25 FREE Halloween Events for Children in New York City

This city is literally packed with FREE Halloween activities. In fact there are so many great things to do on October 31st you may need a magic eight ball to decide where to go. Luckily your kids will be so hopped up on candy they will have the energy to take in several events in one day.

We've rounded up just the cream of the candy corn: 25 free Halloween events for kids in New York City that we're thrilled about. Keep reading to find out where and when you can see stilt-walkers, hop on hay rides, visit haunted houses, dance your way through the post trick-or-treat sugar comma and get the whole family dressed up, even the dog.

Socrates Sculpture Park Halloween Harvest Festival - Astoria, Queens
Saturday, October 17, 11am-2pm
All Ages
Celebrate Halloween and the Fall harvest in the theme of GlamRock. Make a costume with Socrates Sculpture Park artists; transform your face with face painting by Agostino Arts; enter your dog in the Canine Costume Contest or just watch the parade of creatively clad canines; enjoy a live concert with AudraRox; see a special performance of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by the Red Door Theatre Company; and try harvest foods from a local restaurant.

Marine Park Haunted Halloween Walk - Marine Park, Brooklyn
Saturday, October 17, 1pm-4pm
This annual haunted hike takes kids through the park where they'll find headless horsemen, zombies and other spooky sites.

Pumpkin Carving for Families - Central Park, Manhattan
Friday, October 23, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Ages 6 and up
They'll have all the tools and inspiration for carving jack-o-lanterns. First arrivals will even get free pumpkins, or bring your own.

Big Green Halloween - UWS, Manhattan
Saturday, October 24, 11am-5pm
All Ages
You'll have a spooktacular time at PS 166's "Big Green Halloween" with rides, a cake walk, costume contest, a very scary Haunted House, and tile, pumpkin and cupcake decorating. Plus there's be stiltwalkers, a magic show, a Mariachi band, a contortionist and more. While there, you can do eco-crafts, learn about composting, recycle old textiles and other green activities.

The Brownstone School's Halloween Fun Fair - UWS, Manhattan
Saturday, October 24, 11AM - 5PM.
All Ages
Train rides, life-size Candyland course, sand art, pumpkins, games, food and more! Outdoors at the P.S. 87 School Yard, 160 West 78th Street between Columbus Ave. and Amsterdam Avenue.

Central Park Pumpkin Festival - Central Park, Manhattan
Saturday, October 24, 12pm-5pm
All Ages
Activities include a scarecrow design competition, spooktacular haunted house, hay rides, free pumpkin patch and entertainment and live music at the bandshell including Big Apple Circus.

Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Sail - Central Park, Manhattan
Sunday, October 25, 3-6pm
All Ages
Enjoy spooky storytelling, pumpkin crafts, eerie music, a guest appearance by Frankenstein, plus march in a costume parade and bring your own Jack-o-Lantern for an enormous pumpkin flotilla; or just watch.

Halloween Crafts - Central Park, Manhattan
Thursday, October 29, 2-4pm
All Ages
Make Halloween-themed decorations, cards and other spooky crafts.

Ghostly Greenbelt Ghoul Fest - Staten Island
Friday, October 30, 3:30-6pm
All Ages
A night of excitement is waiting just for you! Enjoy Halloween crafts, games, pumpkin-picking, and autumn treats for the kids.

Spooks at Belvedere Castle - Central Park, Manhattan
Friday, October 30, 4-6pm
All Ages
What better place for a haunted house than a 19th century Gothic castle? All who make it through will enjoy free treats.

Halloween Spooky Story Time Yoga - Chelsea, Manhattan
Friday, October 30, 3pm
Ages: Up to 6
Combine creepy stories with fun Halloween-themed poses like Spider, Scaredy-Cat, Moon, Ghost, Wolf, and Goblins. Healthy goodies after class. Costumes encouraged as long as they don't inhibit movement.

Wonderween at Sony Wonder Technology Lab - Midtown, Manhattan
Saturday, October 31, 11am-4pm
All Ages
Catch a monstrous movie, have some hauntingly hands-on fun, and go home with gobs of ghoulish goodies! Screenings include the children’s features Arthur’s Scary Stories, Elmo Says Boo, and Dora The Explorer: Boo. We recommend calling Monday, October 27th to make a reservation to ensure entry.

Puppetry Arts Haunted Halloween Carnival - Park Slope, Brooklyn
Saturday, October 31, 11am-4pm
All Ages
First 200 kids get a Free Trick or Treat bag with $50 in prizes. Plus, costume contest, $1 games and activities, $2 haunted house, $3 bounce house.

Fort Greene Park Halloween Festival - Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Saturday, October 31, 12-3pm
All Ages
Features a cornucopia of free activities for children and their parents, including hayrides, face-painting, stilt-walkers, free pumpkins to decorate, a spooky cemetery, plus live entertainment – The event kicks off with a doggie costume contest and ends with a kids costume parade.

Turtle Bay Music School Halloween Open House - Midtown East, Manhattan
Saturday, October, 31, 3-6pm
All Ages
Families are invited to dress up in costumes and take part in“meet-the-instrument” trick-or-treating, pumpkin decorating and other crafts. RSVP recommended by calling (212) 753-8811 x17

Habana Outpost Halloween Party - Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Saturday, October, 31, 12-6pm
All Ages
Free candy, games, crafts, dance party, costume contest and more at this this neighborhood restaurant and family hang-out.

BAM!boo BAM Under the Sea - Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Saturday, October 31, 4-7pm
All Ages
Brooklyn's best trick-or-treaters come out for an evening of underwater activities and submarine adventures. From candy giveaways to costume contests and tons of great games, kids of all ages can enjoy the free festivities happening right in front of BAM.

Tricks and Treats at Le Carrousel in Bryant Park - Midtown, Manhattan
Saturday, October 31, 2-3pm
All Ages
Enjoy scary stories, games, crafts, and a magic show.

Moxie Spot Halloween Monster Mash - Cobble Hill, Brooklyn
Saturday, October 31, 6-9pm
All Ages
Stop by the Moxie Spot to decorate your trick or treat bag, then head back after Trick or Treating for their Monster Mash costume dance party.

Hudson River Park Halloween Kids Karnival - Greenwich Village, Manhattan
Saturday, October 31, 12-6pm
Ages 3-12
Hudson River Park has replaced their Pier of Fear this year with a more kid-friendly event. Pier 46 will become Halloween Central with face painting, mask decorating, wax hands, cotton candy, rides and more. The Striking Viking Story Pirates will also perform an improv show for the kids. Rides and some activities will require a $2 ticket.

Dia de los Muertos - UES, Manhattan
Saturday, October 31
All Ages
Celebrate Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), the Mexican version of Halloween. Learn the customs with bi-lingual educators, artist-led workshops, storytelling, music and performances.

Prospect Park Haunted Walk and Carnival - Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Saturday, October 31, 12-3pm
All Ages
Hike to Lookout Hill to find it haunted with witches, zombies, and other creepy characters then head to the Nethermead for a fun for all carnival with games and treats. Free, but suggested donation $1.

Thriller at the Battery - Fort Totten, Queens
Saturday, October 31, 6:30-8:30pm
All Ages
Oops, somebody let the ghosts and ghouls take over historic Fort Totten.

Scary Stories and Skeleton Cut-Outs - Lefferts Historic House, Prospect Park, Booklyn
Saturday, October 31 & Sunday, November 30, 1-4pm
All Ages
Listen to scary stories from Old Flatbush and make cut-out Halloween headbands.

Creepy Crawly Halloween - Audubon Center, Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Saturday, October 31 & Sunday, November 30, 12-5pm
All Ages
Get friendly with creepy crawly creatures like spiders and worms. Participate in fun crafts and experiments.

Not enough Halloween? Check our Events Calendar for loads more Halloween events.