September in New York City

The kids are heading back to school, the weather is still warm and the sun is still shining – making New York City in September an ideal destination. Check out a ball game at Yankee Stadium, have dinner in Little Italy during the San Gennaro Festival, or grab a water bottle and explore the city with one of the many walking tours available.

New York Yankees & Mets Baseball Games
Sports fans visiting the city in September should take themselves out to a Yankee or Mets game, particularly because both teams have moved into brand new state-of-the-art stadiums. Baseball aficionados wanting to delve into the rich history of the game will enjoy the behind-the-scenes tours available at Yankee Stadium, which includes a visit to the dugout, the New York Yankees Museum, and Monument Park which showcases the greatest baseball icons including Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle.  New York Mets fans can take in a game at Citi Field which has replaced Shea Stadium. Yankee Stadium is located in the Bronx at East 161st Street at River Avenue (across from the original stadium) and Citi Field is situated at 126th Street and Roosevelt in Queens. For game schedules and information on how to buy tickets, visit the Yankees and Mets official sites.

San Gennaro Festival – The Feast of San Gennaro
With its vibrant parades, delicious food and the renowned cannoli-eating competition, this event draws more than a million people from around the world to the streets of Lower Manhattan’s Little Italy every September. Mulberry Street is closed for this colourful festival, which begins the second Thursday of September and celebrates San Gennaro, the Patron Saint of Naples. The event has a long-running history, having first been celebrated in 1926 by immigrants from Naples. A mass is held at Most Precious Blood Church on Mulberry Street, which houses the shrine of San Gennaro, and then a religious procession carries his statue through the streets of Little Italy. The festival runs along Mulberry Street between Canal and Houston Streets. A performance stage hosts live entertainment and street vendors offers delicious delicacies at every turn. Visit their official website for a festival map, event schedule and a list of recommended Little Italy restaurants and cafes.

Walking Tours of New York City
The best way to truly experience the sights and sounds of New York City is to simply walk its streets. September is an excellent month to sign up for a walking tour since it’s still quite sunny and warm, but typically less humid than July and August.  Guided walking tours are a particularly good way to view Ground Zero, the memorial grounds for those who died in the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. The Ground Zero/Lower Manhattan walking tour offered by New York City Vacation Packages takes you to the site of the former World Trade Center as well as the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Wall with a licensed tour guide.

Walking tours are great activities for travellers wanting to learn more about neighbourhoods like the famous East Village or the Lower East side but don’t know where to start. New York City neighbourhoods are packed with history that a guide can provide as you stroll through the streets and take in the sights. Some walking tours include Alphabet City, Five Points/Chinatown and even the Gangsters, Murderers and Weirdos walking tour which covers the escapades of characters like Al Capone and Bugsy Siegel.