NY Showplace
Fall cleaning works both ways. While some Astorians are getting rid of their old stuff, the rest of us can take advantage of the opportunity to acquire that old stuff thanks to NY Showplace. They are hosting a three-day tag sale from October 23rd through October 25th, offering shoppers a chance to browse extensive selections of furniture, fashion, jewelry, art, antiques, and other vintage finds. If you’re in the shopping mood this October and are interested in unique pieces that you can’t just find at any old department store, this is definitely one to keep on the calendar.
36-01 35th St I October 23-25 I @nyshowplace I nyshowplace.com
Astoria Club Fair
For those looking for ways to meet new people and get more involved in the neighborhood this Fall, the upcoming Astoria Club Fair is providing an invaluable community resource. Taking place at 31st Ave Open Street on Saturday, October 10, the event will bring local clubs together to set up tables and introduce themselves to anyone interested in joining, participating, or simply learning more about what’s happening around the neighborhood. Whether you’re looking for a new hobby, a community group, a creative outlet, or just an excuse to meet more people in Astoria, this could be the perfect place to start.
31st Ave I October 10th I @31staveopenstreet I 31staveopenstreet.com
