DUMBO Art Under the Bridge Festival

Can you believe it’s nearly October? Neither can we. But as the dark winter months loom, we can’t help but love this gorgeous fall weather. Thankfully, there are tons of local offerings to get you and your brood out of that stuffy old apartment and into the autumn breeze. While we’ve rounded up a whole bunch of great events taking place throughout the weekend, these high points are too cool to be missed:

The Kitchen Block Party: Chelsea hosts a whole afternoon of family-friendly fun on Saturday, including musical performances, craft workshops (like puppet making and cookie decorating!), photo booths, face painting and plenty of tasty food. Best of all, it’s free!

Smithsonian Museum Day: Toting your kids along to the city’s fabulous museums can get a bit pricey—especially if you’ve got more than one tot. On Saturday, a HUGE number of the Big Apple’s cultural institutions are offering free admission, which means your crew can explore the artsy side of the city without breaking the bank. Plenty of kid-centric workshops and activities accompany the event.

DUMBO Art Under the Bridge Festival: It’ll be worth your while to wedge one more stop into your lineup on Saturday, the second of three days in this annual fete. Join creative Gothamites as they unite on the shores of Brooklyn below the Manhattan Bridge to create dozens of art installations. Kids will get a kick out of Jess Proia’s Assimilation Fish, which features glittering orange fish on parade through the nabe (3–6pm). Did we mention that the fest is free?

While you’re out and about this weekend, don’t forget to take note of the leaves that are just beginning to change color; check out our foliage guide to help your kiddos identify the various plants and trees they spy.

If you’re looking to trade the bustling city for the serene countryside, browse through our best bets for apple- and pumpkin-picking at nearby orchards. Does it get more autumn than that?

For our complete guide to the weekend, click here.