Fall is finally upon us which means sweater weather, pumpkin everything, Halloween and beautiful hues of red and orange everywhere. I have enjoyed fall in New York City for a little over 18 years now and each year it’s an enjoyable and electrifying time. For many people, it is their first autumn in the city, so here are nine activities to do during the fall season that won’t break the bank and are perfect for New Yorkers.

• Travel downtown on Oct. 31 to Greenwich Village to watch the Halloween parade. Come watch the parade to see marvelous and ghoulish costumes while taking in all the Halloween spirit.
• Take a detour to Van Cortlandt Manor right by the riverside a little north of Westchester and enjoy a myriad of intricate and beautiful pumpkins displayed at the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze. Filled with almost 7,000 pumpkins, soak up all the Halloween spirit here.
• Take a stroll on the Highline which is a wonderful floating park and used to be an old train line in the Meatpacking District. Enjoy the colorful leaves and the beautiful view of Chelsea and the Hudson River.
• Apple pie? Butternut squash soup? I think yes. Visit the Farmers Market in Union Square which has a wide variety of produce and food perfect for the fall season.
• Enjoy a pleasant, tasty cup of a pumpkin spice latte (PSL) at Cha Cha Matcha (373 Broome St.). They have delicious PSLs, only for this time of the year. They also have great matcha drinks and pastries.
• Take a step into the terrifying Blood Manor in the West Village. Known as one of the city’s scariest, spine-chilling haunted houses, this house of fright will surely give chills and thrills to all.
• Savor a symphony of flavors at Dominique Ansel Bakery (189 Spring St.). It has some of New York City’s best confections and pastries. Their pumpkin pie is to die for and nothing is better than sitting down and enjoying a sweet pie in the fall.
• Look cute and comfy on a budget this season by thrifting. L Train Vintage (204 1st Ave.), Buffalo Exchange (several locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn), and Monk Vintage in Brooklyn (496 Driggs Ave.) are all of my personal favorite thrift stores for cozy finds.
• Enjoy and spend time with family and friends at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. It runs from 77th Street and Central Park West Avenue all the way down to Macy’s Herald Square. It is a spectacular parade filled with music, amazing floats and gigantic balloons, and it is a wonderful apex to any autumnal celebrations.