Fall fairs and festivals for New York City families

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  Queens County Fair

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  Queens County Fair

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  Atlantic Antic

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  Atlantic Antic

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  Atlantic Antic

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  Dumbo Arts Festival

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  NYC Apple Day

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  Richmondtown

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  West Side County Fair petting zoo

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  Food and Wine Festival

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  Food and Wine Festival

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  Sergio Ruzzier at Brooklyn Book Festival

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Queens County Fair

Queens County Fair
City kids get a glimpse of country life firsthand thanks to a host of home-style attractions: blue-ribbon contests, midway rides, animal encounters, pie-eating contests and hayrides. Don’t miss the Amazing Maize Maze, a three-acre labyrinth made of corn stalks. In order to find their way out, families must work together to solve clues. Sept 17, 18 11am–6pm. Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy between 73rd Rd and 74th Ave, Floral Park, Queens (718-347-3276, queensfarm.org). $8, children under 13 $5 (admission does not include maze entry, carnival rides or games).

Brooklyn Book Festival
The popular lit fair returns to Brooklyn Borough Hall for a sixth year of A-list author readings. Kids ages 1 to 9 can catch stories by their favorites: Mo Willems (Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus), Selina Alko (My Subway Ride) and more. Tween guests will enjoy meet-and-greets with Judy Blundell, author of Strings Attached, and three-time Newbery Honor–winning author Jacqueline Woodson. Sept 18 10am–6pm. Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza, 209 Joralemon St between Adam and Court Sts, Downtown Brooklyn (718-802-3852). Free.

Dumbo Arts Festival
For the 15th year, families gather to celebrate Brooklyn’s art scene. Kids can watch a performance by the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, make their own puppets and learn how to fly a kite. Sept 23 6–9pm, Sept 24 noon–8pm, Sept 25 noon–6pm. Various locations throughout Dumbo (718-488-8588, dumboartsfestival.com). Free.

Apple Festival
Fans of the juicy fruit from which New York City got its nickname can get their fix today. Children sip apple cider and nibble on apple fritters while making related crafts and dancing to music. Sept 24 noon–4pm. Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum, 5816 Clarendon Rd at Ralph Ave, Flatbush, Brooklyn (718-629-5400, wyckoffassociation.org). $5, children under 11 free.

NYC Wine & Food Festival: Kids Get Cooking
Youngsters choose from a wide-ranging roster of cooking classes, including sushi making, preparing Mexican cactus salad and decorating cookies. Sessions are run by local chefs like Sue Torres of Chelsea’s Sueños and Jeffrey Baruch of Rego Park’s London Lennie’s. Oct 1, 2 11:30am–5pm. Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave at 16th St (866-969-2933, nycwineandfoodfestival.com). $25–$40. Advance registration recommended.

Atlantic Antic
Head to the designated children’s area on Brooklyn’s historic Atlantic Avenue (between Boerum Place and Smith Street) for a soap bubble lounge, pony rides and interactive workshops. You’ll also want to check out the fest’s live bands and cool international eats—Mexican corn, shish kebabs, falafel and more. Oct 2 noon–6pm. Atlantic Ave between Fourth Ave and Hicks St, Brooklyn Heights (718-875-8993, atlanticave.org). Free.