Enchanted, Spectacular and Spooky, Oh My!

In NYC, Halloween is more than just a holiday, it’s a month-long celebration! From pumpkin carving and costume parades to spooky stories and creepy critter demonstrations, there’s a great mix of fun to be had this month leading up to All Hallows’ Eve. NYC’s biggest Halloween extravaganza is surely the 43rd annual Village Halloween Parade on October 31st at 7pm, but don’t wait until then to start celebrating! Here are some other fantastic events around Manhattan that guarantee visitors a frighteningly good time:

Scarecrows & Pumpkins at the New York Botanical Garden
Daily through October 30

The NYBG has several spectacular Halloween-themed events going on all month long:

• Pumpkins: Playful & Plentiful takes place in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, which is transformed into the ultimate Fall paradise with friendly scarecrows set amidst unique pumpkins and gourds. Children’s activities include a puppet playhouse, spooky tea parties in the Victorian playhouse, arts and crafts, and interactive creepy creature demonstrations.
• Creepy Creatures of Halloween is a series of live animal presentations where kids can meet creepy critters, including bats, and learn about the adaptations that have helped these cool animals survive over time. These programs will be presented by the NY Wild and the Organization for Bat Conservation, and will take place at the Clay Family Picnic Pavilions.
• Admire giant pumpkins (some weighing more than a ton!) brought in from all over the U.S. at the Giant Pumpkin Weekend & Meet the Growers event in the Children’s Adventure Garden. Visitors may attend a Q&A session with the growers to learn more about the fascinating growing process. The gourds will be on display for your perfect Halloween photo op through October 30!

Click here for dates, times and location details for each NYBG event.

Photo courtesy of @NYBotanicalGarden

Brookfield Place New York Halloween Party in Battery Park City
Saturday, October 29 from 12pm-3pm
Venture downtown to Battery Park City for an afternoon of Halloween-themed weird science at Brookfield Place. Kids will be mesmerized by the magic show by Mario the Magician, a Spooky Science Lab, and the Brain Sampler — an interactive drum station where you can create cool sounds, noises and beats on gummy brain drum pads. Click here for the full list of events. This event is free and there are activities for children of all ages.

Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Flotilla in Central Park
Sunday, October 30 from 3:30pm to 7:00pm at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (Inside Central Park at 110th St. between 5th & Lenox Aves)

Photo courtesy of @CentralParkNYC

Central Park will once again be getting into the Halloween spirit with live music, spooky stories, pumpkin carving demonstrations and a costume parade. And the festivities all lead up to the Central Park Conservancy’s signature Pumpkin Flotilla at twilight! The flotilla is the largest in New York and will showcase beautifully carved jack-o’-lanterns from all over. This spectacular event takes place along the Harlem Meer and will begin around 6:30pm. Click here for the full schedule of events. These Central Park festivities are free and fun for children of all ages.

Our concierges at the Hotel Elysee, Casablanca Hotel, Library Hotel, and Hotel Giraffe would love to help you plan your visit in NYC. Stop by the Front Desk for more ideas of things to do around NYC during your stay!