Weekend Planner: Fun Family Activities In NYC (October 23-25)

Halloween Murder Mystery at the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum

In this mystery game, loosely based on a historic newspaper account, try to figure out why an unidentified skeleton has appeared at the Mount Vernon Hotel! Explore the historic museum by candlelight and try to solve this murder mystery! Reservations required. (Friday)

Ghouls & Gourds at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

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, the Book Barn, featuring signings and readings by local children’s authors and illustrators, and, of course, the annual Halloween costume parade for all ages, featuring giant puppets and massive drums. (Saturday)

Día de los Muertos Weekends at the New York Botanical Garden

In honor of the final 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). (Saturday-Sunday)

Haunted High Line Halloween

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 1890’s. 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. (Saturday) (Photo by Anita Ng)

Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Flotilla in Central Park

Join Central Park for its annual Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Flotilla this Sunday. 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. (Sunday)

Thalia Kids' Book Club: Terrifying Tales at Symphony Space

Six of the contributors to the newest book in the Guys Read series—including Jon Scieszka (The Stinky Cheese Man) and Dav Pilkey (Captain Underpants)—will read from a new collection of original ghost stories at “Terrifying Tales,” a Halloween-themed installment of Symphony Space’s Thalia Kids’ Book Club series, co-presented with Bank Street Bookstore. In addition to the readings, this afternoon of spooky fun will include a costume contest, an audience Q&A, and a writing activity where kids will have the opportunity to draft their own scary story. (Sunday)

Halloween Haunted Walk and Fair in Prospect Park

Join in for the all ages 36th annual Halloween celebration at the Prospect Park. The Haunted Walk and Fair in Prospect Park’s Lookout Hill and Nethermead is going to be one ghoulish afternoon! Older kids (ages 7-12) will love meeting zombies, werewolves, witches, and other scary creatures on the Haunted Walk, while the younger kids can partake in family games at the Halloween Fair, meet Snoopy, and enjoy treats from some of city’s top food trucks. The event will also feature a drawing workshop taught by Blue Sky Studio artists, where kids of all ages can unleash their creativity. (Saturday)

Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in Tompkins Square Park

Are you ready for some Woof-or-Treat at the annual Tompkins Square Park’s Halloween Dog Parade? Hundreds of four-legged friends are dressed up in both ghoulish and cute costumes in the event that CNN calls “the largest dog costume parade in the world.” The canines will compete for thousands of dollars worth of prizes, as the runway competition will begin at noon. Do not miss this barkin’ good time! (Saturday)

Children's Fall Festival at the Queens County Farm Museum

Kids of all ages are invited to a fall festival celebrating Halloween at the Queens County Farm Museum. There will be games and bounce houses, food, live music, crafts, professional characters, pig races, and the ConEdison Ecology Booth. For an additional fee, kids can enjoy pony rides and hayrides; for the ones who like a thrill, there’s also the Haunted Mansion and the Amazing Maize to get lost in! (Sunday)

Harvest Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Come and bring your whole family to the Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6--and explore its newly opened parkland--for the 5th annual Harvest Festival. This free, fun event is great for children of all ages and will feature activities like pumpkin carving, arts and crafts, family games, storytelling, a spooky walk, a photo booth, and musical performances for the little ones by Rolie Polie Guacamole, The Deedle Deedle Dees, and Shine and the Moonbeams. Make sure to catch the Halloween parade at 12pm! (Saturday)

6th Annual Coney Island Children's Halloween Parade

Dress up your little ones in costume and join the free, all ages 6th Annual Coney Island Children’s Halloween Parade! This year’s parade will feature free music, entertainment, games, many food vendors, trick-or-treating, and a costume contest with lots of giveaways! Registration for the costume contest begins at 10 am and the contest takes place at 12 pm. The first 1,500 registered participants will receive a 2-hour Luna Park unlimited ride wristband and a goodie bag. (Sunday)

Hispanic Cultural Festival at the Children's Museum of the Arts

CMA’s annual series of cultural festivals is back! The Hispanic Cultural Festival will take place on the 25th, with a focus on Puerto Rico. There will be performances and workshops inspired by Puerto Rico’s cultural influences, including native Taino Indian, Spanish, African, and American. Come enjoy a day of dance, performances, and crafts! (Sunday)

Haunted Houses for the Whole Family

Enjoy the spooky spirit of the Halloween season with these haunted houses and walks for kids of all ages.

Haunted Happenings

Celebrate Halloween in NYC with these ghoulish gatherings!