Halloween Events Around New York

Started by aliciak | Be the first to contribute
updated 17 days ago

New York can be a scary place year-round--have you seen the line at Magnolia, the rats on the subway tracks and that homeless guy on the train that picks off all the cheese on his pizza and throws it on the floor? But things get a lot scarier around this time of year because it's almost Halloween! Haunted houses that aren't the fake-blood and gore of your childhood among other events. Let's take a ghoulish look, shall we?

Haunted Houses ooooooohh

I only went to a handful of haunted houses “on foot” when I was growing up, but they tended to border on, well, stupid. The fact that the one scheduled during my church bazaar in AUGUST occurred in my kindergarten room was a little off-putting. I probably went to more “haunted houses” that were amusement park rides, and those actually did scare me because of the sheer speed you’re moving at.

New York has the real deal walk-through kind and, while you’ll pay a pretty penny to see it, it’s not the lame elementary school room or gymnasium decorated with cobwebs. Dark corners, bloodied costumed peeps, tubs filled with unmentionable horror and chill-inducing surprises. Scared? You should be!

Csv Center Cultural Center

107 Suffolk St, New York, NY 10002

This is headquarters for the annual “Nightmare” haunted house, New York’s biggy. This year’s theme is “Bad dreams come true,” which reminds me of a conundrum of mine: what is the difference between a nightmare and a bad dream? Is there one?

Anyway, tickets range in price depending on if you want to skip to the head of the line ($60) or not ($30). Have American Express? That’ll shave $7 off of both, but beware, both require signing up for a specific time, so plan ahead!

Blood Manor

542 West 27th Street New York, NY 10001

Blood Manor is Nightmare’s contender, but having been to neither (I know, I’m lame), I can’t say which is scarier or more worth the mullah spent. What I do know is that there are “extreme experiences” to be had and there’s something called the Thunderdome.

Park Slope, Brooklyn's Annual Halloween Parade

I think I’ve done Halloween in Park Slope 3 out of my 5 years in New York. I nannied for kids in the neighborhood, and it’s the cutest parade of kids and all the businesses pass out candy. Such a down-home feel despite the yuppy-ness of the nabe. I love it. Also, there is a light up hand-puppet show on Garfield Place between 7th and 8th Avenues that is AMAZING. Under the radar…

Off The Horrific Beaten Path

Some of the best Halloween events in the city are a little off the beaten path. Not that they are hard to find, but in venues that you may not associate with Halloween right off the bat. You know, like, in a church. Or a gallery. Check out the local listings for your neighborhood, as there will often be parades and events not well-publicized outside the vicinity. And there always seem to be a plethora of parties going on that you could easily crash with a costume on. Who’s going to know who you are or aren’t?

Cathedral Church of St John the Divine

1047 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025

Hands down, my favorite Halloween activity in New York takes place in one of my favorite sites: the Cathedral Church of St John the Divine, the largest cathedral in the world! This massive (you think?) structure wowed me every time I came in on the greyhound bus from up north, but walking around inside was even more jaw-dropping.

Add to that the annual Ghouls and Goblins event, which includes eery organ music, a black and white film, and the parade of creepy ghouls and goblins (but creepy in a dark, almost romantic way). It makes my top 10 unforgettable moments/nights in the city and thus, I highly recommend it.

MF Gallery

463 West Broadway New York, NY 10012

Soho’s MF Gallery holds the Halloween Art show every year, so through November 2 (my birthday! and also Day of the Dead), get a load of some Halloween-themed illustrations and paintings. Following the Halloween show is the Toys show, a collection of spooky stuffed animals with a kick-off party on November 10.