halloween places to visit nyc

Secret NYC’s Guide To The Best Halloween Events In NYC In 2023

We've rounded up all the best Halloween festivities happening in NYC : From parties to parades to festivals!

With October on the horizon and Halloween here before we all know it, it’s time to get into a spooky mood. It’s no secret that NYC goes all out every Halloween , and we expect this year to be no different! Whether you love dressing up in a costume, getting freaked out in a haunted house, or just like taking in the fall decor, there’s a little Halloween magic for everyone. We put together our ongoing list of the best Halloween events in NYC happening throughout the month. Let’s let the spirits guide us to our next adventure…

1. March through NYC in your costume at the Village Halloween Parade

If there’s one NYC Halloween tradition unlike any other, it’s the yearly NYC Village Halloween Parade that goes up Sixth Ave from Canal St to 15th St each Halloween night (Tuesday, Oct 31)! Every year’s event always nets about 50,000 people, always dressed the part with hellish and spooky costumes that are enough to scare anyone! Walking in the parade is completely free as long as you have a costume. You can also live stream the parade on their website. Learn more info about the parade here !

Where: Greenwich Village

2. Walk through the illuminated wonderland of Pumpkin World

Although slightly outside NYC limits, Pumpkin World is coming later this month and is the ultimate Halloween experience! This illuminated wonderland of hand-carved Jack O’Lanterns includes all kinds of festive fall highlights. We’re talking magical pumpkin-scapes, a pumpkin trail, live carvings, an actual pumpkin patch, photo opps and so much more! It runs through Halloween night, October 31. Learn more here .

🎃 Buy your tickets to Pumpkin World here!

Where: Clover Stadium, 1 Phil Tisi Way, Pomona, NY

3. Enjoy spooky Halloween tunes at a Candlelight performance

Get ready to experience haunted Halloween tunes in a way you never have before. Accompanied by hundreds of illuminated candles and a string quartet, you can experience a multi-sensory musical experience that will leave you in awe. From Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” to “The Addams Family Theme Song” we promise that you’ve never heard Halloween songs like this in your life!

Grab your tickets to the show here:

• Candlelight Dia de los Muertos: Celebrating the Day of the Dead (Nov 1)

Where: Various Locations

4. Light up the night at the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze

The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze is one of the most stunning visual Halloween experiences that comes each year, and it’s because of the 7,000+ uniquely carved pumpkins forming all sorts of art installations. From their gorgeous Pumpkin Bridge to the jaw-dropping Pumpkin Planetarium , there are tons of illuminated art pieces that are surreal to see in person (including NYC staples like the Statue of Liberty and a subway station entrance).

The blazin’ pumpkins are slightly outside of NYC in Hudson Valley, but are surely worth the train ride up! The experience goes from until November 19 and you can learn more here .

Where: Van Cortlandt Manor (525 S Riverside, Croton-on-Hudson, NY)

5. Dance the night away at an NYC party

We’d be silly not to mention the Halloweekend nightlife that brings an eclectic energy to NYC. There’s so much going on this year from a going out perspective, including rooftop Halloween parties to warehouse raves. No matter what vibe or bar you’re looking for, we’ve got some of the hottest parties you couldn’t be caught dead missing.

6. Survive the scariest haunted house in NYC at A Haunting in Hollis

One of our favorite haunted house experiences is getting ready to open their doors for the 2023 season, running through November 1! A Haunting in Hollis is full of goblins, ghouls, and hungry zombies that are sure to terrify you! The escape rooms are equally as terrifying! Approach if you dare…

🧟 Buy your tickets to A Haunting in Hollis here!

Where: 21117 Hollis Avenue, Queens

7. Stroll through autumn decor at Fall-O-Ween at New York Botanical Garden

Fall O’Ween at the New York Botanical Garden is one of our favorite yearly happenings, and this year’s lineup includes a massive slate of activities that will get you in the fall mood. Some notable ones on our list include Spooky Garden Nights as well as the Giant Pumpkin Carving Weekend , which is the grand finale of the season featuring three of the largest pumpkins in the world ! It’s going on through November 12, and you can learn more here .

Where: 2900 Southern Blvd, The Bronx

8. Explore the candlelit catacombs of Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral

A creepy 200 year old cathedral is just waiting to be uncovered, and that’s what you’ll get with this 90 minute walking tour of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral . With the help of a tour guide and pure candlelight, you’ll explore otherwise off-limit parts of this haunting church, like the two walled cemeteries. Be ready to step into something you’ve never seen before… Learn more here .

🕯️ Buy your tickets to the Catacombs by Candlelight Tour here!

9. Stop by the “creepy-as-hell” Black Lagoon pop-up

The annual Halloween pop-up Black Lagoon is set to return again this year to NYC, this time at Pretty Ricky’s in the Lower East Side. The goth and horror theme will create an immersive Halloween cocktail experience, with spine-chilling drinks! This year’s pop-up runs through October 31! Learn more here .

Where: 101 Rivington St

10. …Or one of NYC’s other spooky bars

Put your spirit to the test at one of NYC’s ghoulish bars before the 31st. Treat yourself to a seasonal cocktail at a bar or speakeasy that gives off the spook-tacular vibes you’re after! Check out our guide to the best spooky bars and restaurants in NYC for Halloween vibes.

11. Test your fears during one of the New York City Ghost Tours

Boo! How haunted do you think NYC is? Well you’re about to find out…Greenwich Village is notoriously one of the most haunted neighborhoods in the city and this walking tour will bring you around the area and spook you out on the way. Learn about scary Manhattan history all while walking in the shoes of ghosts past!

👻  Buy tickets here .

Where: 131 E 10th Street, St Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery

12. Walk through a decked out NYC neighborhood

While still a bit aways still, you know New Yorkers always go all out when pulling out their Halloween decorations! From the haunted Greenwich Village to the residential Upper East Side , there are tons of neighborhoods to walk through and admire their spookiness. This is one of our favorite free ways to spend a few hours getting into the Halloween spirit!

Check out our favorite neighborhoods for decorations here !

Where: All around NYC

13. Snap a picture under the Seaport Pumpkin Arch

One our favorite Halloween photo opps is set to return this autumn in the form of the Seaport Arch. With the Brooklyn Bridge perfectly in the background, this pumpkin themed spot is the perfect place to grab your Halloween Instagram photos! It’s here until November 7! Learn more here .

Where: Seaport District (Fulton St. to Pier 17)

14. Go pumpkin picking at Decker Farm

Nothing says Halloween like spending a few hours in a pumpkin patch ! Decker Farm on Staten Island is our go-to patch of choice that’s perfect for pickin’. After you’re done, stick around for their corn maze , pumpkin painting, hayrides around the farm, and autumnal food and drink. Pumpkin picking will be open every October weekend from 11 am – 5 pm! Tickets are required to enter the family farm.

Learn more about the oldest, continually working family farm here !

Where: 435 Richmond Hill Rd, Staten Island

15. Catch an entire night of spooky movies at The Roxy Cinema

Spend a night at The Roxy Cinema , where they’ll be showing a range of Halloween films via their film series titled “Death Takes a Holiday!” Their lineup of movies all the way up to Halloween are sure to freak you out, like  The Fog , Halloween , and more. See the full lineup here .

Where: 2 6th Ave, Cellar Level

16. Trick-or treating around NYC!

Get out your candy buckets and figure out your trick or treating route because the night has come! No matter what borough you’re in, nothing beats going door to door for some sweet treats. Check out the best neighborhoods to going trick or treating in NYC right here !

17. Check out Greg’s Great Pumpkin Patch in Brooklyn

If you’re in Brooklyn, stop by this pop-up patch through October 31st and have some fun at Greg’s Great Pumpkin Patch. Enjoy things like Instagram photo ops, a dog costume contest, a great corn maze, and of course pumpkin picking! You’ve got to grab your last pumpkins before the big day!

Learn more about it here .

Where: Pollyn (115 Broadway, Brooklyn)

18. INTERWEEN: Halloween at INTER_

Embark on a journey through the HALLOWverse dimension at INTER_, an immersive visual experience right in the heart of SoHo! From now through November 5, you can experience INTERween, a multi-sensory experience consisting of spooky infinity rooms, 360-degree visual immersions,  and activities like pumpkin decorating and scavenger hunts! Learn more here .

Where: 415 Broadway

19. Celebrate a Dia De Los Muertos Halloween party at Pink Taco

Get festive at Pink Taco, a rocker- chic Mexican restaurant that is serving up all sorts of Dia De Los Muertos vibes on Halloween night. From 6 pm – close, their party will feature all-night happy hour deals, music, face painting, a costume contest, and more! Be sure to take advantage of their OG Pink Tacos and $8 margs.

Where: 7 Times Square

20. Cityside Pumpkin Patch at The Summer Club

Stop by Cityside Pumpkin Patch through Halloween and enjoy the spooky haven that awaits at the decorated venue The Summer Club! Not only will there be over 10,000 pumpkins spread across the 25,000-square-foot space (with the option to take one home), there will also be great activations too! See all the fun below:

• Sam Adams Beer Fest, Fear Fest: An OctoberFest-themed haunted challenge for adults. Carry a full pint of the #1 fall beer through jump scares and win in a season’s supply of OctoberFest if you make it. 
• Smash-o-Lantern Zone:  Unleash your inner daredevil by smashing pumpkins.
• Straw-Man Showdown:  Test your archery marksmanship and aim at foam-tipped scarecrow targets to become the archery champion.
• Face Painting:  Our talented artists can turn you into a spooky masterpiece or a friendly jack-o’-lantern.
• Interactive Photo Moments:  Filled with Instagrammable installations, from a mirrored funhouse to a vampire’s crypt to a full LED-displayed midnight cemetery.

When: Through October 31

Where: 8-08 Queens Plaza S, Queens

21. Eat Halloween Bagels at Liberty Bagels

Stop by Liberty Bagels, a spot with one of the best bagels in NYC , to enjoy their limited-time Halloween bagels! Not only are the orange and black coloring as festive as it gets, but you can even pair it with their pumpkin cream cheese that is bound to make your mouth water. Learn more and find your location here .

22. Explore the haunted Ridgewood Asylum

Where: 94 Bogart St

23. Circle Line’s Halloween Pup Cruise

NYC’s favorite boat tour company Circle Line is hosting a Halloween dog cruise for one day only on October 30 at 12 pm ! Em- bark on this 90 minute cruise with your pup, which will include NYC skyline views, tasty treats, music, and a costume contest for both pets and owners! Learn more here .

24. Harriet’s Haunted Forest

Dance the Halloween night away at Harriet’s Haunted Forest, where an all-night party of state-of-the-art technology and lush greenery will be the perfect backdrop! The spooky celebration will be a mix of great cocktails, music, and costumes of course! It’s on October 31 from 8 pm – 3 am.

Where: 60 Furman St, Brooklyn

25. “Autumn in the Sky” at EDGE

Ascend high into the clouds on Halloween night to take in the breathtaking “Autumn in the Sky” decor at EDGE. Filled with gorgeous foliage and pumpkins, you can take photos from the observation deck…all while looking over the stunning NYC skyline! Learn more here .

Where: 30 Hudson Yards

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FUN & SPOOKY Things to do During Halloween in NYC (2023 Guide)

Halloween in NYC is the first holiday of the ‘ber’ months that kick off the holiday season followed by the festivities surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas in the city. While the winter holiday season is nothing short of magic, it’s fall and Halloween in New York that is one of the most fun times of the year to visit New York City !

As October arrives, an intangible excitement takes over. Besides traditional autumnal pastimes like apple picking and leaf peeping, thrill-seekers can delight in haunted houses, spine-tingling pop-ups, and more. Not to mention there are plenty of amazing places to see fall foliage in NYC that you won’t want to miss either.

The Best Halloween Activities in NYC

Go to a halloween parade in nyc.

Get in on all the spooky fun of Halloween in NYC with an old-fashioned parade! But if you’ve ever been to NYC during Halloween, you know that means anything but boring. If you don’t mind crowds, and you love a good costume, you’ll want to catch one of the many parades launching across the 5 boroughs around Halloween. Enjoy the views, or pick out a creatively creepy costume and join the parade!

• Greenwich Village Halloween Parade

In its 50th year, the  Greenwich Village Halloween Parade  is probably the most famous Halloween parade in NYC. Everyone goes all out, donning the most creative, fun, and bone-chilling costumes you can imagine! It’s held yearly on Halloween night, starting at 7 PM, and runs along 6th Avenue from Canal to W 15th Street.

It’s free to be part of the parade, but you MUST wear a costume! Or get there early to watch from either side of 6th Avenue. You can also find it televised on local news channels if you don’t want to participate in person.

Halloween Dog Parades

It’s a darling tradition for New Yorkers to host Halloween dog parades across the city.  Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade  is the biggest. It’s held the Saturday afternoon a week before Halloween. Stick around till the end for a best costume award ceremony!

We also loved seeing the adorable  Great Pupkin Dog Costume Contest  in Fort Greene. Get your dose of dopamine on the Saturday closest to Halloween when you attend the 90-minute event. It’s free to participate, or just come and enjoy the creative costumes.

• Sleepy Hollow Day Trip

Spend an unforgettable Halloween in New York in the actual Sleepy Hollow from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by American author, Washington Irving! Located in the Hudson Valley, both Sleepy Hollow and neighboring Tarrytown offer all kinds of haunted fun . Just take a 30-minute train ride north from Manhattan on the Hudson line to Sleepy Hollow.

Sleepy Hollow at Halloween is magical! Take a crisp autumnal walk down Beekman Avenue to take in Sleepy Hollow’s downtown area which will be trimmed with festive Halloween decorations! Not far up Broadway are the eerie Headless Horseman Statue, as well as the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. T

he old cemetery and Old Dutch Reform Church play an important role in the 19th-century novel, and in the moody mist of an October afternoon, you’ll understand why!

Both Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown are known for their sprawling Victorian mansions, once home to famous authors and prominent New York socialites. You can tour many of them and explore lush grounds with great views of the Hudson River. We recommend heading to the  Philipsburg Manor  and from there taking the tour of Kykuit, the estate of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller.

While you’re here, you must take the train just 20 minutes north to Croton-On-Hudson for the  Great Jack-O-Blaze ! This has become a yearly event for us, but get your tickets early, as this has become a very popular event. You’ll understand why, when you take in the glowing structures and installations made from thousands of beautifully carved (and scary!) jack-o-lanterns.

Check Out New York’s Most Haunted Places

For believers in the supernatural, it shouldn’t be a surprise at all that New York City is very haunted. Halloween in NYC is the perfect time to explore some of the  most haunted places in NYC across the 5 boroughs.

The region has layers and layers of history, war, and turmoil, and simply an array of vibrant life that has no doubt left its mark before moving on! If you are brave enough, you might want to check out some of these locations for yourself.

Some locations are ones you might be familiar with, even if you didn’t know they’re haunted. The Empire State Building has a resident ghost, and Washington Square Park has a tragically dark past and a few lost souls wandering the grounds.

Litchfield Villa in Prospect Park was left with a terrifying presence after too many Victorian seances. And the historic Rose Hill campus of Fordham University in the Bronx has dozens of horrific testimonials from students and staff alike of unfriendly spirits.

• Haunted Houses in NYC

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The City that Never Sleeps will make sure you don’t because NYC goes all out when it comes to its haunted houses! Most launch on October 1 and run till Halloween or mid-November, and many in the city sell out quickly. You’ll find the classically kitschy haunted houses on our list, but also niche experiences for the very bravest of souls.

Blood Manor  is actually 7 themed haunted houses in one, your prized ticket will get you into all 7 attractions. This one is not for the faint of heart and it’s not recommended for children under 14.

Nightmare NYC   is for those who love murder mysteries, you’ll love this interactive show on the Lower East Side that’s one-part haunted house, one-part story!

Blackout Haunted House  is an ultra-spooky immersive horror experience where you have to sign a waiver and are given a safety word. This is one of those, and it’s only for the hardiest of thrill-seekers willing to withstand psychological terror.

Haunting in Hollis  is where you want to go during Halloween in New York for some classic fun, head to Queens for a family-run haunted house set in a real home in a residential area. We’ll just say this: you get a laser gun and have to outrun zombies and monsters across 4 different levels.

• NYC House of Spirits

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Try something a little different this Halloween that you’ll never forget! House of Spirits is a “Haunted Cocktail Soirée” that’s both a cocktail hour and a haunted house experience. This stylish event happens in the gorgeous 5-story mansion on Pine Street in lower Manhattan built in the 1850s. Spend the evening sipping on creative mixed drinks and exploring the house.

Strolling from room to room, you might decide to have your cards read or reach your grandma on a Ouija board. There are spooky characters, magic shows, and a main event that takes you through a scary mystery. Different rooms offer experiences at different horror levels, but you can control how scared you want to be. If you prefer a laid-back Halloween, enjoy your drink while you listen to live music in the parlor.

You’re encouraged to have fun and wear a costume or period attire (it’s set in the Victorian era). The soiree is 2 hours long, and standard tickets include 4 cocktails with options to upgrade. There will also be a bar and small plates of food for sale.

• Madame Morbid Trolley Tour

Madame Morbid Trolley Tour is one of the best things to do during Halloween in NYC that makes the stories especially creepy! We included it in our list of the  best things to do in NYC in October  exactly because is a great way to see Brooklyn in a different way. You can learn about centuries of real-life NYC history and spooky legends that surround actual places you’ll visit.

This isn’t a tour bus tour, either. You’ll ride a vintage trolley through the streets of Brooklyn, decked out with plush leather seats and velvet curtains with gold fringe. Listen while Madame Morbid, dressed in historical costume, as she entertains and thrills you with stories of Brooklyn’s strangest locations. 

Hit Up Halloween Themed Bars

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There’s no better place to be during the holidays than one of the bars that get decked out for the season, including Halloween! Things kick off on October 1st (sometimes earlier) with themed drinks, jack-o-lanterns, cobwebs, and more.

Oscar Wilde  is a fun Victorian bistro in Midtown is well-known for going all out throughout the year! Their over-the-top storefront décor and window displays continue inside with elaborate collections and things hanging from the ceiling.

Lillie’s Victorian is another Victorian eatery with two locations (Times Square & Union Square) that get decked out for the holidays, Halloween included. Even if it’s not trimmed out for the holidays, you’ll be blown away by the pub’s stunning architecture and maximalist décor. During Halloween, it gets a macabre makeover with skeletons, clowns, spiderwebs, and more!

Papillon Bistro & Bar  is a beautiful multi-level French brasserie that also gets decked out for Halloween in New York. Enjoy a croque monsieur while you take in the sheer amount of decorations for Halloween! It’s on the corner of Madison Avenue and E 54th Street. The first level feels decadent and you’ll want to keep coming back for the cozy, inviting atmosphere.

Loreley Beer Garden is also a great stop and it’s fun to see each season what elaborate theme this German tavern in the Bowery has going on. You will not be disappointed during Halloween with mums, pumpkins, twinkle lights, bales of hay, and more from floor to ceiling! You have to come for their pumpkin kegs!

• Annual Bike Kill

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Bike Kill  is an annual block party around Halloween in NYC that’s been going strong since the Black Label Bike Club started it in 2003. While it’s not specifically a Halloween event, it might as well be. You’ll see tons of people dressed to the nines in some of the best costumes you’ll see anywhere in NYC! But you’ll come for the modified bikes of every shape and style.

Think every kind of bike, from city bikes and children’s tricycles to fantastical creations. In the past, there have been double-decker bikes, bikes with sofas on the front, and truly impressive mutant creations. There are makeshift ramps for jumping, and it’s just a big web of people riding around and having a fun time. But the big event of the evening is when helmeted tall-bike riders will joust like urban knights with lances spiked with hulk fists!

DJs spin mixes, a few rogue fireworks or sparkles, and there are usually a few people handing out something hot to eat or serving hot drinks. While the event is considered family-friendly with people bringing young children to marvel at the bikes, be prepared for a grungy, chaotic event and look out for your crew. But that’s the fun in it!

The location of Bike Kill changes every year because the block party isn’t actually permitted. In recent years it’s popped up in empty industrial lots along the water in Red Hook. Each year, that year’s location spreads by word of mouth, but you might see posted flyers around the neighborhood in the days leading up to the event. Bike Kill is held on the last Saturday in October. You might see the cops hanging out, just to keep things in place. But there’s a strong feeling of welcome to all and it’s just a fun October night.

• Boo at the Zoo & Pumpkin Nights

For Halloween activities in NYC that are a bit more wholesome (or if you just love any chance to visit the zoo!) head to the Bronx for  Boo at the Zoo . For the entire month of October, the Bronx Zoo holds this family-friendly events. And just like regular zoo visits, you’ll have to book your timed tickets online in advance.

Wear you’re best Halloween costume and walk around the park and visit with your favorite animals. But the big fun at Boo in the Zoo is all the activities and Halloween-themed stations throughout the park! Kids can make trick-or-treat bags, grab some candy, or attend a wildlife musical puppet show starring “creepy” animals.

Held at the Giraffe Corner, everyone will love the truly beautiful carved creations made just from a pumpkin and a carving knife! Throughout the day, you can watch live demos while mind-blowingly talented carvers go to work.

Get ready for Pumpkin Nights at the Bronx Zoo! This night time fall festivities feature a half-mile jack-o’-lantern trail adorned with 5,000+ animal-themed pumpkins. Think food trucks, autumn munchies, live pumpkin carving, and seasonal games. It’s a pumpkin paradise you won’t want to miss!

And don’t miss out on the Costume Parade, which features stunning animal puppetry, stilt figures, Halloween-themed creatures, and more. The parade is held daily at noon, 1 PM, and 2 PM at Astor Court.

Dinner at Beetle House

Fans of Tim Burton looking for things to do during Halloween in NYC will want to book a table at  Beetle House . You’ll find this spooky and fun themed bar and restaurant on E 6th Street in the East Village.

Inside the tiny storefront is a hidden gem of a restaurant and bar! Embrace the night and wear your creepiest costume for dinner at this gothic eatery paying homage to Beetlejuice!

Every day of the year, it feels like Halloween at the Beetle House. Outright, you’ll notice the blacklights and Burtonesque monsters on the walls. Drinks and plates are themed after any and every character and concept from a Tim Burton movie you can think of!

The meal is prix fixe, coming with an appetizer and main course of your choice. Go with the Giant Peach Salad or the Edward Burger Hands, which is a burger pierced with a pair of scissors.

The costumed staff at Beetle House carry on the fun, the way they aggressively interact with guests! And there’s a nightly show with something different every night. When you go, there might be sword swallowers and a psychic. Or enjoy talented musicians or magicians. The bar is open for walk-ins, and reservations aren’t required, but it’s a small place you should definitely get reservations ahead of time on the restaurant’s website.

The Cauldron on Stone Street

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Another spellbinding experience for dinner around Halloween is  The Cauldron . It’s located in one of the 18th-century buildings just off NYC’s historic Stone Street in the Financial District, one of the oldest streets in the country. The Cauldron is a magic-themed gastropub that offers different fun experiences for diners!

The first level is where you’ll find the main gastropub and a molecular cocktail bar. Enjoy a show when bubbling, glowing, oozing, and misting drinks are brought to your table. There’s classic pub fare, like wings or pizza, plus vegan and vegetarian options.

Upstairs is where the magic truly happens. When you make reservations online, you’ll choose food and drink at the pub, or go with the Potion Making class. The latter includes a magic wand, which you’ll use to construct your drinks. With a mix of potions, gastronomy tools, and a little magic, your waiter will guide you through the fun process. Don’t want to drink? Sign up for a Wizard Afternoon Tea instead!

The Cauldron also offers bookings for regularly scheduled events, which turn up during Halloween. Look out for drag shows, trivia nights, masquerade balls, and more.

If you love a themed bar, check out our full guide to the best themed bars in NYC !

Go See the Ditmas Park Halloween House

You don’t have to wait until Christmas to enjoy Brooklyn homes trimmed with holiday décor! The Victorian Queen Anne-style home at 1306 Albemarle in Ditmas Park has become synonymous with Halloween in NYC. The family who owns the house started decorating in the 2010s and visitors come back year after year to see what’s been added to the lineup.

The Halloween House is just one of several gorgeous 19th-century houses along this historic stretch of Albemarle Road. And you might even see some other houses joining in with their own Halloween decorations!

During the holidays, don’t be surprised to see children and adults getting close to the massive wrap-around porch to get a better look. There’s a garden with headstones and perhaps a zombie breaking free from a grave. Everyone loves the skeletons climbing the turrets and the animatronic characters lining the porch. 

Look for More Halloween Decorations

The Ditmas Park house isn’t the only place to find fun Halloween decorations in NYC. In fact, it’s a favorite pastime for many to check out local residential areas and see what everyone on the block has come up with! Sometimes entire blocks will get together to plan what everyone is doing.

And while you can see the festivity any time of the day, we suggest an evening walk, just after sunset, for the best experience!

Homeowners in Astoria are known for going big during Halloween. One of the most infamous is 26-18 Ditmars Boulevard, where the owner spends $1000 on décor annually! Stop by to see what they’ve come up with this year.

In Brooklyn, head to the historic neighborhood of Cobble Hill, just south of Atlantic Avenue. Enjoy the beautiful old townhomes and brownstones among gardens and trees full of fall foliage. But this area is also where you’ll find house after house with unique Halloween decorations. Some are professionally done while others spotlight darling hand-painted pumpkins the kids did at school.

Manhattan has so many great neighborhoods to visit for holiday drip. Visit the Upper West Side in the 60s and 70s and the Upper East Side in the 80s for the spookiest scenery. And another favorite is 314 W 22nd Street in Chelsea. This home is famous because it gets a different festive and fashionable Halloween makeover every year!

• Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla in Central Park

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The  Pumpkin Flotilla , one of the most beloved Halloween events in NYC, is at the Harlem Meer in Central Park. This is a wholesome event that’s been held for 30 years at the northern side of the park near the Malcolm X Boulevard entrance. Are proud of your exquisitely carved jack-o-lantern? Make it part of a parade!

It’s free to join, but it’s first come, first served. There are a series of rules to protect the water of the Harlem Meer, and the park staff will provide your jack-o-lantern with a pond-safe flameless candle. The Pumpkin Flotilla runs from 4 to 7 PM, when you can pick up your pumpkin again!

It’s simply tons of fun to bundle up, enjoy the autumnal colors of the park (late October is when the park foliage peaks!), and join everyone to see all the different pumpkins. The procession starts at dusk, the perfect time to enjoy all the lights reflecting off the pond. 

• Green-Wood Cemetery

Green-Wood Cemetery  is one of our favorite places to explore in every season. Established almost 200 years ago, it’s always been a place where New Yorkers gather to visit deceased loved ones. And it’s also enjoyed as a city park with stunning gardens, architecture, and views. The cemetery hosts events around arts, history, and culture all year long. But Green-Wood really shines in October with events almost daily!

Fridays and Saturdays at the cemetery, you can attend a handful of different reoccurring events for a fee. Many, like the themed Discover Green-Wood Trolley Tours. But here is a list of the ones returning just for the holiday season, keep in mind you’ll need to get tickets to these in advance and as soon as you can as they do sell out quickly!

• Green-Wood After Hours – attend an exclusive twilight walking tour of Green-Wood Cemetery. The evening light and the holiday season will set the mood as you walk among tombstones and learn about prominent historical figures laid to rest there.
• Moonlight Tour – Moonlight Tours have a more reverent feel to this 2-hour walking tour because of the dark hour and live accordion music. Your passionate guide will lead you among some of the most majestic monuments and through the catacombs.
• Nightfall: Eternal – a favorite among return attendees, Nightfall: Eternal is a big party in the cemetery honoring the relationship between life and death. There are light installations, music, and vendors providing a myriad of entertainment along the winding pathways through the cemetery.
• Día de los Muertos: Family Day – On the afternoon of November 1st, you can come for a kid-friendly event celebrating Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Come learn about the traditions surrounding this important Latin American holiday, do some arts and crafts, and eat good food.
• Queens County Farm Museum

You’ll find the  Queens Farm  in the heart of Little Neck, Queens. This historic 47-acre plot is what remains of once sprawling farmland, and has been running since 1697! Today it’s a community farm that you can visit for free any day of the week. The FaBOOlous Fall Season launches on October 1st and it’s great for families and couples alike.

Visiting the Queens County Farm Museum is one of the best things to do during Halloween in NYC. Visit the pumpkin patch for free any day of the week and purchase your perfect gourd. For seasonal goodies, come for Harvest Weekends. Pick up apples, potatoes, corn, local honey, cider donuts, mums, and more. 

Harvest Weekends also includes a giant corn maze that you can visit during regular hours for a fee. Or for a scary time, go for the Maze by Moonlight, which happens just a few nights during the season! And on October 31 is when it all goes down with Halloween on the Farm. Kids and parents are encouraged to come in costume and enjoy all the holiday fun, including trick-or-treating!

• Pumpkin Arch at Pier 17

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Perhaps you’ve seen this one on Instagram and TikTok and wondered where it was!  The Pumpkin Arch  can be found at Heineken Riverdeck at Pier 17 in Lower Manhattan’s Seaport district. It’s perfectly situated with the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges in the background.

It’s worth a visit for the photo opportunity! It usually pops up around October 1 and stays up through early or mid-November. Come during the day to see the 10-foot arch featuring classic pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, orange mums, fall leaves, and more. Each year it’s a little different. And while it’s stunning in the daylight, it’s a different experience when it’s lit up at night with the city lights in the distance!

• Halloween at the McKittrick Hotel

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The boutique McKittrick Hotel has a fascinating history and a tragic story about how it never quite opened because of World War II. Shuttered for decades, it reopened in recent years as a multi-venue event space. Walking inside feels like you’re stepping back in time. The mood setting is the perfect place to celebrate Halloween in NYC.

There are different events at the McKittrick every month, and Halloween is no exception. Every year  they host an extravagant masquerade dance party  with a different theme. There’s dancing, DJs, theatrical performances, VIP champagne service, and an open bar. In recent years, themes have included Inferno, Hitchcock, and Lost Garden. Let the theme inspire you and dress up!

The party begins at 6 PM and guests can come beforehand to see a performance of Sleep No More, which also plays at the McKittrick and is one of our favorite immersive theater experiences ever.

• Cityside Pumpkin Patch

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One of the most exciting things to do during Halloween in New York is visit pumpkin patches near NYC ! Well, what if we told you that you didn’t need to leave the city for a pumpkin patch?

In fact, what if we told you that there is going to be a giant rooftop pumpkin patch in New York City in Long Island City, Queens! The Summer Club Rooftop at the Ravel Hotel will transform into a family-friendly Halloween and pumpkin patch extravaganza!

You’ll find pumpkin photo opportunities, pumpkin smashing zone, scarecrow archery, and all kinds of Halloween festivities!!

• Catacombs by Candlelight Tour

Even though this is one of the most fun tours in NYC to check out all year-long, make sure not to miss out on the guided tours of the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, also known as Old St. Patrick on Mulberry Street around Halloween season in New York.

Dive into the Catacombs by Candlelight tour , a 90-minute expedition led by a historian and guide. Unveil the catacombs, the organ, and the cemetery, all usually off-limits to the public.

This Gothic Revival cathedral, the oldest St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC, once served as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York until the more famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral on 5th Avenue emerged in 1879.

You might recognize the interior from Martin Scorsese’s film The Godfather, particularly the iconic baptism scene. Yes, that one!

Prepare for the candlelit catacombs, where tales of renowned New Yorkers are interred here and the cathedral’s hidden stories are kept!

• Rooftop Halloween Movies at Rooftop Reds

What beats sharing pizza, wine, and a classic Halloween movie with loved ones or pals? Doing it atop a rooftop with skyline vistas! Enter Rooftop Reds, not to be confused with Rooftop Films.

This top-tier rooftop bar in Brooklyn holds a series in the fall at Brooklyn Navy Yard. City views and a movie are on the menu. When autumn sets in, Halloween flicks take the spotlight, making this a cherished NYC Halloween activity.

Rooftop Reds isn’t just any rooftop – it’s NYC’s sole rooftop vineyard. Though, there are a handful of wineries around Brooklyn, so wine enthusiasts, make sure to explore those and their tasting rooms.

Partnering with an Upstate New York Finger Lakes vineyard, Rooftop Reds brings the wine country vibe to the city. As you enjoy a movie, sip on wines crafted right here in the Empire State!

Grab your tickets and check out the schedule right here

Halloween at INTER_

One of the coolest things to do indoors in NYC is visit one of the city’s many interactive and digital art museums. INTER_ in SoHo is an immersive experience that has you set an intention before going in and explore the different digital art spaces, some of which are interactive with your movements and really make you feel like you’re a part of the art and space.

During the season of Halloween in NYC, INTER_ transforms its experience to be an autumn and Halloween-focused theme where visitors can explore the Hallowverse.

Along the way you’ll also find interactive activities to enjoy from trick or treating to tarot card readings.

The entire experience takes around an hour to go through and is not recommended for anyone who is prone to photosensitivity as there are flashing lights and strobe effects in some of the displays.

Other Fun Halloween Events in NYC:

This section is dedicated to limited-edition Halloween events in NYC to check out! Be sure to snag your tickets in advance while you still can!

• Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy – A spine-tingling cocktail escapade honoring Poe’s tales. This immersive event unfolds in a shadowy speakeasy setting. Poe experts give fresh life to four iconic stories, and our top mixologist crafts a 4-part cocktail journey inspired by each.
• NYC Haunted House Brunch – Trick or treat? How about both! Dive into a spooktacular brunch with top Halloween flicks, music, and a fully decked-out crew. Think bottomless brunch vibes and a secret Halloween delight for the coolest costume!
• SoHo Vampire Ball – Channel your inner vampire and join fellow nocturnal beings in this Vampire Ball. Imagine the crew decked out in eerie ensembles, serving up lip-smacking Creole cocktails and NOLA treats. Dance to the monster mash tunes as the night unfolds in mesmerizing mystique.
• Vampire Voyage Halloween Yacht Cruise – Hop aboard the Cabana Yacht in NYC for the Vampire Voyage Halloween party cruise. Revel in a multi-level party yacht adventure as you glide through the stunning cityscape for an unforgettable Halloween bash!
• NYC Halloween Parade Silent Disco – A one-of-a-kind Halloween Parade in NYC, where you’ll dance to the beat with headphones on! Groove to jams from 2 music stations and be part of the flash mob, wowing onlookers and TV cameras.
• Candlelight Halloween Musical Performance – Experience Halloween-inspired melodies at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, illuminated by soft candlelight. Delight in renowned Halloween theme songs brought to life by the talented Highline String Quartet.
• Trick or Treat Bar Crawl – Prepare for a night hopping NYC bars with trick-or-treating vibes, but with a grown-up twist. Your treat? Delicious drinks! Sip on drink specials throughout the night with a wristband, you’ll access all the fun at the participating bars and clubs without any extra fees. Don’t forget a costume!
• New York Gangsters and Ghosts tour takes you on a 2 hour journey uncovering the stories of the most prominent gangsters and ghosts of the city’s past including stops at the infamous Five Points, Little Italy, and Greenwich Village. This is definitely right up the alley for anyone who is a true crime fan!

Best Halloween in New York Festivities (Post Summary):

• Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade
• Great Pumpkin Dog Costume Contest in Fort Greene
• Visit NYC’s Most Haunted Places
• Halloween Themed Bars
• Beetle House
• The Cauldron
• Ditmas Park Halloween House
• Look at Halloween Decorations
• Halloween at Inter_

Enjoyed this guide to all the fun Halloween activities in NYC? Bookmark for later! And if you’re new to the city this time of year, be sure to reference our guide to what to wear in NYC in the fall and packing list to help you plan your trip!

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New York City’s Halloween Highlights: the Top 20 Events This Year

If you ask us, there’s no place better than Gotham to celebrate Halloween. The hardest part is deciding what to do first. We asked our fellow New Yorkers for their favorite haunts, and here’s our edit of the best ways to spend Halloween season in NYC. From outdoors to underground, museums to malls, family-friendly to freaking-out terrifying, we’ve rounded up 20 of the best Halloween happenings and events in New York City this year, including NYC outdoor pumpkin displays, pumpkin patches and haunted houses.

halloween highlights: the 20 best events in new york city this year

1. “fall-o-ween” at the new york botanical garden.

The New York Botanical Garden is a special place to visit all year, and Halloween is no exception. The NYBG’s Fall-O-Ween celebration begins in mid-September and continues through October 31.

There’s something here for almost everyone. The grounds are filled with beautiful displays of pumpkins and gourds, and master pumpkin carver Adam Bierton will demonstrate his craft on select weekends. There are sessions devoted to mini pumpkin decorating, 3D pumpkin carving, food and beverage talks, craft beer tastings and more. Two family-friendly Spooky Garden Nights on the last two Saturdays of October will feature dancing skeletons, live shadow puppets, plant potting and arts-and-crafts activities.

It’s a perfect way to spend an autumn afternoon or evening in the countryside without actually leaving NYC. Get the full schedule and purchase tickets here .

The best Halloween events and family activities in New York City this year, including NYC outdoor pumpkin displays, patches and haunted houses.

2. pumpkin nights at the bronx zoo

If you’ve been to the magical Holiday Lights festival at the Bronx Zoo, you know how marvelous the grounds are when night falls and the lights begin to twinkle. This year, Halloween gets in on the act with the debut of Pumpkin Nights.

The family-friendly evening event will showcase more than 5,000 carved, animal-themed pumpkins along a jack-o’-lantern trail. There will also be pumpkin-carving demonstrations, games, seasonal treats and food trucks.

Pumpkin Nights will be held Thursdays through Sundays, 6:00P to 10:00P, though October 29. Get the full schedule and purchase tickets here.

Boo at the Zoo , the family-friendly holiday parade and costume party, will also be held during the day on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the season.

3. the great jack o’lantern blaze

For spectacle and dazzling displays, it would be hard to beat the incredible sights at The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze. It’s become a legendary event, featuring more than 7,000 illuminated jack o’ lanterns—all designed and hand-carved on site by a team of expert artisans. There’s a coordinated light and sound show, as well as food and drink – and treats, of course.

In addition to its traditional location in the Hudson Valley at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, there’s a Long Island edition at Old Bethpage Village Restoration.

Get full details and purchase tickets here .

4. halloween house at the oculus

The promise of Halloween House is “more fun, less fear.” The array of immersive, intricate Halloween-themed rooms includes a Glow in the Dark space; a Vampires’ Lair; a Horror Movie Graveyard; and an indoor pumpkin patch.

Unlike traditional haunted houses, this is a “not-too haunted” house appropriate for all ages and temperaments. The website promises that there will be no actors or jump scares. It’s all happening at the Oculus this year. Get the operating schedule and purchase tickets here .

5. green-wood cemetery tours

There’s no time like Halloween for a visit to a historic and beautiful cemetery . And Green-Wood cemetery in Brooklyn is one of the best. You can visit by day, of course. But come Halloween season, there are midnight and after-hours tours where you can explore the grounds after dark.

We’re keen to attend one of the Concerts in the Catacombs. This year, there’ll be a large-scale altar installation honoring Dia de los Muertos. And Nightfall, a 21-and-over evening of music and moving images.

See the schedule of events and purchase tickets here .

6. pumpkin point at governor’s island

Governors Island hosts an annual free pumpkin patch with over 10,000 gourds within historic Nolan Park. “Vis­i­tors are invit­ed to pick out their own pump­kins (free with sug­gest­ed dona­tion) on the week­ends of Octo­ber 21 – 22 and Octo­ber 28 – 29, 2023, from 10am to 5pm.” It’s one per family, and you should come early for the best selection.

Any leftovers will be com­post­ed by Earth Mat­ter, which runs a Com­post Learn­ing Cen­ter at the Urban Farm on Gov­er­nors Island.

There are lots of Halloween-themed activities to join once you’ve found your perfect pumpkin. Including pumpkin painting, trick-or-treating and performances from the Brooklyn Magic Shop. There will be food trucks and vendors onsite for grabbing a bite to eat. Learn more and get the ferry schedule here .

7. central park pumpkin flotilla

For pure Halloween magic, we think the annual Pumpkin Flotilla in Central Park wins the prize. Each year at twilight, a procession of illuminated jack-o’-lanterns floats across the Harlem Meer (west of Fifth Ave. and south of 110th St). In addition to this grand finale, there will also be crafting, storytelling, scavenger hunts, and a spirited Halloween parade. Visitors are encouraged to come in costume for this family-friendly event.

This year’s event is scheduled for October 26, from 4:00P to 7:00P (the flotilla itself is at 6:00P).

8. south street seaport pumpkin arch

Attention photogs and social media masters: this one’s for you.

The Seaport Arch at Pier 17 is a free art instillation made up of over 500 pumpkins designed to perfectly frame the view of the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s open 24/7 at the Heineken Riverdeck from now through November 7.

9. domino park pumpkin patch

Williamsburg’s Domino Park is hosting a popup for Greg’s Great Pumpkin Patch again this Halloween season. In addition to the great photo ops along the river with the Manhattan skyline behind you, expect a costume contest, a great corn maze, and pumpkin picking. Pretty much “everything from hay to z” . . .

10. the color factory’s haunted hues

The Color Factory , a Soho immersive art installation, will celebrate the season with Haunted Hues, a Halloween-themed takeover. The limited time event “features tasty fall treats, spellbinding photo ops, a monstrously fun scavenger hunt, and a pumpkin patch like you’ve never seen before.” Get your tickets here .

11. ghost stories: halloween edition at the metropolitan museum

While the “Ghost Stories” tour at the Met is available almost year-round, there’s a special Halloween-themed edition available for just a few weeks.

“Participants will travel across cultures and across time to see Flying Dutchmen and fearsome plaques, puzzling paintings, and fearful forests . . . we’ll look at how different cultures depict the fearsome and the gruesome, in pursuit of what scares us…and why. For the spooky season, we’ve added new tricks and new treats, from works of art we only visit during Halloween season, to new activities and giveaways.”

The 2-hour tours are appropriate for ages 9 and up, and they’re held on select Fridays at 6:00P and select Saturdays at 11:00A. Learn more here .

12. blood manor haunted house immersion

Blood Manor, in SoHo at 359 Broadway is the real deal: a professional-level haunted house intended to generate true terror. The designers from iconic Manhattan costume shop Abracadabra work to create a convincing immersive experience alongside professional actors, set designers and makeup artists. You’ve been warned. Get your tickets here.

13. terrorvision haunted house

Across town, there’s another haunted house for those who just can’t get enough. In Times Square at 300 West 43rd Street, you’ll find “heart-pounding” immersive experiences designed by the pros at “Horrorwood Studios”. Expect 140 actors and 20,000 square feet of chills and thrills. Said to be the largest haunted house in all of NYC, the plot behind this experience is that visitors are behind the scenes at the filming of an upcoming TerrorVision Halloween episode.

Our favorite touch? A “chicken ticket” provides you with an amulet so the monsters won’t target you. Yes, please! Get your tickets here . Oh, and there’s a 31% discount if you dare to take your tour before October 9th.

14. black lagoon pop-up halloween bar

If you love “Miracle On . . . “ the pop-up nostalgic holiday themed bars that appear in major cities each year, you may also be up for their evil Halloween cousin, Black Lagoon.

The immersive Halloween pop-ups in cocktail bars will launch in 19 cities, including New York. Pretty Ricky’s (101 Rivington Street) will offer a curated cocktail menu – and also decor transforming the bar “into a macabre den festooned with frightfully fun decor.” Guests are encouraged to come in costume – learn more here .

15. the village halloween parade

The Village Halloween Parade is a Gotham tradition, and it’s scheduled for Halloween night, Tuesday, October 31. Expect more than 50,000 people in costumes of every possible type to take to the streets for a night of fun. The free event starts at 7 p.m., rain or shine, and runs on Sixth Avenue from Canal Street to 15th Street. Making this year even more special? The parade marks its 50th anniversary this year, with the theme “Upside/Down : Inside/OUT”.

16. new york historical society’s historical hallowe’en party.

There’s fun to be had uptown on October 31, too. The New York Historical Society is hosting a family-friendly Halloween costume party on Halloween night that’s meant to be both educational and fun. Among other things, guests will “learn about Victorian-era mourning jewelry . . . and discover the many ways clothing and accessories were used to show remembrance. They’ll also help create a special offering to take part in a communal ofrenda (altar) as part of Día de los Muertos.”

There will also be games, Hallowe’en bingo, spooky stories, historical Hallowe’en crafts and buckets of candy. It all takes place from 4:00P to 6:00P on Halloween night. Learn more  and purchase tickets here .

17. Dreams of Dracula: An Immersive Masquerade Experience

Sure, there’s Twilight. And Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But Dracula was the OG vampire. We all know that.

This Halloween, Never More Immersive , Bucket Listers and Musica (the largest nightclub in New York City) team up to present Dreams of Dracula: An Immersive Masquerade Experience. The installation will feature two floors and six rooms across 25,000 square feet, offering a choose-your-own adventure journey. Previews began in late September, and the show’s now open in the totally appropriate Hell’s Kitchen. Musica NYC is at 637 W 50th Street, and shows run through November 7. 

Learn more and purchase tickets here .

18. Murder Mystery Sleepover + Witch Spells

The James Hotel in New York opened in 1901. And it has long been rumored to be haunted. Leaning into this macabre history, the boutique property features an onsite Resident Witch year-round.

For Halloween this year, the hotel is transforming into a proper Haunted Mansion with a Stay Spooked package . Including a true crime mystery solving box; a spell sachet session with the Witch; a deck of tarot cards; and a suite converted into a horror movie scene with a floor-to-ceiling projector and selection of true crime documentaries.

For the faint of heart, throughout the month of October the hotel will convert its lobby every afternoon into Horror Hour, serving boozy witch’s brew. There will also be a Cocoa Bar Station with treats exclusively provided by Mariebelle Chocolates. 

19. NYC Bucketlister’s rooftop Cityside Pumpkin Patch

Nothing says Halloween like a good ole pumpkin patch. But who has room for one in NYC? Happily, Cityside Pumpkin Patch is popping up in Long Island City, Queens with locally-harvest gourds from upstate New York.

The rooftop of the Summer Club (8-08 Queens Plaza S) is a Halloween wonderland, complete with pumpkin picking – and a pumpkin-smashing zone (for you real New Yorkers). Buy your tickets here.

20. Loreley’s Halloween Haunted Beer Garden 

We close our list of Halloween events in New York City this year with an outdoor haunted beer garden . Because what’s a holiday without beer?

At Loreley’s at 7 Rivington Street, the second half of October will see the arrival of over-the-top Halloween décor, cocktails, daily specials, and kegs made of hollowed out pumpkins. They’re filled with 60 or 120 ounces of Southern Tier Brewing Company’s Imperial Pumpking Ale, natch . These are best enjoyed in the heated outdoor garden, which will be transformed into a haunted spot filled with witches, zombies, ghouls, cobwebs, ghosts, corpses hanging from the ceiling, possessed babies and other bone-chilling surprises.

There are also specialty cocktails, including the Magic Potion Margarita (which combines butterfly pea flower-infused tequila, triple sec, lemon, and lime in two potion bottles). The Bloody IV Bag (rum punch and cherry juice), which is served in an actual IV bag. A Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew Martini. And Pumpkin Sangria with spiced rum, chardonnay, apples, pears and pumpkin. If it’s really chilly out, warm up with hot cocktails like the Hot Bourbon Cider and German Glühwein (mulled wine).

The Day of the Dead Party is on October 27. A ll staff will be wearing skull makeup, and guests will be able to get their own  makeup done (first come first served). The next day and on Halloween night, guests can show off their best looks for the Costume Contest. On Halloween night, happy hour will last until 10P and pumpkin kegs refills are $29 all night.

halloween highlights: the best events in new york city this year

Those are our picks for the can’t miss Halloween happenings and spooky events in New York City this year: the best Halloween family friendly and truly scary activities in NYC, including outdoor pumpkin displays and haunted houses. Have fun out there, dear reader.

Pamela Thomas-Graham

Pamela Thomas-Graham is the Founder & CEO of Dandelion Chandelier. She serves on the boards of several tech companies, and was previously a senior executive in finance, media and fashion, and a partner at McKinsey & Co.

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Our 10 Favorite Halloween Events in NYC

Want to be happier than a vampire at a blood bank? Come to New York City for Halloween.

If Gotham is known for anything, it’s the seemingly endless variety of options that present themselves to you at any given moment. So, it should come as no surprise that when Halloween comes around, the city that never sleeps goes into overdrive with a massive array of macabre events that tap into the frenetic creativity that is uniquely New York. So, whether you like to dress up or watch from the sidelines, get slightly spooked or completely freaked out, there is something for every age, taste, price point, and scare level.

In any given October, New York is loaded with hundreds of Halloween events that run the gamut from dog costume parades to full-on immersive horror spectacles. This year is no exception. We sorted through scores of creepy, kookie, and altogether ooky events and came up with our ten favorites.

The Village Halloween Parade  

70,000 marchers and two million spectators can’t be wrong. Now in its 50th year, this mother of all Halloween events is the largest of its kind in the country and is open to any marcher in a costume. Known for its giant puppets and over-the-top creativity, the Parade is listed on the “100 Things to Do Before You Die.” For more information on this not-to-be-missed event, check out our Guide to the Village Halloween Parade.

Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade 

Call the pup-a-razzi! After a near miss that could have prevented this year’s event, the party that’s been dubbed as “the Met Gala of the Canine Community” is back with a 33rd edition. Bring your dog or just bring your camera. As Time Magazine said, “Where else can you see a corgi dressed as french fries and a bulldog triceratops strutting down the runway?”   

Drunken Laboratory 

Travel out to Brooklyn and drink your way through a scientific séance experience featuring a series of otherworldly experiments and interactive games to meet the plastered paranormal. This month-long 21-and-over party promises an intimate, immersive experience where guests transform into scientists, conduct experiments, and compete in exciting games for free shots and bragging rights.  

Central Park Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla  

Come up to the Harlem Meer in Central Park during peak leaf time for a family-friendly event full of magic, entertainment, and music featuring the city’s largest pumpkin flotilla. Drop off your carved pumpkin and head to the picnic area to listen to not-so-spooky stories, enjoy a hair-raising magic show, and adorn your own trick-or-treat bag with Central Park–themed decorations. 

Green-Wood Cemetery After Hours 

Take a nighttime trip through this historic 19th-century cemetery’s hills, valleys, glacial ponds, paths, and collections of mausoleums. This not-to-be-missed walking tour ends with a visit to the Catacombs, which are normally closed to the public. Who knows? You may run into the ghosts of  Leonard Bernstein, Boss Tweed, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Civil War generals, and sports legends–all permanent residents of the property.

Dreams of Dracula: An Immersive Masquerade Experience  

The halls of nightclub Musica in Hell’s Kitchen have been transformed into a choose-your-own-adventure-style journey through the intricate details of Bram Stoker’s original classic vampire novel. The event promises hypnosis, tarot readings, scary tales, darkness, flashing lights, thunder, lightning, and more. The dress code is black. A version of black tie is highly suggested on Friday and Saturday nights, but basic black will always get you in the door.

Ghost Walking Tour 

Are you ready to walk with the ghosts of New York City? See why the City That Never Sleeps really never sleeps. Experience guided tours as they unveil over 400 years of New York’s history of plague, war, and turbulent times. Visit haunted places like the homes of Mark Twain and infamous former Vice President Aaron Burr, and hear stories and hauntings resulting from the Revolutionary War to a Prohibition-Era speakeasy.  

Monster: A Halloween Party at the McKittrick 

Long before the Off-Broadway hit “Sleep No More” transformed a West Chelsea warehouse into the McKittrick Hotel, the space was the famed Sound Factory (and later Twilo) nightclub. So it seems only suitable that for three nights this October, the multi-level event space reverts to its nightlife roots. The Monster Party invites revelers to dance, drink, unleash their inner beast and explore a forbidden dreamscape filled with live acts ranging from intimate to epic in scale throughout the floors of the “Sleep No More” environment.

Low-Key Immersive Attraction: Halloween House 

All the fun with none of the fear. If you love the atmosphere and décor of a haunted house but don't want the stress of being touched and scared out of your wits, Halloween House is for you. Located inside the Oculus Transportation Hub at the World Trade Center, Halloween House boasts a fully immersive experience as visitors visit impeccably detailed and fully realized Halloween environments that include the "Trick or Treat" Room, the "Glow In the Dark" Room, the Horror Movie Graveyard, Vampires Lair, and more. 

Hardcore Scares: Blood Manor 

If Halloween House at the Oculus is a low-key immersive experience, Blood Manor is on the opposite end of that spectrum. Designed to be the most intense, creepy, and scare-inducing haunted house attraction in the city, Blood Manor is comprised of 10,000 square feet of labyrinth passageways and themed rooms designed to maximize fears. While it’s highly recommended for fright junkies, it’s not recommended for anyone under 14. And this place lives up to its name, so unless you want to take a trip to the dry cleaner the next day, don’t wear white.

Bobby McGuire

A native New Yorker, Bobby saw his first Broadway show at the age of eight and has been hooked on culture ever since. After a brief flirtation in performing as a member of the Actors Equity Association, Bobby found his calling backstage and eventually worked on a slew of Broadway shows and tours that included a famous blockbuster hit, and a few notorious fiascos. His post-showbiz life led him to work for Ogilvy and Mather, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Edge Media Network, and The Nielsen Company. A contributing theater critic for Queerty and Passport Magazine’s The Broadway Blog, Bobby resides in two blocks from the theater district with two roommates and three dogs named Nero, Murray, and Mrs. Jingles.

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Check out these Halloween-inspired events you have to see in NYC

Whether you’re looking for family fun that will have young ghouls aghast, or you’re hounding around for a lively night with your zombie-clad comrades, there is something for everyone in the Big Apple this holiday season. 

Meatpacking’s Treats in the Streets with Doggie Costume Contest

This weekend, Trick-or-Treaters who can’t wait to dress up and snag some delicious candy can head over to the Meatpacking District for the neighborhood’s “Treats in the Streets” event. 

The Manhattan enclave’s beloved bash is coming back in full-force on Sunday, featuring collaborations with local businesses and a host of unique family-friendly events — including arts-and-crafts on W. 13th Street, live music near Gansevoort Plaza, Tarot card readings, and a Drag Queen Story Hour showing with comedian Harmonica Sunbeam . 

Local businesses are getting in on the action as well, with a number of storefronts offering discounts and unique menu options for the holiday (see a list of participating businesses here ). 

But, of course, the main event of the day will be the 5th Annual Doggie Costume Contest on a makeshift runway in the middle of Little W. 12th Street — giving pet lovers a chance to dress up their four-legged friends and compete for prizes, including an overnight stay at the dog-friendly Gansevoort Hotel, and tons of gift cards to nearby shops and restaurants. 

Treats in the Streets will take place in the Meatpacking District on Oct. 22, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. View more info on their website . 

“Frankenstein” at Caveat NYC 

Caveat NYC, the beloved theater and comedy cellar, is welcoming in the holiday season on Oct. 25 with a screening of the 1931 monster flick “Frankenstein.” 

While attendees will be able to get their fill of classic cinema, the screening will be interlaced with original comedy segments, special guests and audience participation games — making this the perfect event for those looking to get into the Halloween spirit. 

The  “Frankenstein” screening will take place on Oct. 25 at 9:30 p.m., and be housed in the Caveat NYC theater at 21 Clinton St. in the East Village. View more info on their website . 

Halloween Extravaganza at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine

Spooky season is underway at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and the house of worship is inviting New Yorkers to celebrate on Oct. 27. 

The event will feature a film screening of “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” with live organ accompaniment, and be followed by a performance from the Mettawee River Theater Company — and visitors can expect a bone-chilling work of art.

The 1047 Amsterdam Ave. church is also set to host special tours of the grounds, which will “highlight the supernatural season” through history and urban legends. Perhaps most excitingly, the Cathedral’s famous Crypt Crawls return in-person for the event, allowing New Yorkers to get a rare glimpse into the spectacular Gothic building. 

The Halloween Extravaganza at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine will take place on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. View more info on their website .

Halloween parade in the Village 

It wouldn’t be Halloween in New York City without a parade. Luckily for city dwellers, there are multiple different options to choose from — but the Village’s event is consistently among the best.

The Halloween Sixth Avenue in the Village  will take place on Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. View more info on the organizer’s  website .

On every remaining Saturday and Sundays, you can flock to Governor’s Island, where you’ll find tons of amazing activities — such as pumpkin patch picking, trivia, and art displays. 

Halloween at Governor’s Island  will take place Oct. 21–22 and Octo­ber 28  29, 2023, from 10am to 5pm. View more info on their website .

The Rooftop Cinema Club, the premier outdoor moviegoing experience in the Big Apple, is hosting marathon movie nights of classic scary movies between now and Halloween!

With films like “American Psycho” and “The Shining,” attendees will be able to check out some of their old favorites, or finally see one they’ve missed — all while sitting cozy atop the W. 37th Street building and munching down on snacks and drinks. 

Spooky movies with the Rooftop Cinema Club are taking place daily from now until Halloween. View more info on their website .

The Haunted Carousel will kick off in Prospect Park on Oct. 25, and remain open from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. View more info on their website .

‘Halloween at the Garden’ at the Queens Botanical Garden will take place on Oct. 29  beginning at noon. View more info on their website .

With over 5,000 carved pumpkins in a jack-o’-lantern trail stretching over half a mile, which is sure to take the breath away of even the most lifeless goblins and ghouls. 

Running between Thursday and Sunday weekly for the remainder of the month, the zoo will provide activities that will surely be a hit with guests, including catered food and drinks, demonstrations on pumpkin carving, games and more! 

Pumpkin Nights at the Bronx Zoo will take place every Thursday through Sunday, beginning at 6 p.m. View more info on their website .

About the Author

Aidan Graham

Aidan Graham is a reporter for amNewYork.

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The Spookiest Halloween Theme Restaurants of NYC

Where to go for the best themed halloween restaurants in nyc.

Looking to have yourself a scary, sit-down dinner for Halloween in NYC ? Then get ready to dig in, because there are a bunch of deliciously demented Halloween theme restaurants in New York City.   This year, Halloween is on Monday, October 31st, 2022. If you’re coming into the Big Apple for a fun-filled Halloween weekend, you’re probably thinking about great Halloween bars, haunted houses, ghost tours, and more.

You'll love this:

• My Guide to Halloween in NYC
• Halloween Parade in NYC
• The Best Halloween Bars in NYC

Why stop there? One of our favorite parts of the Halloween season is how the restaurants go all out with costumes, decor, and more.  

Table of Contents

Your Guide To The Best Halloween Theme Restaurants in NYC

To help you plan your Halloween NYC trip, we’re highlighting some of the best picks for a spooky evening.

Be Dazzled At A Taste Of Magic

When it’s the Halloween season, there’s no shortage of witches, wizards, and warlocks wandering about. That’s why A Taste of Magic is one of our favorite ways to celebrate Halloween in NYC.

This traveling experience takes place at restaurants around New York, bringing the thrills and intrigue of close-up magic to some of the city’s finest dining. Plus, it’s a family-friendly, all-ages way to get into the season. Each ticket includes the magic acts, the dinner, and the entertainment, and the two seating times (5pm and 8pm) fit perfectly for those packed New York schedules. 

Their current shows take place at Docks, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, and Gossip. You can find out more about A Taste of Magic and make reservations for yourself at the official page.

Travel Through Time At Lillie’s Victorian Establishment

There’s something indescribably spooky about the Victorian era. The setting for so many of our Halloween classics, from Frankenstein to Dracula and more, this is one area that made the ghoulish traditions we have today really come alive.

That’s what makes Lillie’s Victorian Establishment such a great addition as a NYC Halloween theme restaurant. Created in honor of British actress Lillie Langtry, the restaurant is full of Victorian details like ornate wood carvings, an antique marble bar, and period-specific furnishings.

With menus for brunch and dinner and a long list of wines, beers, and cocktails available at both Union Square and Times Square, Lillie’s Victorian Establishment will make your Halloween weekend a special one.

Face Your Fears at the Jekyll & Hyde Club

For a Halloween theme restaurant in NYC that goes all out, you’ve got to make a stop by the Jekyll & Hyde Club. Offering one of New York’s most unusual dinner experiences, you can expect a wide range of continuous live entertainment, special effects, and bizarre characters. From Frankenstein’s monster and Tobias the Werewolf to the legendary transformation of Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde, this restaurant will keep you on your toes.

More than just a good time, this is also a delicious dinner spot with over 60 menu items to scare away your hunger. In addition to the Create-Your-Own Monster Burger and the Mummy, the Jekyll & Hyde Club has an impressive list of American and foreign draught beers.

For more on this entertaining, only-in-New-York experience, visit the official Jekyll & Hyde Club website.

Get Haunted At One If By Land, Two If By Sea

Though the gorgeous West Village restaurant One if by Land, Two if by Sea does offer fine dining at one of the most romantic spots in the city, there’s more to this restaurant than meets the eye.

Once the house of US Vice President Aaron Burr, it is now believed that he and his daughter haunt the house, causing problems for the waitstaff. Just what kind of problems? Falling paintings, broken champagne glasses, and even earrings stolen from dinner guests.

If you’re looking for that perfect mix of haunting and charming for a Halloween theme restaurant, this may be it. As part of their delicious prix-fixe plates, the restaurant is known for dishes like Beef Wellington, Maine Lobster, and Coq au Vin.

Make a reservation and experience the haunting romance of One if by Land, Two by Sea for yourself .

Enjoy Halloween All-Year-Round At Beetle House NYC

Created to honor and celebrate the horror culture, Beetle House NYC is a year-round Halloween-themed party. With pieces and props inspired by the works of Tim Burton, Alfred Hitchcock, Bram Stoker, Washington Irving, Edgar Allen Poe and others, Beetle House is a must-see as one of the main Halloween theme restaurants in NYC.

If you’re just stopping by for drinks, there’s no need for reservations – just slide up to the bar and order your Coco Skellington or your The Beetle’s Juice. If you are stopping by for the $55 prix-fixe dinner, which includes main courses like Edward Burger Hands and Sweeney Beef, it’s best to call in advance to reserve your spot.

Take a look at the incredible decorations and make your reservation at Beetle House’s official website.

Avoid Werewolves At The Slaughtered Lamb Pub

When you’re running away from ghosts and ghouls, you can work up quite an appetite. Fortunately if you’re looking for a Halloween theme restaurant NYC, the Slaughtered Lamb Pub delivers a great meal.

Inspired by the original Slaughtered Lamb Pub outside of London that was supposed to be cursed with the bloodline of the Werewolf, this version in New York is no less scary. Fortunately, the ample beer menu and great pub food help!

Featuring a mix of English pub fare like Traditional London Fish & Chips alongside a number of great specialty burgers, the Slaughtered Lamb Pub offers a spooky spot to fuel up during your Halloween weekend in NYC.

Check out their menu and read up on the haunted history at the Slaughtered Lamb Pub’s official website.

Frequently Asked Questions About Halloween Restaurants in New York

Will restaurants be open on halloween in new york.

Yes, restaurants will be open on Halloween in New York.  

Though Halloween is a big celebration across the country, it is not a national holiday, meaning stores, businesses, and restaurants will continue to operate normally.

Do people dress up for Halloween in New York?

The main Halloween tradition is for children to dress up and go door-to-door asking for candy. Adults will often dress up for Halloween-specific events and parties, especially if Halloween falls on a weekend.  

As Halloween 2022 is on Monday, October 31st, you can expect people to be dressed up starting the evening of Friday, October 28th through the rest of the weekend.

Get Spooky in the City: Celebrate Halloween in New York 2024

Village Halloween Parade in NYC – The Complete Guide for 2024

The 6 Best Halloween Bars in New York

I'm a true New York fan! Not only have I visited the city over 25 times but also have I spent several months here at a time. On my blog I show you the best and most beautiful spots of the city, so that you have a really good time! You can also find lots of insider tips in our New York travel guide . Also check out my hotel finder for New York !

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The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, Hudson Valley

Halloween in New York State

Fall is for freaky, fun Halloween events all season long. Ghost tours and haunted houses will give you a heart-pounding rush and guaranteed goosebumps. But don't worry, there are plenty of not-so-scary things for the little ones too. From real hauntings to pumpkin blazes, check out these special Halloween events and things to do for fall. 

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Haunted History Trail

Real haunted houses and ghost walks await along New York State's Haunted History Trail. more

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Watch a stream of fun and creepy Halloween stories from New York State! more

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The 15 most haunted places in nyc you need to visit.

Nov 24, 2019

By Rich Weidman

“The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?” – Edgar Allan Poe

Horror movies filmed on location in New York City run the gamut from established classics such as Rosemary’s Baby (1968) and more offbeat cult films like Basket Case (1982) and Jacob’s Ladder (1990) to total turkeys such as the execrable Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989). In addition, we would be remiss not to acknowledge the NYC-based 1984 horror-comedy classic Ghostbusters! However, for a real taste of the macabre, nothing beats visiting actual ghoulish and creepy landmarks throughout the Big Apple that reportedly have exhibited paranormal activity of one form or another over the years. Whether you wish to try your hand at ghost hunting and explore haunted mansions, sinister townhouses, scary Escape Rooms , ghostly theaters, spooky restaurants, possessed hotels, creepy churches or even Harry Houdini’s gravesite, here are the 15 most haunted places in NYC you need to visit (note that some of these sights are private residences and not open to the public, so you will only be able to catch a glimpse of those ghostly sites from outside) – And if you survive the terror, unwind with your favorite adult beverage at any of the best rooftop bars in NYC!

View this post on Instagram on Dec 4, 2017 at 4:37am PST

1 | Morris-Jumel Mansion | Built in 1765 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Morris-Jumel Mansion (AKA “Mount Morris”) in Washington Heights is the oldest house in Manhattan and originally served as the summer house of Colonel Roger Morris (1727-94), a highly decorated British Army officer. In the fall of 1776, the mansion briefly served as the headquarters for General George Washington and his officers during the Revolutionary War. In 1810, Eliza and Stephen Jumel purchased the Georgian-style mansion. Eliza reportedly had an affair with Aaron Burr (the former vice president who had killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel) and soon thereafter Stephen died mysteriously from a “pitchfork accident.” According to popular rumors of the time, Eliza actually buried Stephen alive! Eliza and Burr divorced three years later, Burr soon died and Eliza eventually had a mental breakdown that lasted until she died in 1865 at the age of 90. Today, the Morris-Jumel Mansion is allegedly haunted by at least five spirits, including Eliza (in 1965 she allegedly shushed a group of rowdy schoolchildren who were taking a tour of the mansion), Stephen Jumel, Aaron Burr, a servant girl who reportedly committed suicide by jumping out of a window and even the painting of a Revolutionary War soldier that occasionally comes to life (a la the talking portraits that populate Hogwarts Castle!). If you’re interested in possibly running into any or all of these restless spirits, the Morris-Jumel Mansion is open for self-guided tours every day but Monday.

WHERE: 65 Jumel Terrace, New York, NY 10032 | WHO: (212) 923-8008

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2 | The Dakota | Not only is the Gothic-style Dakota building, which first opened its doors in 1884, one of the most exclusive residences in Manhattan, but it’s also reportedly one of the most haunted buildings in NYC! Tragically, John Lennon of Beatles fame was murdered outside of the Dakota on December 8, 1980 (Yoko Ono still lives at the Dakota and claims she once viewed Lennon’s ghost sitting at his legendary white piano). When he was alive, Lennon apparently told Ono he witnessed a “Crying Lady Ghost” in the Dakota. Other ghosts witnessed by Dakota residents over the years include a playful girl in a yellow dress and a very creepy looking short guy donning an ill-fitting wig. In addition, paranormal activity reported at the Dakota includes phantom footsteps, mysterious noises and objects moving on their own. By the way, scenes from the 1968 horror movie classic Rosemary’s Baby directed by Roman Polanski were shot at the Dakota, which is located at Central Park West on 72nd Street for the morbidly curious.

WHERE: 1 W. 72nd Street, New York, NY 10023 | WHO: N/A

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3 | “House of Death” | Few buildings in NYC have a more sinister reputation than the so-called “House of Death” near Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village that has become widely known as “the most haunted building in New York.” According to legend, the 19th-century brownstone got its macabre name due to the myriad of mysterious and violent deaths that took place in the building over the years, along with an extraordinary level of reported paranormal activity reported here. Legendary author Mark Twain lived in the building for a year (1900-01) and his ghost – clad in his signature white suit and coolly smoking a cigar – has been spotted here. In fact, a plaque outside the building states, “In this house once lived Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens), author of the beloved American classic The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” In 1987, the building was also the site of the tragic murder of six-year-old Lisa Steinberg by her father, Joel Steinberg, a former criminal defense attorney. Last but not least, Jan Bryant Bartell, an off-Broadway actress/poet and longtime resident of the “House of Death,” wrote a compelling 1974 memoir about her paranormal experiences there titled Spindrift: Spray from a Psychic Sea.

WHERE: 14 W. 10th Street, New York, NY 10011 | WHO: N/A

4 | One if By Land, Two if By Sea | An immensely popular West Village eatery, One if By Land, Two if By Sea is housed in a former carriage house built in 1767 that once belonged to Aaron Burr (1756-1836), who served as vice president under Thomas Jefferson (and is also notorious for fatally wounding Alexander Hamilton in a duel). Not only is Burr said to haunt the dining establishment, but also the spirit of his daughter, Theodosia, who disappeared at sea while aboard the schooner Patriot somewhere off the coast of North Carolina in 1813. Diners and restaurant employees have reported such paranormal activity as getting shoved by an invisible hand, paintings falling off walls, flickering lights, plates flying across the dining room and even earrings pulled from ears. By the way, the eatery appears at No. 5 on Architectural Digest’s list of the “Most Romantic Restaurants in the World.” Movie buffs will want to know that the private upstairs dining area at One if By Land, Two if By Sea reportedly once served as actor Steve McQueen’s apartment.

WHERE: 17 Barrow Street, New York, NY 10014 | WHO: (212) 255-8649

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5 | New Amsterdam Theater | Now leased by Disney Theatrical Productions and currently home to the hit musical Aladdin, New Amsterdam Theatre boasts a rich history as Broadway’s oldest theater and an official New York City Landmark that is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1902-03, the New Amsterdam Theatre also features a resident ghost, none other than Ziegfeld Follies chorus girl and actress Olive Thomas, who was known as “The Most Beautiful Girl in New York City” before dying in Paris in 1920 at the age of 25 after swallowing a lethal dose of mercury bichloride pills (which her husband, Jack Pickford, brother of actress Mary Pickford, was using to treat his syphilis). The ghost of Thomas has often been spotted hanging out both onstage and in the backstage of the theater.

WHERE: 214 W. 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036 | WHO: (212) 282-2900

6 | Kreischer House | A creepy Queen Anne Victorian-style mansion that sits empty on Staten Island, the allegedly haunted Kreischer House contains 25 rooms and was built around 1885 by German immigrant and “brick-factory baron” Balthasar Kreischer. One of Kreischer’s twin sons later committed suicide in the mansion. In 2005, the property’s caretaker Joseph “Joe Black” Young (who was also a hitman for the mob!) murdered a fellow mobster named Robert McKelvey inside the mansion, dismembered his body and burned it in the basement furnace. Over the years, visitors have reported strange voices and lights emanating from the house, along with sightings of the ghosts of both Kreischer song, as well as a former cook. By the way, the Kreischer House served as a filming location for HBO’s period crime drama Boardwalk Empire and was also featured on the reality TV series Paranormal Lockdown. In addition, actor Aaron Paul (“Jesse Pinkman” from Breaking Bad) visited the Kreischer House during an episode of the TruTV series Super Into.

WHERE: 4500 Arthur Kill Road, Staten Island, NY 10309 | WHO: N/A

7 | The Manhattan Well | The infamous “Manhattan Murder Well” trial took place in 1799 after carpenter Levi Weeks was accused of the strangulation murder of his girlfriend Gulielma “Elma” Elmore Sands and throwing her body into a well in an area of Manhattan that was then known as “Lispenard Meadow.” Wells, the brother of influential builder Ezra Weeks, was later acquitted in a controversial verdict. Today, the remains of the notorious well can be found inside the COS SoHo clothing store on Spring Street. Elma’s ghost can allegedly be heard shrieking from deep down in the well, as well as sometimes wandering around the streets of SoHo. The Travel Channel has included the Manhattan well as one of its “10 Most Haunted Places in America.”

WHERE: 120 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012 | WHO: N/A

8 | St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery | The ghost of Peter “Peg Leg” Pete Stuyvesant, the last Dutch colonial governor-general of New Amsterdam (the original name of New York), reportedly haunts St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, which dates to 1660 and is the second-oldest church in Manhattan. Visitors to the landmark East Village church have witnessed Stuyvesant roaming the church grounds, ringing church bells, singing hymns loudly in Dutch and committing other assorted acts of mischief. Self-guided walking tours of St. Mark’s are available, so you may be able to get the opportunity to document a personal encounter with old “Peg Leg” Pete!

WHERE: 131 E. 10th Street, New York, NY 10003 | WHO: (212) 674-6377

9 | Merchant’s House Museum | A National Historic Landmark, the Merchant’s House Museum is housed in an 1832 Federal-style brick townhouse in the East Village often referred to as the “Most Haunted House in Manhattan.” The dwelling is allegedly haunted by the ghost of a miserly spinster named Gertrude Tredwell, who rarely left the house from her birth in 1840 until she died in 1933 at the age of 93. In addition to witnessing Gertrude wander around the house in a shabby brown dress, visitors have reported unexplained sounds, lights and smells throughout the Merchant’s House Museum.

WHERE: 29 E. 4th Street, New York, NY 10003 | WHO: (212) 777-1089

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10 | Hotel Chelsea | Immortalized by singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen in his 1974 song “Chelsea Hotel #2,” the legendary Chelsea Hotel has served as a celebrity haunt (no pun intended!) over the years for the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Andy Warhol, Madonna, Bob Dylan, William S. Burroughs, Dee Dee Ramone, Patti Smith, Dylan Thomas (who actually died here in Room 106), R. Crumb, Tennessee Williams, Stanley Kubrick, Arthur Miller, R. Crumb and many others. In addition, many ghosts reportedly haunt the Chelsea Hotel – including Dylan Thomas himself, as well as a survivor of the Titanic known as Mary, who haunts the fifth floor. In addition, Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of Sex Pistols’ bassist Sid Vicious, was stabbed to death in Room 100 of the Chelsea in 1978 (although Vicious was charged with the murder, he died of a heroin overdose before standing trial). By the way, the Chelsea was featured on an episode of Celebrity Ghost Stories featuring actor Michael Imperioli (“Christopher Moltisanti” from The Sopranos).

WHERE: 222 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011 | WHO: N/A

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11 | Machpelah Cemetery | No list of haunted places in NYC is complete without an eerie graveyard and the creepy Machpelah Cemetery (a Jewish cemetery founded in 1860) in Queens ranks right up there since it’s the final resting place of none other than legendary escape artist Harry Houdini (real name: Erik Weisz), who died on Halloween night in Detroit at the age of 52 in 1926. Houdini’s wife, Bess, held a séance at the grave every October 31 until her death in 1943 in a desperate (and ultimately unsuccessful) attempt to contact the famed illusionist from beyond the grave. As you might expect, Houdini’s grave draws significant crowds every Halloween night.

WHERE: 8230 Cypress Hills Street, Ridgewood, NY 11385 | WHO: (718) 366-5959

12 | White Horse Tavern | In addition to haunting the Hotel Chelsea (see No. 10), the ghost of Dylan Thomas gets around and is also known to hang out at the White House Tavern, where the legendary Welsh poet allegedly drank 18 straight whiskies on the night of his death at the age of 39 in 1953. Thomas has been witnessed lounging around his favorite table at the famous watering hole and even stealing shots from the bar on occasion. A notable “bar for writers,” the White Horse Tavern, which was established in 1880, has been certified as a National Poetry Landmark by the Academy of American Poets.

WHERE : 567 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014 | WHO: (212) 989-3956

13 | Washington Square Park | A bustling gathering place in the heart of Greenwich Village and surrounded by New York University, Washington Square Park has a rather dark history that dates to its use as a hanging ground during the American Revolution (the 350-year-old “Hangman’s Elm” still stands in the northwest corner of the park as the oldest known tree in Manhattan). The patch of land where Washington Square Park now sits was later used as a public burying ground and an estimated 20,000 bodies are reportedly buried here. Needless to say, visitors to Washington Square Park have often reported paranormal activity such as ghostly figures wandering around late at night (often mistaken for inebriated college students making their way home from the bars!).

WHERE: At the base of 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10012 | WHO: N/A

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14 | Empire State Building | The ghost of a woman dressed in 1940’s attire and sporting bright red lipstick reportedly haunts the observation deck on the 86th floor of the world-famous Empire State Building, which rises 1,454 feet above the Midtown Manhattan skyline. The ESB specter apparently is none other than Evelyn McHale, who committed suicide at the age of 23 by jumping from the observation deck and landing on a limousine parked at the curb in 1947. Because of the calm demeanor of her body resting peacefully atop the crushed car, McHale was labeled “The Most Beautiful Suicide” after a photo of the gruesome act appeared in Life magazine. Pop artist Andy Warhol later used the photo in one of his works titled Suicide (Fallen Body).

WHERE: 20 W. 34th Street, New York, NY 10001 | WHO: (212) 736-3100

15 | McCarren Park Pool | Plenty of strange occurrences have been documented late at night at the McCarren Park Pool, which first opened in 1936 at McCarren Park in Brooklyn. According to legend, the ghost of a young girl who drowned in the pool can be seen roaming around and crying out for help. Of course, there doesn’t seem to be any public records of the alleged death, but the rumors persist – making McCarren Park Pool one of the most haunted places in Brooklyn! By the way, the McCarren Park Pool was featured during a chase scene in the low-budget 1983 movie Vigilante (AKA Street Gang), which starred Robert Forster and Fred Williamson.

WHERE: 776 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222 | WHO: (718) 218-2380

BONUS | Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown | Just 30 miles north of New York City lies the tiny village of Sleepy Hollow and adjacent Tarrytown, the area where author Washington Irving (1783-1859) set his acclaimed gothic short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” which features the infamous ghost known as the “Headless Horseman.” Considered one of the “Most Haunted Places in the World,” Sleepy Hollow hosts an annual Halloween event called Horseman’s Hollow that boasts 15 days of “haunted mayhem.” Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery serves as the final resting place of Irving and also was a filming location for the Ramones’ 1989 “Pet Sematary” music video.

WHERE: Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591 | WHO: N/A

ROAD TRIP | Amityville Horror House | A tiny village on Long Island located about an hour’s drive from Manhattan, Amityville is home to the notorious haunted house that spawned the seemingly endless Amityville Horror franchise of books and horror movies. The site of a gruesome mass murder in 1974, the eerie Dutch Colonial-style house was then purchased by the Lutz family, who claimed that the intense amount of paranormal activity – including mysterious noises, green slime oozing down the walls, swarming flies, a secret room painted blood red and a demonic red-eyed pig named “Jodie” – drove them out just 28 days later. The Lutz’s horrifying (and controversial) account of their experience was documented into a bestselling 1977 book authored by Jay Anson entitled The Amityville Horror, which was turned into a 1979 supernatural horror film of the same name in 1978 and followed by the churning out of a multitude of mediocre sequels, including Amityville 3-D (1983), Amityville: A New Generation (1993) and Amityville Death House (2015), among many others. Since the house is a privately owned residence, please just drive slowly by and gawk or take a photo from the sidewalk, so you do not in any way disturb the current residents.

WHERE: Amityville, NY 11701 | WHO: N/A

Ready to Begin your Spooky Quest?

Use our handy map to discover the scary side of NYC! From haunted hangouts, frightening tours to peculiar sights and so much more, visit these famous attractions to see these creepy spectacles in Manhattan.

Have a Fiendishly Fun Time Exploring NYC’s Most Haunted Destinations!

An exploration of the most haunted places in New York City is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to bucket-list activities in the Big Apple! When you’ve had your fill of chasing ghouls throughout the five boroughs, enjoy all of the other fun things to do in New York City such as enjoying your favorite cocktail at one of the many rooftop bars in Manhattan or historic NYC taverns , as well as checking out some of the most weird things to do in NYC at night! In addition, be sure to take advantage of New York City hotel discounts , so you can enjoy incredible savings while experiencing all the best that NYC has to offer!

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7 Halloween Towns In New York That Will Terrify And Delight You In The Best Way Possible

Writer for Only In Your State. Scribbling about all things New York and Buffalo related while also keeping you updated on the latest travel news! Inquiries: [email protected]

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With the crisp seasonal air and eerie scenery provided by fall, New York is one of the best places for anyone to experience Halloween. Most areas in our state will be featuring some kind of local attraction that will get you excited for the upcoming holiday, but there are some destinations in New York that are simply more terrifying than others. Getting you in the spine-tingling spirit that you should be in during this time of year, here are a list of towns that will please you to your core if you’re looking to dive into an evening full of all things frightening and ghostly.

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Which town is your favorite to visit during the month of October? To enjoy other seasonal attractions that will have you on the edge of your seat, read about how There’s A Terrifying Haunted Cave In New York And It’s Not For The Faint Of Heart!

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5 Places to Visit for Pride in New York

Check out the new Stonewall visitors’ center, bask on a queer-friendly beach, see works by a pioneering lesbian photographer and revel in L.G.B.T.Q. history in every borough.

The Manhattan skyline is lit up in rainbow colors for Pride Month. But in all five boroughs, visitors and locals alike can enjoy L.G.B.T.Q.-linked attractions, many of them free. Credit... Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times

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By Ainara Tiefenthäler

• June 17, 2024

For decades, visitors flocking to New York for Pride every June found plenty of packed bars and jubilant parties but no easy way to engage with the city’s rich L.G.B.T.Q. history.

Even Sheridan Square, the center of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising that catalyzed the gay liberation movement, had little to see for anyone interested in the queer past.

“The guest experience when they got there was a bar, a bench and a park,” said Ross Levi, a director and vice president at the New York State Division of Tourism . “That isn’t terribly helpful for somebody who comes during the day when the bar is closed. It’s not terribly helpful if you have kids that you want to bring and learn about the history of the area.”

That’s about to change with a new visitors’ center at Stonewall National Monument , in Greenwich Village, set to open on June 28, the 55th anniversary of the night in 1969 when a police raid set off several days of riots. The center will serve as a focal point of the eight-year-old, 7.7-acre monument , which includes Christopher Park and several surrounding streets.

The building that houses the new center sits next door to the current Stonewall Inn bar (which opened in the early 1990s). But back in the late 1960s, an earlier bar of the same name occupied both spaces, which were connected by an interior doorway. Not long after the riots , the original Stonewall Inn went out of business, and the connecting doorway was bricked up.

The storefront next to the current Stonewall Inn stood empty in 2022, when Diana Rodriguez, the chief executive of Pride Live , an L.G.B.T.Q. advocacy group, took over the space. Nail salon chairs from the previous tenant still lined the walls.

Ms. Rodriguez raised more than $3 million, much of it from corporate donors, to build the visitors’ center, which her organization will manage. The center will offer National Park Service rangers working at the monument a much-needed roof over their heads (they currently have to use local businesses’ restrooms) and give visitors of all ages a place to share in the monument’s history through a number of exhibits (free admission).

“My hope is that people come in, learn more about Stonewall,” Ms. Rodriguez said. “And then, at the end of their time here, that they feel compelled to take action.”

The new visitors’ center in Manhattan is just one site that offers a glimpse into New York City’s queer history. Here are four more, one in each other borough.

Staten Island

The Alice Austen House Museum

In 1994, the activist group Lesbian Avengers marched to a charming white cottage on Staten Island’s eastern waterfront chanting, “Alice was a lesbian, and a lesbian she’ll always be.” That house, originally built in 1690, once belonged to Alice Austen, a groundbreaking documentary photographer who captured a quickly changing New York City at the turn of the 20th century. It became a museum after her death in 1952.

What the Avengers were protesting was the institution’s unwillingness to acknowledge that Austen lived there for 30 years with her partner, Gertrude Tate, and used the property as a studio for the many pictures she took of the couple’s nontraditional friend group.

“I felt like it was incredibly important for the house to have a lesbian leading the interpretation,” said Victoria Munro, who took over the museum’s direction in 2017 and has been spearheading the effort to bring to light Austen’s contributions to L.G.B.T.Q. history.

Now, visitors ($5 suggested admission) can admire more than 7,000 of Austen’s works, including photos challenging norms of gender and sexuality, as well as rotating photo exhibitions, often by queer artists, and a garden celebrating the gender fluidity of plants . Lesbian Avengers are back, too: The photographer Saskia Scheffer ’s images of the 1994 protest are being exhibited on the house’s lawn for at least the rest of the summer.

The ‘People’s Beach’ at Jacob Riis Park

For decades, the People’s Beach , a slice of Jacob Riis Park on the Rockaway Peninsula, has been the spot where queer New Yorkers can shed layers and inhibitions without unwelcome stares, piling up so close to one another that it’s sometimes hard to see sand between the colorful towels and sunshades (free admission; $20 daily parking fee).

“It’s very warm, and it’s a real community,” said Timothy Leonard, the Northeast program manager for the advocacy group National Parks Conservation Association , who learned to ride his bike on the boardwalk at Riis and, later, as a teenager grappling with his gay identity, found a sense of belonging on the beach. “It’s just a place of celebration.”

In recent years, the beach, part of Gateway National Recreation Area, has been undergoing some major transformations.

The 1932 Jacob Riis Bathhouse, which was shuttered for decades, is scheduled to reopen next summer, after the completion of an ambitious $50 million development project . The exterior of the Art Deco building and interior tile work are being restored, and new amenities will include hotel rooms, a bar, a courtyard pool and lounge area, and a rooftop restaurant.

Severe erosion has closed some areas of the beach this summer, but that’s unlikely to dampen the queer-friendly spirit, even if the party has to shift down the sand.

Marsha P. Johnson State Park

Marsha P. Johnson, an activist and transgender icon who died in 1992, is not known to have spent time on the Williamsburg waterfront. Yet she made history there, when in 2020 the seven-acre East River State Park was renamed for her — the first New York state park to honor an openly L.G.B.T.Q. person.

“The renaming opened the door to reimagine the park,” said Leslie Wright, the state parks regional director for New York City. The park was remodeled not only to be more resilient against climate change, but also to honor Johnson’s legacy, with input from the local and L.G.B.T.Q. communities, Johnson’s family, and public art consultants.

The park’s entrance is now marked by a colorful ornamental gateway reminiscent of the flower crowns Johnson wore, along with the phrase “Pay it no mind” — her favorite retort, including to a judge who asked her what her middle initial stood for. Signs dedicated to transgender history and awareness line the pathways.

Aside from offering a stunning view of the Manhattan skyline Marsha P. Johnson State Park hosts the popular Brooklyn open-air food festival Smorgasburg (Saturdays) as well as a range of L.G.B.T.Q.-centric events for Pride Month.

Woodlawn Cemetery

Among the many prominent New Yorkers buried in the 400 acres of rolling hills at Woodlawn Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark, are those who contributed to L.G.B.T.Q. history, such as the poet Countee Cullen , a teacher of the openly gay writer James Baldwin ; Herman Melville , whose works like “Moby Dick” and “Billy Budd” are suffused with homoeroticism; and the suffragists Carrie Chapman Catt and Mary Garrett Hay , life partners for decades, who are buried side by side.

“It’s moving to know that there were people who lived these lives very bravely, heroically in the past,” said Ken Lustbader, a co-founder of the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project . “Without the support systems that exist today, but paving the way for the visibility and allies that we have today through their actions.”

Each year for Pride, his organization offers a trolley tour of the cemetery, highlighting the stories behind some of the burial sites and making them more visible by placing rainbow flags next to them.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Ainara Tiefenthäler is a video journalist with the Visual Investigations team. She was among the recipients of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for The Times's coverage of the vast civilian toll of U.S.-led airstrikes. More about Ainara Tiefenthäler

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Port Antonio, Jamaica:  The Grammy-nominated D.J. and music producer Diplo recommends spots in a city he loves  on Jamaica’s northeast coast. A dance party makes the cut.

New Mexico:  The Gila Wilderness, home to wolves, mountain lions and other wildlife, marks a century as a “land lab,”  where nature thrives as far as the eye can see.

Greece:  Is Serifos the perfect Greek island? A writer’s checklist included ferry service, great beaches and good local restaurants.

Brooklyn:  This 36-hour itinerary  skips the most touristy and overdeveloped areas, including Williamsburg and Dumbo, and requires no restaurant reservations or advance planning.

Costa Rica:  Travelers are signing up for phone-free tours to try to escape technology’s tether on daily life. But would it make for a better experience ?

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15 of the best things to do in New York City in 2024

Mar 23, 2024 • 9 min read

A trip to Central Park is a classic stop on any NYC itinerary © Marco Rubino / Shutterstock

Three life-changing words: New York City .

Millions are drawn to it; some never shake it. Monumental, artistic, cultural, commercial, cosmopolitan – the City That Never Sleeps is everything you've imagined. You'll never be bored here – the only problem is narrowing down what to do from the endless list of possibilities.

To help you get started, here's a list of my favorite inspirational highlights – all perfect experiences for your next trip. However, the big sights lure big crowds, so brace yourself. If you're after a calmer NYC experience, sights in the "outer borough" (beyond Manhattan) will generally be less crowded. 

Ticket costs can also be substantial, so consider purchasing a New York CityPASS , which offers good discounts on top attractions.

Where Locals Go: NYC locals share their favorite nearby vacation spots

1. Visit the iconic Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

The iconic copper-green  Statue of Liberty dominates a small island in New York Harbor, casting a protective shadow over neighboring Ellis Island , the site of a stirring Immigration Museum . Still symbolic today, these two landmarks served as an uplifting gateway through which over 12 million soon-to-be-Americans passed from 1892 to 1924.

Planning tip: Boats to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island leave from The Battery in Manhattan and Liberty State Park in New Jersey. The monuments are often visited on a combined ticket – book well ahead, especially if you hope to spend time in Liberty's pedestal or crown.

2. Soak up the views from the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings

The tallest building in the world when it opened in 1931, the 1454ft  Empire State Building remains a much-loved character on the NYC skyline, although somewhat controversially, street-level views of this New York City skyline icon are about to be obscured by a luxury condo apartment. Vistas from the outdoor, 360-degree view, 86th-floor deck and the indoor 102nd-floor observatory are breathtaking, though – particularly at sunset. Look northeast at the art deco Chrysler Building , also once the world's tallest before being dethroned by the Empire State.

Planning tip:  Buy tickets in advance and devote a few moments to the second-floor Story of an Icon museum.

3. Pay tribute to lost lives at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum

The National 9/11 Memorial is located where the World Trade Center Twin Towers once stood. It features sobering tributes to the lives lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, most poignantly two sunken pools with cascades of water pouring into the fallen towers' footprints. Adjacent to the memorial is a profoundly moving museum with remnants and reminders of the tragic day.

Planning tip:  The memorial is free; museum tickets are best bought online in advance.

4. Have family-friendly seaside fun at Coney Island

Jutting like a Brooklyn thumb out into New York Harbor's Lower Bay, Coney Island boasts a wide beach, a popular seaside boardwalk and a lively amusement park, all reachable by subway in about an hour from Midtown Manhattan. Popular attractions include the family-friendly New York Aquarium , Nathan's Famous hot dogs , Deno's Wonder Wheel and thrill-filled Luna Park , featuring the wooden Cyclone rollercoaster – a city and national historic landmark.

Planning tip:  Walk to nearby Brighton Beach for classic Russian and Ukrainian eats.

5. Tour the vast collections at NYC's major museums

The Met  is NYC's most visited museum for very good reasons. With 5000 years of art from all over the world, two million individual objects and 17 acres of exhibition space, it's massive, astounding and seemingly inexhaustible.

An inside tip – the Met's often bypassed uptown Cloisters were cobbled together from authentic sections of European medieval monasteries. Tickets cover three-day admission to both Met branches.

Directly across Central Park from the Met is another significant museum with a broad scope: the American Museum of Natural History , where your ticket grants you access to more than 50 exhibits and 34 million artifacts!

Art lovers will find modern masterpieces from Warhol, Pollock and more in the Museum of Modern Art ; book ahead to skip the line, particularly at weekends. Somewhat smaller and less crowded, though definitely still comprehensive, is the Brooklyn Museum .

Detour: For something much more contemporary and free of hordes, try Brooklyn's Bushwick Collective Street Art .

Use this guide to plan the ultimate museum tour of New York City

6. Hang out in Central Park

Hemmed in by buildings, Central Park serves up 843 acres of green space – meadows, groves, gardens and lakes, as well as restaurants, theaters, concert venues, fountains, skating rinks, ballfields, playgrounds and much more. Park Drive, although often crowded, is a favorite route for runners, skaters and cyclists.

Seeking some green space with fewer people? Brooklyn's Prospect Park , created by the same landscapers as Central Park, has all the same charm with far less throng.

Detour: For a leafy overview of Manhattan, consider cycling along sections of the 31-mile Manhattan Waterfront Greenway , especially the Hudson River Greenway segment.

Can't get enough of Central Park? Our local tells you where to find Central Park's best corners

7. Walk across Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn Bridge Park

Undoubtedly NYC's most beautiful river crossing, the 1596ft-long, stone-towered Brooklyn Bridge was one of the world's first steel suspension bridges when it opened in 1883. Today, a walk along its pedestrian passageway delivers delightful Manhattan and Brooklyn skyline views.

Brooklyn Bridge Park , the 1.3-mile, 85-acre green space on Brooklyn's East River shoreline, prolongs the pleasure (and the Manhattan views). Check out the waterfront, glass-enclosed Jane's Carousel and multiple revitalized pier-based leisure and activity areas.

Save these restaurants to your Brooklyn itinerary

8. Gaze upon the Manhattan skyline  

Manhattan's tumble of buildings is a mesmerizing spectacle, changing in natural and artificial light, particularly at dusk and night. Harbor cruises are a fantastic way to enjoy it, but there are also numerous land-based vantage points along the East River.

In Brooklyn, head for Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Heights Promenade, East River State Park in Williamsburg and Transmitter Park in Greenpoint. Over in Queens, go to Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City and Astoria Park.

Planning tip:  For a once-in-a-lifetime splurge and unbeatable views, take a helicopter tour over NYC; yes, it's pricey, but it's worth it.

9. See art and architecture on the High Line and at Hudson Yards 

The 1.5-mile-long High Line is one of New York's great surprises. This art-filled, community green space – featuring gardens, events, and amazing city outlooks – was crafted from an abandoned elevated railway. It can be packed on warm evenings when the unique modern architecture on all sides is illuminated.

The northern terminus of the High Line is at the Hudson Yards , Manhattan's newest luxury development, with gourmet restaurants, upscale shops and singular attractions like Vessel , a multilevel public landmark, and The Edge , the city's highest (101st-floor) open-air observatory.

10. Visit the landmark Rockefeller Center

Perhaps best known for its winter backdrop – a world-famous ice-skating rink and New York's giant ceremoniously-lit Christmas tree – the art deco Rockefeller Center is a busy, art-filled national historic landmark all year round.

Named for its entrepreneurial developer – John D Rockefeller Jr, America's first billionaire – it claims highlights such as the 70th-floor Top of the Rock observation deck, the Radio City Music Hall and NBC Studios Tours , as well as plenty of Midtown shopping and dining.

11. Be dazzled by the lights of Times Square and the Theater District

The neon lights really do shine bright on Broadway, especially in Times Square at the heart of the world's most celebrated theater district. Day and night, it provides billboarded sensory overload. In the area are dozens of marquee-fronted playhouses hosting box-office hits, alongside Madame Tussauds and National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey . Bryant Park, Midtown's small but activity-filled green oasis, and the lion-flanked entrance of the New York Public Library , a national historic landmark, are also nearby.

12. Ride the New York City Subway and Staten Island Ferry

The wheels never stop turning in NYC, aided by its sleepless subway , one of the world's biggest mass transit systems. Another iconic part of the New York transport network is the free, orange Staten Island Ferry , the cheapest way to grab pics of Lady Liberty.

For NYC urban transport history, the kid-friendly Transit Museum has climb-aboard subway cars from all eras. There's a museum annex and shop in Grand Central Terminal , a Midtown beaux-arts wonder with an unforgettably grand main concourse.

13. Support conservation at the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Gardens

Who'd have thought the US's biggest and oldest zoo is in NYC? The conservation-minded Bronx Zoo hosts 6000-plus animals in 265 acres of specially designed habitats. Adjacent to it is the New York Botanical Garden , a 250-acre, year-round nature showcase with dozens of indoor and outdoor gardens included in your ticket.

Planning tip: Smaller but impressive alternative zoos can be found at Central Park, Prospect Park and Flushing Meadows Corona Park (Queens). The 50-acre Brooklyn Botanic Garden is famous for its seasonally blossoming cherry trees.

14. Find art and entrepreneurs in Brooklyn

In a city that places a high premium on space, Brooklyn now claims three hip, rehabilitated industrial areas commandeered by entrepreneurs, artisanal makers, retailers, artists, start-ups and nonprofits. Industry City occupies six large warehouses on the Sunset Park waterfront.

Further south, 100-plus companies fill the vast and storied Brooklyn Army Terminal . And east of Downtown Brooklyn, the expansive, historic Brooklyn Navy Yard is a modern made-in-Brooklyn manufacturing hub.

15. Go to a game at a New York stadium

New Yorkers take outsize pride in their sports teams, so how better to absorb the city's energy than at a game? The Bronx's Yankee Stadium and Mets' Citi Field in Queens are grand open-air stadiums, while Manhattan's Madison Square Garden , home of Knicks and Liberty basketball and Rangers hockey, and Brooklyn's futuristic Barclays Center , where the Nets basketball and Islanders hockey teams play, are enclosed, so good for rainy days.

Planning tip:  If you'd prefer to see the Giants and Jets compete in the National Football League, their arenas are in nearby New Jersey .

And now for the hard part: should you go to a Mets or Yankees game? Two local experts weigh in

Keep planning your trip to NYC:

• Find out which NYC neighborhood fits your vibe
• Find the best time of year to visit
• Getting around NYC is fairly straightforward –  find out how in our full transportation guide
• Even better, read on for top tips to see New York on two wheels

This article was first published May 25, 2021 and updated Mar 23, 2024.

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Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights announces ‘A Quiet Place’-themed haunted house

• Universal Studios has revealed the first major haunted house for Halloween Horror Nights 2024: ‘A Quiet Place.’
• The house will be featured at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.
• Halloween Horror Nights officially run on select nights from Aug. 30 through Nov. 3 at Universal Orlando and from Sept. 5 through Nov. 3 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Shhh. Don’t make a sound.

Not if you want to make it through the first major haunted house revealed for Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights 2024: ‘ A Quiet Place .’

Set in the eerily silent world of Paramount Pictures’ ‘A Quiet Place’ and ‘A Quiet Place Part II,’ guests will have to keep their screams on the inside to evade sightless creatures that use sound to hunt their prey.

Unlike the location-specific, original storyline houses announced so far, this intellectual property house will be featured at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood . Other IP haunted houses will be announced over the summer.

What can we expect from ‘A Quiet Place’?

“Fans will relive the tension that will come to life in the iconic scenes from the first two films, including traveling through the farmhouse that serves as the Abbott family’s shelter and stepping into the root cellar where Evelyn Abbott escapes to give birth as one of the creatures closes in,” Universal said in a press release Thursday. “Guests must remember: if they hear you, they will hunt you.”

This will be the first Halloween Horror Nights house to incorporate American Sign Language “to capture the authenticity of the films” directed by John Krasinski.

“Mirroring the silence in the films, the haunted houses will embrace unique sound design, special effects and the adept performances of the scareactors to convey the ominous sense of dread depicted in the films,” Universal said.

This isn’t your average souvenir shop. Universal’s Tribute Stores are their own type of attraction.

How many HHN houses are there?

There will be 10 houses and five scare zones at Universal Orlando this year. Six other house themes have been revealed so far:

• Triplets of Terror
• Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America
• The Museum: Deadly Exhibit
• Major Sweets Candy Factory
• Goblin’s Feast
• Slaughter Sinema 2

There will be eight houses, “an onslaught of sinister scare zones” and the fan-favorite Terror Tram at Universal Studios Hollywood.

What are the dates for Halloween Horror Nights 2024?

Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights officially run on select nights from Aug. 30 through Nov. 3. However, this year, the Florida resort is holding its first-ever Premium Scream Night on Aug. 29. The limited capacity-event will offer early access, shorter wait times, a selection of all you-care-to-enjoy food and nonalcoholic drinks, a souvenir credential, and free self-parking.

Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights will run on select nights from Sept. 5 through Nov. 3.

How much are tickets to Halloween Horror Nights?

Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights tickets start at $82.99, up from last year’s starting price of $79.99. Tickets to Universal Orlando’s Premium Scream Night cost $350.

Universal Studios Hollywood’s HHN tickets start at $77, up from $74 last year.

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

Beyond The City: 14 Most Beautiful Places To Visit On Long Island

• Long Island offers a variety of beautiful places to visit, from stunning beaches like Sea Cliff Beach to historic landmarks like Montauk Point Lighthouse.
• Nature lovers will enjoy Cordwood Landing County Park and Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park for their hiking trails and botanical gardens.
• Don't miss out on the famous Hamptons and Fire Island, which offer both relaxation on serene beaches and a vibrant nightlife scene. Explore these iconic destinations on foot, bike, or golf cart.

New York is one of the most thrilling cities to visit in the United States. From its vibrant nightlife, diversity, art, music scene, historical monuments, breathtaking parks, and so much more - this city has an undeniable magnetic energy. However, New York has many different neighborhoods, districts, and islands that each offer a unique taste of all the state has to offer. Located in Southeastern New York State - Long Island is an island in the Atlantic Ocean home to some of the most iconic (and beautiful) places to visit.

Whether relaxing on its mesmerizing beaches, eating delicious food, attending one of its beloved festivals , or visiting beautiful Long Island towns that are worth a train ticket - this island will have anything but a dull moment. From picturesque ocean views to spectacular wineries, there is much to do and see on Long Island. Choosing what to add to one's itinerary may be challenging with all the options. Here are 14 of the most beautiful places to visit on Long Island.

UPDATE: 2023/09/14 21:23 EST BY JAIMEE TERESE

There Are More Beautiful Places To Visit On Long Island!

Only about an hour and a half away from The Big Apple, Long Island feels like a world away from New York City, thanks to its laid-back beach communities, stunning natural surroundings, and rich history. An underrated destination with a ton to offer, this list has been updated with four more scenic places on Long Island to be sure to visit.

Sea Cliff Beach

With some of the most beautiful places in New York , visiting one of Long Island's beaches will be one of the most breathtaking experiences. Sea Cliff Beach is a fantastic beach with gorgeous views of the bay. It is the perfect summer trip in New York for those looking to escape and relax on East Coast beaches. Its picturesque views make it the ideal place to go and soak in the sun after a long winter in the city.

• Address: 56 The Blvd, Sea Cliff, NY 11579, United States

Montauk Point Lighthouse

With many fun and unique things to do on Long Island , visiting the Montauk Point Lighthouse is a must-do when traveling on the island. This historic lighthouse was the first ever built in New York and offers impressive views and a taste of Long Island's history. Visitors can walk up towards the lighthouse to have fantastic views of the waters. Nearby restaurants and shops are also available for enjoyment.

• Address: 2000 Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954, United States

Related: Long Island's Most Beautiful Places Also Offer Some Unexpected History

Old Westbury Gardens

Take a trip to the Old Westbury Gardens for some of the most beautiful views on Long Island. The Old Westbury Gardens museum offers walks in the garden, inside the mansion, areas to picnic, a café in the woods, and so much more. It is a beautiful way to soak in Long Island's historical landmarks and immerse in the mansion's impressive architectural design. Visit the official Old Westbury Gardens website for ticketing and more details.

• Address: 71 Old Westbury Rd, Old Westbury, NY 11568, United States

North Fork Wineries

Long Island is known for having some of the best wine tastings in New York State. With some of the best North Fork Wineries on Long Island , it is the perfect way to spend a spring or summer day tasting delicious wine in beautiful spaces. With numerous wineries, there is a winery to visit for every taste bud. Take a sip of the delightful taste while enjoying the sun in mesmerizing scenery by taking a trip to one of the North Fork Wineries! Here are some of the most popular:

• Macari Vineyards : 150 Bergen Ave., Mattituck, NY
• Paumanok Vineyards : 1074 Main Rd., Aquebogue, NY
• Pindar Vineyards : 37645-NY, Peconic, NY

The Hamptons

The Hamptons are located in Eastern Long Island, known for their beautiful beaches and mansion neighborhoods. Famously known as a summer vacation destination for affluent residents and celebrities, it has become known as where people go to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Although known to be a string of expensive neighborhoods, there are various ways to plan and have an affordable Hamptons vacation . Enjoy its delicious restaurants and soak in the sun on a trip to the Hamptons!

Oheka Castle

Visit the Oheka Castle for amazing views of a historical castle on Long Island. It is known to be the inspiration behind the famous novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and is the perfect place to visit for fans of the book and movie. It is one of the most mesmerizing places on the island, with some of the most picturesque views. The architectural build of the castle is stunning, and mansion tours are available for guests. Visit the official Oheka Castle website for more details.

• Address: 135 W Gate Dr, Huntington, NY 11743, United States

Cordwood Landing County Park

Cordwood Landing County Park is beautiful along the Long Island Sound. A visit to Cordwood Landing County Park is the perfect trip for outdoor enthusiasts, with many hiking trails available to enjoy New York's stunning outdoors. The park offers various viewpoints and access to the beach. With mesmerizing views and a way to escape to nature, it makes for one of the most breathtaking locations on Long Island.

• Address: Cedar Dr, Miller Place, NY 11764, United States

Related: Eat Your Way Through New York, Part II: Long Island

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

Take a trip to the Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park to visit one of the most beautiful spaces on Long Island. From beautiful botanical gardens and greenhouses, it makes one of the most awe-inspiring destinations on the island to immerse in nature. With blooming flowers and stunning architecture, it will be the trip of a lifetime.

• Address: 1395 Planting Fields Rd, Oyster Bay, NY 11771, United States

Cooper's Beach

Long Island is known for its mesmerizing beaches, and many residents in the city come to the island for a beach escape in the warmer months. Cooper's Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island. This long white sand beach offers a great space for fun beach activities with stunning ocean views. Visitors can hike the shoreline or relax in the sand to soak in some sun!

Related: These Are The 10 Best Hikes In Long Island, New York

Jones Beach State Park

Jones Beach State Park is a state park that offers breathtaking beaches to enjoy sunny day activities. Jones Beach has a boardwalk for enjoyment, and there are various restaurants for guests looking to dine and grab a bite along the beach. With amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean, picnicking areas, food stands, and more - it will make for the perfect beach trip to Long Island.

• Address: 1 Ocean Pkwy, Wantagh, NY 11793, United States

A wrecked boat named the 'Roger Venture' washed ashore in June 2019 and became a favorite summer hangout and selfie spot during its stint on the beach.

Lavender by the Bay

Another one of the most beautiful places to visit on Long Island is these whimsical fields of pastel flowers. Lavender by the Bay is a family-owned & operated lavender farm with two locations on Long Island. Soak in the beauty and fragrance of the stunning surroundings, and grab some goodies to take home - aside from fresh plants, there are high-quality lavender-derived aromatherapy products. Additionally, there is an entire culinary line available, with items such as lavender honey and lavender salt.

Both Lavender by the Bay locations are open to the public, but be sure to call ahead of time as the operating hours depend on staffing and weather. Entry to the fields during peak bloom requires advance tickets.

• Calverton location : 47 Manor Road, Calverton, NY 11933
• East Marion location : 7540 Main Road, East Marion, NY 11939

Sands Point Preserve

When considering scenic places on Long Island to visit, Sands Point Preserve is definitely one to add to the list. Set on the original Guggenheim Estate, this beautiful Long Island attraction is rich in historical significance too. The expansive grounds feature castle-like mansions, cultural & educational programs through the Sands Point Preserve Conservancy, seasonal special events, and more. Winding through its 216 acres is an impressive network of trails traversing both wooded and landscaped areas.

• Address : 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point, NY 11050

Sands Point Preserve is dog-friendly, so four-legged guests are welcome, too, as long as they are kept on a leash at all times.

Waterdrinker Family Farm & Gardens

When it comes to blooms, Long Island isn't only known for its lavender - another one of the best places to visit on Long Island are the sunflower fields at Waterdrinker Family Farm & Gardens. Now with two Long Island locations, the farms offer attractions such as barnyard animals, mini-golf, obstacle courses, pumpkin patches, and more in addition to the flowers. There is even a farm brewery; New York is home to some of the best craft breweries in the country , after all. A day at the farm is an excellent option to take in some Long Island beauty off of the beach.

• Admission : $20 per person, $2 per stem for pick-your-own sunflowers
• Locations : 633 Wading River Rd. Manorville, NY / 4560 Sound Ave. Riverhead, NY (Northfork farm)

Fire Island

Fire Island is unquestionably one of the most beautiful places on Long Island and one of the most iconic - dozens of TV shows and Hollywood productions have been filmed here. There are several quaint villages and hamlets to explore on this barrier island that offer serene, relaxing beaches and maritime forests by day yet a vibrant nightlife scene once the sun goes down.

Be sure to head to the famous lighthouse for some excellent photo ops on its rustic boardwalk surrounded by tall sea grass. Oh, there are no cars on Fire Island, so all exploring is done on foot, bike, or golf cart, and the island is only accessible via ferry.

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The most haunted places in NYC

Learn what’s lurking around town at the most haunted places in NYC—and then decide whether or not you want to go out.

In the city that never sleeps, there are haunted places in NYC whose inhabitants might keep you up at night or heading home early. From historic haunted houses to long-time taverns, the tenants at these venues might give off an eerie feeling or prompt a sudden urge to change your plans. Fact or fiction, these personas of paranormal activity will put you on high alert if you’re brave enough to pay a visit or take ghost tours . So keep your eyes wide open while reading about some of the spookiest places in NYC  and deciding what to do for Halloween .

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Halloween in NYC

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Haunted places in NYC

1.  Merchant’s House Museum

• Historic buildings and sites

Once owned by the Tredwell family, this historic Noho townhouse apparently seems to have one member still living here. It’s suspected that Gertrude Tredwell, the last Tredwell to occupy the house until her death in 1933, is keeping an eye on the home she grew up in. Since becoming one of the more under-the-radar museums three years later, strange sights, sounds and smells have been reported. Yet the staff doesn’t seem fazed, as ghost tours are offered here frequently.

2.  Morris-Jumel Mansion

• Washington Heights

Manhattan’s oldest remaining house has seen a lot of activity—from being George Washington’s temporary Revolutionary War HQ to the locations where Lin-Manuel Miranda’s busted out Hamilton rhymes. Then there’s one-time scandalous owner Eliza Bowen Jumel (who quickly married second hubby Aaron Burr), who might still be lurking around; similar stories involve sightings of a solider and a young girl. Find out more by going on one of the mansion’s paranormal investigation sessions.

3.  McCarren Park Pool

• Parks and gardens

Apparently, this public pool in Greenpoint is tied to folklore involving a small girl who may have drowned on-site. According to Paranormal NYC , this child has been seen roaming the area at night and screaming out for help. There are no public records of this alleged death, but EMF readings taken by this paranormal investigative group have found some sort of activity in water, such as a drop in temperature, and there have been photographs pointing out orbs being present. Whether or not it’s safe to be in the water is up for personal debate.

4.  The Ear Inn

• West Village

One of the city’s oldest drinking establishments, this Soho landmark pub is said to have a long-term patron who likes to make his presence known, so to speak. Back in the day, sailors and longshoremen flocked here to get a drink; one of them hasn’t gone home just yet. A cheeky ghost named Mickey is said to have had a tragic ending: He was a sailor who got hit by a car in front of the bar and died, but he mainly makes himself known by flirting with the ladies at the bar.

5.  One if by Land, Two if by Sea

• Restaurants

Aaron Burr is back again: This uber-romantic restaurant in the West Village was once the former VP’s carriage house. He and his daughter, Theodosia, are presumed to be among the spirits causing the waitstaff some havoc. Apparently, champagne glasses have been broken and hung paintings have fallen off walls. Theodosia also has said to been seen on the staircase, and apparently has been swiping the earrings off unsuspecting diners. There’s also a lady in black who may have died from a broken neck resulting from falling down the stairs.

6.  The former Astor Room

• price 2 of 4

Hollywood legends may still be thriving at this former commissary within Kaufman Astoria Studios. The Astoria café was a hangout for 1920s matinee idol Rudolph Valentino, who might still be congregating where he dined while filming movies at the former Paramount Studios, not far from this place. And apparently , Valentino has also been spotted around old haunts in Los Angeles, making him quite the quintessential East Coast–West Coast hopper.

7.  White Horse Tavern

• price 1 of 4

A wordsmith’s watering hole, this circa 1880 bar was quite the writer’s hangout in the early 1950s. Yet one regular took his status here too far. The story goes that poet Dylan Thomas literally drank himself to death by having one too many shots of whiskey and stumbled his way out onto the sidewalk (he later died at a hospital). It’s rumored that his ghost remains a patron at this establishment to this day, perhaps keeping tabs on his favorite table.

8.  Landmark Tavern

• Hell's Kitchen

This waterfront Irish saloon dating back to 1868 has seen dockworkers and seamen come and go over time; it also had one of its floors operating as a Prohibition speakeasy. However, it’s apparent that there are some stragglers still lurking around. One of them is said to be the ghost of a Confederate Civil War veteran who was severely stabbed in a fight and crept up to the tavern’s second floor. (Supposedly he died in a bathtub.) Another wanderer is a young Irish girl who was said to have died from cholera or typhoid fever.

9.  The Octagon on Roosevelt Island

• Public spaces
• Roosevelt Island

Before being rebuilt as upscale high-rise, this rotunda has a spooky past as part of the New York City Lunatic Asylum from 1841 through 1894. The asylum was the subject of journalist Nellie Bly’s expose, Ten Days in a Mad-House , uncovered the mistreatment of its patients. While the presence of ghosts is up for debate, a New York Daily News article had a comment from a resident noting that his dog would stare at a corner and start barking as though something were there.

10.  House of Death

This Greenwich Village brownstone along West 10th Street has witnessed much sorrow, with reportedly many mysterious tenant deaths occurring here. According to Ephemeral New York , psychic Jan Bryant Bartell wrote about seeing former resident Mark Twain in her living room one night in her book, Spindrift: Spray from a Psychic Sea . Twain told her that his name was Clemens and that he had “a problem here I gotta settle,” and then he disappeared.

11.  Algonquin Hotel

• Chain hotels
• Midtown West
• price 3 of 4

While the management officially says no, it’s quite possible that the members of the Vicious Circle—who once met regularly for lunch at this hotel—have made their presence literally known. A Travel & Leisure article noted that during a major renovation, unexplained noises happened and a photograph of writer Dorothy Parker, a member of this inner cultural circle, fell off the wall. Maybe Dorothy misses hanging out with her hotel homies?

12.  New Amsterdam Theatre

• price 4 of 4

While Aladdin has been gracing the main stage, this playhouse has another active performer within its wings: a onetime Ziegfeld Follies chorus girl named Olive Thomas. According to Playbill , Olive committed suicide in 1920 but has been making her theatrical presence known so much that her pictures were hung up at every entrance so that the cast and crew would greet her on their way in and out. Hopefully, she remains pleased by this kind gesture.

13.  85 West 3rd Street

In 1845 and ’46, this location (now an NYU building) was the home of Edgar Allan Poe, who penned parts of his opus “The Raven” there. Only a single banister apparently remains from the original layout, and some have reported spotting Poe near it.

14.  Billop Conference House

In the late 1700s, British loyalist Christopher Billop, then the owner of this 1680 stone homestead, allegedly killed a female servant suspected of spying for the Patriots. Both victim and murderer are said to haunt the premises, along with the apparitions of patrolling redcoats.

15.  The Dakota

It's one of the most famous apartment buildings in New York City—and possibly one of the most haunted. Residents have reported seeing the ghost of a young girl gallivanting around the hallways, while John Lennon claimed to have seen a figure he called the “Crying Lady Ghost” wandering through the building. And Lennon himself may still be floating around; Yoko Ono says she saw his spirit sitting at his piano, saying, “Don't be afraid. I am still with you.”

16.  Washington Square Park

• Greenwich Village

17.  St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery

• Religious buildings and sites
• East Village

Locals claim this place of worship is a hotbed for ghosts, including that of Peter Stuyvesant, whose remains are buried in the churchyard. (He probably wants to make sure you haven’t forgotten about him since your second-grade unit on New Amsterdam ended.)

18.  Hotel Chelsea

This artists’ hangout is well-known for providing lodging to rock stars and cultural celebrities over the years. And according to believers, a few residents (like Sid Vicious’s girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, who was found stabbed in the couple’s bathroom, and Dylan Thomas, who died at nearby St. Vincent’s Hospital) may have never checked out.

19.  Manhattan Murder Well

In 1799, the slain body of Gulielma Elmore Sands was discovered in a well just north of Spring Street. (Her suitor, Levi Weeks, was suspected of the crime but acquitted.) Rumor has it that the well remains intact in the basement of this downtown building, the only remnant of the grisly act—other than, perhaps, Sands’s ghost.

20.  Hell Gate Bridge

Is it safe to assume that any landmark dubbed “Hell Gate” is haunted? Not necessarily, but many urban legends and countless ghost stories about the bridge spanning the East River between Queens and Ward’s Island have certainly scared the bejesus out of New Yorkers for many years. According to Urban Ghosts , a grotesque ghost train allegedly crosses the bridge at night. And some have spotted a demonic train holding the souls of folks who lost their lives in the water below. Too spooky for us!

21.  Belasco Theatre

This midtown landmark is not only notable for the talent it draws, but for the ghosts that never leave ( gulp ). Allegedly, owner David Belasco once lived in an apartment above the theatre with his right-hand lady (a.k.a. the Blue Lady). Belasco passed away in 1931, but his spirit (including the Blue Lady’s) still remains. Both can be seen onstage during performances, sitting in the audience and traveling in the elevator.

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