Halloween in New York 2012: Events, activities, costume stores and more
Don't freak out—use our guide to Halloween in New York to find best Halloween events, costumes and things to do to celebrate October 31.
Mon Sep 24 2012
Many Halloween events and activities may be canceled because of Hurricane Sandy's aftermath. It's a good idea to call ahead before setting out.
Webster Hell Photograph: The Drunken Photographer
Halloween in New York can be scary: the costume judgments at the Halloween events, the booze-fueled blackouts, the overwhelming number of things to do in NYC this Halloween, working out the etiquette of at what stage of the party is it appropriate to stick things in a gaping eye hole—total nightmare. On the other hand, it's an excuse to blow off steam (see also: St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo, weekends), show off that body you've spent hours honing at the gym and gorge on candy in preparation for Thanksgiving face-stuffing. And it's one of the few times of year that New Yorkers shed their inhibitions and offer strangers a warm (borderline-inappropriate) embrace instead of the cold shoulder. So welcome the spirits with open arms, and check out the legion of things to do (if events were cadavers, Halloween would be a veritable plague pit), costume stores and more.
Halloween in New York 2012
Halloween events and things to do
PhantasmaGorey Grand Victorian Halloween Ball
- Price band: 3/4
- Critics choice
Shien Lee's Dances of Vice crew salute to the dark-tinged whimsy of Edward Gorey.
- The Riverside Church 490 Riverside Dr, between 120th and 122nd Sts
- Sat Oct 27 - Sun Oct 28
Carnival des Corbeaux
- Critics choice
After tonight's performance of the mindfuck known as Sleep No More, hang around for this sexy
- McKittrick Hotel 530 W 27th St, between Tenth and Eleventh Aves
- Sun Nov 3
The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black + Sphinx
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
Downtown shock-rock institution the Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black returns for a
- The Bowery Electric 327 Bowery, between 2nd and 3rd Sts
- Until Sun Mar 31
Oh You Pretty Things: The Phantom of the Rock Opera
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
Michael T, Benjamin Ickies, Shien Lee and Twig the Wonderkid present a Halloween spectacular
- Le Poisson Rouge 158 Bleecker St, at Thompson St
- Wed Nov 6
Haunted houses in New York
Blackout Haunted House
- Price band: 3/4
- Critics choice
There's no safety in numbers here: You have to go through with just a flashlight for company.
Then She Fell
- Rated as: 4/5
- Price band: 3/4
- Critics choice
Third Rail Project’s interactive interactive riff on Lewis Carroll’s Alice books is no Sleep No More rip off.
- Arts@Renaissance 2 Kingsland Ave, at Maspeth Ave, ground floor
- Sat May 25 - Tue Dec 31
Blood Manor
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
One of the biggest and most popular of New York's horror of haunted houses.
- Blood Manor 163 Varick St, at Charlton St
- Sun Nov 4 - Mon Nov 5
Killers: A Nightmare Haunted House
- Price band: 3/4
- Critics choice
Another of the heavy hitters that's attracted controversy with its focus on historical and contemporary serial killers.
- Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural Center 107 Suffolk St, between Delancey and Rivington Sts
- Sat Nov 9
Halloween in New York photos
More Halloween photos
More Halloween in New York coverage
![Alex Kahn, 44, and Sophia Michahelles, 36; artistic directors of Superior Concept Monsters, official puppeteers of the Village Halloween Parade; Redhook, NYKahn: "[Back in 2008], our procession finished, and moved on in silence---and then the crowd cheere](http://media.timeout.com/images/100219551/150/113/image.jpg)
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