NYC’s best free and cheap (ish) Halloween events
Photo courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy
Like most things in New York City, celebrating Halloween can quickly become an eerily expensive excursion. But fear not, there are still plenty of free and budget-friendly ways to get in the spooky spirit across the five boroughs. Ahead, find some of the best free and cheapish ways to celebrate Halloween in NYC, from exciting festivals and dog costume contests to tricky corn mazes and creepy concerts.
Free
The Village Halloween Parade
Greenwich Village, Manhattan
October 31 at 7 p.m.
This year’s Village Halloween Parade is for the “inner cat lady in everyone.” Hosted in response to the sexist trope made by Republic Vice President candidate Sen. JD Vance, who called Democrats “childless cat ladies” who should have fewer voting rights, the theme of this year’s parade is “Meow.” Leading this year’s parade is Tony Award-winning actor André De Shields, who recently starred as Old Deuteronomy in “CATS: ‘The Jellicle Ball.’”
Created in 1974 by the late puppeteer Ralph Lee, the beloved event features thousands of attendees who travel to Greenwich Village in dazzling costumes to march in the parade and is viewed by hundreds of thousands more who line up along the route to witness the spectacle.
Park Slope Halloween Parade
October 31 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Park Slope’s Halloween Parade offers a family-friendly alternative to the Village’s world-famous event. Children and adults in creative costumes march from 14th Street and 7th Avenue up to Third Street, finishing at the historic Old Stone House. The procession of costume-clad marchers is led by members of the Park Slope Civic Council and elected officials and typically sets off at 6:30 p.m.
Bay Ridge Halloween Festival
October 26 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Brooklyn Bridge Parents is teaming up with the 5th Avenue BID in Bay Ridge to host a free fall festival stretching across 10 car-free blocks on 5th Avenue from 72nd to 85th Street. Many of the neighborhood’s restaurants and businesses will be setting up shop, as well as homes decked out with exciting, spooky-themed decor. The event will also feature a bouncy house, arts & crafts, pumpkin carving, live music, a magic show, and much more.
Halloween Harvest Festival 2024
Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City
October 26, 2024 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Celebrate the arrival of fall at Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City for one of the city’s cutest and spookiest dog costume contests. Presented by Chateau le Woof, the event features workshops, live music, food vendors, and more. Registration for the dog costume contest begins at 1 p.m. at Chateau le Woof’s vending table.
Pumpkin Point on Governors Island
October 26 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Governors Island’s annual pumpkin patch and fall festival returns to Nolan Park for another exciting year, inviting visitors to pick out their own pumpkins (free with a suggested donation), trick-or-treat at the park’s historic houses, and try fall-themed food and drinks from the island’s food vendors.
Dumboween
October 31
Dumbo’s beloved Halloween event, Dumboween, attracts hundreds of local residents who participate in the annual “March to the Arch” through Brooklyn Bridge Park. The parade is headed by a brass band with puppets, followed by a party at the archway featuring arts and crafts with Creatively WILD Art Studio, a photo booth, and of course, plenty of candy!
Hands-On History at King Manor Museum
King Manor Museum, 150-3 Jamaica Avenue, Queens
October 19 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Celebrate spooky season at Jamaica’s historic King Manor Museum, where you can learn more about author Washington Irving and his 1820 story “The Legend of Sleepy Hallow.” The free event will also feature arts and crafts, and guests will take home their own headless horseman paper pumpkin masks.
Trick-or-Treat in East Midtown
October 31 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Returning for its 10th year, the East Midtown Partnership is once again welcoming families and friends from across the city to trick-or-treat at businesses throughout the neighborhood. In addition to trick-or-treating, the event includes pumpkin painting at sunrise on East 56th Street, the iconic “Maniac Pumpkin” jack-o-lantern display at 919 3rd Avenue, and more.
Haunted House at the Williamsbridge Oval
3225 Reservoir Oval, Bronx
October 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
This free family-friendly activity invites guests for a spooky haunted house experience at the Williamsbridge Recreation Center. Free and open to the public, the event is recommended for children ages 10 and up.
Tricks and Treats at Bryant Park
Bryant Park Winter Village, Midtown
October 31 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Bryant Park’s free annual Halloween festival, Tricks and Treats, returns to the festive Winter Village for another year of fun spooky-themed activities. Guests can venture around the outdoor marketplace in their best costumes, taking part in eerie magic tricks, face painting, arts & crafts, and a costume parade. The event is free for children of all ages.
Washington Square Park Dog Halloween
Washington Square Park, Greenwich Village
October 26 at 11 a.m.
Venture to Washington Square Park this Halloween weekend to watch as New Yorkers and their pups dress up in fun costumes and compete in a spooky costume contest with a chance to win prizes.
Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest
Fort Greene Park, Fort Greene
October 26
Fort Greene’s beloved dog costume contest is returning to the bottom of the Prison Ship Martyrs’ Monument stairs in Fort Greene Park for its 26th year. As part of the event, over 100 dogs and their owners show off their creative costumes with a chance to win prizes. The entry fee for participants costs $20, but viewing is free with no registration required.
Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade
East Village
October 19, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The 34th annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade returns this year on October 19. The East Village tradition is known for its over-the-top, creative canine costumes. After it was nearly canceled last year, the event debuted an official parade procession, starting at 14th Street and Avenue B and heading toward the park.
Halloween Hunt at Brookfield Place
Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey Street, Financial District
October 25 through 31
Embark on an exciting Halloween scavenger hunt throughout Brookfield Place this spooky season. Grab a map from the concierge at 230 Vesey Street and complete engaging activities around the sprawling residential complex. Finishing four tasks earns you a coloring bag and treats, and completing them all gives you a chance to win gift cards.
Musique Macabre, A Creepy Concert
King Manor Museum, 150-03 Jamaica Avenue, Queens
October 25 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In the spirit of All Hallows’ Eve, King Manor is inviting guests to a spine-chilling performance of the creepy and macabre. Using the manor’s own 19th-century square piano and baroque violin, the concert features haunting titles, such as “Le Tombeau” and “The Sultry Dance of Death,” perfect for setting a festive, spooky mood, as well as haunting songs written by founding father Francis Hopkinson. Additionally, there will be a performance of a sonata by Ignace Pleyel, published in 1818, that was recently found in the depths of King Manor. The event is free and you can register in advance here.
Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla
Harlem Meer, Central Park
October 30 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Sit back and watch as thousands of floating jack-o-lanterns drift out onto Central Park’s Harlem Meer, illuminating the night. Known as the Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla, the free festive event has been around for more than three decades and invites participants to create homemade jack-o-lanterns that are set afloat on the waters of the Harlem Meer. Participants are encouraged to decorate pumpkins weighing around eight pounds with natural ingredients.
Greg’s Great Pumpkin Patch
Greenwood Park, 555 Seventh Avenue, South Slope
Renowned holiday decor purveyor Greg’s Trees has transformed the bar Greenwood Park in South Slope into a sprawling pumpkin patch. Explore a vast selection of pumpkins, gourds, and Halloween decorations.
$25 and under
Cityside Pumpkin Patch
The Summer Club, 8-08 Queens Plaza South, Long Island City
Daily from October 4 through 31
Immerse yourself in fall fun at Cityside Pumpkin Patch, one of the largest and most family-friendly Halloween hubs in the city. The event offers a fully operational pumpkin patch with locally harvested pumpkins from upstate New York, a pumpkin smashing zone, scarecrow archery, spooky photo ops, fall-themed food and drinks, and more. General admission starts at $15 per person. You can reserve a date here.
NYC Pride Open House & Queer Halloween Party
154 Christopher Street, Suite A, Greenwich Village
October 25 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Hosted by NYC Pride, Open Houses are welcoming spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community to feel safe, valued, and supported in expressing their authentic selves. In celebration of Halloween, the organization is hosting a spooky-themed Open House, inviting guests to wear costumes for a chance to win a Pride-themed prize. The event is free, with a suggested donation of $25.
The Amazing Maize Maze
Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway
Fridays to Sundays through October 27
Check out the only corn maze in New York City this Halloween. At the Queens County Farm Museum, the spooky experience begins with a “stalk talk” to prepare you for the challenge of finding clues, solving puzzles, and finding your way to the victory bridge, where stunning views of the three-acre labyrinth await you. Tickets cost $14 for adults and can be purchased here.
Catbaret Presents: Meowloween
Caveat, 21 A Clinton Street, Lower East Side
October 31 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Caveat is calling all cat lovers to celebrate Halloween with a feline-themed cabaret show hosted by Gemma Smith. The jubilant event will feature comedy, live music, and burlesque. Guests are encouraged to attend the event wearing cat-themed costumes for a chance to win raffle prizes. Early bird tickets are $20 until October 17 and will increase to $25 afterward until the event date.
“Bloodfest” at Rooftop Cinema Club
60 West 37th Street, Midtown
Saturdays through October
Rooftop Cinema Club is teaming up with the New York Blood Bank for “Bloodfest,” a month-long initiative that combines classic rooftop movie nights with a life-saving cause. Every Saturday in October, the Blood Bank will host on-site blood drives before movie screenings, offering giveaways and guidance on how to donate. Guests can also indulge in limited-edition spooky cocktails and themed popcorn to enhance the festive atmosphere. Tickets cost $17.25 and are available for purchase here.
$50 and under
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas at NYBG
New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, The Bronx
On select nights through November 30
This Halloween, explore an enchanting light trail at the New York Botanical Garden inspired by the haunting world of Tim Burton’s classic “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” The immersive outdoor experience features over 8,300 square feet of stunning light installations, interactive video projections, LED lighting, and 3D-printed sculptures of Jack Skellington, Sally, and other beloved characters from the movie. Tickets start at $49 for adults and can be purchased here.
Fall-O-Ween is also returning to NYBG, transforming the garden into NYC’s pumpkin headquarters. Running through October 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., guests can enjoy live music, craft beer, and a plethora of outdoor activities set against a vibrant, fall-themed backdrop featuring hundreds of pumpkins, gourds, and flowers. Tickets can be purchased here.
Pumpkin Nights at the Bronx Zoo
Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Boulevard, The Bronx
Through October 13 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., October 17 through 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Back for its second year after a successful debut in 2023, Pumpkin Nights at the Bronx Zoo invites guests to wander a half-mile, animal-themed trail illuminated by over 5,000 glowing jack-o-lanterns. The experience, centered around “what animals do after dark,” is brought to life with atmospheric sounds, music, fog, costumed characters, bubbles, and vibrant lights. Tickets cost $34.95 for adults and can be purchased here.
Squid Game: The Experience
Manhattan Mall, 100 West 33rd Street, Midtown
Thursdays through Mondays
Go head to head with other contestants in this battle of survival, strategy, and skill straight out of the hit Netflix television show Squid Game. The thrilling competition features five challenges and sets directly inspired by the show and uses a live leaderboard and real-time scoring system. Afterward, guests can enjoy authentic Korean food and game-inspired cocktails at the Night Market, snap photos in a photo booth, and take home a Squid Game collectible. Tickets start at $29 and can be purchased here.
Jimmy Fallon’s Tonightmares
630 5th Avenue, Midtown
Through October 31
Step into a haunted maze inspired by 10 of Jimmy Fallon’s worst childhood nightmares. Located within Rockefeller Center, the haunted maze features 10 meticulously crafted rooms that bring the Tonight Show hosts’ worst dreams to life, including a deranged mad scientist to malfunctioning murder robots and other terrifying creatures. The attraction is perfect for groups of friends and family seeking a truly unique Halloween experience. Tickets cost $36.90 for adults and can be purchased here.
Dark Matter – Nightmare Before Midnight
Mercer Labs, 21 Dey Street, Financial District
On view on Thursdays to Sundays through October from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Explore the darkness of the human psyche and paranormal expression at Dark Matter. Created by Roy Nachum, the exhibition explores the role of darkness in art history and reveals how subconscious uncertainty and the unknown have influenced artistic movements and expressed cultural anxieties across time, according to Nachum. Tickets for adults cost $52 and can be purchased here.
Candlelight Halloween: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
Church of Heavenly Rest, 1085 5th Avenue, Upper East Side
October 24 and 25 at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Listen to classic Halloween tunes in the candlelit ambiance of the Church of Heavenly Rest. Performed by the Highline String Quarter, this special concert features a lineup of timeless Halloween classics, including “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, the “Beetlejuice” theme, the “Addams Family” theme, and many other iconic songs. Tickets cost $49 and are available for purchase here.
The Ghostlight Tour: Haunted Broadway
1411 Broadway, Midtown
Wednesdays and Sundays at 11 a.m.
Every night, when Broadway’s theaters empty out, the Ghostlight is lit. Join Broadway Up Closes’ Green Team Guides to explore this tradition and other superstitions still observed by theater professionals. Against this eerie backdrop, hear stories of lingering spirits, including acrobats, designers, actors, and even a priest. Rare photos, news clippings, and videos bring Broadway’s haunted past to the present. Tickets cost $41 for adults and are available for purchase here.
Candlelight Ghost Tours of Merchant’s House Museum
Merchant’s House Museum, 29 East 4th Street, Noho
October 18, 19, 25, 26, and 40
This Halloween season, explore “Manhattan’s most haunted house” in Noho with a Candlelight Ghost Tour at the Merchant’s House Museum. The 50-minute tour takes guests through the eerie, candlelit space, sharing decades of reported supernatural activity and the most recent scientific findings behind the home’s inherently spooky nature. Tickets are $45 and are available for purchase here.
Greenwich Village Haunted Tour
St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, 131 East 10th Street, Greenwich Village
Daily from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Discover the eerie history of Greenwich Village on this engaging haunted tour. Over the course of an hour, you’ll walk a mile through the village, stopping at eight haunted locations that will transform your perception of Manhattan. The tour stops at eight locations in Greenwich Village, including Mark Twain’s House of Death, the Emma Lazarus House, the Hangman’s Elm, and more. Tickets cost $29.95 and can be purchased here.
