Top NYC Events in November 2016

November is a great time to visit New York City as the air is crisp but not frigid, the trees in Central Park are changing colors and many of the year's most anticipated events are scheduled. The top ones this November will leave you laughing, sweating, cheering and awe-inspired.

New York Comedy Festival

This event was first held in 2004 and features many of the world's funniest comedians. The 2016 event is scheduled for Nov. 1-6, and it will be held at venues throughout the city although it will be focused on Broadway venues. Some of the biggest names scheduled for this year's festival include Tracy Morgan and Dane Cook while what will surely be an interesting panel discussion of "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," the popular Netflix series, is scheduled as well.

New York City Marathon

More than 50,000 runners are expected in the world's largest marathon. When this famous race was first run in 1970, its course consisted of loops through Central Park. However, it was expanded to traverse all five boroughs in 1976 to celebrate the country's bicentennial, and that change proved so popular that it stuck and is likely one of the many reasons why this race is so popular. Runners start in Staten Island before immediately crossing the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn and then Queens, crossing over to Manhattan, heading north to the Bronx and then returning to Manhattan for a memorable Central Park finish. This year's race is scheduled for Nov. 6.

UFC 205

This will be the first UFC event to ever be held in New York City as the popular mixed martial arts competition makes its way to Madison Square Garden on Nov. 12. In fact, it will be the first UFC event to take place anywhere in New York state since UFC 7 was held in Buffalo in 1995; the 21-year gap between events was due to a state-wide ban on mixed martial arts competitions from 1997 until April 14, and UFC wasted no time taking advantage of the ban's end by announcing this event on that same day. UFC 205 will also take place on the 23-year anniversary of UFC 1.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

About 3 million people line the city's streets every Thanksgiving, eyes drawn towards the stunning balloons and other attractions that are drawn by, and about 45 million watch the festivities on national television. Those in the city the day before can watch the balloons get inflated from 3-10 p.m. The parade itself begins at 9 a.m. on Nov. 24 and runs from Central Park down 6th Avenue to Macy's Herald Square. Balloons included in this year's lineup include Hello Kitty, Spongebob Squarepants and Thomas the Tank Engine while other balloons as well as novelty balloons, balloonicles, floats, performers, marching bands and clowns will entertain visitors along the parade route as well.