This roundup of the best things to do on Halloween in New York City with kids was written by Alejandro Beltran, co-founder of New York Simply (an official partner of Apple Maps) and a NYC local.
Celebrating Halloween with kids in New York City is a blast, so long as you know where to find the best events and activities. As someone who just hosted his best friend’s family in NYC this past fall, I did some serious research into the best family-friendly Halloween events in NYC, and even partook in a few. I decided to jot them down in this article, so what do you say we jump right in?
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Things to Do in New York City with Kids on Halloween
Table of Contents: Kid-Friendly Halloween Events in NYC
Table of Contents: Family-Friendly Halloween Activities in NYC
- Things to Do in New York City with Kids on Halloween
- Search for the Best Halloween Decorations
- Visit the Pumpkin Arch on Pier 17
- Enjoy the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade
- Celebrate Fall-O-Ween at the New York Botanical Garden
- Visit the Pumpkin Patch at Queens County Farm
- Check out Boo at the Zoo
- And Pumpkin Nights
- Cheer on the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade
- Head to Coney Island for the Halloween Harvest
- Attend the annual Harlem Meer Pumpkin Flotilla
- Explore Halloween House at the Oculus
- Trick or Treat!
- Best Halloween Activities with Kids in NYC (Post Summary)
- Things to Do on Halloween in New York City with Kids (Map)
- More Halloween Related Articles
Search for the Best Halloween Decorations
One of the best free things to do for Halloween with kids in NYC is to spend some time scouring the city in search of Halloween decorations. Neighborhoods like the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, and the Greenwich Village are brimming with brownstones adorned in spider webs, skeletons, vibrant pumpkins and more.
Bundle up, grab a hot chocolate, and wander the streets in search of the best Halloween decorations in NYC, but don’t forget to bring a camera to capture the moment.
Visit the Pumpkin Arch on Pier 17
Website: Pier 17
Dates: Late September – early November
Address: 89 South St, New York, NY 10038
For a cute Halloween photo of children in NYC, head to Pier 17’s free art installation featuring over 500 pumpkins in the shape of an arch. This vibrant display, set against the stunning backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge, is located at South Street Seaport.
While there are no strict time limits for pictures, consider the length of the line and aim for efficiency. I’ll leave you with a pro tip: experiencing the arch at night (when the lights come on) is one of the most memorable things to do for Halloween in NYC with kids.
Enjoy the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade
Website: Tompkins Square Dog Run
Date: Typically the last week of October
Address: 99 1/2 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009
Tompkins Square throws an annual Halloween parade for dogs and it’s just as adorable as it sounds. Folks flood Tompkins Square Park’s Dog Run with their pups dressed in ridiculously cute costumes creating one of the most memorable Halloween events in NYC that kids will love.
Incentivized by the awards, locals get creative (and aren’t afraid to spend) on their dogs’ costumes. The parade generally runs Avenue B from 12th to 7th Streets, and most of the participants hang out in the park afterwards.
Celebrate Fall-O-Ween at the New York Botanical Garden
Website: New York Botanical Garden
Dates: Late September through October
Address: 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10458
Fall-O-Ween at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) kicks off fall with an abundance of pumpkins, gourds, and autumn activities. Not to mention there’s a Halloween parade that adds to the festive spirit. The weekends are full of family-friendly Halloween activities, and kids are welcome to dress in costume.
But you should check Fall-O-Ween’s schedule before booking tickets. Every weekend hosts different activities (like Bales & Ales, giant parking carving and a spooky garden night) so pick the date that best suits your interests before booking the kid-friendly Halloween event in NYC.
Visit the Pumpkin Patch at Queens County Farm
Website: Queens County Farm Museum
Dates: The month of October
Address: 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy, Queens, NY 11004
Queens County Farm offers a quintessential Halloween activity for kids in New York City, offering a pumpkin patch New Yorkers have come to love. Established over 300 years ago, the 47-acre farm provides an ultimate fall activity in NYC, with pumpkin patches, a petting zoo, and corn mazes.
The pumpkin patch is open daily from October 1st to 31st, and offers free admission. Pumpkins are priced by size for those who choose to bring one home (but bring a bag to carry them in). And for those wondering if you can get to the farm with public transportation, there’s a bus stop 10 minutes away.
Check out Boo at the Zoo
Website: Bronx Zoo
Dates: Weekends in October
Address: 2300 Southern Blvd, The Bronx, NY 10460
Every year the Bronx Zoo hosts a Halloween event in NYC for kids, named Boo at the Zoo. Guests are encouraged to show up in costume and take part in a schedule full of fun activities. The zoo has candy trails so kids can trick or treat alongside their favorite animals.
It’s an educational experience, since the zoo shows what some of the animals’ favorite snacks are. There’s a multitude of arts and crafts kids can take part in, as well as a magician, pumpkin carving shows, and a costume parade that takes place 3 times a day.
And Pumpkin Nights
Website: Bronx Zoo
Dates: Thursdays through Sundays in October
Address:2300 Southern Blvd, The Bronx
While Boo at the Zoo is one of the best things to do with kids for Halloween in NYC during the day, Pumpkin Nights is one of the best things to do at night. After the animals go to bed, more than 5,000 pumpkins with animal carvings are illuminated at the zoo.
The animal themed jack-o-lantern trail meanders around the zoo and there’s games and vendors selling small bites. Throughout the whole experience kids get to learn about animals and how they behave at night (but remember, there won’t be any actual animal exhibits open).
Cheer on the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade
Date: October 31st, 2024 at 7PM
Neighborhood: Greenwich Village
Address: 6th Avenue between King St. and 15th St
The annual Greenwich Village Halloween Parade in NYC traces its roots to a solo mask maker and puppeteer entertaining local kids. Presently the parade boasts over 50,000 costumed participants annually. The parade spans 6th Avenue between King and 15th Streets, where eager families flood the sidewalks.
Locals are encouraged to join the parade, all you have to do is arrive early and in costume (and there’s prizes announced post-parade!). If your kids aren’t comfortable being around so many spooky figures consider watching the parade at home, the TV Channel NY1 will be covering the parade from 8 to 9:30 PM.
Head to Coney Island for the Halloween Harvest
Website: Coney Island for the Halloween Harvest
Dates: Late September to late October
Address: 1000 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224
Coney Island’s Luna Park is an amusement park that’s worth visiting in October for the Halloween Harvest – one of the best Halloween events in New York City for families! With admission into the amusement park, guests get free access to all the Halloween and fall festivities.
There’s pumpkin carving as well as an array of pumpkin-flavored treats like spice funnel cake and Halloween cotton candy. And don’t worry, they also offer carnival classics. Face painting, balloon animals, and rides galore all make this a treasured Halloween activity in NYC for kids.
Attend the annual Harlem Meer Pumpkin Flotilla
Website: Halloween on the Harlem Meer
Dates: Usually a few days before Halloween
Address: North Central Park, New York, NY 10029
Every year, usually a few days prior to Halloween, the Harlem Meer in Central Park hosts a pumpkin flotilla. Essentially, they let a caravan of carved, illuminated pumpkins float across the body of water for a few hours around sunset. It’s one of the best Halloween events in NYC for kids, who are encouraged to dress up in their favorite costumes.
You can enter your own jack-o-lantern, but only few spots are available and the park picks the best of the best. According to the website, you should try to make your pumpkins as close to eight-pounds as possible and avoid using unnatural decorations like glitter that could harm the ecosystem.
Explore Halloween House at the Oculus
Website: Halloween House at the Oculus
Address: 185 Greenwich St LL3110, New York, NY 10006
Dates: Usually the entire month of October
If you’ve ever wanted to go to haunted house with your children but thought the jump-scares and gory scenes might be too much for them, the Halloween House is the next best choice. Their slogan is, no fear. Just fun. which makes this one of the best things to do for Halloween in NYC with kids.
Instead of mad-men chasing you with a chainsaw you’re instead greeted by a troop of friendly faces. Kids will be able to trick or treat, enter a glow in the dark room, explore an indoor pumpkin patch and more. The event takes place at the Oculus Center in the Financial District, for less than $40 per person.
Trick or Treat!
Trick or treating is one of the best things to do on Halloween with kids in NYC, but it looks a little different compared to the rest of America. Instead of ringing doorbells in a subdivision, New Yorkers take their kids to local stores and businesses.
And like most towns across America the affluent neighborhoods are famous for giving out full-sized candy bars. Specifically, places like the Upper East Side and the West Village are known for giving generous helpings, and trick or treating there is the best thing to do for Halloween in NYC with kids!
Best Halloween Activities with Kids in NYC (Post Summary)
- Search for the Best Halloween Decorations
- Visit the Pumpkin Arch on Pier 17
- Peruse the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade
- Celebrate Fall-O-Ween at the New York Botanical Garden
- Visit the Pumpkin Patch at Queens County Farm
- Check out Boo at the Zoo
- And Pumpkin Nights
- Cheer on the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade
- Head to Coney Island for the Halloween Harvest
- Attend the annual Harlem Meer Pumpkin Flotilla
- Peruse Halloween House at the Oculus
- Trick or Treat!
Things to Do on Halloween in New York City with Kids (Map)
Frequently Asked Questions
Kids trick-or-treat in various neighborhoods throughout New York City, such as Greenwich Village, the Upper West Side, and Brooklyn’s Park Slope.
People in NYC celebrate Halloween by attending extravagant costume parties, participating in the iconic Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, and trick-or-treating in various neighborhoods.
Trick-or-treating in NYC typically starts around 4 or 5 PM and continues into the early evening, with some neighborhoods extending the hours.
You can take your kids trick-or-treating in family-friendly neighborhoods such as Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, or Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn.
More Halloween Related Articles
Where to Drink: 12 Terrifying Halloween Bars in New York City (For a Scary Good Time!)
The Best Decorations: 10 Spooky Spots for Halloween Decorations in New York City
What to Do in the Fall: 25 Fun Fall Activities in New York City (Helpful 2024 Guide)
Where to Leaf-Peep in NYC: 10+ Breathtaking Spots for Fall Color in New York City
The Best Treats: 15 Festive Fall Treats in New York City (You Don’t Want to Miss!)
I hope you found this article helpful in planning your Halloween in NYC with kids! Enjoy the spooky celebrations, be safe and we hope you’ll visit our site again soon.
Cheers!
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