Best Free Halloween Events for Kids in Manhattan
Check out this list of the best FREE Halloween Events for Kids & Families! Dress up in your Halloween costumes and have tons of fun at these parades, pumpkin paintings, live music, magic shows and so much more. I love NY!
You might want to check out the best Manhattan blocks for trick-or-treating with kids & best Halloween decor blocks. Read more here.
All the Halloween Events for Kids listed below are FREE! So cool!
More info about the popular NYC Village Halloween Parade here.
Free Halloween Events in Manhattan
Kids Rock Fall Fest
ROCKEFELLER CENTER – MIDTOWN
When: Oct. 20, 2018 | 10am to 1pm.
Where: 30 Rockefeller Plaza on 5th Ave between 49th & 50th Sts.
Free autumnal festivities. A variety of seasonal activities including face painting, photo booth, slime, leaf rubbing and a DJ dance party, will all take place throughout the iconic Rockefeller Plaza. All activities are free and open to the public.
Hudson River Park Fall Fest
TRIBECA
When: Oct. 21, 2018 | 11am to 4pm.
Where: Pier 25 in Tribeca. N Moore St & Hudson River. Website.
Free entrance even though some activities may have a small fee. Enjoy a full day of fall with your family.
- Magic with Kid Ace
- Face painting
- Big City Fishing
- Pumpkin art
- Story Pirates
- Dog adoption tent
- Carnival rides, cotton candy, and more!
Kids Pumpkin Painting | Washington Square Park
GREENWICH VILLAGE
When: Oct. 24, 2018 | 4 to 6pm.
Where: Washington Sq. Park | NW Corner.
Bring the kids to the Park for a fun afternoon of pumpkin painting! Materials will be provided!
RSVP is required to guarantee a Pumpkin.
Gracie Mansion Halloween | Bill de Blasio’s House
UPPER EAST SIDE
When:
- Friday, Oct. 26: 5pm to 7pm.
- Saturday, Oct. 27 | 2pm to 3pm.
- Sunday, Oct. 28: 12pm to 3pm.
Where: E 88th St & East End Ave.
Tickets: FREE but you need to claim your tickets here. Do it NOW because they’ll be gone fast!
Mayor Bill de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray invite you to the annual Gracie Mansion Halloween. Cool opportunity to experience the historic Gracie Mansion home and “haunted”, all decorated with a Halloween theme.
This event is open to NYC residents as determined by zip code. One of the most popular FREE Halloween Events for Kids in NY!
Activities include face painting, story-telling, a magic show and an art activity.
Halloween Bash at Brookfield Place
BATTERY PARK
When: Oct. 27, 2018 | 12 to 3pm.
Where: Brookfield Place. Vesey or Liberty St. & Hudson River. More info.
A cool family-friendly event to celebrate the Halloween season in NYC!
Dance
With the awarding-winning Brooklyn band The Pop-Ups.
The Ghosts at Brookfield
Explore the inner workings of three ghosts at Brookfield Place, featuring alternative methods of flight that help keep them afloat.
Costume Catwalk
With your favorite emcees, Tracy and Mason!
Trick-or-Treat
At designated locations throughout Brookfield Place!
Lego Photo-Op
Take a picture with a large original LEGO sculpture.
Movie Screenings @ Hudson Eats
Enjoy Monsters University and Pooh’s Heffalump.
Halloween Spook-tacular with Mad Science, Juggler Michael Karas, Performances, Temporary Tattoos & So Much More!!!
Trick or Treat at the Terminal
GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL – MIDTOWN
When: Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 | 11am to 2pm.
Where: Grand Central at Vanderbilt Hall on 89 E 42nd St.
Families are invited for free on a safe, easy, and indoor setting to trick or treat this year. Participating Grand Central shops and restaurants will be giving away candy and other exciting surprises to kids in costume during the event.
- Free GoGo squeeZ applesauce pouch giveaways for kids to enjoy.
- Free trick-or-treat totes at check-in.
- A pumpkin patch for little goons and goblins to pick from and decorate a pumpkin to take home.
- Face painting.
- A Halloween photo booth.
- Raffle tote bag giveaways with gifts from participating shops.
While supplies last!
Children’s Halloween Festival | Bleecker Playground
WEST VILLAGE
When: Oct. 28, 2018 | 10am to 3pm.
Where: Bleecker Playground at Bleecker & Bank Sts.
The parade starts at 10am! More info. Bringing all the kids from the neighborhood to the parade with very creative and great costumes!
Halloween Parade and Party | Washington Market Park
TRIBECA
When: Oct. 28, 2018 | 1 to 3pm.
Where: Chambers & Greenwich Sts.
Tribeca annual Halloween tradition brings the entire neighborhood together for a parade down Greenwich Street, culminating at the huge park party with games and music!
Halloween Parade & Pumpkin Flotilla
CENTRAL PARK NORTH
When: Oct. 28, 2018 | 4 to 7pm.
Where: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center. 110th St. between 5th Ave. & Lenox.
Enjoy pumpkin carving, Halloween crafts, spooky stories, a costume parade, and the awesome Pumpkin Flotilla, which sets sail across the Harlem Meer at twilight.
Pumpkin Flotilla
Bring a pumpkin of about 8 pounds (size of a soccer ball, not smaller and not bigger). All pumpkins must come with tops and be gutted and carved at home. Space in the flotilla is limited to 50 pumpkins and is first come, first served. Drop-off area near the Dana Discovery Center between 4:00 pm and 5:45 pm. Pumpkins in the flotilla will not be returned.
Be aware: artificial decorations, such as paint, glitter, marker, food dye, paper, plastic, light bulbs, candles, or floats will not be accepted for the flotilla.
| 4:00 pm – 5:45 pm | Pumpkin Drop Off* Pumpkin Carving by Hugh McMahon Halloween Crafts Spooky Stories |
| 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Halloween Costume Parade |
| 6:30 pm | Pumpkin Flotilla Launch |
More info here.
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) at St. Mark’s Church
EAST VILLAGE
When: Oct. 28 to Oct. 30, 2018 | 12 to 6pm.
Where: East Yard of St. Mark’s in-the-Bowery. 10th St & 2nd Ave.
Art, live music, Mexican folk art market, Mexican food. View schedule here.
Halloween Parade Party for Kids
BRYANT PARK – MIDTOWN/TIMES SQ. AREA
When: Oct. 31, 2018 | 4 to 7pm.
Where: Bryant Park on 5th Ave. between 40th & 42d Sts.
Annual Halloween party with magic tricks, face painting, pumpkin decorating, arts and crafts, and a monster mash! Pick up a free trick-or-treat bag courtesy of Bank of America and visit select Holiday Shops for treats.
Halloween Parade Party for Kids | Washington Square Park
GREENWICH VILLAGE
When: Oct. 31, 2018 | 3 to 6pm.
Where: Washington Square Park, near the arch.
Known as the only Halloween Parade for Kids in Manhattan with marching bands. Hosted by Community Board 2 and NYU.
Treats, live entertainment, face painting, and rides! You can then head to the big parade on 6th Ave.
Hippo Playground Halloween | Riverside Park
UPPER WEST SIDE
When: Oct. 31, 2018 | 3:30 to 5:30pm.
Where: Soldiers’ & Sailors Monument at Riverside Drive & West 89th Street.
Grab your costumes out of the closet and join the Hippo Playground Project for some Halloween fun. Follow the bagpipers to the Hippo Playground, where you can join us for some free cider and donuts. Annual parade & concert for the family!
Paid Halloween Events for Kids
Boo at the Zoo
BRONX ZOO
When: Weekends from Sep. 29 to Oct. 28, 2018.
Annual Bronx Zoo tradition. Enjoy yearly favorites, like a spooky hayride, pumpkin carvings, magic shows, crafts & more. Come dressed in your Halloween best and show it off in the costume parade.
Halloween Celebration at American Museum of Natural History
Upper West Side
When: Oct. 27. 2018 | 2 to 6pm.
Where: Central Park West & 79th St.
Tickets: $16 per person. $13 for museum members. More info.
Curious George®, Clifford the Big Red Dog®, Franny K. Stein, Little Critters®, and Miffy are among the characters who will greet costumed children as they arrive at the American Museum of Natural History to celebrate Halloween.
You’ll find the “mysterious” universe for trick-or-treating, arts and crafts and live performances such as:
- David Grover and Grover’s Gang
- The Magic of Robert Austin
- BIG NAZO Intergalactic Creature Band
- FunikiJam’s Baby Likes to Rock!
- Gazillion Bubble Show Appearances
- Louie Miranda & His Band
- Big Apple Circus
The Met Pajama Party
Upper East Side
When: Oct. 29. 2018 | 4:30 to 6:30pm.
Where: The MET Fifth Ave on Fifth Avenue & E 82nd St.. Gallery 131 (The Temple of Dendur in the Sackler Wing).
Tickets: Adults $70, Child $55. More info.
An evening of family fun and games with art activities, live entertainment, and a Halloween-inspired breakfast-for-dinner menu in the Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing.
Don’t forget to wear your Halloween costume or pajamas!
LINKS OF INTEREST:
Best Places to go Trick-or-Treating in Manhattan.
NYC Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village.
When Are Kids Museums Free in NYC.
Happy Halloween! Enjoy all the Free Halloween Events for Kids in the City!
@NewYorkerTips
