Halloween is one of my most-favorite days of the year. Even the lead up with spooky movies, pumpkin carving, and bags of snack-sized candy emit Fall and the kick-off to the holiday season—the best season in NYC!
But forget sitting at home, watching Hocus Pocus for the millionth time (unless it's followed by a killer party). This is New York City, and we don't do subtle when it comes to the spooky season. As a certified Halloween fanatic, I've got my calendar booked and my costume dry-cleaned.
If you're looking for the must-do events that truly make NYC the place to be on October 31st (and the weeks leading up to it), here are my top five picks. Get your heart racing and your camera ready with these activities (and maybe a spooky adult beverage afterwards).
1. Be Part of the Legendary Village Halloween Parade
The Village Halloween Parade isn't just a spectacle you watch; it's the world's largest public participatory parade! This is your chance to unleash your creativity, strut your stuff, and march alongside giant puppets, wild bands, and 50,000 of your creepiest, coolest new friends.
Playbill Pro-Tip: Costumes are mandatory if you want to march (I found this out the hard way years ago). Head to Canal Street and 6th Ave between 6:30 and 9:00 PM on Halloween night to join the line-up. Trust me, the energy of marching down Sixth Avenue with thousands of other costumed revelers is the best kind of fun!
2. Enjoy a Lil Sweet Trick-or-Treat at Rockefeller Center
This one is for the daytime crowd, the kids, or just anyone who needs a sugar break from jump-scares. Rockefeller Center, one of the city's most iconic spots, turns into a wholesome hub of spooky family fun with its Lil Sweet Trick-or-Treat event. You can hit up participating shops and businesses around the plaza, filled with classic candy selections.
It’s the most iconic backdrop for a pumpkin-spice-and-everything-nice photo op before the real monsters come out at night. Check their website, as this runs Saturdays and Sundays in October with special events on the 31st.
3. Illuminate a Smile at the Bronx Zoo’s Harvest Glow
With thousands of glowing, hand-carved animal-themed jack o' lanterns, The Bronx Zoo's Harvest Glow is the perfect spooky-but-not-terrifying night out! You can stroll through illuminated lantern trails, explore the Dinosaur Safari at night (because dinosaurs are always more eerie in the dark), and catch live pumpkin carving demos.
It’s a fantastic, family-friendly vibe that swaps chainsaws and jump-scares for a beautiful, autumnal spectacle. Plus, you get to see the zoo after dark, which is a rare treat. It runs on select evenings from late September through Halloween; be sure to check their website for more information.
4. Face Your Fears at Blood Manor
For those of us who believe Halloween isn't real unless you're screaming in the dark, Blood Manor is your gory sanctuary. Located in Tribeca, this is NYC’s premier haunted house, featuring 10,000 square feet of twisting corridors, themed rooms, and actors whose only goal in life is to make you jump.
It’s an intense, high-production horror experience where they do not touch you (rules are rules) but will get right up in your space. My best friend went and said it was terrifying—a good enough review for me to meet them at the bar after their adventure. Not for the faint of heart, but for fans of haunted experiences, timed tickets and express passes can be found on their website.
5. Sip a Spooky Cocktail at the Oscar Wilde Bar
After all that screaming and marching, head to the Oscar Wilde Bar in Flatiron to treat those nerves. This gorgeous, Victorian-themed bar is already a feast for the eyes, but come October, they have turned the dial up to 11 with some of the most viral, over-the-top Halloween decorations in the city.
Expect the place to be absolutely decked out; think Gothic horror meets an extremely stylish, macabre antique shop. Grab one of their specialty spooky cocktails (which are as beautiful as they are boozy) and soak in the atmosphere. It's the perfect place to show off your costume while enjoying a high-class, dramatically haunted ambiance.
Playbill Pro-Tip: Reservations are a must! This place gets packed with unavoidable waits, or full reservations-status on the regular. Click here for getting your table and experience set!
There are many additional places to visit, shows we recommend, hotels to stay at, and more! Keep checking back monthly as we continue sharing things to do in NYC (and London). And if you're going to see a show the week of Halloween, be sure to consult our handy guide of which Broadway shows are playing Halloween Week. Happy Halloween!
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