Hi everyone,
Halloween is happening two weeks from today and it will be different this year due to the pandemic. A lot of annual events are not happening or are going virtual but there are still lots of things to do with the children. This list will get updated when more information is available so check back or follow us on Facebook.
Get ready to have lots of fun safely!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Events on October 31st
Children’s Halloween Parade and Costume Contest [sponsored]
Saturday October 31st 1p. Free. Virtual. Join Manhattan Community Board 2 and NYU for our 30th year of free, family-friendly Halloween fun! For the first time ever, we are hosting a festive virtual Children’s Halloween Parade with musical performances, a costume contest, a magician, and more. The virtual event will premiere at 1:00 pm on Saturday, October 31. RSVP here.
Virtual BAMboo!
Saturday October 31st 2-4p. Free. For ages 4-12y. RSVP here. Bring your Halloween best to this virtual family-friendly party! BAM’s beloved block party transforms for the digital space into an action-packed afternoon of revelry for families everywhere. Join us for a lineup of Halloween tricks and treats, including a magic show, professional pumpkin carving, story time, and dance party. Best of all, delight in wild, wacky, and adorable costumes from near and far—and have the opportunity to win prizes with your own entry at the annual costume contest.
Brooklyn Heights Association Halloween Parade
Saturday October 31st 10-11a. Free. Register here. Location: Brooklyn Heights Promenade. Socially-distanced Halloween Parade organized by the Brooklyn Heights Association. No–Halloween isn’t totally cancelled. The beloved neighborhood parade tradition continues, but with some safety modifications. The BHA will be hosting a socially-distant, face-coverings required Halloween Parade for families on the Promenade on Saturday Oct 31st at 10am, offering kids a chance to show off their costumes and receive a treat. Unfortunately, the normal Halloween trick-or-treat celebrations on Garden Place won’t take place this year. Garden Place residents look forward to hopefully welcoming everyone back next year!
Halloween on the Farm at Queens County Farm Museum
Saturday October 31st 11a-5p. Advance online tickets only. Tickets are $20 for this pay one price all-inclusive event (free for ages 0-3). Purchase tickets here. It’s a monster mash! Queens Farm is hosting this special admission day designed for kids and their grown-ups. Halloween on the Farm includes admission to the Amazing Maize Maze, hayrides, kids crafts at the Con Edison Ecology booth and trick-or-treating with the farm animals. This all-inclusive event is the finale of the fall season at Queens Farm. Who’s afraid of ghosts? Costumes are encouraged.
Halloween in Historic Richmond Town (Staten Island)
Saturday October 31st 11a-5p. Tickets online – $6/person (adults and kids of all ages) at the gate – $8/person (availability NOT guaranteed). Admission will be by timed entry ONLY. Purchase tickets here. This year, Historic Richmond Town offers some family fun Halloween-themed fun at our Decker Farm location at 435 Richmond Hill Rd. Come and enjoy a Halloween at Decker Farm – our full pumpkin picking experience with a few extra added spooky features created just for Halloween, at no additional cost! Come dressed in costume and snap a photo on our fall photo ops. See the farm decorated in spooky fashion! Watch an expert pumpkin carver work their magic. Enjoy Halloween-themed educational activities.
BPL Events for Youth and Family: Día de los Muertos
Saturday October 31st 1-2p. Free. The Compañía de Danza Mexicana will present a performance of its acclaimed production of “Día de los Muertos” with prerecorded educational content provided by Artistic Director, Alberto López. During the 50-minute virtual assembly, professional, high-quality images of the dance is interspersed the construction of the traditional altar, the use of marigold flowers, and the story behind Calpulli Mexican Dance Company’s large-scale production of “Día de los Muertos”. This fun and engaging experience will be unforgettable! View the broadcast at 1 pm on the BPL Facebook page.
At Home With Irish Arts Center | Oíche Shamnha/Irish Halloween: Feast of the Fairies
Saturday-Sunday October 31st-November 1st 12n. Free. Celebrate the Irish origins of Halloween from home in a communal feast of fancy! On Saturday, October 31, learn some Halloween traditions like how to make barmbrack bread with Lilly Higgins, carve your own lantern from a turnip (the original jack-o-lantern) with artist Marie Connole, and do a Halloween-themed magic trick with Joe Daly. Then, join us on Sunday, November 1, as we gather around a virtual bonfire to feast on stories and performances inspired by otherworldly creatures both naughty and nice: hear writer and Traveller activist Oein DeBhairduin read from Why the moon travels, his new collection of folk tales from the Traveller community; take part in an interactive performance workshop based on Irish myths with Emily Kilkenny Roddy of CoisCéim Dance Theatre; write a spell to make the world a better place with poet/performer Felispeaks; and watch the premiere of our Collective Pop-Up Book Project created with spooky stories from the archive of the National Folklore Collection of Ireland! The events begin at 12pm ET both days. Registration qualifies for all events. Go to the website to see all the event details and to register. Note: This event is free thanks to the generosity of Irish Arts Center friends, members, and supporters. We welcome donations in any amount as a part of your registration.
Ongoing Halloween & Fall Events
Halloween Treasure Hunt at Lulu’s Cuts & Toys (Park Slope)
Ongoing until October 29th. Free. Join us at Lulu’s Cut & Toys for a Halloween Treasure Hunt! Stop by the store for a list of treasure hunt questions, then find the items and answers by looking in our Halloween window display. We will give a special small treat to every child that completes the hunt and it will also enter you to win one of our famous Custom Halloween Baskets. No purchase necessary! Ends October 29th, 2020. Store hours are Monday-Sunday (CLOSED on Tuesdays).
Halloween Pumpkin Hunt 2020 (various neighborhoods)
Ongoing daily. Welcome to the Halloween Pumpkin Hunt 2020! Inspired by the Rainbow Map, the Halloween Pumpkin Hunt is a fun, socially distanced activity that gets kids out on the street in costume, and ends with a candy prize. The Halloween Pumpkin Hunt was created by a mom in Brooklyn, but the hope is that other neighborhoods and cities join the fun. One of the best things about Halloween is the commonality of experience for the children – no matter who you are or where you are, you can throw on a costume and go outside for candy. Feel free to share this in your local neighborhood groups. The map will always center on Brooklyn, but once you enter an address it will take you right to the corresponding part of the map. See the website for all the details and to add your neighborhood.
BAX Brooklyn Arts Exchange: Virtual Halloween Playspace
Thursday October 29th 930-1015a. Multiple tier prices starting at $12.50. See website for information. For ages 2-4 with caregiver, are encouraged to come in costume! Live on Zoom! CALLING ALL CREEPY CRAWLERS AND WANDERFUL WIZARDS! We’re diving into the Fall season with all of our Playspace fun, including singing, stories, dancing, and a special treat (but no tricks — we promise). All with a little Halloween twist! Halloween inspired found object crafts, storytime, with a culminating Costume Dance Party, facilitated by our Playspace faculty – Jessica & Ariel!
(Virtual) 22nd Annual Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest!
Thursday October 29th 7p. This is an event is for dog owners and anyone that loves to see dogs dressed up. I have attended with my older kids for years and always enjoyed it. This year the Top Ten Finalists will compete in a livestream event that culminates in you—THE VOTERS—voting LIVE for this year’s winners. Stay tuned to the Facebook and Instagram pages for news and updates on this livestream MAIN EVENT! Other important dates: October 10–22 REGISTRATION & October 23-26: VOTING. See the website for all the information on how to register & vote.
Pumpkin Patch at The William Vale (Williamsburg)
Sundays 1130a-3p until October 25th. Free admission. Bring the whole family to Vale Park to pick your own pumpkins and get into the fall spirit. Cozy beverages will be available including hot chocolate, ciders, and mulled wine. Lots of sizes to choose from and pumpkin prices vary by size.
Pumpkin Patch at Queens Botanical Garden
Saturday-Sunday October 24th-25th & Saturday October 31st 12n-4p. Pricing: $10 Adult (pumpkin not included), $12 Child (includes 1 pumpkin, 1 take home activity kit), FREE for Children 3 and under (pumpkin not included), FREE for Members (pumpkin not included), Additional pumpkins are $6 (pay on-site). The patch will be full of harvest-themed photo opportunities. Ticket fee includes admission to both the Garden and the Patch. All children get to choose their own pumpkin and a grab and go craft activity to take home. number of advance tickets. Walk-ups upon availability only. Please arrive within your ticket window. Purchase timed entry tickets here. Note: Halloween at the Garden at Queens Botanical Garden is sold out
Pumpkin Decorating at Industry City
Saturday October 24th 11a-12n. Tickets: $10. Courtyard 3/4. We love any excuse to eat candy and enjoy a special beverage. Join us at Sahadi’s for a safe, socially distant Halloween Pumpkin Decorating Party. Costumes are encouraged! Your ticket reserves your table, pumpkins + decorating materials (paint and foam stickers!), warm cider for all, and a goodie bag to go. Guests will be seated one to a table unless purchasing together. Sahadi’s will be capping seating at 15 children for the comfort of all. For the parents, the outdoor bar will be open with seasonal cocktails and other beverages available for purchase. Expect espresso martinis, blood orange mimosas, bourbon spiced hot cider and spiked hot chocolate. This is a rain or shine event. Tents and heat lamps will ensure your comfort. Come + enjoy a fun, outdoor, organized outing!
Boo at the Zoo at Prospect Park Zoo
Daily until October 31st. Zoo hours are: Monday-Friday 10a-5p, weekends & holidays 10a-530p. Included in Zoo admission. Timed entry tickets can be purchased here. Prospect Park Zoo is going batty every day in October with Halloween-themed educational (and fun) decorations. Download a spooky scavenger hunt and see if you can answer the clues as you wander through the zoo. Visit the tombstones of extinct animals in sea lion court and learn why extinction isn’t inevitable with your help! Our Spooky Trail will show you some of our “spooky” neighbors who come out at night. Get creative with your masks and take a photo at one of our beautiful harvest decoration areas.
Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo
Thursdays-Sundays until November 1st. Zoo hours are 10a-5p. Tickets are required and must be reserved in advance. Reserve tickets here. Included with zoo admission. Our annual Halloween tradition is back at the Bronx Zoo. We have family-friendly activities and have taken all safety precautions for you to have a great experience. Come dressed in your Halloween best and enjoy! See the website for all the event details.
Great Pumpkin Path at New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
On display 10a-6p until November 1st (Tuesday to Sunday, and Monday federal holidays). Free with Garden admission. All visitors, including Members, must purchase or reserve timed-entry tickets in advance. Purchase tickets here. Discover plentiful pumpkins and hordes of gourds along the twists and turns of our Great Pumpkin Path on the Conservatory Lawn, culminating with some of the largest pumpkins in the world with the arrival of giant pumpkins on October 24. Keep an eye out for a display of whimsical scarecrows throughout the Garden as well. Note: Everyone is required to wear face coverings throughout the Garden grounds.
Pumpkin Picking at Decker Farm
Saturdays-Sundays 11a-5p until October 25th. Tickets online – $6/person (adults and kids of all ages) at the gate – $8/person (availability NOT guaranteed). Admission will be by timed entry ONLY, with a reduced number of tickets sold every hour starting at 11:00am and ending at 4:00pm. Any tickets remaining for each time slot can be purchased on-site on the day-of for an additional $2. Ticket availability is NOT guaranteed for any walk-up sales. Pumpkin Picking at Historic Richmond Town’s Decker Farm returns Saturday, October 3, with all of your favorite autumnal activities! Search the patch for the perfect pumpkin, learn about 19th century farm life, and indulge in delicious fall food favorites, all without leaving Staten Island! See the website for all the event details and to purchase tickets.
The Amazing Maize Maze® at Queens County Farm Museum
Fridays-Sundays 11a-430p (last ticket sold at 430p) in October. Advance Tickets: $12; $8 (ages 4-11) (plus fees). Free for ages 3 & under. Purchase tickets here. Get lost in NYC’s only corn maze! The Amazing Maize Maze adventure begins with a Stalk Talk to prepare you for the 3-acre challenge of finding clues on your way to Victory Bridge where the full vista of Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ masterpiece is revealed. Maze entry will be staggered in order to maintain event capacity.
Note: At the moment there are no details on the Park Slope 5th Ave BID Halloween Scavenger Hunt and will update when I know more.