New York City’s spookiest weekend is almost here, and with only a few more days of school to go (you can do it!), we’ve rounded up all the best family festivities to tide you over! From parks to zoos to
the Police Museum, here’s where to find pumpkin parades, spooktacular crafts,
and even special Broadway appearances. —
Nothing beats floating your own already-carved
Jack-o-lantern down the Harlem Meer at Central Park Conservatory’s Parade and Pumpkin Sail, an NYC family favorite. As the day of
Halloween fanfare fades into twilight, the sight of glowing, grinning pumpkins
bobbing down the lake is sure to raise some goosebumps. Hint: be sure to check
the guidelines for what kind of pumpkins will be accepted.
Offering just a bit of everything, The Harvest Festival at Brooklyn Bridge Park brings you all the best of Halloween,
from a parade to canine-centered activities. SUNY Downstate at LICH will
be even hosting free health screenings at the fest to help busy parents kill two
birds with one stone. We’re also a huge fan of the Police Museum‘s Halloween Party, where kids can test drive their
trick-or-treating skills while parents pick up safety tips for roaming the
neighborhoods next weekend.
Budding stars will have a Wicked time at Boo At the Bronx Zoo. As if haunted safaris and
hayrides through the zoo weren’t enough, Glinda and Elphaba will be performing
everyone’s favorite numbers from the Broadway musical Wicked. Another
meet-the-cast opportunity strikes at Books of Wonder, which is hosting a spooky story time
with Broadway’s scariest show, The Addams Family. Come for autographs,
photos and a chance to win some tickets.
If you need a short break from pumpkins and parades before
launching head-on into Halloween next week, we suggest rocking out at VH1′s Save the Music Family Day. Try all sorts of instruments, join a live
Drum Cricle and even meet SpongeBob Squarepants. Better yet, embark on a
fantastical journey to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Magic School Bus at the Scholastic Store in SoHo, where you can
conduct a science experiment Ms. Frizzle would approve of. Fanboys and fangirls
will also get the chance to meet author Joanna Cole and Illustrator Bruce
Degen, the masterminds who made our favorite science stories come to life.
Looking for more weekend fun? Click here for more weekend highlights.
Click here for the full calendar of all family events happening this weekend and every day of the week.
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