tles in, and Upstate New York is packing it with everything worth leaving the house for. Think Broadway-level theatre in Schenectady, bluegrass legends in Albany, soup fundraisers that feed entire communities, wine trails trimmed in garland, and cozy lodge markets where cider steams in one hand and a handmade gift sits in the other. From pumpkin-launching festivals in the Adirondacks to Portuguese wine dinners on the Hudson, this month doesn’t ease in — it arrives with music,

There are festivals—and then there are the ones that capture the very soul of a season. The Capital Apple & Wine Festival is exactly that: crisp early autumn air filled with the scent of cider donuts, glasses clinking with New York’s finest pours, and the hum of live music spilling across the Columbia County fairgrounds. If you’ve been searching for the perfect way to celebrate fall, consider this your invitation.

Every region has its traditions, but in the Hudson Valley, few are as iconic—or as beloved—as the Woodstock–New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair. Since its founding back in 1982, this twice-yearly celebration has grown into one of the most respected craft shows in the country, drawing makers and visitors from far and wide. And while its roots remain the heart of the show, the fair keeps evolving year after year, proving that great craftsmanship is always in style.

September in New York isn’t just a month — it’s a lifestyle. The weather is perfection, the leaves start teasing their colors, and weekends are stacked with fairs, food, and festivals that make you want to drop everything and explore. From the Hudson Valley to the Finger Lakes, this is your official HVH roadmap to the season’s most unforgettable adventures.