The time has come for all ghosts, goblins and witches to spin their magical tricks and treats. Halloween is here and there are some ghoulishly spooktacular events to get you in the mood. So grab your witch’s hat and hop on your broom to one of the eeriest events in our fall line up:
Boo at the Zoo
With bats, cats and creepy critters the Bronx Zoo’s “Boo at the Zoo” will definitely provide chills and thrills. Everyone from Cinderella to the Headless Horseman can enjoy hay mazes, magic shows and pumpkin carving. You can take the Haunted House Safari and wander through Dr. D. Zaster’s top secret lab, if you dare, and try to get out before the Doctor can re-boot his system. The tricks and treats start Oct. 1 at 11 am and continue every weekend until Oct. 30. “Boo at the Zoo” activities are free with paid admission of $16. Children wearing wildlife costumes are free with a paying adult.
With puppets and props, the Zoo’s staff will be leading the costume parade through the park along with a 10 foot tall grasshopper, 8 foot tall butterfly and other fanciful characters on stilts that are sure to entertain and delight. The parade runs daily at Noon and 2 pm.
Bronx Zoo, [2300 Southern Blvd., (718) 220-5103]. For more information visit www.bronxzoo.com.
Pumpkin party
The New York Botanical Gardens is a Ghoulish good place to enjoy all things creepy, spooky and eerie.
Children can enjoy a day of weird and skeeery hands on fun with spooky storytelling and puppet making with Ralph Lee at the Spooktacular Pumpkin Party at the New York Botanical Gardens. Come and celebrate the season of the witch on Oct. 8, 9 and 10 starting at 10 am.
Or take a stroll through the Haunted Pumpkin patch daily except Saturdays, Oct. 1 through Oct. 30 beginning at 10 am in the Everett’s Children’s Adventure Garden. Youngsters play inside a “Gourd’geous” Pumpkin House and then put on a gory ghoul show.
If the day time is not for you, visit the gardens after dark and tour the Adventure Garden with flashlight in hand and trick and treat along the path, or decorate a pumpkin to take home. The tour is offered every Saturday from Oct. 22 to 29 starting at 6 pm.
Admission to the gardens is $20 for adults; $18 for seniors and students; $8 for children 2 to 12; Free for children under 2.
New York Botanical Garden, [200th St. and Kazimiroff Blvd. in Fordham Manor, (718) 817-8700]. For more visit www.nybg.org.
Mask makers
In the spirit of do-it-yourself — and Halloween — come to Wave Hill and create a mask made up of twigs and branches from the woods that can change you into a hairy insect. Then wear it during our parade. Saturday, Oct. 29 and Sunday Oct. 30 from 10 am to 1 pm. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center at the Ecology Building, enter at West 249th Street and Independence Avenue. For more information call (718) 549-3200 or visit www.wavehill.org.
Frights and bites
Ghoul Pool
For the fright of your life or death, take a plunge in the Old Bath House pool at Van Cortlandt Park on Oct. 30 from 4 to 7 pm. Not for the faint of heart or the very young. The tour is free.
Howl-o-ween
Don’t leave your pets out of the spooky fun. Dress up man’s best friend in costume in this competitive event on Oct. 30 from Noon to 2 pm and march on over to Van Cortlandt Park for a howlishly good costume contest. Pre-registration is required; admission is $10 per dog.
Van Cortlandt Part, [Broadway and 252nd Street in Riverdale, (718) 796-4541].
