Central Park, Oct 24–30: the marathon's blue line gets painted Wednesday, and two foliage photo walks Saturday

        Marathon week, and the park’s quieter traditions come out with it. The blue line down the middle of the course gets painted on West Drive on Wednesday morning, and the ceremony is open — if you have ever wondered why there is a blue stripe on the road all year, that is the hour. Before that, Saturday has two Fall Foliage Photo Walks at peak colour, and the weather is flawless for a second week running.

Weather this week

Sunny or mostly sunny all seven days — 61°, 65°, 69°, 58°, 60°, 67°, 69° — with rain chances of 0–4%. Nights 43–53°. Cold mornings, extraordinary light.

Sat Oct 24 — two foliage photo walks

Fall Foliage Photo Walks, two of them:

  from The Pool, 9:30–11:30 AM
  from Boys’ Gate, 10 AM

Both north end, both timed for peak colour, both led. This is the best-timed thing on the autumn calendar and it will not come round again.

Also on, 61° and partly sunny:

  Ronald McDonald House Fun Run at Bandshell Plaza, 8 AM–2 PM.
  Free Yoga and CPC Yoga, both East Meadow at 11 AM.
  Model Yacht Racing at Kerbs Boathouse, 9 AM–3 PM.
  UnityMarketsNY at Farmers’ Gate, 9 AM–7 PM.
  That Guitar Man from Central Park at Hernshead, noon–6 PM.
  Shoresh Prayer Service at Tarr Playground, 10 AM–1:30 PM.
  Awareness Meetup for Namrud Wegahta Tessema at Ross Pinetum, 3–6 PM.

East Meadow closed, and 32 private ceremony bookings — if you are photographing the park, the scenic spots are taken.

Sun Oct 25 — the best family afternoon of the month

The NYRR Kids Kickoff opens the day on West Drive, 8 AM–12 PM — marathon weekend’s first satellite event, and children racing on a closed park road is a lovely thing to watch.

Then:

  Geology: Central Park Rocks! at the Harlem Meer, 1–2 PM. The glacial history written into the park’s rock — once someone shows you the scratches on the schist you cannot unsee them.
  Pinocchio and Geppetto’s NYC Adventure at the Diana Ross Playground, 2–3 PM. Note the venue again — not the Swedish Cottage.
  Woodland Walk: The North Woods, 10 AM from Dana Discovery Center.
  Seneca Village Tour and the Iconic Views tour, both 2 PM.
  International Folkdancers at King Jagiello Plaza, 11 AM–6 PM.
  Central Park Skate Circle at Dead Road North, 2–7 PM.

65° and sunny.

Mon Oct 26 – Tue Oct 27 — the last quiet days

Nothing public beyond the Arsenal exhibits. Monday is 69° and sunny, the warmest and emptiest day of the week — a good one for the Conservatory Garden or the Ramble before the crowds arrive.

Wed Oct 28, 9–10 AM — the blue line

The TCS NYC Marathon Blue Line Painting Ceremony takes West Drive for one hour. The course line goes down and the ceremony is public. It is a small, specific, very New York thing, and it only happens once a year.

Thu Oct 29 – Fri Oct 30 — the Opening Ceremony

The Marathon Opening Ceremony holds West Drive, Friday 4–7 PM.

Friday morning, the Ramble woodland walk goes at 10 AM from Belvedere Castle at 69° and sunny — the last one before the park turns over to the race. A Meetup with Apple sits at The Pond both mornings.

The next two days

  Saturday Oct 31: Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K, 8:45–11 AM.
  Sunday Nov 1: the TCS New York City Marathon, 8 AM–5 PM, 55,000 runners finishing in the park.

The two biggest days of the park’s year. If you want to watch, the finish area around Tavern on the Green is the place. If you would rather avoid it entirely, the Conservatory Garden Tour at 11 Saturday and the North Woods walk at 10 are both well clear of the course.

Steady all week

  The marathon build-out runs through November 10 — scaffolding and fencing thickening on the west side and around Tavern on the Green all week.
  Bethesda Terrace and Fountain closed all day, every day; permits now run to November 23.
  New Dendrology at the Arsenal Gallery, weekdays 9–5, free; Wreath Interpretations Open Call at the Arsenal all week.
  No league play on the Great Lawn for a twelfth week.

Quick recap

  Wednesday 9 AM: the blue line gets painted on West Drive — once a year, public.
  Two Fall Foliage Photo Walks Saturday — The Pool 9:30, Boys’ Gate 10.
  Sunday: Kids Kickoff on West Drive, geology at the Harlem Meer, marionettes at Diana Ross.
  Seven sunny days, 58–69°. Monday at 69° is the best of them.
  Friday 4–7 PM: Marathon Opening Ceremony.
  Then Dash day and the marathon. Watch from Tavern on the Green, or go north.

Enjoy marathon week,
Central Park Guide