For the Love of Gourd, Check Out These Pumpkin-Themed Events

It’s decorative gourd season, my friends, and that means it’s time to appreciate the greatest gourd of them all: the pumpkin. 

The chonky orange fruit (yes, fruit) is the hero of the season, and this month you’ve got lots of chances to appreciate it right here in Lower Manhattan. Make sure to check out the first annual Pumpkin Fest at the Seaport, which runs through November 7. There will be a plethora of pumpkin-related events and specials, including pumpkin-flavored treats like a Jack-o-Lantern custard at eateries, a dog costume contest and kids pumpkin decorating. 

The highlight is the return of the Seaport’s pumpkin arch, sure to be the neighborhood’s hottest Instagram backdrop of the season. The 10-foot arch frames the Brooklyn Bridge from the Heineken Riverdeck, creating a picturesque tableau with its fall foliage and pumpkin decorations. 

From the waterfront, hop on a ferry over to Governors Island for even more fall fun: Pumpkin Point, the annual free pumpkin patch and festival, returns to Governors Island starting October 22. The event runs Saturdays and Sundays from October 22 through Halloween day with a schedule of programs featuring arts and crafts, storytime, puppet shows, drag story hour and pumpkin carving, ending with trick-or-treating on Halloween night. See the full schedule here. 

photo: Julienne Schaer