NYC Weekly — Things to Do in New York City This Week (September 21–27, 2026)

The season officially starts to shift this week, and you can feel fall settling into New York.

There are still outdoor markets, free fitness classes, movies, live music, food events, and community gatherings happening around the city, while the first signs of fall are starting to appear on the calendar.

If you're looking for things to do in NYC this week, here are some of the highlights.

Welcoming Fall in New York

Tuesday marks the Autumn Equinox, and Elizabeth Street Garden is celebrating with an evening gathering in the garden.

From 6 to 8 p.m., the free event is a chance to spend some time outside and welcome the changing season with the neighborhood community.

The garden will also host its final poetry reading of the season on Sunday, September 27, at 3 p.m. The rescheduled reading has the theme VISION.

If you want to take a piece of the season home with you, Wave Hill's renowned Plant Sale takes place Friday from noon to 4 p.m. in the Bronx.

And Smorgasburg is still going strong as September comes to an end.

This weekend, the market takes over Central Park from September 25–27, with its Williamsburg location on Saturday and Prospect Park on Sunday. It's a good way to spend part of the weekend outside while trying food from different vendors around the city.

Free Fitness, Runs & Slower Mornings

There are plenty of ways to get moving around the city this week, many of them free.

Monday evening brings RETRO Dance Fitness to the Rock Climbing Wall Room at Gertrude Ederle Recreation Center in Manhattan. From 6:30 to 7:15 p.m., the class brings together classic pop, Top 40, disco, electronic music and more.

Over in Harlem, Harlem Run's Monday Night Run returns to Marcus Garvey Park from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. The free weekly run and walk welcomes different paces and brings the community together for an evening run through Harlem.

Tuesday evening, NYRR Open Run returns to Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The free 5K community run takes place from 6:45 to 8 p.m. and is part of NYRR's weekly Open Run program in neighborhood parks across New York City.

Friday morning, you can slow things down with a free yoga class at Garibaldi Plaza in Washington Square Park.

The class runs from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and is led by local instructors Mariah and Frances. Bring a yoga mat and water bottle.

Music, Movies & Evening Events

Wednesday evening brings live jazz to 11 BC Serenity Garden in Manhattan.

From 7 to 8 p.m., you can hear trombonist Dick Griffin perform outdoors. Griffin is known for his highly personalized playing style, which he calls "circularphonics."

Friday evening, Hudson Yards Fall Movie Nights continues with Mean Girls.

The outdoor movie takes place on the Big Screen at the Public Square and Gardens, giving you another chance to catch a movie outside as September comes to an end.

Friday night also brings A Night in Italy to Eataly Downtown.

The event celebrates Eataly's 10th anniversary with live music, hands-on experiences, and food, wine and drinks. The celebration begins at 6:30 p.m.

Art, Food & Something a Little Different

One of the more unusual things happening this week is CJ Hendry's Flower Market at Rockefeller Center.

From September 24–27, Center Plaza will be transformed into a playful, colorful garden filled with oversized plush flowers and new designs from artist CJ Hendry.

The experience is free to attend, and every guest receives one complimentary plush flower. Additional flowers are $5.

There will also be original artwork and limited-edition merchandise, while several Rockefeller Center restaurants are participating in the Flower Market experience.

Expect long lines, especially during busy periods.

Thursday also brings the Grand Central Food Festival to 45th Street, between 3rd Avenue and Lexington Avenue.

And if you'd rather explore the city than simply pass through it, the High Line's free Spotlight Tour: History takes place Thursday evening.

The 90-minute tour begins at 5:30 p.m. and explores the history of the High Line, one of New York's most recognizable public parks.

Weekend in NYC

Saturday brings a particularly varied mix of events around the city.

At the Seaport District, Taste of the Seaport takes place from noon to 4 p.m., bringing food and drinks to the waterfront.

In Central Park, the Global Citizen Festival takes over the Great Lawn.

If you're looking for something completely different, the New York Transit Museum is going back to 1976 to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The museum's one-night-only event on September 26 turns the decommissioned Court Street subway station in Downtown Brooklyn into a 1970s-themed disco dance party, with dancing, drinks and vinyl-only tunes.

The museum itself was founded in 1976 and is housed inside the former station, where its collection includes historic train cars, photographs, equipment and other artifacts from New York's transportation history.

For film lovers — and especially cat lovers — the 9th Annual NY Cat Film Festival makes its New York City debut at Village East by Angelika on Saturday at 4 p.m.

And at West Side Community Garden, Enchantment in the Garden brings opera and classically inspired songs into the garden.

The free performance begins at 5:30 p.m. and features opera singers and instrumentalists performing among the flowers.

Books, Parades & Sunday in New York

Sunday brings one of the city's biggest literary events of the week.

The Brooklyn Book Festival takes over Brooklyn Borough Hall and surrounding Downtown Brooklyn venues for Festival Day and the Literary Marketplace.

The free festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and brings together hundreds of authors and publishers, along with readings, conversations, book signings and events for readers of all ages.

There's also the Queens Hispanic Day Parade, bringing a celebration of Hispanic culture and community to Queens.

And if you're looking for something quieter, Elizabeth Street Garden's final poetry reading of the season takes place at 3 p.m., with VISION as its theme.

A Few More Things Happening This Week

There's plenty happening throughout the week beyond the bigger weekend events.

Smorgasburg continues across the city from Friday through Sunday, with Central Park hosting the market throughout the weekend, Williamsburg on Saturday, and Prospect Park on Sunday.

The High Line history tour, Grand Central Food Festival, Dick Griffin's jazz performance, community runs and free fitness classes all offer smaller ways to experience different parts of the city without planning an entire day around a major event.

Climate Week NYC is also taking place across the city this week, bringing a wide range of climate-related events, discussions, and gatherings alongside the UN General Assembly. With events happening throughout New York, it's another part of the city's busy September calendar.

And CJ Hendry's Flower Market stays at Rockefeller Center through Sunday, making it one of the week's longest-running temporary experiences.

Through the Week

This week feels like a transition point in New York.

Summer isn't completely gone yet. You can still spend the weekend at Smorgasburg, watch a movie outdoors, take a yoga class in Washington Square Park, or enjoy a garden event.

But fall is becoming much more visible too.

The Autumn Equinox arrives Tuesday, Wave Hill hosts its fall Plant Sale, and seasonal events are beginning to take over the city's calendar.

Whether you spend the week running through Harlem, listening to jazz in a garden, wandering through Rockefeller Center's Flower Market, watching Mean Girls outdoors, or choosing between books, food, music and festivals over the weekend, there's still plenty happening around New York as September comes to a close.

September is slowly giving way to fall, but New York definitely isn't slowing down yet.

Image Credit By Laura Peruchi on Unsplash

Written by Laura

Creator of Live Your Dreams Fully, a website exploring NYC daily life POV, seasonal moments, weekly city updates, and short stories inspired by New York City.