New York City in October once again promises to be the global epicenter of Halloween! The 52nd annual Village Halloween Parade will take place on Friday 31 October 2025 at 7pm, but the festivities will start well before then to offer a full month of delicious terror and autumn magic.
Must-see family events
Boo at the zoo at the Bronx Zoo
The ultimate family Halloween tradition continues in 2025! The Bronx Zoo is organizing its famous Boo at the Zoo, with compulsory tickets booked in advance. This magical event transforms the zoo into a Halloween world with a host of activities suitable for all ages.
On the programme: a treasure hunt maze to discover ‘scary’ animals and debunk legends, free face painting for children aged 3 and over at the Butterfly Patio Pad, and special programmes like Mythical Monsters where you’ll meet crawling animals, and Sensory Sensitive Spooktacular Mornings in the Butterfly Garden.
Must-see highlights: costume parades with stilt-walkers and Halloween-themed puppets, pumpkin-carving demonstrations, a magic and mentalism show, and the missing animals graveyard. Parades take place at Astor Court at 12 noon, 1pm and 2pm.
Price: included in general admission to the Bronx Zoo (adults 13: $38.20, children 3-12: $28.20, free for children aged 2 and under).
How to get there: metro line 6 to Pelham Parkway, then bus Bx9 or Bx19.
More information: https: //bronxzoo.com/boo-at-the-zoo
Halloween on the Harlem Meer in Central Park
A unique family celebration that continues to fascinate! This event features the famous pumpkin flotilla on the Harlem Meer, considered to be the largest flotilla of jack-o’-lanterns in the world. Families can drop off their carved pumpkins, which will then float away in a magical light show.
Admission: free.
How to get there: metro lines 2 and 3 to 110th Street-Central Park North, or lines B and C to 103rd Street. Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, 110th Street between Lenox Avenue and Fifth Avenue.
Cult shows and legendary screenings
Halloween Extravaganza at the cathedral
The iconic Halloween event on the Upper West Side! The Cathedral of St. John the Divine presents its beloved annual Halloween celebration with the screening of a black-and-white silent film accompanied by live organ, followed by the appearance of the Mettawee River Theater Company’s ghouls and goblins.
This decades-old tradition transforms the majestic Gothic cathedral into a horror theatre with candles, smoke, and people in elaborate and horrifying costumes parading down the central aisle. If you’ve never seen it, it’s really, really cool according to visitors!
Price: around $40 per person.
How to get there: metro lines 1, B, C to 110th Street-Cathedral Parkway.
The Crypt Crawls traditionally accompany the event, guiding visitors into the rarely-seen depths of the Gothic building to hear the stories of the buried and learn about the origins of Halloween as a Celtic celebration of the New Year.
Price: separate tickets (price to be confirmed).
Special events in the neighbourhoods
The 40th South Bronx Halloween Parade will take place with a special theme and prizes for the best costumes in four age groups. The Photographic Costumed Pet Parade celebrates its 34th year in 2025, confirming the well-established tradition of costumed pet parades.
Events include pumpkin patches on Governors Island, arts and crafts, vendors, food booths and live music, creating a festive atmosphere on the island in the middle of New York Harbor.
Greenwich Village: the beating heart of Halloween
The Village Halloween Parade 2025
Every 31 October, Greenwich Village is transformed into an open-air theatre for the world’s biggest Halloween parade! The 52nd annual Village Halloween Parade will take place on Friday 31 October 2025 at 7pm, come rain or shine, marching up 6th Avenue from Canal Street to 15th Street.
Over 50,000 participants parade through the cobbled streets of Greenwich Village in hellish and creative costumes, accompanied by giant puppets, live performances and street entertainment. Everyone is invited to watch, and anyone in costume can join the parade without registering in advance!
Price: free of charge.
How to get there: metro lines A, C, E, B, D, F, M to West 4th Street-Washington Square, or lines 4, 5, 6 to 14th Street-Union Square. The parade follows 6th Avenue from Canal Street to 15th Street.
The unique atmosphere of Greenwich Village
The historic streets of Greenwich Village with their Victorian architecture and brownstones create the perfect Halloween atmosphere. Bleecker Street, MacDougal Street and Christopher Street are decked out in spectacular decorations throughout October.
The area becomes a maze of impromptu haunted houses, themed bars and specialist Halloween shops. The creative energy of the Village attracts New Yorkers and visitors from all over the world to celebrate the holiday in its most authentic setting.
Haunted tours of Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village is notoriously one of the most haunted neighbourhoods in New York! Guided paranormal tours explore Manhattan’s urban legends and spooky history, letting you walk in the footsteps of ghosts from the past as you discover the terrifying history of this iconic neighbourhood.
Trick-or-Streets and community events
Community initiatives are multiplying this year with events in all five boroughs. NYC parks continue to offer rich programming with dog costume contests, pumpkin decorating, horror movie screenings and haunted tours.
Traditional activities renewed
Pumpkin Picking and local farms
For one of NYC’s most traditional Halloween activities, head to Decker Farm in Historic Richmond Town, Staten Island. Every year, Decker Farm does Halloween right with lots of family-friendly activities. On weekends in October, the farm offers hayrides, a corn maze, arts and crafts, face painting and pumpkin picking.
Halloween in New York promises to be an extraordinary celebration, combining age-old traditions with spectacular innovations. From Boo at the Zoo to haunted cruises, from cathedral screenings to a completely reimagined Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, the Big Apple continues to set the global standard for this legendary celebration. Get your costumes ready and book your tickets now– Halloween in New York will be truly unforgettable!
All about Halloween in New York
Halloween in New York is celebrated throughout October, with a peak of activity during the last week. Events begin at the end of September and continue until 2 November. The best time to enjoy the atmosphere is between 25 and 31 October.
Absolutely! Halloween is one of the biggest celebrations of the year in New York. The city organises hundreds of events, transforms its neighbourhoods into spooky decorations, and welcomes over a million participants for the Village Halloween Parade alone. It’s a true New York cultural institution.
Although it’s not compulsory, wearing a costume is highly recommended! You’ll blend in better with the atmosphere and be able to take part in certain events that are exclusive to people in costume (such as the Village Halloween Parade). Many bars and restaurants even offer discounts to costumed customers.
Absolutely! Many events are specially designed for families:
- Boo at the Zoo (Bronx Zoo)
- Halloween on the Harlem Meer (Central Park)
- Pumpkin picking on Staten Island
- Events in city parks Most daytime events are child-friendly.
The parade is open to all ages, but the scary costumes and crowds can be daunting for very young children (under 5). Position yourself at the start of the parade (7pm) for a calmer atmosphere.
It’s free and easy! All you have to do is :
- Wear a costume (compulsory to take part)
- Show up between 6.30pm and 7pm on 6th Avenue between Canal and Spring Street
- Follow the organisers’ instructions
- No registration necessary, but arrive early for a good position
