It's fall in NYC and that means Halloween is just around the corner! There’s something for everyone, from haunted pumpkin gardens at NYBG and a special sleepover at Ripley's for little kids, haunted houses for teens, to more adult festivities at Highline Ballroom and Webster Hall. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of NYC's Village Halloween Parade. Check out our roundup of events. Happy Halloween!
9/21
THE HAUNTED PUMPKIN GARDEN
Pumpkin sculptures of spooky scarecrows, frightening spiders, sneaky snakes, and more await discovery at every turn in the Everett Children's Adventure Garden. The display includes more than 500 intricately carved pumpkins that are sure to capture imagination. Special events run throughout the month. Through Oct. 31 in the Everett Children's Adventure Garden. 10am-6pm, plus after-hours evening events (Spooky Nightime Adventures, Oct. 18, 19, 25-26, 6:30pm-8:30pm). New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx NY, 718-817-8700, nybg.org/halloween
10/04
BLOOD MANOR New York City's renowned haunted attraction is open. Through Nov. 2.
Fourteen and up. 163 Varick Street, NY, 212-290-2825, bloodmanor.com
10/05
LUNA PARK'S HALLOWEEN HARVEST
Luna Park's Halloween Harvest will take place every weekend in October, in addition to Monday, Oct. 14, Columbus Day. The park will be decorated to the nines with kid-friendly decorations and costumed characters. Families can paint pumpkins together, enjoy seasonal food and beverage and guess the size of Luna Park's giant pumpkin to win cool prizes. As an added treat, sweets will be distributed within the park including family favorites like Welch's Fruit Snacks and Sour Jacks. Luna Park is home to the world famous Cyclone Roller Coaster and has over 28 rides, games and attractions for all ages to enjoy! Through Oct. 31. 12pm-8pm. Luna Park, 1000 Surf Ave., Brooklyn NY, 718-373-5862 lunaparknyc.com
HALLOWEEN COSTUME WORKSHOP: Still deciding on an iconic identity for Halloween? Why not reach for the sky and be the tallest thing around! Come join us to make a Halloween costume that resembles your favorite skyscraper. Five and up. 10:30-11:45 AM. Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Place NY, 212-945-6324, skyscraper.org
10/19
13TH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN HARVEST FESTIVAL Families can make a costume, listen to live music, and enjoy special art making workshops. Enter the family dog in the 8th Annual Canine Costume Contest or just watch the parade of, creatively clad dogs, paint a pumpkin, try harvest foods from a local restaurant. 11am-3pm. Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., LIC, 718-956-1819, socratessculpturepark.org
10/20
KIDS 'N COMEDY IN 'THE TERRIFIED OF EVERYTHING HALLOWEEN SHOW' Kids 'N Comedy, New York's leading presenter of young comic talent, will open its 2013-2014 season with "The Terrified of Everything Halloween Show," a confession of deep, dark fears by the funniest teenagers in the tri-state area.
The show will launch a new season of themed shows for which the young comedians will create exclusive material. For the second full season, each show features new writing by the comedians appearing, which they are creating expressly for the varied topics of the shows. 1pm. For kids nine and up. $15 plus a one item minimum. Gotham Comedy Club, (venue separate from event planner) 208 W. 23rd Street, NY, 212-877-6115, kidsncomedy.com
10/19
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION This 3,000 year old tradition pays respects to those no longer with us, with symbolic offerings, storytelling and a procession around the Harlem Meer in Central Park. 11am-6pm. El Museo Del Barrio, 1230 5th Ave.New York NY
212-831-7272, elmuseo.org
10/20
AMAZING HALLOWEEN SCAVENGER HUNT
POGO Events presents our annual Costume Amazing New York Scavenger Hunt for Halloween. The Amazing New York Scavenger Hunt is part scavenger hunt, part obstacle course and ALL NEW YORK. A series of spooky clues leads you around the haunted city performing physical and mental challenges along the way. You can sign up as a team or as an individual and we will partner you with a team. The hunt takes three hours. Please wear comfortable shoes and bring a Metrocard. One member of the team should have a smart phone (either Android or I-Phone). If you don’t, please let us know and we will pair you with someone who does. Everyone who crosses the finish line receives a free beer! Each member of the winning team receives a New York City gift package. Everyone who crosses the finish line receives a free beer! 12.30pm-4:30pm. Times Scare, 669 8th Avenue, NY, 718-344-8962, pogoevents.com, timescarenyc.com
10/25
HALLOWEEN HAUNTED HOUSE Families can enjoy a haunted house for thrills and chills, along with hayrides, and halloween treats, mulled cider, pumpkins and apples available for purchase. The house is recommended for children ages 4-12. Adults will find it creepy too! 4-7pm. Through Oct. 27. Queens County Farm, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park NY, 718-347-3276, queensfarm.org
HALLOWEEN MURDER MYSTERY In this fictional mystery game, loosely based on an historic newspaper account, an unidentified skeleton has been discovered under the floorboards of the Mount Vernon Hotel. Who was killed? By whom? With what? Explore the Museum by candlelight, and collect clues to unravel the mystery and solve the case. For children ages eight and older. 6:30pm & 7:30pm. Also Oct. 26. $25 adults, $10 children 12 and under. Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden, 421 E. 61st St., NY, 212-838-6878, mvhm.org
10/26
ZEPHYR HALLOWEEN GHOST SHIP CRUISE Board the ZEPHYR as it transforms into a haunted house on the high seas. Expect plenty of treats aboard the 143-ft luxury yacht's costume extravaganza-including a special guest appearance by Spider-Man-direct from Broadway! Be sure to pull out all the stops on your costume-judges will be selecting winners in several categories and awarding the most daring and creative! $50 per person. 9:30pm. South Street Seaport, Pier 16, newyorkwatertaxi.com
DEAD OR ALIVE: HALLOWEEN AT NYSCI Kids can create edible tricks and treats with candy makers, molecular gastronomists, and food scientists. Virtual costume party with live music, video productions and food trucks. 10am-6pm. Also Oct. 27, Nov. 2-3. New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona NY, 718-699-0005, nysci.org
TOP OF THE ROCK HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR
Activities free with admission. Enjoy face painting, magic shows and sweet treats atop 30 Rock, which also boasts stunning 360 degree panoramic views of New York City from the 67th floor observatory. Top of the Rock, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, NY, 877-692-7625
topoftherocknyc.com
RIPLEY’S BOO-LIEVE IT OR NOT! SLUMBER FEST RETURNS TO TIMES SQUARE Ripley’s Boo-lieve It or Not! Slumber Fest returns to Ripley’s Times Square this Halloween to put a spooky twist on the Odditorium’s famed “Extreme Sleepover.” This spine-chilling overnight experience thrills with unbelievable sideshow performances, costume contest, Halloween scavenger hunt and more. Includes admission to Ripley’s Odditoriom; Halloween themed scavenger hunt; late-night haunted house; access to Ripley’s Impossible LaseRace™; pizza dinner and breakfast; a screening of a Halloween themed family movie; costume contest with prizes; live entertainment; and a souvenir goody bag featuring bug candy and a Ripley’s t-shirt.
All guests need to bring is a sleeping bag, pillow, pajamas, flashlight, costume and their curiosity. 7pm, ends at 8am the next morning. One night only! Suitable for children ages 6 and up. One adult (over age 21) is required for every four children attending. $129 per person. Ripley’s Believe it or Not, 234 West 42nd Street, 212-398-3133 ripleysnewyork.com
10/27
CHILDREN'S FALL FESTIVAL
This is Halloween fun for children of all ages; everyone is invited to wear their costume! Free children's games and bounces, visit our haunted house, pony rides and a petting zoo. Professional character look-a-likes will visit to add to the fun. Craft vendors display and sell fall items, food, country western music and dancing will make this event fun for people of all ages. ADMISSION: $5.00 per person* Free with Farm Membership *NOTE: Admission includes Bounces and games for kids, Magic Shows for kids, Halloween Characters (photos with characters welcome), Country Western Band – Savannah Sky, Pumpkin Painting (with purchase of Pumpkin), Con Edison Ecology Booth – craft activity for kids. Additional fees apply for: Animal Feeding ($4), Pony Ride ($3), Hayride ($2), Haunted House 1-4pm ($4), Amazing Maize Maze ($9 adults/$5 children ages 4-11)
11am-4pm. (Evening Haunted Haunted house event above separate.) Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Floral Park NY 718-347-3276, queensfarm.org
10/30
DEVIL'S NIGHT: MISFITS Hailed as an influence and covered by numerous successful and diverse artists ranging from Metallica to Guns N' Roses, the band has remained relevant throughout its illustrious 34-year career.
This show promises to be the band's most elaborate ever, featuring new costumes and props as well as a fresh set list of music that mixes new, classic, and surprise songs encompassing the band's entire catalog. 8pm. B.B. King Blues Club and Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., NY, 212-997-4144, bbkingblues.com
UNICEF MASQUERADE BALL The UNICEF Masquerade Ball is an unforgettable Halloween party—costumes and all—that brings UNICEF's work to the next generation of young philanthropists in addition to celebrating UNICEF's Trick-or-Treat campaign. Music by Neil Jackson & Chelsea Leyland, Magic by Josh Beckerman, raffle drawing, facepainters. Costumed preferred with mask/black-tie permitted. 8pm. Angel Orensanz Foundation, 172 Norfolk Street, NY, 212-373-6148, unicefusa.org/about/special-events/masquerade
10/31
18TH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION More than 30 of the Museum's popular halls will be open for trick-or-treating, arts and crafts, fun with roaming cartoon characters, and live performances. Past performers and characters have included Curious George, Winnie-the-Pooh, Strawberry Shortcake, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Madeline, Maya & Miguel, David Grover and the Big Bear Band, Louie & Subanda, performers from the Big Apple Circus, and stilt walkers. 4pm-7pm. $11. AMNH, Central Park West at 79th Street, Upper West Side NY, 212-769-5100, amnh.org
NYC'S 40TH ANNUAL VILLAGE HALLOWEEN PARADE All those in costume are welcome to join hundreds of puppets, 53 Bands of different types of music, dancers and artists, and thousands of other New Yorkers in costumes of their own creation in the nation's most wildly creative public participatory event. NYC will also honor SUPERHEROES — the REAL ones: those folks from Occupy Sandy who stepped up to help the city out of that disaster; the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center Transplant Team and Jeff Bratcher—longtime Parade volunteer—who donated a kidney to the Parade Director’s son; and all those who have volunteered to marshal and animate giant puppets throughout the Parade long history and kept this humble arts organization going! Alert - ONLY enter the line-up on 6th Ave. from the East and South between Canal and Spring. 7-10pm. halloween-nyc.com
WEBSTER HELL: OFFICIAL NYC HALLOWEEN AFTERPARTY
All 4 massive floors of Webster Hall transform into a twisted mausoleum filled with heart-pounding dance music, hair-raising spectacles, and a Halloween party experience one will never forget. Feel the heat as fire-wielding exhibitionists mesmerize the crowd. Sense the horror as flying flesh-eaters soar high over the crowd in the Grand Ballroom, hungry for blood. Experience the excitement as thousands of party-goers, hidden behind masks and disguised as freakish inversions of their former selves, revel together for what is hands down the biggest Halloween party in NYC every year. $5,000 costume contest. 8pm. Webster Hall, 25 E. 11th St., NY, 212-353-1600, websterhell.com
WICKED AND THE DAMNED MASQUERADE BALL Featuring a performance by a world-renowned DJ. Assorted packages available, $15-$1,880. Highline Ballroom, 431 W. 16th Street, NY 212-414-5994, highlineballroom.com
