The Best Fairs and Festivals in and Around NYC for September 2022

Attending a carnival or festival near NYC
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The Best Fairs and Festivals in and Around NYC for September 2022

With August (and seemingly festivals season) drawing to a close and back-to-school upon us again, your kids – and maybe you – are probably a little bummed to see it go. But don’t fret! September is still mostly a summer month, with family-friendly outdoor celebrations like festivals, carnivals, fairs and parades happening every weekend in NYC and nearby, all month long.

In fact, we’d even go so far as to say September is the BEST time for outdoor events, with its cooler temperatures and festive fall themes. There’s certainly no other time of year when you can pick apples in your favorite summer dress! 

Psst… Check out How to Make School Mornings Easy: Parents Share Time-Saving Tips

If your family loves a good festival or fair in the summer or fall, then you need to check out this MEGA event roundup from our sister site, NYMetroParents. It’s broken down by region: NYC (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island), Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk), Rockland, Westchester and even some in New Jersey. 

We can save you some scrolling. Just click on a region below for a huge list of kid-friendly festivals, carnivals and parades for September 2022 in and around NYC!

NYC Festivals and Carnivals

Highlights include The Feast of San Gennaro, the Queens County Fair, Flatbush Frolic, the Richmond County Fair, a Superhero Festival and more!

Westchester Festivals and Carnivals

Highlights include Hudson Valley Irish Fest, Rye Food Truck Festival, Yorktown Grange Fair, a Culture, Pride, Music, Arts & Community of Africa Festival and more!

Long Island Festivals and Carnivals

Highlights include the Water Lantern Festival in Eisenhower Park, the 2022 Long Island Fair,Harbes Orchard’s Annual Apple Harvest and their Sunflower Festival as well, the 20th Annual Long Island Garlic Festival and more!

Rockland Festivals and Carnivals

Highlights include the New York Renaissance Faire, the Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival, Nyack’s SeptemberFest Street Fair, the Water Lantern Festival and more!

New Jersey Festivals and Carnivals

Highlights include the Annual Festival of the Sea at Point Pleasant, St. Demetrios 45th Annual Greek Festival, St. Bartholomew/UNICO Italian Festival and more!

Psst… Check out 10 Sunflower Fields Near New York City

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Steps on Broadway Youth Programs

<p class="m_6201101365486487057m_1751229968981391907gmail-m-6447730382188674378msonospacing" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For 40 years, the Youth Programs at the internationally celebrated Steps on Broadway have nurtured young dancers, ages 18 months to 18 years.  Whether seeking a fun dance experience or comprehensive pre-professional training, there is a program suited for everyone.  Classes include ballet, tap, jazz, theater dance, hip hop, contemporary, modern, pointe and more.  Taught by a faculty of internationally-recognized concert, ballet, Broadway and celebrated guest artists, every student is encouraged to discover their artistic uniqueness, deepen their passion for the art form, while growing as dancers and individuals. </span><u></u><u></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 10pt; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #5a5a5a;">Classes are offered throughout the academic year and summer.</span><u></u><u></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 10pt; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #5a5a5a;">First Steps (ages 18 mos – 5 yrs)</span><u></u><u></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 10pt; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #5a5a5a;">Kids & Teens (ages 6-18 yrs)</span><u></u><u></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 10pt; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #5a5a5a;">Pre-Professional Program (ages 7-18 yrs, by audition only)</span></p>

British Swim School - Long Island

<p>The premier learn-to-swim provider for people of all ages, offering programs for children ages 3-months through adults.  British Swim School uses gentle teaching methods and a survival-first approach to help people of all experience levels become safer, stronger swimmers. British Swim School’s safe, fun, and effective instructional program has made it the preferred choice for parents and students for over 40 years. Come see the British Swim School difference!</p>

Once Upon A Mattress

<p>Bring your kids.</p> <p>Bring your parents.</p> <p>Bring your favorite pajamas!</p> <p>Once Upon a Mattress is back on Broadway, and it’s “pure let’s-be-kids entertainment” (New Yorker) fit for ages 7 to 107!</p> <p>Two-time Tony® winner Sutton Foster stars as Princess Winnifred the Woebegone, alongside royalty of stage and screen Michael Urie and Queen of Comedy Ana Gasteyer. Adapted for a new generation by Amy Sherman-Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), this uproarious retelling of The Princess and the Pea introduces the unapologetically eccentric Winnifred to an uptight kingdom, where she charms, delights, and dances her way to the top… of a stack of mattresses.</p> <p>So give the babysitter the night off and your kids a night on the town – you'll all live happily ever laughter!</p> <p>Get tickets at <a href="https://onceuponamattressnyc.com/">https://onceuponamattressnyc.com/</a></p>