Halloween in New York: Things To See and Do

About Halloween
Halloween is an annual holiday celebrated each year on October 31. It originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts and evil spirits. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, dressing up and eating sweet treats.

The Village Halloween Parade
Head to The Village Halloween Parade. NYC’s creative and spooky procession—is one of the best Halloween events in Greenwich Village. More than 50,000 zombies, ghouls, witches, giant puppets and more things that go bump in the night take the streets for a night of costumed revelry. The parade takes place on October 31st from 7.00 pm-10.30 pm, on 6th Avenue, running from just North of Spring Street to 16th Street! This year’s theme is I Am Robot!

Pumpkin Flotilla
Taking place on October 28th at 4 pm, don’t miss out on this New Yorker favorite! Taking place in Central Park, enjoy ghost stories, check out a costume parade and partake in the pumpkin carving. Afterward, the Central Park Conservancy will partake in a traditional Pumpkin Flotilla, where 50 gourds will take a sail across the Harlem Meer at twilight.

Take a Ghost Tour
There’s lots of different ghost tours to do in New York, each with their own exciting offering. Some different options include The Haunted Broadway Walking Tour, Candlelight Ghost Tours of Manhattan’s Most Haunted House and The Greenwich Ghost Tour! Joining any of these tours is a spooky way to spend Halloween Weekend!

Wander the City
New Yorker’s take their Halloween decorations very seriously! For some amazing house decoration, a visit to the Upper East Side is a must! Houses covered in cobwebs, giant witches and ghosts and perfectly carved pumpkins will all greet you on your adventure!