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Halloween Weekend in NYC: Trick-or-Treat and More Things To Do with Kids

All the superheroes and stars come out for BAMboo!, the over-the-top Halloween party at BAM. Photo by Elena Olivia
All the superheroes and stars come out for BAMboo!, the over-the-top Halloween party at BAM. Photo by Elena Olivia
10/26/22 - By Drew Kristofik

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this Halloween weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for Halloween weekend.

We're in full spook mode at last, up to our eyeballs in Halloween activities! The Halloween weekend kicks off on Thursday with the Harlem Meer Pumpkin Flotilla, Asphalt Screams follows Friday, and then creepy doings proliferate on Saturday and Sunday with Mommy Poppins' own Halloween Party at the Hugh (we're so excited!), trick-or-treating in the Meatpacking District, and celebration-worthy concerts courtesy of the Laurie Berkner Band and the Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra.

Monday's Halloween agenda includes the Jackson Heights Halloween Parade, BAMBoo!, Dumboween, and the big Village Halloween Parade. Be sure to bookmark our list of NYC's best trick-or-treat neighborhoods, too.

Other top things to do in NYC this weekend include an Open House Family Day at the new David Geffen Hall, taking a turn on Bryant Park's skating rink, which re-opens Friday, and catching a new show about the wonders of imagination, The Phantastic Zoo.

Find more Halloween activities in our Halloween Fun Guide, which is scarily stocked with even more fun things to do this Halloween weekend, including not-so-scary picks for preschoolers, a full rundown of Halloween parades, and the best Halloween events and trick-or-treat spots.

More Things To Do in New York City this Week with Kids

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The Great Pupkin Costume Contest returns to Fort Greene Park. Photo courtesy of the event
The Great Pupkin Costume Contest returns to Fort Greene Park. Photo courtesy of the event

Best Things To Do in NYC This Week With Kids

Halloween on the Harlem Meer: Pumpkin Flotilla

Central Park–FREE
Thursday, October 27
The Harlem Meer comes alive as the sun sets in this annual Halloween favorite. Hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns both spooky and sweet set sail at dusk in New York City's largest pumpkin flotilla. READ MORE

Thriller Dance Day

Astoria, Queens
Thursday, October 27
’Tis the season for zombie dances! Dancer-performer Renée Brailsford leads a group of dancers through the choreography of Michael Jackson's iconic Thriller as part of a fun day of festive family programming that also includes a museum tour and face painting. READ MORE

Asphalt Screams

Upper East Side–FREE
Friday, October 28
Kids in costume can head to Asphalt Green's Upper East Side campus for an afternoon of tricks, treats, and a variety of active, Halloween-themed games, including soccer darts, football toss, gaga, and more. READ MORE

Kids' Halloween Party in Washington Square Park

Greenwich Village–FREE
Friday, October 28
Head to Washington Square Park's Large Playground for a kids' Halloween party packed with different Halloween-themed activities for all ages, including a temporary tattoo studio, Halloween coloring pages, and a pumpkin painting station! READ MORE

Grand Opening of Winter Village at Bryant Park

Midtown West–FREE
Friday, October 28
Bryant Park braces for winter with the official launch of its 21st annual Winter Village. That means NYC's only free ice skating rink is ready to make its season debut, too. Enjoy a twirl on the ice, peruse the holiday shops, and enjoy a snack at the Lodge Deck.  READ MORE

Bay Ridge Halloween Festival

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn–FREE
Friday, October 28
Brooklyn Bridge Parents and the 5th Avenue BID in Bay Ridge team up to host a big fall festival on seven blocks of car-free 5th Avenue from 75th to 82nd Streets. Check out the uniquely decorated houses in the side streets and enjoy a block party with bouncy houses, arts and crafts, pumpkin decorating, a trunk-or-treat, castle building, music, and more. READ MORE

Mommy Poppins Halloween Party at The Hugh

Upper East Side–FREE
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

Frying Pan Halloween Bash and Costume Contest

Sunset Park, Brooklyn–FREE
Saturday, October 29
It’s the 1990s. iPhones don’t exist, and Madonna’s Vogue is cranked on the radio. Take that energy into the Halloween weekend with Frying Pan’s '90s Halloween Bash. Dress in all that the '90s gave us, and celebrate with corny decorations, candy, themed drink specials, and a costume contest with Industry City prizes. READ MORE

Brooklyn Heights Halloween Parade

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn–FREE
Saturday, October 29
Little revelers can get their grown-ups out the door early for this beloved neighborhood Halloween parade. Kids show off their costumes along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.  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

Bklyn Boo: Albee Square

Downtown, Brooklyn–FREE
Saturday, October 29
Downtown Brooklyn hosts an early Halloween fete at Albee Square. The festive fun includes music, performances, and prizes. READ MORE

Second Annual Sutton Spooktacular Celebration

Upper East Side–FREE
Saturday, October 29
Sutton Place Parks Conservancy hosts a fun Halloween party, with games, music and magic, an all-day scavenger hunt, goodies, and a costume parade for pooches and kids. READ MORE

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

Bewitching Music: Classical Halloween Concert

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
Saturday, October 29
Listen to Bewitching Music such as Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2, Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre, Verdi's selections from Macbeth, and Berlioz's selections from Symphonie Fantastique at this classical Halloween concert. READ MORE

Halloween Trick-or-Treat

Randall Manor, Staten Island
Saturday, October 29 - Sunday, October 30
The Staten Island Children's Museum welcomes young robots, superheroes, princesses, animals, ghosts, mummies, witches, and more to stop by for a little early trick-or-treating. READ MORE

Open House: Family Day

Upper West Side–FREE
Sunday, October 30
Discover for yourself what makes the newly remodeled David Geffen Hall so unique! Families can dress in costume and explore the hidden tricks and treats that the world of live performance can offer. READ MORE

An Irish Halloween/Oíche Shamhna: Celtic Magic

Midtown West–FREE
Sunday, October 30
Embark on a trick-or-treat adventure, carve a turnip (the original jack-o’-lantern), play age-old Irish Halloween games, and delve into the ancient autumnal tradition of Oíche Shamhna, the eve of Samhain, across which bonfires lit the land orange and the world was believed to open to the realm of spirits. READ MORE

Halloween Dog Costume Parade on the High Line

Chelsea–FREE
Sunday, October 30
The High Line Hotel hosts its sixth annual dog costume parade, with face painters and dog treats tricking out the hotel’s front garden. The festivities are free to attend. READ MORE

The Phantastic Zoo

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
Sunday, October 30
The Phantastic Theater presents "The Phantastic Zoo," a heartwarming story about the wonders of imagination, told through theater, dance, puppetry and symphonic music. READ MORE

Washington Market Park's Annual Halloween Costume Parade and Party

Tribeca–FREE
Sunday, October 30
Washington Market Park gathers the neighborhood ghouls and goblins together for a Halloween party and costume parade. Follow the marching band down Greenwich Street in your Halloween finest. READ MORE

Children's Museum of the Arts Halloween Block Party

Soho–FREE
Sunday, October 30
The Children's Museum of the Arts hosts a Halloween art-making block party to create the float that kicks off the Village Halloween Parade. Head over in costume (and mask!) and don’t forget your party shoes. Dance Church hosts a 40-minute movement session for partygoers of all ages. READ MORE

Dumboween: Halloween March to the Arch

Dumbo, Brooklyn–FREE
Monday, October 31
Put on your most creative costume, and head to Dumbo for a Halloween March to the Arch. Beginning at Washington Street, between Front and Water Streets, costumed participants parade to the Dumbo Archway, led by live music and puppets. READ MORE

BAMboo!

Fort Greene, Brooklyn–FREE
Monday, October 31
BAM’s annual free community Halloween celebration is back, with candy giveaways, carnival games, arts and crafts, music, and a costume contest. READ MORE

Spooky Pirate Show

East Harlem–FREE
Monday, October 31
Pleasant Village Community Garden is whipping up another spectacular event for the community, over the top with Halloween fun! READ MORE

Jackson Heights Halloween Parade

Jackson Heights, Queens–FREE
Monday, October 31
The Jackson Heights Halloween Parade—NYC’s largest children’s Halloween parade—lines up once again at 89th Street and 37th Avenue and marches down 37th Avenue to PS 69. READ MORE

Washington Square Park/NYU Children's Halloween Parade and Costume Contest

Greenwich Village–FREE
Monday, October 31
One of the city's largest free children's events on Halloween features live performances, games, treats, and more! Gather at 3pm at the Washington Square Park Arch to begin the parade. READ MORE

Trick-or-Treat with East Midtown

East Midtown–FREE
Monday, October 31
Participating East Midtown businesses are welcoming trick-or-treaters at two locations on 56th Street: Sunrise at East 56th (139 East 56th Street at Lexington Avenue), which includes free pumpkin painting; or the plaza outside 919 3rd Avenue (at East 56th Street), with a spooky photo booth. READ MORE

50th Annual Village Halloween Parade

Greenwich Village–FREE
Monday, October 31
The world's most famous Halloween parade weaves through the streets of Greenwich Village once again. Upside Down/Inside Out is the theme for the 2023 parade. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Washington Square Playground
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
The Concert Hall @ NY Society For Ethical Culture
St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church
Staten Island Children's Museum
David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center For The Performing Arts
BAM Peter Jay Sharp Lobby and Lepercq Space