Halloween

Stoop and the City: This New Yorker turns her UES brownstone into a seasonal destination

All photos courtesy of Kristi Hemric/Stoop and the City

October 29, 2026

Stoop and the City: This New Yorker turns her UES brownstone into a seasonal destination

Kristi Hemric’s stoop is a destination. A stranger once reached out asking if he could propose to his girlfriend in front of it (after dinner and a wedding invite from the couple, they were no longer strangers). Another person posted a video of themselves walking across the Brooklyn Bridge to the Upper East Side just to check it out. Both were enticed by an elaborate Lego garden display Hemric and her husband spent weeks building and installing. “All of a sudden hundreds of people were stopping by every day,” she said. “The Lego one had my jaw on the floor. I was shocked."
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20+ free ways to celebrate Halloween in NYC

Photo credit: Benny Polatseck | Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

October 13, 2026

20+ free ways to celebrate Halloween in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

Halloween is one of the most exciting times in New York City, but some New Yorkers can find themselves priced out of the festivities due to the steep costs that come with them. Ahead, here are some of the best free ways to celebrate Halloween across the five boroughs without breaking the bank, from spooky festivities on car-free streets to famous parades and family-friendly events.
Haunted happenings, this way

Events & Things To Do

Halloween ‘Trick-or-Streets’ return to NYC with 180 car-free streets

Photo © 6sqft

October 2, 2026

Halloween ‘Trick-or-Streets’ return to NYC with 180 car-free streets

By Aaron Ginsburg

Halloween returns to New York City’s streets at its largest scale yet, with 180 streets and public spaces closing to vehicles for spooky celebrations. After announcing the return of "Trick-or-Streets" earlier this month, Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn on Tuesday announced the addition of 20 more car-free locations in response to record demand. The annual initiative closes streets, plazas, and other commercial corridors across the five boroughs to vehicle traffic, creating safe spaces for free programming, trick-or-treating, and other Halloween activities.
Learn more

Village Halloween Parade. Photo by Steven Pisano on Flickr

October 21, 2025

NYC’s best Halloween events

By Aaron Ginsburg

From the famous Village Halloween Parade to festive celebrations at the iconic cultural institutions and museums to neighborhood trick-or-treating and over-the-top costume parties, New York City is one of the best places to celebrate spooky season. Ahead, discover some of the best Halloween happenings across the five boroughs this year.
festive frights, ahead

Events & Things To Do

10 best haunted attractions in and around NYC

Credit: Brighton Asylum

October 1, 2025

10 best haunted attractions in and around NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

With fall weather beginning to creep into the five boroughs and Halloween just a few weeks away, it’s time to start getting into the spooky spirit. One of the most classic ways to celebrate the season is by braving a haunted house, where scares lurk around every corner. While New York City isn’t known for sprawling estates or large farmhouses, there are a few haunted attractions in the five boroughs, but even more are just a drive or train ride away. Ahead is a guide to the best haunted attractions in and around the city, from Tribeca’s famous Blood Manor to eerie farm attractions upstate and in New Jersey.
ways to get spooked, ahead

Events & Things To Do

‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ light exhibit returns to New York Botanical Garden

All photos courtesy of Avery Brunkus

August 19, 2025

‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ light exhibit returns to New York Botanical Garden

By Lidia Ryan

Halloween, let alone Christmas, may not be top of mind yet, but the New York Botanical Garden is celebrating early with the return of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" immersive exhibit running September 25 through November 30. This year, the nighttime light trail, inspired by the 1993 Tim Burton film, features 8,300 square feet of light installation and new scenes and music, according to a release.
enter halloween town

Events & Things To Do

Boroughs of the Dead ghost tours dive into the real-life macabre history of NYC

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Astoria. All photos courtesy of Boroughs of the Dead

October 25, 2024

Boroughs of the Dead ghost tours dive into the real-life macabre history of NYC

By Lidia Ryan

Spooky season is in full swing, and if you’re a history nerd who wants to learn about the "macabre, strange, spooky, weird, spectral history of the city," there’s a tour group for that. Boroughs of the Dead: Macabre New York City Walking Tours, founded by Andrea Janes, brings groups through the spookiest, most "haunted" areas of New York City, creating a "ghost map" of the city by overlaying scary stories over the “terrain of the real,” Janes describes.
discover the spooky side of NYC

100+ NYC streets will go car-free for fun Halloween activities

Credit: NYC DOT

October 4, 2024

100+ NYC streets will go car-free for fun Halloween activities

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's Halloween open streets program returns for its biggest year yet, featuring over 100 participating locations. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Thursday announced the "Trick-or Streets" initiative, which closes streets, plazas, and other commercial corridors across the five boroughs to cars to provide space for fun, spooky-themed activities throughout October.
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NYC’s best free and cheap (ish) Halloween events

Photo courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy

October 2, 2024

NYC’s best free and cheap (ish) Halloween events

By Aaron Ginsburg

Like most things in New York City, celebrating Halloween can quickly become an eerily expensive excursion. But fear not, there are still plenty of free and budget-friendly ways to get in the spooky spirit across the five boroughs. Ahead, find some of the best free and cheapish ways to celebrate Halloween in NYC, from exciting festivals and dog costume contests to tricky corn mazes and creepy concerts.
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Events & Things To Do

Photo by Steven Pisano on Flickr

September 11, 2024

Village Halloween Parade theme celebrates the ‘inner cat lady’ in everyone

By Devin Gannon

Cat ladies are having a moment. In response to the sexist trope put forward by Republican Vice President candidate Sen. JD Vance, who called Democrats "childless cat ladies" who should have fewer voting rights, the theme for this year's annual Village Halloween Parade will be "Meow," a celebration of the "inner cat lady in everyone." Leading the parade this year as grand marshal is Tony Award-winning actor André De Shields, who recently starred as Old Deuteronomy in "CATS: 'The Jellicle Ball.'"
DETAILS HERE

Events & Things To Do

At 50, the Village Halloween Parade has become New York City’s ‘healing ritual’

All photos courtesy of New York’s Village Halloween Parade

October 30, 2023

At 50, the Village Halloween Parade has become New York City’s ‘healing ritual’

By Lidia Ryan

Fifty years ago, Ralph Lee took a walk around Greenwich Village with his puppets on Halloween night. It resonated with people. A couple of years later, as part of the City in the Streets program, Theater for the New City stepped in and produced the event on a larger scale, hitting more Village streets and attracting more participants. After Lee stopped his involvement with the parade, Jeanne Fleming stepped in. Today, over four decades under Fleming’s careful eye as artistic and producing director, the Village Halloween Parade is a part of New York City’s cultural identity — an event that through hardship and triumph over the past 50 years, has remained a ritual.
more on on the iconic event here

October 23, 2023

The best ways to celebrate Halloween 2023 in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers, it's spooky season. New York City is known to go all out for Halloween, with over-the-top parades, epic trick-or-treating, and spirited parties in every neighborhood. Ahead, find some of this year's best-haunted happenings for all ages, from kid-approved activities and dog costume contests to devilish dance parties and brews and booze.
HAUNTED HAPPENINGS, HERE

Events & Things To Do

Mayor Adams to host haunted Halloween party at Gracie Mansion

Halloween at Gracie Mansion 2021. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

October 20, 2023

Mayor Adams to host haunted Halloween party at Gracie Mansion

By Devin Gannon

The grounds of Gracie Mansion are getting a haunted makeover this Halloween. Mayor Eric Adams will open the People's House to young New Yorkers for trick-or-treating, a corn maze, and a spooky graveyard. Adams, who previously said he thinks ghosts reside at the Yorkville mansion, has set aside tickets to the two-day event for about 300 families in the city's shelter system and those seeking asylum.
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Events & Things To Do

Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade is back on and bigger than before

Photo by editrixie on Flickr

October 4, 2023

Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade is back on and bigger than before

By Aaron Ginsburg

Get back to designing those canine costumes, New Yorkers: this year's Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade is back on. After being canceled last week, the 33rd annual dog parade will proceed with support from Mayor Eric Adams and financial backing from dog wellness company Get Joy. Taking place on October 21, this year's event is set to be the largest ever and will feature a formal parade procession instead of just a gathering inside the East Village park, according to the New York Times.
paw-some parade news, this way

Events & Things To Do

This year’s Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade has been canceled

Jack Russel terrier, Roman, dressed as Ramen Noodles during the 2019 parade. Photo @ James and Karla Murray

September 28, 2023

This year’s Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade has been canceled

By Aaron Ginsburg

Dog lovers, we have some ruff news. The Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade has been canceled indefinitely. The event's website homepage reads, "Parade has been canceled for the foreseeable future" in bold. The dog parade, which would have been returning for its 33rd year, was canceled due to overwhelming complications with permits and logistics, parade organizers told Gothamist.
ruff news

Events & Things To Do

See NYC architects compete in annual pumpkin carving contest Pumpkitecture

Image courtesy of Sam Lahoz

October 27, 2022

See NYC architects compete in annual pumpkin carving contest Pumpkitecture

By Aaron Ginsburg

The annual competition that pits New York City-based architectural firms against each other to carve the best pumpkin is returning on Friday, just in time for Halloween. Known as Pumpkitecture, the event will give onlookers the opportunity to see architects hone their skills in real-time and compete for the big prize, the Pritzkerpumpkin. Pumpkitecture will take place at the Center for Architecture at 536 LaGuardia Place in Greenwich Village on October 28 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Get ready to go gourd to gourd

Nearly 100 NYC streets will go car-free for safe trick-or-treating this Halloween

Photo courtesy of Marco on Flickr

October 24, 2022

Nearly 100 NYC streets will go car-free for safe trick-or-treating this Halloween

By Aaron Ginsburg

For the first time, dozens of New York City's "Open Streets" will expand operating hours on Halloween to make trick-or-treating safer for young New Yorkers. As part of the Department of Transportation's "Trick-or-Streets," nearly 100 streets, plazas, and other commercial corridors across the city will be closed to cars on October 31 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
See more here

The top spooky and spirited NYC bars to visit this Halloween

Photo courtesy of The Cauldron NYC

October 14, 2022

The top spooky and spirited NYC bars to visit this Halloween

By Devin Gannon

New York City's favorite holiday is back and better than ever, with Halloween traditions and events returning in full force after two years. In addition to the parades, pumpkins, costume contests, and fright fests, many of the city's bars and restaurants transform into spooky dens decked out in eerie decor and serving spirited drinks and ghostly bites. Make the most of Halloween by visiting one of these freakishly festive bars.
Where to sip on spooky spirits

The best ways to celebrate Halloween 2022 in NYC

Photo of 2019 Village Halloween Parade by Steven Pisano on Flickr

September 26, 2022

The best ways to celebrate Halloween 2022 in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

It's time to figure out your costume because Halloween is almost upon us. In New York City there is no shortage of fun events celebrating the spooky holiday, with plenty of opportunities to dress up, get candy, dine, and enjoy the season. Ahead, we found some of the city's best Halloween offerings this year, from the legendary Village Halloween Parade to more low-key pumpkin picking at Historic Richmond Town's Decker Farm on Staten Island.
See the full list ahead

Events & Things To Do

10 offbeat haunted spots in New York City

St. Paul’s Chapel via Flickr cc

October 25, 2021

10 offbeat haunted spots in New York City

By Lucie Levine

'Tis the season to voluntarily spook yourself! But if haunted houses and tourist-friendly ghost tours are not for you, New York's bustling burrows are home to a slew of the more naturally born spirits. You’ll find Dracula’s extended family on 23rd Street, a host of oracles on Orchard Street, and the site of the cruel crime that led to the nation’s first recorded murder trial on Spring Street. If you’re searching for a necropolis in the metropolis, here are ten of the best sites in New York to spot specters.
See all the haunted haunts here!

History

The best 2021 Halloween happenings and spooky spectacles in NYC

Photo of 2015 Village Halloween Parade by Peter Burka on Flickr

October 18, 2021

The best 2021 Halloween happenings and spooky spectacles in NYC

By Michelle Cohen

New York City really shows its creative side for Halloween, and after a year of laying low, everyone's ready for some trick-or-treat action. The epic Village Halloween Parade is back on, parks and pumpkin patches are putting their fall bounty on display, and our favorite gathering, shopping, and dining spots are stocking up on candy and planning fun events. For the best ideas, browse our list of Halloween haunts and happenings from family-friendly to wicked and wild.
See the full list, this way

Events & Things To Do

Photo of 2019 Village Halloween Parade by Steven Pisano on Flickr

October 5, 2021

The 2021 Village Halloween Parade is officially back on

By Devin Gannon

The Village Halloween Parade is officially back this year thanks to a major donation. The beloved event was scheduled to return after a pandemic-related hiatus, but a lack of funds threatened to cancel the 2021 parade, according to organizers. The parade set a fundraising goal of $150,000 by October 5, and with the help of 183 donors who contributed over $11,000 and Jason Feldman and his wife Missy who made up the difference, the spooky show will go on.
Details here

Events & Things To Do

Smash and smush your old pumpkins into compost at Hudson River Park

Credit: Max Guliani for Hudson River Park

October 28, 2020

Smash and smush your old pumpkins into compost at Hudson River Park

By Devin Gannon

What better way to celebrate fall, relieve some 2020 related-stress, and benefit the environment than smashing old pumpkins into compost. Hudson River Park's third-annual "smash it, don't trash it" Pumpkin Smash event returns next month, which invites New Yorkers to take a bat to post-Halloween gourds to dispose of them in an eco-friendly way.
Get the details

Events & Things To Do

Archtober’s annual gourd-carving Pumpkitecture event is virtual and open to everyone

BIG Architects designing their masterpiece; Photo by Daniel Cole for Center for Architecture

October 20, 2020

Archtober’s annual gourd-carving Pumpkitecture event is virtual and open to everyone

By Devin Gannon

Every year, New York City-based architecture firms face off in a spirited pumpkin carving competition in quest of the PritzkerPumpkin prize. This year, because of the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions on gatherings, Pumpkitecture will take place virtually. And the contest won't be limited to just architects and designers, but anyone with an "eerie eye for design" can enter.
Get the details

The best ways to celebrate Halloween 2020 in NYC

Photo of pumpkin-headed scarecrows courtesy of NYBG

October 14, 2020

The best ways to celebrate Halloween 2020 in NYC

By 6sqft

Although it's already been a scary year, there are still ways to have some old-school spooky fun in New York City this Halloween. Sadly, popular events like the Village Halloween Parade and the Tompkins Square Dog Halloween Parade have been canceled and traditional trick-or-treating has been deemed a high-risk activity because of the coronavirus pandemic. But there are a number of fall-friendly, socially distanced events still taking place across the city, like a Día de Los Muertos celebration at Green-Wood Cemetery, virtual ghost story readings from the Merchant's House Museum (considered Manhattan's most haunted house), and eerie hayrides and pumpkin picking at the Queens County Farm Museum.
Get the spooky scoop

Events & Things To Do

Halloween

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