Halloween Fun in New York City

Unbeknownst to some, New York is a colorful and vibrant place to spend Halloween, with many city attractions hosting family events.

First, you have to find the right costume because  in New York City Halloween is ALL about costume parties! New York Costumes (104 Fourth Ave at 11th St) has a huge selection available including wigs, make-up, accessories, and decorations – even pet costumes, more on that later… Ricky’s NYC takes Halloween very seriously, with a year-round costume shop in Tribeca and seventeen temporary stores in Manhattan for the Halloween season. Or try Party City (38 West, 14th St between 5th and 6th Aves) for affordable costumes and all Halloween supplies from decorations to trick-or-treat goodies.

All dressed up, now where do you go? New York City’s Village Halloween Parade is the country’s largest public Halloween celebration and has been a New York institution for 36 years. It’s crazy, crowded, and chaotic and perhaps best suited for families with older children, or young families who don’t mind a crowd. More than 2 million spectators line the streets of downtown Manhattan to watch the march of 45,000 costumed participants along with marching bands, dancers, artists, giant puppets and floats. Anybody in costume is welcome to join the parade, which marches from Spring St to 21st St along 6th Ave, starting at 7pm on October 31st. Spectators are advised to line up on 6th Ave between Spring and 21st St to watch the fun, and get there early for a good spot before the streets intersecting the route are closed off at 5pm.

For little ones, the Greenwich Village Children’s Halloween Parade is a tamed version of the main parade, where costumed children aged 3-12 and parents/guardians march around Washington Square Park. After the parade, treats, special performances, entertainment, and rides take place at LaGuardia Place between Washington Square South and West 3rd St until 4pm. The parade and all activities are completely free and open to the public, beginning at Washington Square North, near the Arch at 1pm, October 31st.

On October 30th, join NY City Mama as she co-hosts Scholastic’s Halloween Extravaganza (at the Scholastic Store Greenhouse on 557 Broadway) from 6-8pm. Tickets are $15 and you receive a $5 coupon to use in the store. Come in costume and meet Clifford the Big Read Dog, Geronimo Stilton, and Mrs. Frizzle! This is going to be an wonderful event, and I hope you will attend if in the NYC area.

If you can’t get enough of Clifford, make sure to check him out between 2-5pm on October 31st at the American Museum of Natural History (Central Park W. at 79th St) is hosting ‘The Fifteenth Annual Halloween Celebration’ with more than thirty of the museum’s halls open for trick-or-treating, with characters like Clifford the Big Red Dog and Curious George to entertain costumed youngsters. If you want to start celebrations earlier then that then check out the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens on October 24th the whole family can enjoy ‘Ghouls and Gourds’ at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Under-12s are free at this event which includes a costume parade, crafts, music and many other Halloween-themed activities.

The ‘Central Park Pumpkin Festival’ runs from 12pm to 5pm, October 30th admission is free – enter at 72nd St. Activities include a haunted house, scarecrow competition, a pumpkin patch with free pumpkins for kids and hay rides. On weekends throughout October, Bronx Zoo hosts ‘Boo at the Zoo’, now a New York City Halloween tradition. The variety of activities includes puppet shows, magic shows, and visits to the bats and other creepy zoo creatures, as well as the ‘Haunted Safari Adventure’, a unique 3D experience.

And finally, as hinted at earlier, something for the smallest family members to get dressed up for… Every Halloween, the dogs of New York strut their stuff at the nation’s largest Halloween parade for dogs in Tompkins Square Park. Hundreds of spectators turn out to admire dogs in creative and ridiculously adorable Halloween costumes. Expect doggie pirates, princesses, fire hydrants, bumble bees, Chinese food takeout containers, and many more bizarre creations.

Disclosure: This article was provided by Netflights.com who offer flights to New York from the UK.

Tags: Holidays, nyc
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