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Top Halloween Events in NYC for Families in 2022

Tiny trick-or-treaters are invited to show off their Halloween costumes as they walk the trick-or-treat trail at the Queens Botanical Garden. Photo courtesy of the garden
Tiny trick-or-treaters are invited to show off their Halloween costumes as they walk the trick-or-treat trail at the Queens Botanical Garden. Photo courtesy of the garden
9/25/22 - By Drew Kristofik

Halloween is one of the best nights to be a kid in NYC, and in 2022 our list of the best Halloween events in New York City includes more than 30 Halloween activities. We've rounded up our favorite Halloween events in NYC for families, including perennial kid-pleasers, like Boo at the Zoo and the big Village Halloween Parade, below. Our top picks for Halloween activities in NYC include harvest festivals, hayrides, and pumpkin patches, spooky nighttime corn maze walks, and a live concert by kid-rocker Laurie Berkner. We love Halloween events so much, we're even throwing a FREE Halloween Party at The Hugh. 

Read on for our curated list of the best Halloween events in New York City, and start planning your spooky fun. We promise to add Halloween events as we confirm them—including details on the yet-to-be-announced, perennially popular, BAMboo!—so, be sure to bookmark this post, our Family Activity Calendar, and our New York City Halloween Guide for all the seasonal fun, including our top picks for FREE Halloween activities in NYC.

Before heading out, click through to our listings to confirm the final details, and keep in mind popular events in NYC have a tendency to sell out, so book your tickets in advance or plan to arrive early.

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OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Join Brooklyn Bridge Park this fall to celebrate the changing of the seasons at the annual Harvest Festival! Photo by Alexa Hoyer
Join Brooklyn Bridge Park this fall to celebrate the changing of the seasons at the annual Harvest Festival! Photo by Alexa Hoyer

Halloween and Harvest Festivals in New York City

Annual Harvest Festival

Upper East Side–FREE
Sunday, October 16
Carl Schurz Park's annual harvest fest packs a punch with plenty of festive fall activities for the whole family. READ MORE

Brooklyn Bridge Park's Harvest Festival

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn–FREE
Saturday, October 22
Celebrate the fall season at the 12th-annual harvest festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park. A fun procession kicks off the event, which includes arts and crafts, storytelling, lawn games, and more—plus BBP's signature pumpkin patch. READ MORE

Children's Halloween Festival at Bleecker Playground

Greenwich Village–FREE
Sunday, October 23
This annual celebration begins with a toddler-friendly costume parade around the nabe to the Bleecker Street Playground, and includes face painting, craft tables, and trick-or-treating. READ MORE

Halloween Harvest Festival

Long Island City, Queens–FREE
Saturday, October 29
Socrates Sculpture Park's high-flying Halloween harvest festival is back with its 3rd-annual “Flight of the Gourds” pumpkin carving contest and compost launch. Celebrate the autumn season with pumpkin art workshops, creative costume making, face painting, and the epic launch of the pumpkin catapult! READ MORE

F4P Halloween Extravaganza 2022

South Bronx–FREE
Saturday, October 29
The Friends of 4 Parks’ annual Halloween extravaganza returns in 2022. Held in the beautiful and spooky Franz Sigel Park, it's packed with tricks and treats, mystery prizes, slime making, and Tarot readings. READ MORE

Halloween at the Garden

Flushing, Queens
Sunday, October 31
Tiny trick-or-treaters are invited to show off their Halloween costumes as they walk the trick-or-treat trail at the Queens Botanical Garden. Enjoy live performances, including a magic show. READ MORE
The bronx Zoo is transforming the park and celebrating Boo at the Zoo with safe, family fun activities all month long. Photo by Julie Larsen Maher
The bronx Zoo is transforming the park and celebrating Boo at the Zoo with safe, family fun activities all month long. Photo by Julie Larsen Maher

Animal-Themed Halloween Events in NYC

Bronx Zoo: Boo at the Zoo

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Weekends from Saturday, October 1-Sunday, October 30
Also on Monday, October 10
Trek the candy trail, explore an extinct animal graveyard, and take in pumpkin carving demos as the Bronx Zoo's annual Halloween tradition returns, bringing with it tons of family-friendly activities. Costumes are welcome. READ MORE

Staten Island Zoo Spooktacular

West Brighton, Staten Island
Friday, October 14-Sunday, October 16
This year's Staten Island Zoo Spooktacular is a walk-through experience, complete with live music, scare zones, costumed characters, giveaways, and plenty of enchantment, spread over the zoo’s eight-acre campus. READ MORE

Halloween Howl & Healthy Hound Fair

Upper East Side–FREE
Sunday, October 23
The Howl is Carl Schurz Park's annual dog costume event. More than 200 creatively costumed pups strut their stuff before a blue-chip fashion industry coven of judges. READ MORE

25th Annual Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest

Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Saturday, October 29
It's time to get your costume—and more importantly, your pup's—ready for Fort Greene Park's annual Halloween Festival and dog costume contest. READ MORE

Tasty Treats with APEC's Animals

Douglaston, Queens
Saturday, October 29
Start your Halloween early at APEC with live animals and animal treats! Meet scaly, furry, and creepy, crawly critters, followed by making animal treats for some of APEC’s animals. Children also prepare a Halloween-themed snack to eat during the class and play a fun game. READ MORE

Halloween Concerts in NYC for Kids

Laurie Berkner Band: Monster Boogie Halloween Concert

Upper West Side
Saturday, October 29
The Laurie Berkner Band invites families to boogie on down and stop in for a spell at a special Halloween concert. Bring your dancing shoes and a stuffed animal (for your head)! Costumes are welcome. READ MORE

The Rock n Roll Playhouse Presents a Halloween Spectacular

Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Sunday, October 30
Kids get their groove on to the creepy/fun seasonal music (like The Monster Mash) at this weekly family-friendly concert. Wear a costume! READ MORE

More Fun Halloween Events in NYC in 2022

CMOM October

Upper West Side
Select dates from Saturday, October 1-Sunday, October 30
The LatinX Fest continues at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan in October, but things get a little spooky starting October 18, when the biggest Monster Bash ever creeps into the schedule. READ MORE

Mommy Poppins Halloween Party at The Hugh

Midtown East
Saturday, October 29
This event is at capacity. Register early for our Holiday Party on December 3rd! --Mommy Poppins is partnering with The Hugh for a funtastic Halloween Party! Come in costume for Halloween costume photos with Big Apple Portraits, pumpkin decorating, Happy Dance Club with Lola Star, face painting, games, and more. READ MORE

9th Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest

Tribeca–FREE
Saturday, October 29
Washington Market Park hosts this annual free community event with trophies awarded in five pumpkin-carving categories: cutest, scariest, funniest, most realistic, and most creative. Bring your own pumpkin to enter, or just stop by with your family to enjoy the festive display! READ MORE

Greenpoint Children's Annual Halloween Parade & Party

Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Saturday, October 29
Calling all princes and princesses, heros and villians, witches and wizards. Town Square hosts the popular Greenpoint Children's Halloween Parade, inviting costumed kids of all all ages march down Manhattan Avenue and back to the starting point at the Polish Slavic Center for a Spooktacular Party.  READ MORE

Family Art Project: Dia de los Muertos

Riverdale, the Bronx
Saturday, October 29-Sunday, October 30
Celebrate this special Mexican cultural holiday by learning the traditional use of the four elements to adorn nicho boxes—small shadow boxes filled with meaning and purpose that honor a lost loved one. Decorate a box with objects and found natural materials. READ MORE
Jack-o'-lanterns stretch as far as the eye can see at The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze. Photo by Susan Miele
Jack-o'-lanterns stretch as far as the eye can see at The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze. Photo by Susan Miele

Destination-Worthy Halloween Events near NYC

Legoland's Brick-or-Treat Presents Monster Party

Goshen, New York
Weekends, Saturday, September 24-Sunday, October 30
Legoland New York goes all-out for Halloween, with costume contests, dance parties, live entertainment, characters, and trick-or-treating. The event is included with the price of admission. READ MORE

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience

Yorktown Heights
Opens Saturday, October 22
Step into the Forbidden Forest and relive your favorite moments from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series. Visitors can walk along the magically lit outdoor trail, encountering Hippogriffs, centaurs, unicorns, and Nifflers, and practice casting their very own spells. At the end, enjoy a themed village offering food and drinks, exclusive products, and more. READ MORE

Trick-or-Treat Weekends at Storybook Land

Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey
Weekends Saturday, October 22-Sunday, October 30
Families visiting Storybook Land can climb aboard the Happy Hayride to pick a pumpkin, and decorate it just in time for Halloween. Then, find your way through Elmer’s Haymazin’ Maze, and pick up treat bags. READ MORE

The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze: Long Island

Old Bethpage, New York
Wednesdays through Sundays through Sunday, October 30
Also on Monday, October 10, Monday, October 31, and some dates in November.
The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze: Long Island features illuminated, individually hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns in elaborate displays professionally lit throughout the landscape of Old Bethpage Village Restoration. READ MORE

Six Flags Great Adventure's All-New Hallowfest

The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze

Croton-on-Hudson, New York
Daily through Monday, October 31
Dates also available in November.
This renowned walk-through Halloween experience features more than 7,000 hand-carved, illuminated jack-o'-lanterns forming assorted impressive displays, with lighting and music enhancements. See the pumpkin carousel, windmill, and the New York City skyline. New for 2023, see an animated Ferris wheel and a jack-o'-lantern ode to circus sideshows. READ MORE
October is pumpkin month at the Queens County Farm Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum
October is pumpkin month at the Queens County Farm Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum

Where To Go Pumpkin Picking Near NYC

Pumpkin Picking at Green Meadows Farms

Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
Weekends from Saturday, September 24-Sunday, October 16
Also on Monday, October 10
Who knew you could go pumpkin picking in Brooklyn? Visit Green Meadows Farm to enjoy pumpkins, hayrides, a tractor ride, and more. READ MORE

Queens County Farm Museum's Pumpkin Patch

Glen Oaks, Queens
Saturday, October 1-Sunday, October 30
October is pumpkin month at the Queens County Farm Museum. Enjoy wandering through the patch to find your perfect pumpkin. It's a great farm adventure for the whole family! READ MORE

Decker Farm Pumpkin Picking Weekends

Richmond Town, Staten Island
Weekends from Saturday, October 1-Sunday, October 30
Also on Monday, October 10
Head to Historic Richmond Town to enjoy a day filled with family fun on the historic early-1800s Decker Farm. Visit the pumpkin patch, chuck a pumpkin, enjoy photo-ops, a kid-sized hay maze, and more. READ MORE

Greg's Great Pumpkin Patch

Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Weekends from Saturday, October 1-Sunday, October 30
Pumpkins take over Domino Park, along with a haystack maze for little ones, pumpkin painting and carving for everyone, Instagram-able photo-ops, and activities galore. READ MORE

Queens Botanical Garden Pumpkin Patch

Flushing, Queens
Weekends from Saturday, October 15-Sunday, October 30
QBG’s pumpkin patch is back! All children get to choose their own pumpkin and plant some seeds, and parents can snap the perfect fall photos. The ticket fee includes admission to both the garden and the patch.  READ MORE

12 Pumpkin Patches near NYC for Families

Pick a perfect pumpkin at one of these patches in Westchester, New Jersey, and Long Island. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Socrates Sculpture Park
The Concert Hall @ NY Society For Ethical Culture