Gaels on the Go: Top Picks for Fall Fun Around Iona
Get out and enjoy these fall festivities around Iona!
With Iona University’s prime location in Westchester County, N.Y., we’re fortunate to be at the epicenter of great art, sports, culture and so much more all year long.
This fall, as the leaves change colors and the smells of apple cider, donuts and pumpkin spice fill the air, we hope you’ll go out and enjoy all that the surrounding area has to offer.
Remember to tag Iona on social media and check the event websites before you go to ensure tickets, pricing and other details!
Celebrate the Arts at ArtsFest
October 19-22 | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
New Rochelle and Pelham, N.Y.
The city will be alive with live music, art exhibits, open artist studios, spoken word events, great food, films and exciting dance performances throughout the weekend. ArtsFest is celebrating its 16th year and was created by the New Rochelle Council (NRCA) with the purpose of showcasing a variety of arts and art-based venues.
Click here to learn more about ArtsFest.
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
Open through November 19
Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.
Experience the magic of more than 7,000 pumpkins illuminating the night at this 18th-century landscape! The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze is a renowned attraction that’s quite a spectacle to behold.
Click here to learn more about the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze.
Scared by the Sound Haunted House
Open through October
Yorktown, N.Y.
Every Friday and Saturday in October, you have the opportunity to attend the Scared by the Sound Haunted House. It is one of the highest rated haunted houses in the U.S. by CNN Travel. The event is a great place to have some fun with friends and get scared if you dare!
Click here to learn more about Scared by the Sound.
Hudson Horrors at Playland
Weekends in October
Rye, N.Y.
Throughout weekends in October, Hudson Horrors will be in Rye Playland. The event is intended for those 16 and older, so it’s not a good idea to bring young ones to this event. Hudson Horror uses live theatre, storytelling, music, climate control, special FX and haunted houses to enhance the horror experience.
Click here to learn more about Hudson Horrors.
Dr. Wildcliff’s Haunted Greenhouse & Mansion
October 19–31 | 7 p.m.–10 p.m.
Hudson Park Children’s Greenhouse
Experience a unique Halloween thrill at “Dr. Wildcliff’s Haunted Greenhouse & Mansion” at Hudson Park in New Rochelle. Fun fact, this event is run by an Iona alum and Iona students have been volunteering to make it happen! Navigate through a haunted greenhouse, a spooky mansion and a disorienting corn maze, all while enjoying local hot chocolate and signature pumpkin donuts.
Click here to learn more about Dr. Wildcliff’s Haunted Greenhouse & Mansion.
Apples, Pumpkins & Donuts at Harvest Moon Farms
Open through October
North Salem, N.Y.
Nothing says fall more than apple picking, pumpkins and fresh cider donuts! This is peak apple picking season, so the lines may be long, but the donuts alone are worth the trip and the rustic scenery of Northern Westchester makes for a beautiful drive.
Click here to learn more about Harvest Moon.
Hudson Valley Restaurant Week
Oct. 30 to Nov. 12
Regional Event
That nip in the air means it's nearly time for Hudson Valley Restaurant Week. The biannual event, which runs in the fall and spring, goes from Oct. 30 to Nov. 12 and includes prix-fixe lunches and dinners — for both dine-in and takeout — at $24.95, $29.95, $39.95 or $44.95. This year, there are more than 130 dining establishments to choose from across Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Ulster, Orange, Sullivan and Dutchess counties. Reservations are now open.
Click here to learn more about the Hudson Valley Restaurant Week.
Boo at the Zoo
Open through October 29
Bronx, N.Y.
It’s spooky season at the Bronx Zoo! Come dressed in your Halloween best to enjoy a plethora of events and activities while learning about animals from around the world. This year, you can also visit after dark to follow an animal-themed, illuminated jack o’lantern trail and learn what animals do at night, plus enjoy games and treats along the way!
Click here to learn more about Boo at the Zoo.
Botanical Gardens Art Show
Open through October 30
Bronx, N.Y.
Experience the artistic talents of Ebony G. Patterson at the Botanical Gardens. Don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the most exciting contemporary artists of our time transform one of the most stunning settings in New York City like never before.
Click here to learn more about the New York Botanical Gardens.
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics and More
Ongoing this Fall and Winter
Manhattan, N.Y.
If you’re looking for an enchanting way to spend an upcoming evening, consider attending “A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics” or other candlelit concerts around New York City. The event consists of a live, multi-sensory musical experience in various venues, all while surrounded by candlelight.
Click here to learn more about Candlelight Classics in New York City.
New Rochelle Thanksgiving Parade
November 18 | 10 a.m.
New Rochelle, N.Y.
Mark your calendars for the 59th annual New Rochelle Thanksgiving Parade! A favorite of the Iona University community, the parade route goes right down North Avenue so be sure to come out and support!
Click here to learn more about the New Rochelle Thanksgiving Parade.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2024 national list of “The Best 389 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.