The Best Halloween Events Near NYC, from Seriously Spooky to Family Friendly
Calling all Halloween lovers! Spooky season is finally upon us and that means it’s time to get ready to celebrate the best holiday of them all (because candy and costumes, what’s not to love?). We’ve rounded up 16 of the best Halloween events near New York City for 2022 where Halloween aficionados and understated celebrators alike can gather and celebrate with friends and family. From festive pumpkin picking and outdoor fall fairs to scream-worthy haunted houses and eerie ghost tours, there’s a Halloween event for everyone in our spooktacular roundup.
The 15 Most Haunted Places in NYC
1. Pumpkin Picking at Decker Farm
Courtesy of Historic Richmond Town
Location: Historic Richmond Town, Staten Island
Dates: Every Saturday and Sunday in October plus Monday, October 10th
Looking to get a little reprieve from the city while celebrating Halloween at the same time? Head to Decker Farm at the Historic Richmond Town in Staten Island for an array of family-friendly activities. Pumpkin picking is available every weekend in October from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with no reservations needed. After finding the perfect pumpkin, guests can learn about 19th century farm life, indulge in delicious fall food favorites, take a ride on an old-fashioned hayride, paint pumpkins or wander through a corn maze. And the best part? This fun-filled farm is easily accessible via car or the Staten Island Ferry from New York City.
2. A Haunted Cocktail Soiree
Location: Financial District, Manhattan
Dates: Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October plus Thursday, October 27th and Monday, October 31st
Dive deep into a unique Halloween experience at the House of Spirits where you and your friends can sip on themed cocktails while walking through a spooky animated manor. You’ll also enjoy live music, secret games, tarot readings, giant Ouija boards and more while following an interactive storyline. Guests are encouraged to dress in time period fashion, cocktail attire or spooky costumes. You must be 21 and older to enter and tickets have different tiers and must be purchased in advance. The soiree has different time slots depending on the day starting with 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. on Fridays, 4 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and 3:15 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. on Sundays.
3. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
Location: Old Bethpage Restoration (Long Island), Van Cortlandt Manor (Hudson Valley)
Dates: Hudson Valley: September 16 to November 20; Long Island: September 30 to November 6
Get ready for an unforgettable fall activity at the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze. With two locations to choose from (one in the Hudson Valley and one on Long Island), this walk-through experience features more than 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins, larger than life festive installations and synchronized lighting. This family-friendly event is outdoors, and tickets must be purchased in advance for specific time slots starting from 7:30 p.m. Children under the age of two can attend for free and the event takes about 45 minutes. Pro tip: Grab your tickets ASAP as they tend to sell out quickly for both locations.
4. Bayville Scream Park
Courtesy of Donald Finley
Location: Bayville, Long Island
Dates: September 23 to November 6
If getting scared by bloody zombies and killer clowns is your ideal Halloween, you’ll need to visit Bayville Scream Park on Long Island. This haunted house is about a 90-minute drive from New York City and includes seven different spooky experiences to choose from. New this year is Nyctophobia, an attraction that features pitch black rooms and hallways filled with horrors that test your senses. Tickets can either be purchased online or at the venue. Note: The park is not recommended for children under 12 years old due to an intense scare factor, so leave the little ones at home.
5. New York City Village Halloween Parade
Courtesy of Halloween Parade Press Center
Location: Greenwich Village, Manhattan
Dates: October 31st
Is dressing up for Halloween one of your favorite activities of the year? If so, New York’s Village Halloween Parade is the perfect event to show off your costume along with hundreds of other New Yorkers. The parade will take place on Monday, October 31 at 7 p.m. and participants will walk up Sixth Avenue to revel in all the Halloween fun from Canal Street to 15th Street. Only those in costumes can join and if you’re looking to skip the line, you can buy tickets online for VIP access. There will also be live music, giant puppets and some of the most creative Fright Night attire you’ve ever seen.
6. Haunt O’Ween
Location: Holmdel, New Jersey
Dates: September 30 to October 31
Haunt O’Ween is the perfect family activity for kids of all ages with a slew of kid-friendly events on offer, like a pumpkin patch, face painting, Halloween-themed tunnels, trick-or-treating, potion making and much more. Visitors can stay as long as they like, and tickets are $40 per person (kids under the age of 2 go free). You can purchase tickets online and select a time slot between the hours of 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Costumes are encouraged!
7. New York City Ghost Tour
Courtesy of US Ghost Adventures, NYC Ghosts
Location: Washington Square Park, Manhattan
Dates: All year long
If telling ghost stories around a campfire is one of your favorite past times, you’ll want to see what the US Ghost Adventures is all about. Although there are no s’mores involved, you’ll stroll through Greenwich Village as you explore eight to 12 of some of the most haunted hotspots in the city. The tour is just over a mile long where tour guides walk you through one of Manhattan’s oldest neighborhoods while you learn about the hidden history of these paranormal places and the spirits that occupy them. Tickets must be purchased online, and most tours start at 8 p.m. every day of the week. Happy ghost hunting!
8. Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
Location: Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown Heights, New York
Dates: October 22, 2022 to January 22, 2023
With magic, spooky stories, dark forests and unusual creatures in common, Harry Potter and Halloween are natural companions. Here, Harry Potter fans and fantasy lovers can wander along a nighttime wooden trail filled with magical creatures and wizarding wonders from the series. Bring your wands and your kids and get ready to cast your own spells and enjoy magical food and drinks at the village. Be sure to purchase your tickets online ASAP as some time slots are already filled. Opening hours are Monday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
9. Green-Wood Cemetery After Hours Tour
Location: Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Dates: Every weekend from October 1 to November 26
We can’t think of anything spookier than touring a cemetery at nighttime and that’s exactly what you can do at The Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. During the fall months (and just in time for Halloween), they offer a special tour for guests to explore the cemetery’s scenery and visit the graves of famous figures in American history. The walking tour takes place after the cemetery closes and allows guests to visit the Catacombs, which are usually closed to the public. Tours take place every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and are not recommended for children under 10 years old. Tickets should be purchased online to save your spot and be sure to wear comfortable clothes and leave your costumes at home for an evening of mystery and intrigue.
10. Spooky Fest
Courtesy of The Center for Science Teaching and Learning
Location: Center for Science Teaching and Learning in Rockville Centre, Long Island
Dates: The last four weekends in October
For a fun filled family weekend, head to the Center for Science Teaching and Learning (CSTL) in Rockville Centre, Long Island for a Halloween spectacular. Spooky Fest offers fun and interactive holiday festivities for kids of all ages. Attractions include face painting, arts and crafts, fortune telling, a children’s DJ, spooky woods and an enchanted walk. The spooky woods are recommended for children 7 to 12 years old while all the other attractions are for all ages. Tickets can be purchased online for specific time slots starting from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
11. Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure
Location: Jackson Township, New Jersey
Dates: Select days from September 16 to October 31
Thrill seekers will get their fix of terror at Six Flags Great Adventure’s annual Fright Fest with haunted houses, scare zones, spooky shows, rides in the dark and the amusement park’s signature rides. This event is recommended for guests ages 13 and over and passes should be purchased online in advance as they sell out quickly.
12. Boo at the Zoo
Location: Bronx Zoo, the Bronx
Dates: Every Saturday and Sunday in October, plus Monday, October 10th
Grab your kids and head to the Bronx Zoo for their annual Halloween celebration, Boo at the Zoo. Guests can wear their costumes while participating in a themed parade, candy trail, arts and crafts, pumpkin carving and much more. Most of these activities are low on the scare-factor so children of all ages will want to join in on the fun. The best part? You can still check out your favorite zoo exhibits during your visit. Just be sure to reserve your tickets online in advance.
13. Fall-O-Ween
Location: New York Botanical Garden, the Bronx
Dates: September 17-November 17
Stop by the New York Botanical Garden to get into the fall spirit with special events during the location’s Fall-O-Ween. With celebrations during the day and at night, there’s something here for adults and children of all ages. Certain activities only take place on specific weekends so be sure to check out the schedule online before visiting, but events include pumpkin carving, Halloween at the garden, spooky pumpkin garden nights, beer sampling, a children’s adventure garden and more. Take in the fall foliage all around you as divulge in everything this event has to offer. Events do sell out, so it’s recommended to purchase your tickets online in advance.
14. Fall Festival
Location: Happy Day Farm, Manalapan, New Jersey
Dates: Select dates from September 10 to October 30
Pumpkins are a quintessential Halloween decoration and you’ll find plenty at Happy Day Farm’s Fall Festival. Your children will want to spend all day immersing themselves in over 35 fall-themed activities including tractor rides, pumpkin houses, pig races, pumpkin bowling, a corn maze and a feeding zoo. Tickets are only sold online and once they are sold out there are no additional tickets available. The farm is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the last entry at 4 p.m.
15. Blood Manor
Location: Tribeca, Manhattan
Dates: Select dates from September 30 to November 5
Blood Manor is one of the premier haunted houses in New York City and will test your limits when it comes to horror. The 10,000 square foot attraction consists of walkable corridors, themed rooms and labyrinth passageways designed to maximize your fears. There are various rooms and chambers to choose from including a killer clown room, the crypt, maggot invasion and many more hair-raising options. It should come as no surprise that this haunted house is not recommended for children under 14 years old. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone or in person the night of the show. Just know that you’ll likely be scared for days after your visit.
16. Halloween Harvest
Location: Luna Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn
Dates: Weekends from September 30 to October 31
If you’ve ever needed an excuse to go to Coney Island, here’s one just in time for Halloween. New York City’s most famous playground is hosting its annual Halloween Harvest with pumpkin decorating, trick-or-treating, tractor racing and customed characters. Once you’ve finished with all of the holiday celebrations, you can hop on the Cyclone and other rides for more thrills. The event takes place from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. and wristbands can be purchased online or upon arrival at the park.
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