[Editor’s note: Check back throughout the month for updates to this list! Plus, click HERE for our guide to this year’s hottest Halloween crafts!]
October 24
Delve into the High Line’s spooky past during its annual Haunted High Line party! Journey back in time to when freight trains rumbled past 10th Avenue, or “Death Avenue” as it was nicknamed in the 1890s. Families with children of all ages can trick-or-treat with ghosts such as the West Side Cowboy and the Mad Cookie Baker, listen to terrifying tunes and tales, snap a photo in the photo booth, and journey through a haunted train tunnel. Free. 11am-3pm, thehighline.org
October 24
This year’s Ghouls & Gourds festival at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden will be one for the books. Festivities will include games, arts and crafts, live musical performances, and, of course, the annual Halloween costume parade for all ages, featuring giant puppets and massive drums. Free with garden admission. 12-5:30pm, bbg.org
October 24
Treat your canine to a parade unlike any other at Tompkins Square Park’s 25th annual Halloween Dog Parade. Proud pooch owners start planning their dog’s costume well in advance in hopes of earning the bragging rights that come with the Best in Show title! Past prizes have included Broadway show tickets and a stay at a bed-and-breakfast for owner and dog! Free. 12-3pm, tompkinssquaredogrun.com
October 24-25 and October 31-November 1
In honor of the closing weekends of its current exhibit “Frida Kahlo: Art Garden, Life,” the New York Botanical Garden will host a Día de los Muertos Celebration over two weekends this month. Garden visitors can enjoy a parade of giant skeletons, live music, stilt dancers, and more. Craft activities include mask making and face painting. Plus, be sure to check out master carver Ray Villafane at work (October 24-25) on the annual Giant Pumpkin Carving Display (open through November 1). Free with garden admission. 10am-6pm, nybg.org
October 25
A seasonal favorite, the Children’s Fall Festival at the Queens County Farm Museum is back and better than ever! All ages are welcome to enjoy games, pig races, pony and hay rides, bounce houses, live country music, food, and much more. Plus, don’t forget to visit the museum’s Haunted House—recommended for kids ages 6-12—and Amazing Maize Maze. Admission is $5 per person. 11am-4pm, queensfarm.org
October 25
Join Central Park for its annual Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Flotilla on Sunday, October 25. In addition to the costume parade and pumpkin float on the Harlem Meer, there will be live music, scary storytelling, pumpkin carving demos, Discovery Station arts and crafts, and more. Free. 3:30-6:30pm, centralparknyc.org
October 28-30
Celebrate Halloween with Mommybites at their Halloween Luncheons! The events, held on three separate dates on three different restaurant venue across the city, will feature a lunch or brunch, a performance by Music for Aardvarks, amazing gift bags, and the chance to meet and socialize with other moms. Moms are welcome to bring their babies and young toddlers (ideal for ages 0-1) in costume! Limited free tickets available for select dates. Times vary, mommybites.com
October 30
Have a scary good time at Asphalt Green during Asphalt Screams. Kids and parents can dress up in their finest costumes and participate in Halloween-themed sports games such as the Spooktacular Soccer Shootout and Hit the Ghoul Football. While this event is free, there is a suggested donation fee of $20 per family, which will benefit Asphalt Green’s community programs and scholarships. 4-6pm, asphaltgreen.org
October 30
Join the DivaMoms for a sweet day of fun at their Halloween Spooktacular at Dylan’s Candy Bar on the Upper East Side (at Third Avenue and 60th Street)! Kids in costume from 4 months to 4 years and their adults are invited to enjoy a DeLysscious breakfast, magic show, a costume parade, monster mash dancing, costume portraits by Heidi Green, cupcake decorating with Cakes Jagla, games, and more! $50 per adult with child, and $25 per each additional child. 10am-12pm, RSVP to [email protected]
October 31
The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) will be the happenin’ place to be this Halloween when it hosts BAMboo! for the 14th year. This year’s theme, Monster Mash, will feature costumed characters such as Frankenstein and Dracula, and festivities will include carnival games, stilt walkers, arts and crafts, a candy giveaway, a costume contest, live DJ music, and more. This event will take place in front of the Peter Jay Sharp Building. Free. 2-5pm, bam.org
October 31
Spend the afternoon of All Hallows’ Eve at the American Museum of Natural History during its Halloween Celebration. Children can go trick-or-treating in many of the museum’s halls, enjoy live entertainment, participate in arts and crafts, and take photos with cartoon characters such as Peter Rabbit, Curious George, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and Miffy. Free with museum admission. 2-5pm, amnh.org
October 31
Spend Halloween this year marching in the 42nd annual Greenwich Village Halloween Parade! Join thousands of New Yorkers for one of the most unique and creative Halloween parades in the city. There will be dancers, hundreds of puppets, live music, and much more. This year’s parade theme is “Shine a Light.” Free. 7-10:30pm; line-up for costumed parade marchers begins at 6:30pm on 6th Avenue at Canal Street, halloween-nyc.com
