Planning a visit to NYC in October and looking for fun Halloween events? In this guide, find tons of fun, spooky season events and activities that will be happening throughout October.
I continue to update these Halloween events as things change, so feel free to save this page!
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NYC Halloween Parade Greenwich Village
One of the most iconic NYC Halloween events is the annual Village Halloween Parade. It happens every year on October 31st, and it is completely free to watch!
If you rather enjoy it from home, it will broadcast on local channels and presented LIVE by NY1 at 8 PM, however, the event itself will start at 7 PM. This marks the 51st year of the Halloween Parade, and the theme is Meow, Meow.
If there is one place where people go all out for Halloween costumes, New York certainly makes the top of the list! To watch in person from the sidelines, make sure to head to 6th Ave. and Canal Street, which is where it starts and goes all the way down to 16th Street.
If you have nothing going on the next day and are over 21 years old, consider even hitting the afterparty at Webster Hall. It has been a minute since I last been there, but the memories are special! I even had my 21st birthday there, hehe.
Tour the Green-Wood Cemetery
For something a little more unique and off-the-beaten-path, consider heading over to Green-Wood Cemetery. While this is a popular, unusual thing to do any time of the year, October brings in the extra spice for the spooky season.
You can tour the cemetery on your own for free, and it is very easy to get here by train from Manhattan. But, if you want to elevate your experience, Green-Wood Cemetery also has some special Halloween-like events for the month of October. I’ve done the nighttime event, and it was a lot of fun!
Whether you go on a tour or not, I can promise you will get nice views of the city, see really unique tombs, and even start to see the fall leaves throughout this 478-acre property.
Address: 500 25th St, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Luna Park Halloween
This one is for those people looking for something fun with the kiddies. I just passed by Luna Park yesterday and realized they had such fun fall decorations, all themed for Halloween. I passed by at night, and everything was lit up, and it made me wish I was still a kid again!
Their Halloween Harvest is from now until October 27th on Fridays, Weekends, and some weekdays. You, of course, can enjoy all the rides, fall treats, pumpkin carving, and more, making it a fun day for the family!
Jimmy Fallon’s Tonightmares
An interesting way to experience the spooky season is to step into Jimmy Fallon’s nightmares with this new pop-up experience. It will happen until October 30th, so head over to Rockefeller Center to enjoy or scream from this haunted maze. Get Tickets here.
The Ridgewood Asylum
They are calling it the City’s most “terrifying” mix of an escape room and haunted house, so if you’re ready to get spooked, this is the place to do it. The Ridgewood was known to have a massacre and then turned into a psychiatric hospital that did unspeakable things to their patients. Add in some paranormal activity, and you will have the perfect haunted place. Get Tickets Here.
Address: 48 Cypress Avenue, Brooklyn, 11237
Visit Greg’s Great Pumpkin Patch
Greg’s Great Pumpkin Patch is back at Domino Park, Brooklyn, and ready to get festive with you for the Halloween season. This is the perfect place to bring the whole family and even your furbaby, as they have a Halloween costume contest for your pooch.
You will find your traditional fall festivities like hayrides and pumpkins to pick and more fun activities for the kids. Plus, it is right on the waterfront with great views of Manhattan.
Address: One South First, 325 Kent Avenue
Pumpkins at the Queens County Farm Museum
If you’re looking for good ol’ pumpkin picking, you can head right over to the Queens County Farm. Most days, it is free to visit this working farm, but during the fall, they tend to have additional events that may require admission.
The pumpkin patch is always free, however, you just have to pay for your chosen pumpkin. The Amazing Maize Maze Halloween events do come at an additional cost.
To learn more and get your tickets if you choose to partake in additional Halloween festivities, you can find them here.
Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla at Central Park
Central Park really pulls out all the stops when fall is concerned. From stunning fall foliage to its very out Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla, Central Park is an incredible place to be in October. It is located at the Northeast corner of the park at the Charles A. Dana Center in Harlem Meer.
This year, the event will be happening on October 30th from 4 PM – 7 PM, and you are encouraged to dress in your Halloween costumes. This is a free and family-friendly event.
Additionally, you can even submit your own carved Jack-O’-Lantern. To stay up-to-date on the event times and the kind of carved pumpkins they accept, click here. Overall, it is still one of the best free Halloween events to visit.
Visit a Halloween Bar
Since it is spooky season, there will be plenty of bars participating in the Halloween and fall festivities. Some of the top bars to check out during October include the Beetle House, Loreley Beer Garden, Oscar Wilde, Lillie’s Victorian Establishment, and the Magic Hour Rooftop.
For clubs to visit around Halloween, check out Webster Hall and the House of Yes, all of which are excellent places to enjoy if you’re looking for something to do at night. Additionally, Fever Up has lots of Halloween club parties listed. Most of these club parties are happening on the 26th.
Visit the The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
One of the most popular events of the season is by far, The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze. It happens in Hudson Valley and Long Island. Being a Long Islander, I will always lean towards the event in Bethpage.
You can just pop right onto the Long Island Railroad to Bethpage and grab an Uber. Regardless of the location you choose, you will be greeted with thousands of jack-o’-lanterns lit up in all different designs.
Each year, they try to go bigger and better with the designs. All ages are welcome, but the event starts at night, so make sure the kiddos can stay awake that long. It is a very popular Halloween event, so make sure to get tickets ahead of time.
Pumpkin Arch Is Back At Pier 17
The beloved Pumpkin Arch is back at the Seaport for all your Instagram needs. You can find the iconic arch at the Heineken Riverdeck starting September 27th. To get the perfect photo, try going early in the morning on the weekend or during the weekday.
Cityside Pumpkin Patch Rooftop Bar
Another cool Halloween pop-up event in NYC is happening at Cityside with Bucket Listers. This Queens Rooftop bar is decked with pumpkins to pick, tarot card reading, and face painting. You can also enjoy beer, specialty cocktails, and small fall-inspired bites.
Furthermore, if you’re looking for places to take Instagrammable fall, this is a great spot.
This event is happening for the whole month of October, and the general admission starts at $20 per person. Find tickets here.
Address: The Summer Club, 8-08 Queens Plaza South, Queens, NY
Halloween at the New York Botanical Garden
Another family-friendly event to enjoy is at the beautiful New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). They have their Fall-O-Ween event happening until October 27th, so you can enjoy all the ticks and treats.
While here, enjoy the pumpkin patch and lovely fall colors. For the kids, partake in pumpkin parades and pumpkin carving face-offs, and for the adults, enjoy beer sampling on the weekends with Bales & Ales. Don’t forget to dress in your Halloween costumes! You can find additional special events here.
Address: 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458-5126
Search For Halloween Decorations
I wanted to add this to the end because this is more of a self-walking Halloween event to explore some of the best Halloween decorations around New York City. You can find great Halloween decorations with skeletons and spider webs around 78th Street between Park and Lexington on the Upper East Side.
The Village will, of course, also have spooktasticly decorated Brownstones as well! Anywhere that is more residential (Upper East Side, Upper West Side) will be your goal.
Wrap-up
There you have it! I hope you have found a couple of fun events to enjoy Halloween in NYC this year!
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