13 Best Halloween Events & Activities For Kids In NYC
Halloween in NYC offers a treasure trove of activities for families with children, especially during spooky season! From the iconic Village Halloween Parade to the thrilling Boo at the Zoo, we’ve curated a list of kid-friendly Halloween events happening that you should bookmark for your family.
Be sure to keep this list handy and stay tuned for even more Halloween kids activities to be announced soon, we’ll be updating this list regularly!
1. Boo at the Zoo
The Bronx Zoo’s favorite fall tradition, Boo at the Zoo is back again this Halloween season, bringing the spooky spirit and awesome family-friendly festivities to the beloved zoo. This event is truly a Halloween spectacle, complete with costume parades, Halloween crafts, pumpkin carving demos, magicians, a pumpkin trail, and so much more. Plus, new thrills and chills this year include a “Trick or Truth Maze,” face painting, a creepy crawly mystery wall, and plenty more. It’s an incredible animal-themed event that’s perfect for kids of all ages. See the full list of Boo at the Zoo happenings online!
The Bronx Zoo
September 28 – October 27
2. Halloween Harvest at Luna Park
The 11th annual Halloween Harvest returns to Coney Island’s Luna Park, and it’s a kid’s Halloween fantasy! Little ones can experience all sorts of Halloween-themed activities including pumpkin decorating, balloon twisting, face painting, tractor racing, and trick or treating. Plus, for the adults there will also be plenty of pumpkin spiced and apple cider flavored carnival style treats to try throughout the park too! Wristbands are required for Luna Park entry, which grant access to all of the Halloween fun! Learn more about Halloween Harvest and see the full list of activities here.
Luna Park in Coney Island
September 20 – October 27
3. Halloween at BCM!
One of our favorite NYC kid-friendly museums, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, is hosting a Halloween event this year which is sure to be exciting! Kids can expect a full day of costumed fun, trick-or-treating around the Museum’s exhibits, and a special anime-themed celebration curated by AniTOMO Con. There will be 3 different sessions throughout the day of 2.5 hour duration! Reserve your spot for BCM’s Halloween celebration here!
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
October 27, 10 am – 12:30 pm, 1 – 3:30 pm, 4 – 6:30 pm
4. Halloween on the Farm
Head to Queens County Farm Museum for Halloween this year, where they’re hosting a family-friendly celebration on the farm with loads of kids activities! This year’s Halloween festivities include live Halloween music performances, a 3-acre cornfield maze, hayrides, a Spooky Barn Experience, trick-or-treating, and so much more. Tickets are required for the event and cost $20 for general admission! Get all the details on the official Halloween on the Farm page.
Queens County Farm Museum
October 27, 11 am – 4 pm
5. NYC Village Halloween Parade
NYC’s popular Village Halloween Parade is a smash-hit for kids, bringing together families from all over the city to enjoy a festive atmosphere in their costumes. Kids can dress up and explore the decorated streets of Greenwich Village during the day and watch incredible performers, floats, and costumes later in the night. Depending on age, kids can also join in on the parade at night (if dressed to this year’s theme of MEOW !!!) and become a part of the action. For full details head to our NYC Village Halloween Parade guide.
Greenwich Village (exact route TBA)
October 31, 7 pm
6. Halloween on the Harlem Meer
Central Park’s incredible “Halloween on the Harleem Meer” will return this year, as they get ready to conduct the wholesome Pumpkin Flotilla once again this October. Perfect for kids, they can watch their decorated pumpkins float on the Harlem Meer in Central Park starting at twilight. Plus, there’s plenty of pumpkin carving, spooky stories, and costume parades happening too. Stay tuned for an official announcement on this year’s festivities!
Harlem Meer in Central Park
TBA
7. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
Bring your kids on one of the most exciting Halloween walks happening this spooky season! The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze returns for 2024 just a short drive from NYC (Croton-on-Hudson, NY) for another epic gathering of over 7,000 illuminated jack o’ lanterns—all designed and hand-carved on site by a team of artisans.
The Halloween light display has of course tons of synchronized lights and music, but also lots for kids like pumpkin-ified classic movie monsters, life-sized dinosaurs, a 24-foot spider web, a Pumpkin Planetarium, a working carousel, and so much more. It’s very much worth the drive for a family-friendly activity! Learn more about this year’s Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze by visiting the event’s official page.
Van Cortlandt Manor (Croton-on-Hudson, NY)
September 13 – November 17
8. Tricks and Treats at Bryant Park
Bryant Park’s annual kids Halloween event returns this year, with a ghoulish night ahead of fun and frights. Bring your kids to the park for a free celebration of eerie magic tricks, face painting, arts & crafts, and a costume parade! The event is completely free and it’s happening on Halloween afternoon! Learn more about Tricks and Treats via Bryant Park’s website.
Bryant Park
October 31, 4 – 6 pm
9. Trick or treating
Trick or Treat! The classic hunt for candy is a children’s tradition like no other, and NYC is a playground of sweets ready to be discovered! Some of the city’s popular neighborhoods go all-out for kids trick-or-treating by hosting events, decorating buildings, and so much more. Find the best places to bring the kids this year by using our trick-or-treating neighborhood guide.
10. Pumpkin picking
Halloween is all about the pumpkins, and little ones can pick out their favorite ones at patches all across the city and Tri-State area. From local outposts like the beloved Greg’s Pumpkin Patch in the city to some on the outskirts like Happy Day Farm and Fishkill Farms, taking a little day trip for some pumpkins to carve can be the perfect kids activity. Explore all of the best pumpkin patches near NYC by visiting this guide on pumpkin picking.
11. Ascarium at the NY Aquarium
New York Aquarium’s beloved ‘Ascarium’ festivities are set to return once again this year, with plenty of marine-themed spooky festivities for guests to enjoy. Kids can enjoy new chills and thrills like face painting, storytelling, and a revamped Aquatheater show. Plus, returning activities include a costume parade, magic shows, Halloween crafts, a spooky scavenger hunt, and much more. Learn more about Ascarium and how to grab tickets via their website.
New York Aquarium
October 19/20 & 26/27, 11 am – 4 pm
12. Seaport Kids x Halloween Bash
The Seaport is hosting a Halloween event for kids as a part of their ongoing “Seaport Kids” series, this one in partnership with Mommy Poppins and Brooklyn Bridge Parents. Kids can stop by the waterfront district this October to decorate over 600 pumpkins, take in live music entertainment, and many more other Halloween crafts.
Seaport Square and throughout the cobblestone streets
October 26, 3 – 5 pm
13. 10th Annual Halloween in East Midtown
The East Midtown neighborhood is once again hosting an awesome kid-friendly Halloween night, offering children ages 12 and under and their families to come trick or treat or treat for candy and other special goodies from dozens of local businesses throughout the district! Alongside the candy collecting, there will be other activities including pumpkin panting and a spooky Jack-O-Lantern display by Maniac Pumpkin Carvers! The event is completely free and happening on Halloween.
Check-in at: 919 Third Avenue (56 Street), Sunrise at E. 56th, or 139 East 56th Street (Lexington Ave)
October 31, 3 – 7 pm
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