For many people, some of the best things about fall in NYC are pumpkin spice everything, nearby leaf-peeping, apple-picking and other autumnal activities. But for a ghastly segment of the population, fall is all about Halloween. If your little ones turn into ghostly ghouls (the nice kind of course) at the first hint of fall, NYC has plenty of spooky activities to embrace the spirit of the season.
Halloween with kids in NYC can be a family-friendly affair, with just enough scares to keep them on their toes. From costume contests and pumpkin carving sessions to trick or treating and spooky story times, there are plenty of kid-friendly Halloween activities around the city. So gather up the frightful little folks and check out these Halloween events for kids (or just settle in with a scary movie for kids at home).
Halloween for kids in NYC
1. Pumpkin picking
Pumpkin picking in and near New York City is at its peak, finally, and so it is time to pack up your family and head out on the road to get your gourds. Not only are these farms great places to find your perfect carving pumpkin, they offer plenty of other fall activities such as corn mazes, tractor rides and more!
2. Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla
This family-friendly event in Central Park features music, magic, and lots of entertainment leading up to the main event: a fabulous pumpkin flotilla on the Harlem Meer. Kids can drop off a carved pumpkin before heading to the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center picnic area to enjoy spooky stories, a magic show and trick-or-treat bag decorating. Then, the flotilla commences with festive tunes to serenade the jack-o’-lanterns as they float by.
3. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze in Hudson Valley, New York is one of the best things to do in the fall and certainly one of the best things to do for Halloween.
You’ll witness an army of more than 7,000 glowing, intricately carved pumpkins shining along the riverside near Van Cortlandt Manor. This is the tristate area’s most spirited Halloween happenings.
4. Village Halloween Parade
The Village Halloween Parade—NYC’s creative and spooky procession—is one of the best Halloween events in Greenwich Village and you won’t want to miss it!
Each year, more than 50,000 zombies, ghouls, witches, monsters, robots, Jedis, giant puppets and more things that go bump in the night take to the streets for a night of costumed revelry.
5. Tim Burton’s ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ at NYBG
This fall, you’ll get a chance to feel like you’re inside the mind of the one and only Tim Burton. The New York Botanical Garden is hosting the worldwide debut of a new light trail entirely inspired by the 1993 classic Disney film Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
The trail is comprised of over 8,300 square feet of light installations with interactive video projections, intelligent LED lighting and 3D printed sculptures of the film’s iconic characters.
The outdoor adventure runs from September 27 through November 30; get tickets here.
6. The Amazing Maize Maze
Each year, the Amazing Maize Maze’s shape changes, and this year, it’s designed like a butterfly. The species starts their life cycle on the farm’s milkweed plants before they migrate nearly 3,000 miles to Mexico every year. The maze is not only a fun family activity this year, but also an homage to a threatened species that we should all protect.
You can visit the Amazing Maize Maze at the Queens County Farm Museum every Friday through Sunday until October 26. Tickets are $14 for adults and $10 for children ages 4-11. Entry is free for children under 3 years old. Online tickets are required before you visit and you can get them through their website.
7. Pumpkin Nights at the Bronx Zoo
After the sun goes down, the Bronx Zoo will light up this fall with more than 5,000 animal-themed jack-o’-lanterns in incredible displays. Officially called Pumpkin Nights, this festivity is back for its second year after a popular debut in 2023.
Expect to see intricately carved jack-o’-lanterns set up in different animal ecosystem scenes, such as the Amazon rainforest, Himalayas, Congo, bioluminescent deep-sea, an African Savanna waterhole and many more. Pumpkin Nights will be held on select dates from September 26 through October 27 with tickets on sale here.
This year’s festivities include an expanded and enhanced jack-o’-lantern trail that stretches for half a mile. As you walk through the experience, you’ll be met with atmospheric sounds, music, costumed characters, fog, bubbles and colored lights. Last year’s carved creations included a furry bear, a wrinkly elephant and a dramatically decorated leopard.
8. Boo at the Zoo
Lions, tigers and bears—oh my! The Bronx Zoo goes all out every Halloween season, and this year is no exception, with a month of spooky festivities. Come dressed in your All Hallows Eve best to enjoy live pumpkin carving demos, animal encounters, family-favorite outdoor games, costume parades, local food trucks and plenty of treats.
Activities run on Saturdays and Sundays from September 28 through October 27 (and on Monday, October 14).
For an extra special treat, book a ticket for the zoo’s Pumpkin Nights where you can wander through a trail of animal-themed jack-o’-lanterns.
