What the Hell Is Happening This November North of NYC?
November has apparently decided that a quiet month would be a terrible waste of everyone's time.
One weekend you're watching pumpkins launch through the air. The next you're choosing between horror fans, outrageous holiday markets, live shows, illuminated forests and things your group chat will argue about until December.
Start with the November Top 20 plus two Bearsville Theater bonus concerts, then keep going for the rest of the month: big crowd-pleasers, small discoveries and the beautifully bizarre all sharing one calendar.
Choose something you already love. Then pick one event that makes you say: Wait, they're doing WHAT? Save the guide, share it with your people, and make a plan.
Before you go: Schedules, admission and availability can change. Follow each official event link for current details.
The November Top 20
Start with the major crowd-pullers, our featured organizations and the wonderfully strange experiences that make this November worth planning.
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
Opens November 1, 2026 (select dates) | Yorktown Heights, NY
A dark forest and the world of Harry Potter make a very convincing argument for trading an ordinary evening for a little magic.
Go for the atmosphere, the wandering and the feeling of stepping into a story. Dates are selected nights, so check the booking calendar before making plans.
The Egg: November Performance Highlights
November 1–29, 2026 (select dates) | Albany, NY
Three shows, three completely different moods. The Egg starts with Lucy Darling’s theatrical magic on November 3, then welcomes John C. Reilly’s Mister Romantic on November 22 and Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert on November 23.
This is the rare venue calendar that can take you from theatrical mischief to music-driven nostalgia in the space of a few weeks. Pick your flavor of strange, romantic, or fantastical, and make a night of it.
Palace Theatre Albany: November Performance Highlights
November 4–28, 2026 (select dates) | Albany, NY
The Palace has a November run with absolutely no single personality: Dweezil Zappa on November 6, Trey Anastasio Band on November 12, The LOX on November 21, and Jo Koy on November 22.
Guitar wizardry, jam-band energy, New York hip-hop, and stand-up comedy all in the same historic room. Choose the show you already love, then consider the one you'd never normally buy a ticket for.
AcornFest at High Meadow School
November 7, 2026 | Stone Ridge, NY
Some of the best adventures start with a trail through the woods and a little imagination. High Meadow School's AcornFest turns its beautiful wooded campus in Stone Ridge into a fall adventure for families, complete with a scavenger hunt, an imaginative story journey along the nature trail, hands-on crafts, and games that get kids exploring instead of staring at screens.
Follow the clues, discover what’s hiding along the trail, and let the kids take the lead. It's a chance to trade another ordinary Saturday for fresh air, muddy shoes, creative play, and a little woodland magic. Free to attend, and a particularly good pick for families with curious young explorers.
Pumpkin Chunkin'
November 7, 2026 | Lake George, NY
Halloween is over. Apparently, nobody told the pumpkins. Pumpkin Chunkin' turns the leftover orange icons of fall into flying objects, and frankly, that's a much better send-off than leaving one to collapse on the porch.
It's the sort of wonderfully ridiculous outing where everyone wants to see how far the next one goes. Check the organizer's current schedule and participation rules before you make the drive.
Ani DiFranco with Sweet Petunia at Bearsville Theater
November 12, 2026 | Bearsville Theater, Woodstock, NY | 8 PM (doors 7 PM)
Ani DiFranco is bringing her unmistakable voice to Woodstock. The Grammy-winning songwriter helped build the independent-music playbook with her own Righteous Babe Records, and her songs refuse to stay in one lane, moving through folk, punk, soul and sharp political storytelling.
Sweet Petunia joins as the special guest for a night built for anyone who likes their live music with conviction, wit and plenty to say. Doors open at 7 PM, the show starts at 8 PM, and the ticket link goes directly to the official checkout.
Loudon Wainwright III with Jenna Nicholls at Bearsville Theater
November 13, 2026 | Bearsville Theater, Woodstock, NY | 8 PM (doors 7 PM)
One night later, Bearsville hands the stage to a different kind of original. Grammy-winning songwriter Loudon Wainwright III has spent decades finding the funny, painful and wonderfully awkward parts of being human, then turning them into songs with a razor-sharp comic streak.
Jenna Nicholls joins him for the November 13 show. If you love live music where the stories matter as much as the melodies, this Friday night belongs on the calendar. Doors open at 7 PM, showtime is 8 PM, and the link goes straight to official tickets.
A Harvest Farewell with Chef Karla Ortiz
November 14, 2026 | Gardiner, NY
A harvest farewell dinner is November's edible curtain call: the season gets one more moment at the table before holiday menus take over. Little Logan's Farm has invited Chef Karla Ortiz for its November 14 gathering.
This is a strong pick for anyone whose favorite outings start with food and end with a story about the people who made it. Confirm seating, menu, and ticket details directly with the farm before heading out.
GATHER at Hudson Valley Table
November 14, 2026 | Hudson, NY
GATHER at HBudson Valley Table hosted by Caboose belongs to that especially tempting category of events whose setting is part of the appeal. Instead of another predictable afternoon, the November 14 event offers a chance to discover what Hudson Valley Magazine has put together.
We're keeping this feature in the lineup while final programming details are collected. The hook is an invitation to go somewhere interesting and see who and what comes together there; the final description will name those specifics once confirmed.
Hudson Valley Horror Fest
November 14–15, 2026 | Fishkill, NY
The calendar says November. Horror fans have other ideas. Hudson Valley Horror Fest keeps the macabre going after the Halloween decorations should have come down.
Make room for the people who spend all year waiting for another reason to celebrate the darker side of pop culture.
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
November 14, 2026 | Purchase, NY
Tchaikovsky's holiday classic gets a jolt of hip-hop choreography, music, and attitude in The Hip Hop Nutcracker. This isn't the holiday performance you sit through out of obligation; it's one you can bring a friend to who thinks ballet isn't for them.
The familiar bones of the story meet a completely different movement vocabulary. Take the holiday-show traditionalist and the person who never goes to the theater. They're going to have plenty to talk about afterward.
Rising Appalachia (Two Nights)
November 19–20, 2026 | Kingston, NY
Rising Appalachia brings a sound shaped by roots music, close harmonies, and a willingness to move across traditions. Two Kingston nights give fans more than one chance to catch a live performance that doesn't stay inside neat genre lines.
If you've been craving a show that feels personal instead of oversized, put this on the shortlist. Let the songs, musicianship, and atmosphere do the heavy lifting, and check the venue's current ticket listing for details.
FESTIVE Holiday Market at Greylock WORKS
November 21, 2026 | North Adams, MA
FESTIVE brings holiday shopping into a stunning revitalized industrial campus at Greylock WORKS. Even before you decide what to buy, the setting makes this feel more like an excursion than another errand.
This is a place to look for gifts with stories behind them and enjoy browsing somewhere with real character. The maker lineup, hours, and admission details should be taken from the organizer's latest official information.
Hudson Valley Hullabaloo Holiday Market
November 21–22, 2026 | Kingston, NY
Hudson Valley Hullabaloo is back with a holiday market that makes gift hunting feel much more like an outing.
Wander, browse the work of makers and find something you won't see on every shelf.
Saratoga Comic Con
November 21–22, 2026 | Saratoga Springs, NY
It's time to let your fandom out in public. Saratoga Comic Con brings together the costumes, collectibles, and wonderfully committed enthusiasm that make comic conventions so much fun to wander.
Come dressed as your favorite character or simply show up ready to admire people who've spent months getting every detail right. Check the current guest and programming schedule before planning your day.
New York Metro ReptileExpo
November 22, 2026 | White Plains, NY
Snakes. Lizards. More scales than a normal Sunday has any business containing. The New York Metro ReptileExpo is a November wildcard for curious families and serious reptile enthusiasts alike.
Even if you don't know your geckos from your boas, it's an opportunity to learn from people who live and breathe this unusual corner of the animal world. Check the event's current rules, exhibitor list, and admission information before attending.
Basilica Farm & Flea Holiday Market
November 27–29, 2026 | Hudson, NY
Forget fluorescent-lit gift shopping. Basilica Farm & Flea fills Basilica Hudson with independent makers, vintage finds, specialty food, and a creative crowd that makes browsing feel like the main event.
Bring your gift list, but leave room for the object you never knew you needed. It's also a reason to spend a longer afternoon in Hudson, meeting makers and discovering things you won't see on every shelf.
Now and Then at Ghent Playhouse
November 27–29, 2026 | Ghent, NY
Ghent Playhouse brings live theater to an intimate room where small decisions can feel enormous.
Trade the usual screen time for actors, a story and the pleasure of seeing it unfold right in front of you.
Peace Love & Lights
November 27–30, 2026 | Bethel, NY
Once the days get short, Bethel Woods answers with lights. Peace, Love & Lights turns a winter evening into something brighter and gives November a genuinely festive final act.
This is an easy one to share with the family or the friend who starts celebrating the holidays the minute Thanksgiving dinner ends. Check the official experience schedule and ticket options before you set out.
Holiday Market at Wylder Windham
November 28, 2026 | Windham, NY
A holiday market at Wylder Windham makes the Saturday after Thanksgiving sound like an excellent reason to head into the Catskills.
Browse, linger and enjoy a festive stop that feels more like a small adventure than a shopping chore.
HUNG With Care: Queer Holiday Burlesque Spectacular
November 28, 2026 | Kingston, NY
The holiday season has plenty of wholesome traditions. HUNG With Care has other plans. This queer holiday burlesque show brings a mischievous, grown-up alternative to the usual festive entertainment.
Bring the friend who appreciates theatrical excess, bold performance, and a holiday night that absolutely won't resemble the office party. Confirm the show's age policy, venue, and ticket details before booking.
The Rest of November
More November outings, from the local favorites to the ones you almost didn't know existed.
 November 1–2, 2026 Myths & Mysteries of The Octagon HouseIrvington, NY Myths & Mysteries of The Octagon House is featured in this November guide. Check the organizer's official event page for the program. |  November 2–16, 2026 Hudson Valley Restaurant WeekMultiple cities, NY Restaurant Week is an invitation to revisit a favorite dining room or finally try the place you've been talking about. |
 November 2–8, 2026 Saratoga's 21st Annual Restaurant WeekSaratoga Springs & county, NY Restaurant Week is an invitation to revisit a favorite dining room or finally try the place you've been talking about. |  November 4, 2026 Galactic EmpireAlbany, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Galactic Empire. |
 November 4, 2026 Mahjong Nights in Pocantico HillsPocantico Hills, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Mahjong Nights in Pocantico Hills. |  November 5, 2026 ADULT. + A Place To Bury StrangersKingston, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: ADULT. + A Place To Bury Strangers. |
 November 5, 2026 Clearwater Shipwrights FeastKingston, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Clearwater Shipwrights Feast. |  November 5, 2026 Close Enemies featuring Tom HamiltonHudson Falls, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Close Enemies featuring Tom Hamilton. |
November 5, 2026 Murder and Mayhem Walking TourSleepy Hollow, NY A live performance is a strong reason to leave the house, and this one puts music at the center of the night. | November 5, 2026 Ten Broeck Mansion Gala: Raise the Roof for EducationAlbany, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Ten Broeck Mansion Gala: Raise the Roof for Education. |
 November 6–7, 2026 Adirondack Stampede Charity RodeoGlens Falls, NY For a change from markets and concerts, this event puts action and a little spectacle on the November calendar. |  November 6, 2026 Blue October: Foiled 20th Anniversary World TourAlbany, NY A live performance is a strong reason to leave the house, and this one puts music at the center of the night. |
 November 6, 2026 Candlelight: Best of Hans ZimmerPoughkeepsie, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Candlelight: Best of Hans Zimmer. |  November 6, 2026 Midwinter: Haunt Me Forever TourAlbany, NY A live performance is a strong reason to leave the house, and this one puts music at the center of the night. |
November 6–8, 2026 Borscht Belt Film FestEllenville, NY Films, conversations and Catskills culture take over Ellenville for a three-day celebration of storytelling on screen. |  November 6–7, 2026 Rockland Fashion Week: Seventh YearNyack / West Nyack, NY An evening built around performance, creativity and the pleasure of seeing something unexpected live. |
 Opens November 6, 2026 (through November 22) The Importance of Being Earnest at LyndhurstTarrytown, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: The Importance of Being Earnest at Lyndhurst. |  November 6–15, 2026 YoFiFest Yonkers Film FestivalYonkers, NY Film lovers get another reason to trade home streaming for a real theater and a shared audience. |
 November 7, 2026 Beer, Whiskey & Wine 2026Poughquag, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Beer, Whiskey & Wine 2026. |  November 7, 2026 Deerhoof at AssemblyKingston, NY A live performance is a strong reason to leave the house, and this one puts music at the center of the night. |
November 7, 2026 Family Circle: Vanaver Caravan World Dance & MusicAlbany, NY A live performance is a strong reason to leave the house, and this one puts music at the center of the night. |  November 7, 14, 21 & 28, 2026 Imagine Art Walk by JEONIJOUlster County, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Imagine Art Walk by JEONIJO. |
 November 7, 2026 Magic and Cocktails with Noah LevineSleepy Hollow, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Magic and Cocktails with Noah Levine. |  November 7, 2026 Metaphysical Maze OpeningNorth Adams, MA Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Metaphysical Maze Opening. |
 November 7, 2026 Orleans: Final TourKingston, NY A live performance is a strong reason to leave the house, and this one puts music at the center of the night. |  November 7, 2026 Rockland Beer and Food FestivalPomona, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Rockland Beer and Food Festival. |
November 7, 2026 Rosella Hartman and the Animal Sculptors of WoodstockWoodstock, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Rosella Hartman and the Animal Sculptors of Woodstock. | November 7, 2026 WHOOP DEE DOONew Windsor, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: WHOOP DEE DOO. |
 November 8, 2026 Equine Advocates Sanctuary Public Open DayValatie, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Equine Advocates Sanctuary Public Open Day. |  November 8, 2026 The Hudson Valley Train ShowPoughkeepsie, NY Model trains and the people who love them have their day in the spotlight. |
 November 8, 2026 Theresa Caputo Live! The ExperienceKingston, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience. |  November 11, 2026 Uptown Honky Tonk + Two-Step LessonKingston, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Uptown Honky Tonk + Two-Step Lesson. |
 November 12, 2026 A Spirited Evening at the Haunted Canfield CasinoSaratoga Springs, NY November still has room for a little mystery and a story with a darker edge. | Official flyer pending November 13–15, 2026 31st Festival of Trees: A Storybook ChristmasLeeds, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: 31st Festival of Trees: A Storybook Christmas. |
 November 13, 2026 Judy Collins: Sweet Judy Blue Eyes Farewell TourPoughkeepsie, NY A live performance is a strong reason to leave the house, and this one puts music at the center of the night. |  November 13, 2026 Maria Bamford at The EggAlbany, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Maria Bamford at The Egg. |
 November 13, 2026 SLEEP at Basilica HudsonHudson, NY A live performance is a strong reason to leave the house, and this one puts music at the center of the night. |  November 14, 2026 Capital Region Wing Wars 21Troy, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Capital Region Wing Wars 21. |
 November 14, 2026 Pro Wrestling + Live Music: PRODUCE x AssemblyKingston, NY A live performance is a strong reason to leave the house, and this one puts music at the center of the night. |  November 14, 2026 The Ballad TreeKingston, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: The Ballad Tree. |
Opens November 14, 2026 (through January 3) Victorian Christmas at the Octagon HouseIrvington, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Victorian Christmas at the Octagon House. |  November 15, 2026 Jay Ungar's 80th Birthday ConcertKingston, NY A live performance is a strong reason to leave the house, and this one puts music at the center of the night. |
 November 17, 2026 Mayan Space Station: William Parker / Ava Mendoza / Kevin MurrayPoughkeepsie, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Mayan Space Station: William Parker / Ava Mendoza / Kevin Murray. |  November 19–22, 2026 NOVEMBERFEST at Westchester Winter WonderlandValhalla, NY NovemberFest is Westchester Winter Wonderland's walk-through celebration November 19–22, 2026. The separate drive-thru holiday light extravaganza follows November 27–December 31, 2026 (select dates), at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla. |
 November 19, 2026 The Wailin' JennysKingston, NY A live performance is a strong reason to leave the house, and this one puts music at the center of the night. |  November 21, 2026 Albany Train ShowAlbany, NY Model trains and the people who love them have their day in the spotlight. |
 November 21 & 28 (also December 5), 2026 Deck the Hall-bany Holiday MarketAlbany, NY November gift shopping gets more interesting when local makers, craftspeople and small businesses are involved. |  November 21, 2026 DIY Kingston FestKingston, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: DIY Kingston Fest. |
 November 21, 2026 Greenwich Holiday Lighted Tractor ParadeGreenwich, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Greenwich Holiday Lighted Tractor Parade. |  November 21, 2026 Marlborough Buy Local Holiday ExtravaganzaMarlboro, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Marlborough Buy Local Holiday Extravaganza. |
 November 21, 2026 SUNY Sullivan Holiday Craft FairLoch Sheldrake, NY November gift shopping gets more interesting when local makers, craftspeople and small businesses are involved. |  November 22, 2026 Warwick Home for the Holidays KickoffWarwick, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Warwick Home for the Holidays Kickoff. |
 November 26, 2026 Christopher Dailey Foundation 25th Turkey TrotSaratoga Springs, NY For a change from markets and concerts, this event puts action and a little spectacle on the November calendar. | November 27–December 31, 2026 (select dates) Westchester Winter Wonderland Drive-ThruValhalla, NY NovemberFest, the walk-through celebration, runs November 19–22, 2026. The Winter Wonderland drive-thru returns November 27 and continues on scheduled dates through December 31, 2026, at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla. |
 Opens November 28, 2026 (through December 23) 26th Annual Artisan's Market at Brookside MuseumBallston Spa, NY November gift shopping gets more interesting when local makers, craftspeople and small businesses are involved. |  November 28, 2026 51st Annual Holiday Craft MarketplaceSaratoga Springs, NY November gift shopping gets more interesting when local makers, craftspeople and small businesses are involved. |
 November 28–29, 2026 Dutchess Community College Holiday Craft FairPoughkeepsie, NY November gift shopping gets more interesting when local makers, craftspeople and small businesses are involved. |  November 29, 2026 Holiday on the WalkwayHighland, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Holiday on the Walkway. |
 November 29, 2026 Hudson Valley Free Day at Dia BeaconBeacon, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: Hudson Valley Free Day at Dia Beacon. |  November 29, 2026 The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday ShowKingston, NY Here's another November outing that deserves a spot on the calendar: The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show. |
Your November Survival Plan
Choose one plan that already has your name on it and one you would never have thought to try. Save the guide, send it to your group chat and go make November a good story.
Always check the official event links for dates, tickets, access and weather updates before heading out.
