Best Halloween events in New York, 2026.

I never get tired of this view.

The 51st annual Halloween Parade in NYC’s Greenwich Village traces its roots to a local puppeteer. Evolving into a non-profit organization within three years, the parade greets over 50,000 costumed participants annually. It’s organized by dedicated volunteers, and a highlight of Halloween night in New York City.

The parade spans 6th Avenue between King and 15th Streets. Eager spectators, including family and kids, flood the sidewalks. Participation options include volunteering or joining the parade, for the latter all you have to do is arrive early and in costume. Subsequently, a costume contest with “secret scouts” rewards the most original and fun costumes, with prizes announced post-parade.

My adviceif you aren’t comfortable being around so many spooky figures consider watching the NYC Halloween Parade at home. The TV Channel NY1 covers the parade from 8 to 9:30 PM.

Come early. Seriously. The crowds hit hard by noon.

For those seeking an intense Halloween experience in NYC, Blood Manor in Tribeca is a haunted house that delivers spine-chilling thrills. This house of horrors goes beyond traditional scares, featuring meticulously crafted sets with props and graphic images. Dedicated actors immerse visitors in a world of ghastly creatures, making it a standout Halloween event in New York City.

Notably, Blood Manor has offered popular “lights out” nights in the past, where participants navigate the attraction in complete darkness with only a glow stick. Not for the faint of heart, purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended, as the limited quantity at the door often leads to wait times.

In Queens, experience Halloween at “A Haunting in Hollis,” a residential home turned spooky experience. Decorated throughout, the home has a haunted house and escape rooms.

In the haunted house you’ll be chased through five floors, and if you get too scared you have two options. First, you can use the safety word “peanut butter” and call it quits. More interestingly, you use a laser gun and teach those ghouls a lesson! And did I mention the only way out is down a 20 foot slide?

But if you’re looking for the best things to do for Halloween in New York City with kids, A Haunting in Hollis also hosts a family friendly Halloween Lights event. All age-inappropriate props and decor are removed for the day and kiddos can enjoy one of the most joyous New York City Halloween events. You can expect to find friendly staff, arts & crafts and goodie bags filled with candy.

This one of those New York moments that makes you fall in love with the city all over again.

While a bit distant from New York City, the Headless Horseman Halloween event in Ulster Park, NY is worth visiting for those able to make the trip. Boasting 8 haunted houses, a dark harvest corn maze, and a spooky outdoor walk, it offers a disturbingly thrilling experience.

Additional escape rooms are available for an extra cost, and if you’re making the trek they’re worth considering. For families, the annual Children’s Days provide a tamer taste of terror, with music and a maze. But word to the wise, this an Halloween event near NYC you want to plan for early, since tickets get more expensive the closer you get to Halloween.

Dumboween’s annual March to the Arch on October 31st is a treasured NYC Halloween event for families. It has a parade from Washington Street to the Dumbo Archway, made up of costumed families and led by the Funkrust Brass Band.

Following the parade, enjoy free activities like arts & crafts, a photo booth, and a costume contest with prizes. Not to mention, kids can indulge in trick-or-treating thanks to the 50+ participating businesses. There’s plenty of Halloween themed photo-ops leading up to the parade, so don’t forget your camera!

One visit and you’ll understand why the regulars never leave.

For a genuine NYC Halloween experience beyond haunted houses and costume parties, join Haunted Manhattan’s walking tours. Explore the eerie history of favorite spots with four tour options. Greenwich Village, East Village, West Village, and Five Points.

Each tour, covering under 3 miles, offers an hour and a half of thrilling and amusing stories delivered by charismatic guides. Discover creepy facts about the familiar streets you traverse daily, making these tours a unique and intriguing way to celebrate Halloween in New York City.

Looking for one of the best boozy Halloween events in New York City? Get ready to Trick or Drink. Barcrawlerz is hosting this year’s annual Trick or Drink bar crawl, where for 3 days you can dress up and head to participating bars for drink specials surrounded by other ghouls and goblins.

The process is simple, simply buy your tickets and show up to the registration site on your confirmation email to get your wristband map of the participating bars along with the specials they’re running. Then head to your first spot for no cover charge and drinks! This one of the best NYC Halloween events for adults, and if I’m being honest, specifically for singles (who are ready to mingle).

NYC has existed for centuries, and beneath today’s modern city lie tales of ghosts and the paranormal. NY Ghosts hosts tours showcasing haunted places and the legends that have made them infamous. Take Mark Twain’s brownstone for example, which has come to be known as the House of Death.

Twain wrote about his paranormal experiences in the home. Eerily, residents today have reported seeing the ghost of Twain. I learned about this ghastly site on NY Ghosts’ tour. Sometimes real life events can be more frightening than made up, and what better time to learn of them than while celebrating Halloween in NYC.

Dates. October 27, 28 & 29, 2023

In a city as diverse as New York City, international celebrations blend seamlessly with Halloween. The Mexican holiday Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead is a perfect example. At Saint Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery the nonprofit Mano a Mano. Mexican Culture Without Borders hosts a multi-day observance of the holiday suitable for the entire family.

The schedule has a market offering traditional Mexican food and art, art workshops, and a dedicated time for crafting ofrendas, or offerings, for departed loved ones. True to Mexican culture, the event exudes vibrancy and joy, making it a must-add to your NYC Halloween itinerary. While requiring advanced RSVP, attendance is free.

For an Instagram-worthy Halloween experience in NYC, head to Pier 17’s free art installation featuring over 500 pumpkins forming a captivating arch. This vibrant display, set against the stunning backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge, attracts people from across the city for its picturesque charm.

Located at South Street Seaport, the pumpkin arch is worth visiting for memorable Halloween photos. While there are no strict time limits for pictures, consider the flow of the line and aim for efficiency. I’ll leave you with a Pro tip, experience the magic at night when the arch is illuminated in lights.

Upon moving from the Pacific Northwest to NYC eight years ago, I fretted about missing quintessential fall activities, particularly finding a pumpkin patch. To my delight, Queens County Farm came to the rescue, offering an authentic pumpkin patch experience in New York City during Halloween.

Established over 300 years ago, the farm provides an ultimate fall activity in NYC, with pumpkin patches and corn mazes. And if you’re feeling brave, a beloved NYC Halloween event is attempting the corn maze at night. The pumpkin patch is open daily from October 1st to 31st, with free admission and pumpkins priced by size for those who choose to bring one home.

a German-inspired October tradition in NYC at Watermark Bar, located on Pier 15 south of the South Street Seaport. Running from early September through the end of October, this lively event welcomes New Yorkers and locals seven days a week.

Indulge in delicious food, tasty beer, and diverse entertainment against the backdrop of the Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges. Fortunately, the event is free to attend you just need to book your time-slot online and pay for any food or drink you enjoy while celebrating.

Dates.Month of OctoberNeighborhoods. West Village, Upper West & Upper East Sides

Besides New York City’s dazzling Christmas decorations, the city is best decorated during Halloween. It’s not just businesses either, you can walk through residential streets in Manhattan and be awestruck by the level of commitment the homeowners have.

From skeletons crawling out of windows to vibrant pumpkins adorning a brownstone’s stoop, you never truly know what to expect. Perusing the neighborhoods is one of the best free things to do in New York City for Halloween, my go to neighborhoods are the Upper West and Upper East Sides.

In October, finding delicious pumpkin beer in NYC is a breeze, but Loreley Beer Garden takes it up a notch with a Pumpkin Keg! Starting in late September you can gather your pals and dive into a 60 oz Pumpkin Keg, complete with a beer tap, pouring 4-5 glasses of pumpkin beer magic.

Not a fan of pumpkin beer? No problem! Swap it out for any beer on tap at Loreley’s, no extra charge. It’s a fall concoction that adds a festive twist to your beer experience at one of the most treasured Halloween bars in New York City.

Oscar Wilde is one of the best places to eat on Halloween in NYC due to its unique celebration of the holiday. The Victorian-style restaurant, dedicated to Irish poet Oscar Wilde, transforms into a Halloween haven with unmatched decorations covering every inch, including the ceiling.

The atmosphere is spirited, and the restaurant’s impressive art collection dating back to the 1800s adds to the allure. Some folks even dine in costume! But Fair warning. Oscar Wilde’s one of the most popular restaurants in New York City during Halloween, and reservations go fast!

Yup, Tompkins Square throws an annual Halloween parade in NYC for dogs and it’s just as adorable as it sounds! Returning for its 34th year in 2024, pups are encouraged to participate and there is no entry fee or registration needed. All you need to do is dress Fido up and arrive early.

The parade last year ran on Avenue B from 12th to 7th Streets, and it’s safe to assume there will be a similar route this year. There are prizes too, so expect dogs in unique costumes that will leave you scrambling for a picture.

Hear me out on this one. I know some folks might consider the mention of a cemetery as one of the best Halloween events in New York City creepy, but it’s true.

Green-Wood Cemetery has a tons of NYC Halloween events to choose from. You can take tours of the cemetery (after dark), take part in a Crime and Catastrophe trolley tour or enjoy music and entertainment all while relishing in the ambiance of the cemetery. Check out Green-Wood Cemetery’s calendar here and plan the prefect spooky night while visiting New York City in October.

Oh, and I should mention a fascinating 25-year creative installation called Here Lie the Secrets of the Visitors of Green-Wood Cemetery, is a grave designed specifically for secrets. Visitors can write their most intimate secrets on a sheet of paper and finally lay them to rest.

Don’t miss Fall-O-Ween at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), one of my favorite NYC Halloween events. 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 weekend is filled with family-friendly Halloween festivities, featuring kids in adorable costumes strutting down Garden Way. Check NYBG’s calendar to plan your visit and ensure Fall-O-Ween is part of your Halloween events checklist in New York City this year!

Finding Halloween events in New York City for kids isn’t always easy, which is why I really appreciate Boo at the Zoo. The zoo has candy trails so kids can trick or treat alongside their favorite animals and guests are encouraged to show up in costume and take part in a day of fun.

It’s an educational day too, since the zoo shows what some of the animals’ favorite snacks are as well. 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.

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.

The animal themed jack-o-lantern trail meanders around the zoo and you’ll come across games and vendors selling small bites. Throughout the whole experience you’ll be learning about animals and how they behave at night (remember, there won’t be any actual animal exhibits open).