October Features Boo Bash Celebration and More Free Programming
Come to the Park and Enjoy the Cool Weather and Celebrations
Halloween is right around the corner! October here at Randall’s Island Park has a wide variety of free, public events that is punctuated with our Boo Bash Celebration at the end of the month.
We host recurring volunteer programs for those who want to help keep our parks looking beautiful.
Join the Team RIVER Volunteer on Wednesdays from 9:30-12:30 PM, or volunteer at our Urban Farm on Sundays from 10:00-1:00PM.
On Saturdays, we continue our weekly 2025 Jesse Owens Track & Field Youth program for the Fall! We host this program every Saturday from 10 AM – 12 PM at Thomas Jefferson Park. This free weekly program is available to youth ages 8-16 and enables participants to learn the fundamentals of the sport and stay active.
Registration is required on LeagueApps with City Parks Foundation!
On October 4, come to the island for the 2025 City of Forest Day!
The Alliance is taking part in Forest for All NYC’s fourth annual City of Forest Day, which features a day of activities across the city to raise awareness of the importance of the New York City urban forest, and the essential role New Yorkers play every day in caring for the “lungs” of our city.
Renowned NYC Naturalist Gabriel Willow will lead a fun-and-fact filled guided walking tour highlighting Randall’s Islands feathered friends and fall foliage. Open to all ages. Registration not required but preferred. Register here!
October 5 brings one of the more popular festivals to Randall’s Island Park in the New York Mycological Society’s Fungus Festival!
Come explore diverse displays and programs at the intersection of community art and science, including identification tables of wild mushrooms from the New York area, art and cultivation workshops and activities, lectures, tastings, urban farms, food vendors, costume corner, games and so much more.
This festival is free and open to all! Register for your free tickets here!
If you are interested in the fascinating habitats and animals on the island, our Wetland Wednesdays program is happening on October 8! From 2:30-4:30 PM on the second Wednesday of every month, the marsh pathway gates on the boardwalk will be open and members of RIPA’s Natural Areas Team will be on site to answer questions, share interesting facts and more.
Celebrate Halloween a little early on October 25 at our fan-favorite Boo Bash celebration! Come in costume and celebrate Halloween with themed activities, crafts, music, treats, and more!
We finish the month with our Close the Farm Volunteer Day on October 26 as the Urban Farm preps for the winter season.
Volunteers will help close out the season by clearing planting beds, placing mulch on cleared beds, taking down signs and many other tasks to close the farm for the winter months.
See the below for the dates and times of our free programming events in October:
