We’re lucky enough to have Halloween on a Saturday this year (yay!). Unfortunately, rain may be in the forecast (boo!). Fret not, little Frankensteins: We’ve got plenty of outdoor and indoor options so you can celebrate the holiday no matter what tricks Mother Nature may have in store.
If you’re looking to stay inside, check out the Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s Monster Mash Party Nights both this evening and tomorrow (only $10!). However, lots of completely free events abound: The Winter Garden at the World Financial Center transforms into a haunted house on Saturday, while Tribeca hot spot Moomah treats families to plenty of spooky fun. Looking for some fresh air? Prospect Park holds a big festival of creepy activities, or head to a participating zoo or aquarium for their ghastly gatherings throughout the weekend.
But what’s Halloween without a parade? There’s more than just the blowout in the Village; check out processions in Park Slope or Brooklyn Heights, among other ‘hoods. See all the haunted holiday happenings here.
Want more picks for the weekend? Saturday offers tons of Day of the Dead celebrations; the one at El Museo del Barrio sounds extra cool. And though it doesn’t exactly qualify as a Halloween event, the Chocolate Show promises a afternoon of tasty treats.
Sunday offerings include Symphony Space’s Super Duper Just Kidding Extravaganza, where Dan Zanes, Gustafer Yellowgold and others will rock out. Too busy cheering on the NYC Marathon runners? No problem: We’ve sussed out the best spots for watching the race throughout the city.
Phew. We’re tired just thinking about the number of great family activities happening in Gotham this holiday weekend. Is New York City the best place to celebrate Halloween, or what?
With the amount of 
new children’s stores popping up in New York City over the past few weeks, it feels like the recession is coming to an end! The latest: Brooklyn Junior in Clinton Hill. Artist and owner Nadia Georgiou—who has been selling her colorful children’s clothing online and at Brooklyn Flea—has finally opened a permanent space. Some of Georgiou’s most popular designs include brightly-colored kimonos and silkscreened T-shirts with images of fire hydrants and headphones.
Brooklyn Junior, 150 Clinton Ave at Myrtle Ave, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn (347-742-2623, brooklynjunior.com). Subway: G to Clinton–Washington Aves.
Sometimes procrastination pays off! If you haven’t yet bought your tyke a Halloween costume, head to Ricky’s Soho location (590 Broadway between Houston and Prices Sts) between noon and 2pm today for a chance to snag store gift cards courtesy of Jamba Juice. As part of the company’s “Feel Good Campaign,” Bananaman will be surprising 350 shoppers with $30 gift cards to Ricky’s as well as Jamba Bucks (which range from $1 off Jamba products to $10,000 in cash). Budget issue solved; fighting for the last Spider-man costume is another problem entirely.
What’s Halloween without a good old-fashioned spook-fest? The Cathedral of St. John the Divine provides just that tonight at its Halloween Extravaganza. First up is the “Procession of the Ghouls” during which costumed creatures of the night from the Mettawee River Theater Company play tricks on visitors. Afterward, the old-school black-and-white horror flick Nosferatu will be screened. Bring your little boos—and your bravery!
Although this Peanuts Halloween special first aired back in 1966, it’s popular enough to be shown in prime time in 2009. And why not? It’s still fun to giggle at Linus as he waits in vain for the Great Pumpkin (his version of Godot) to arrive, and to cringe along with Charlie Brown as he receives rocks instead of treats. The half-hour show is airing on ABC at 8pm this Tuesday, October 27 and Wednesday, October 28. If your kids are too busy to catch it (or already in bed), think about buying the box set of Peanuts specials, including A Charlie Brown Christmas and He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown. Deprive the family of these classics, and your kids very well may give you a lot of “good grief.”
Even though your lil’ boo isn’t big enough to trick-or-treat, that doesn’t mean you should skip all the Halloween fun. Head to Chelsea play space apple seeds today for a holiday celebration created specifically for tiny tots. Expect fewer tricks and more treats, plus a “song for seeds” concert to lull babes into midday slumber.
With Halloween just a week away, the frightful festivities are well underway. There are tons of spooky activities planned this weekend, and as long as the rain holds out (hey, it happened last Saturday), they should be a ton of fun. Although Saturday is shaping up to be wet, Sunday looks lovely. Make sure you check each event’s website, just in case the details change!
On Saturday, head to Central Park’s free Pumpkin Festival where you can get spooked in the haunted house, take a hayride and more. If you want your pup to get in on the outings, hit the Tompkins Square Dog Parade, where costumed canines reign supreme.
On Sunday, Queens’ Socrates Sculpture Park ihosts its Halloween Harvest Festival, rife with crafts, music (AudraRox!), face painting and other activities. If you’re a Manhattanite looking to stay local, check out P.S. 166’s Big Green Halloween fair on the Upper West Side, where kids can watch eye-popping tricks by Magician Marco and contortionist Jared Rydelek. We’ve also got a bunch of indoor options, including New York Sports Club’s Ghoulie Pool Party and the Halloween Bash at the Manhattan House. To see all the haunted happenings this weekend, click here.
Want to hold off on the creepfest until next weekend? Then peruse our non-Halloween events on Saturday and Sunday, like National Chemistry Day and Schoolhouse Rock Live! Junior at the New York Hall of Science.
Phew! We’re tired just thinking about all the fun that’s to be had over the next two days. Have a great weekend—we expect a full recap on Monday!
