Top Fall 2022 Events and Experiences

Thankfully, there’s no such thing as an endless summer. If there were, all the events and parties might put us into an early grave. This was our first normal(ish) summer since Miss Covid came into our lives, and, man, was it fun… and exhausting. So, as we finish the last of the rosé, turn off the AC and watch our tans fade, it’s time to relax and nest for the fall 2022. Right?

Well, maybe not. This year’s lineup of fall events might be giving summer experiences a run for their money. XP Land has curated a list of the top fall 2022 events and experiences to keep your calendars, hearts and bellies full. We’ve got plenty of music, food, art, sports and more on the horizon to give us that experiential fix we all crave. Keep this tab open until December, because we’ll be updating until the winter solstice.

Oktoberfest: September 17 – October 3; Theresienwiese, Munich, Germany

What to expect: Time to dust off the dirndl and lederhosen! Oktoberfest originated in 1810, and after a three-year break (because a virtual beer festival just sounds depressing), the celebration is finally back. Bavarians and tourists alike will reunite for parades, fairground rides and more beer (not to mention better beer) than you’d find at a frat house on a Saturday night. The festival’s long-awaited return will likely attract large crowds, so here’s an insider tip: Get your beer-garden happy hour started early, and go during the week while everyone else is working.

What makes this year different: This being Germany, a driving force in international climate policy, there’s a big push from team Oktoberfest to highlight the event’s new waste-reduction and water-recycling systems. This year also includes three new tents as well as a “Jungle Archery” shooting shop. Prayers up for the event staff responsible for managing the drunk people armed with arrows.

Global Citizen Festival: September 24; Central Park, New York, NY

What to expect: One of the most innovative fests out there comes with amazing performances and a powerful mission to end extreme poverty. By contributing to charity acts on the website — including writing letters to politicians, watching videos and signing petitions — fans can get free tickets to the festival. As world leaders gather at the UN just a few blocks down, Global Citizen attendees will share their “demands,” such as investing $600 million into the future of women and girls and closing the annual $10 billion climate financing shortfall.

What makes this year different: This year marks Global Citizen’s tenth anniversary in Central Park but its first with a “twin” festival across the globe in Black Star Square in Accra, Ghana’s capital city. Musical guests in New York will include Metallica, Charlie Puth, Jonas Brothers, MÅNESKIN, Mariah Carey, Mickey Guyton, and Rosalía. Amber Ruffin, Antoni Porowski, Bill Nye, Katie Couric, Katie Holmes, Misty Copeland, Tamron Hall and Van Jones are joining as presenters.

New Yorker Festival: October 7-9; The New York Society for Ethical Culture and the SVA Theatre, New York, NY

What to expect: Now in its 23rd year, The New Yorker’s tentpole event will feature three days of entertainment and conversations with artists and personalities such as Bono, Quinta Brunson, Ben Stiller, Chloe Bailey, and United States Representative Jamie Raskin, among others. 2021’s festival generated The New Yorker Fest’s second-highest revenue ever, surpassed only by 2019’s 20th-anniversary event, (which, fittingly, attracted 20,000 in-person attendees).

What makes this year different: With a hyper-focus on the IRL experience, The New Yorker Festival is testing exactly how ready its audience is to return to the pre-Covid experience. After being fully virtual in 2020 and hybrid in 2021, the festival will be hybrid-ish this year with just some sessions being live-streamed. Google, this year’s presenting sponsor, will screen an episode of the new cybersecurity docuseries “Hacking Google.”

Austin City Limits Music Festival: October 7-16; Zilker Park, Austin, TX

What to expect: As with Coachella, the demand for Austin City Limits tickets has pushed the festival beyond its original single-weekend… well, limits. Headliners across the two weekends will include The Chicks, Paramore, Lil Nas X, Kacey Musgraves, SZA, and Flume. The fest comprises nine different stages, so attendees can bop around and even bring the fam for kid-friendly music and activities (adorably dubbed Austin Kiddie Limits). Hey, brand loyalty can be established at any age!

What makes this year different: There’s a deliberate focus on celebrating Texas-based artists this year. Besides the headliners (P!nk is also scheduled to perform, and we’re stoked for another Bottlerock-level show), ACL will host a variety of local acts from all over the state, including Austin band Sarah & The Sundays (performing the fest for the first time), Pleasure Venom and Teezo Touchdown.

New York City Wine & Food Festival: October 13-16; New York, NY

What to expect: It’s going to be a busy fall in the Big Apple. In addition to a feast of concerts, talks and screenings, the city will host its largest wine and food festival in October. From restaurant crawls and cooking demos to intimate dinners with world-class sommeliers and chefs like Rachael Ray, Alex Guarnaschelli and David Burtka, NYCWFF celebrates the diversity of the city’s culinary scene. If the food doesn’t entice you, maybe the cause will. One hundred percent of the net proceeds will go to God’s Love We Deliver, New York’s leading provider of life-sustaining meals and nutrition counseling.

What makes this year different: We all love credit card perks (there were plenty for American Express and Chase cardholders at the US Open this year) and now it’s Capital One’s turn to share deals, deals, deals. Special access will include discounted tickets, early entry and private events. With more than 45,000 eager attendees and an expanded footprint in Brooklyn, NYCWFF will be a lot to navigate, and we’re not opposed to some exclusive advantages.

Paris+ par Art Basel: October 20-23; Grand Palais Éphémère, Paris, France

What to expect: We had a fantastic time at Art Basel Miami last year, so we expect the art show’s French outpost to be even more fabuleuse. (After all, who reveres art and artists more than Parisians?) The main attraction of this inaugural Paris+ par Art Basel is expected to be its Galeries sector, which will feature both established and emerging artists. Maybe this event will be a little less Silicon Valley and a little more Renaissance?

What makes this year different: This year’s partners are transforming traditional artwork with the implementation of brand new experiences. As you may have guessed, NFTs will be making their debut at the event, across modern and contemporary showcases. Tezos, an open-source blockchain, has partnered with Paris+ par Art Basel to present “a curated NFT experience designed to explore a new frontier of art, technology, and culture through an interactive exhibit, inspiring speakers, and collaborative panel discussions.” So, forget what we said above; expect the tech bros to be out in full force…

Formula 1 Aramco United States Grand Prix 2022: October 21-23; Circuit of the Americas, Austin, TX

What to expect: Since the Netflix series “Drive to Survive” debuted in 2019, the American audience for Formula 1 has skyrocketed. While Netflix doesn’t publicize viewer data, the audience for ESPN’s coverage of Formula 1 races has nearly doubled — up to 1.5 million views per race — since the show premiered. And now, this year’s Formula 1 Aramco United States Grand Prix will be held in Austin, everyone’s favorite little city in Texas. “We want the United States Grand Prix to be the greatest sports and entertainment event, along with the best ticket value, in the world,” said Circuit of the Americas chairman, Bobby Epstein, in a press release.

What makes this year different: Aside from the action on the racetrack, F1 attendees will have the opportunity to see live performances from artists including Green Day and Ed Sheeran. 1978 world champion Mario Andretti will also be there to check an experience off of his bucket list… driving a McLaren Formula 1 car.

Fall 2022 events and experiences honorable mentions:

• Wanderlust 108: September 11 – October 8, Europe
• London Fashion Week: September 16-20; London, England
• Firefly Music Festival: September 22-25; The Woodlands, Dover, DE
• Desert Daze Festival: September 30 – October 2; Moreno Beach, Lake Perris, CA

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