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  1. Monster Mash at the Brooklyn Children's Museum

  2. Historic Richmond Town

  3. Queens County Farm Museum Haunted House

  4. Photograph: Bernardo Nunez
    Photograph: Bernardo Nunez

    Procession of the Ghouls

  5. Puppetry Arts Haunted Halloween Carnival

  6. Photograph: Julie Larsen Maher
    Photograph: Julie Larsen Maher

    Puma at the Queens Zoo

  7. Ascarium

  8. Prospect Park Halloween

  9. World Financial Center Screamin' Green Halloween

  10. Photograph: Jason Gardner
    Photograph: Jason Gardner

    Ghouls and Gourds

  11. Halloween Open House

  12. Oiche Shamhna

  13. Ripley's Believe It or Not

  14. Fall Fiesta

  15. Photograph: Fiora Watts
    Photograph: Fiora Watts

    Children's Carnival at Queens County Farm Museum

  16. Morningside Montessori's Fall Festival

  17. LES Pickle Day

  18. Photograph: Adam Hume
    Photograph: Adam Hume
  19. Central Park Pumpkin Sail

  20. Monster Mash at the Brooklyn Children's Museum

  21. Historic Richmond Town

  22. Queens County Farm Museum Haunted House

  23. Photograph: Bernardo Nunez
    Photograph: Bernardo Nunez

    Procession of the Ghouls

  24. Prospect Park Halloween

  25. Puppetry Arts Haunted Halloween Carnival

  26. Photograph: Julie Larsen Maher
    Photograph: Julie Larsen Maher

    Puma at the Queens Zoo

  27. Ascarium

  28. Photograph: Julie Larsen Maher
    Photograph: Julie Larsen Maher

    Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo

  29. World Financial Center Screamin' Green Halloween

  30. Photograph: Jason Gardner
    Photograph: Jason Gardner

    Ghouls and Gourds

  31. Oiche Shamhna

  32. Halloween Open House

  33. Ripley's Believe It or Not

  34. Fall Fiesta

  35. Photograph: Fiora Watts
    Photograph: Fiora Watts

    Children's Carnival at Queens County Farm Museum

  36. Morningside Montessori's Fall Festival

  37. LES Pickle Day

  38. Photograph: Adam Hume
    Photograph: Adam Hume
  39. Central Park Pumpkin Sail

Best kid-friendly Halloween events in NYC: October 22 to 28

Halloween events in NYC kick into high gear this week, with everything from ghoulish parades to a bewitching slumber party.

Written by
Lindsey Thomas
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Since the holiday falls on a weekday this year, your family can celebrate this weekend with tons of Halloween events in NYC. The high volume of happenings guarantees that there will be tricks and treats of all varieties, from the Central Park Pumpkin Sail and other classic city traditions to the slightly more off-beat activities (think turnip carving, a pickle party and upcycled disguise-making sessions).

Lumpy Bumpy Pumpkin
Shadow Box Theatre's annual production of this Ugly Duckling-esque musical gets kids hyped for Halloween while teaching lessons about individuality and self-confidence. Young audience members will root for the funny-looking pumpkin hero as they bop along to original guitar music and participate in a Halloween sing-along. Mon Oct 22, Thu Oct 25, Fri Oct 26 at 10:30am; Tue Oct 23, Wed Oct 24 at 10, 11:30am. The Bedford Village School. $15, in advance $10. Ages 3 to 7.

The Haunted Pumpkin Garden
Get a spooky fix in this scary patch, where frightening spirits lurk in between the gourds. Kids can play in the Pumpkin House, stage a show in the Pumpkin Puppet Theater, dissect owl pellets, collect fallen fruits and leaves, and get some extra mileage out of their costumes at a daily parade. Meanwhile, older kids learn the tricks of pumpkin carving from the masters and pot buckwheat seeds to grow at home. Tue Oct 23—Sun Oct 28 10am—6pm. New York Botanical Garden. Free with all-garden pass. All ages.

Hansel and Gretel's Halloween Adventure
In this spinoff of the classic fairy tale, the brother and sister duo find themselves in New York City on Halloween night, where they meet mermaids, monsters and more as they explore Central Park and Belvedere Castle. The production features handmade marionettes by the master puppetmakers of the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre. Tue Oct 23, Thu Oct 25, Fri Oct 26 at 10:30am, noon; Wed Oct 24 at 10:30am, noon, 2:30pm; Sat Oct 27, Sun Oct 28 at 1pm. Central Park Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre. $8, children under 13 free. Ages 3 to 9.

House of Ghostly Haunts
Join Cardone the Magician as he takes audience members for a thrill ride with a classic spook show. Drawing inspiration from favorite cult classics, Cardone induces chills with a magic show full of strange and bizarre happenings. Tue Oct 23 at 7pm. Canal Park Playhouse. $20. Ages 7 and up.

Intrepid Museum Fall Festival
Little ones who find their way through the giant corn maze at Pier 86 will be rewarded by stepping into a pumpkin patch. Kids can then pick out their own gourd to take home and, on Saturday and Sunday, they can paint a silly or spooky face on their find. Thu Oct 25–Sun Oct 28 10am–5pm. Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. Free. All ages.

Gravesend Inn
Brave this creepy hotel designed, constructed and operated by City Tech's Theatreworks troupe. The high-tech haunt will thrill the toughest of tweens with jumping skeletons, pirate ghosts and more. Thu Oct 25 1—5pm; Fri Oct 26 10am—3pm, 6—9pm; Sat Oct 27 1—5pm, 6—9pm. New York City College of Technology, Voorhees Building. $6, students $5. Ages 6 and up.

Syfy HalloweeNYC Fest
The sci-fi channel hosts a weekend filled with supernatural family-friendy fun. Performers will include the cast of Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, theGazillion Bubble Show, kindie rockers the Jimmies and Princess Katie & Racer Steve, magicians Cardone and the Amazing Max and balloon artist Mike Gold. When kids aren't rocking out or marveling at sleights of hand, they can get their faces painted, decorate a pumpkin or say cheese in a green screen photo booth. Fri Oct 26—Sun Oct 28 11am—6pm. Flatiron Plaza North, 23rd St between Broadway and Fifth Ave. Free. All ages.

Monster Mash 2012
Start your Halloween festivities a few days early. Known as Brooklyn's best Halloween party, the Monster Mash features music, games, costume parades—and a "Thriller" tribute! Secure your spot at the bash by purchasing tickets in advance starting October 1. Fri Oct 26 3—7pm, Sat Oct 27 3—8pm. Brooklyn Children's Museum. $10. All ages.

Halloween in Richmond Town
Families are welcome to trick-or-treat in this historic Staten Island nabe...er, village. Kids can also participate in traditional games, like bobbing for apples, and make holiday-related crafts. Reservations required.Fri Oct 26 3:30—5pm. Historic Richmond Town. $5, children $10. All ages.

Central Park Pumpkin Festival
Head to the park for this annual fall celebration. Little ones will be entertained by the likes of Big Apple Circus, the Kidrockers and Laura Osnes, star of the upcoming Broadway musical Cinderella, as they decorate a free pumpkin. Plus, live Quidditch matches and a space-themed haunted house make this year's fete more thrilling than ever. Fearless kids can even get a sneak peak of the Haunted House Space Chase the evening before.Fri Oct 26 4–7pm, Sat Oct 27 11am–3pm. Naumburg Bandshell, Central Park. Free. All ages.

Queens County Farm Museum Haunted House
Kids should keep an eye out for ghosts at this 17th-century site; while they look, they can hop aboard a hayride, sip on cider and pick farm-grown pumpkins. Fri Oct 26—Sun Oct 28 4—7pm. Queens County Farm Museum. $4. Ages 4 to 12.

Bats at Belvedere
Biologist Bill Schutt leads a lecture that introduces young explorers to the batty flying creatures that call Central Park home. Fri Oct 26 5—6:30pm. Central Park, Belvedere Castle. Free. Ages 5 and up.

Halloween Movie Night — CANCELED
This haunted celebration features a creepy organ demonstration and screenings of Halloween flicks like It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brownand Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeFri Oct 26 5:30—11pm. Trinity Church Wall Street. Free. All ages.

Spooky Nighttime Adventure
The Everett Children's Adventure Garden gets scary after dark. Brave kids (with flashlights in hand) navigate around the eerie sculptures, listen for creatures of the night, dig for decomposers and go trick-or-treating along the garden paths. After exploring, decorate a pumpkin to take home. Fri Oct 26—Sun Oct 28 6:30—8pm. New York Botanical Garden. $20. Ages 5 to 12.

Halloween Murder Mystery
Get the Scooby gang together for this Halloween-themed mystery: A (fictional) skeleton has been discovered under the floorboards in the Mount Vernon Mansion, and it's up to you and your family to figure out who's to blame. Explore the museum by candlelight as you solve puzzles and collect clues to crack the case. Fri Oct 26, Sat Oct 27 at 6:30, 7:30pm. Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden. $25, children under 12 $10. Ages 8 and up.

Halloween Extravaganza and Procession of the Ghouls
Take in a screening of the classic silent film Nosferatu while creepy tunes are played on the cathedral's great organ. But the nightmare's not over once the credits roll—the movie will be followed by the annual procession of the ghouls, in which demons and witches infiltrate the church in a ghostly parade down the aisles. Fri Oct 26 at 7, 10pm. Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. $20. All ages.

From Peter Stuyvesant to Edgar Allan Poe: The Ghosts of the East Village
On this family-friendly walking tour, little history buffs step back in time to meet the quirky cast of characters who once called the East Village home: writers Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain and O. Henry; journalist Nellie Bly; magician Harry Houdini; Elizabeth Blackwell, the first female doctor; and New Amsterdam leader Peter Stuyvesant. The walk starts at the lion sculpture in front of St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery and is less than one mile in length. Fri Oct 26, Sat Oct 27 7—8:30pm. St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery. $25, in advance online $20. All ages.

Halloween Circle Line Kids' Cruise
Celebrate Halloween on the water as you set sail for the Statue of Liberty. Kids can enjoy storytelling and crafts sponsored by the Scholastic Store, jam with folksy kindie rockers Astrograss and get ready for All Hallows' Eve with a juggler, face painter and balloon artist. Kid-friendly food and drink will also be available for purchase. Boarding begins at 9:30am. Sat Oct 27 10–11:15am. Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises. $28, children ages 3–12 $20, children under 2 free. All ages.

Gotham Gargoyles: A Halloween Workshop
Spook-loving kids can take in a reading of Eve Bunting's poetic Night of the Gargoyles—in which a group of the grotesque figures awaken at night to explore the city—before crafting skeletons, masks and their own clay versions of the architectural adornment. Sat Oct 27 10am—noon. Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. $8, adults free. Ages 4 and up.

Citibabes Halloween Spooktacular
This spooky bash offers a full day of entertainment, including concerts, readings, cookie decorating and a costume contest, among other ghoulish fun. Sat Oct 27 10am—1pm. Citibabes. $35 per family. Ages 10 and under.

Family Art Project: Masked Parade of the Hairy Insects
Using materials of all shapes and sizes, little ones create funny, fuzzy insect masks. But the fun doesn't stop there—families put on their costumes and march through the grounds in a fall parade. Sat Oct 27, Sun Oct 28 10am—1pm. Wave Hill. Free with grounds admission. All ages.

Wonderween
Costumed kids watch monster-themed TV shows (screenings include Elmo Says BooGo, Diego, Go and Dora the Explorer), make ghoulish crafts and stuff their pockets with sweets. Sat Oct 27 10am—4pm. Sony Wonder Technology Lab. Free. Ages 2 to 6.

Halloween in the Galaxseum
CMA's new exhibit of kooky works by Rockaway-born artist Rammellzee serves as the backdrop for this festive day of wild costume-making, cardboard haunted house construction and spooky animation workshops. After exercising their creativity, costumed kids can parade around the galleries and snag free sweets. Sat Oct 27 10am–5pm. Children's Museum of the Arts. Free with museum admission. All ages.

Boo at the Prospect Park Zoo
The Prospect Park Zoo gets a Halloween makeover as spooky creatures populate the grounds. Little ghosts and goblins can join the haunted fun with face painting, craft making and a visit to the zoo's haunted barn. Sat Oct 27, Sun Oct 28 10am—5:30pm. Prospect Park Zoo. Free with zoo admission. Ages 5 to 12.

Celebrate Halloween in Prospect Park
Enjoy lots of Halloween festivities at this two-day event in Prospect Park. Saturday features annual fave the Haunted Walk & Carnival from noon to 3pm, which includes spooky creatures and great games for the family. Activities taking place Saturday and Sunday include the Haunted Carousel (noon—5pm); Creepy Crawly Halloween (1—4pm), a close-up look at the creatures that tend to send chills up the spine; and Boo at the Zoo (10am—5:30pm), which boasts face painting, craft making and some investigating of the infamous haunted barn. Skeleton Cut-Outs (1—4pm), a headband-making workshop, and Scary Stories from the Past (2, 3pm), a scary storytelling session, take place on Sunday only at Lefferts House. Sat Oct 27, Sun Oct 28 10am—5:30pm. Prospect Park. Suggested donation $1, carousel $2 per ride, Boo at the Zoo free with zoo admission. All ages.

Halloween Scary Snacks
Little chefs are encouraged to dress up in their costumes for this festive cooking party—on the menu are creepy spider pretzels and dirt pudding oozing with gummy worms. Sat Oct 27 10:45–11:45am. Taste Buds Kitchen. $40 per parent-child pair. Ages 2 to 8.

Ben Rudnick and Friends CD Release Party & Halloween Bash
Show off your Halloween costume and get ready to sing and dance to this award-winning acoustic band's latest CD, Love Is a Superpower. You might even hear Ben Rudnick originals like "Macaroni & Cheese" and "A Frog Named Sam." Sat Oct 27 at 11am. J and R Music World. Free. All ages.

Halloween Party at the New York City Police Museum
Kids can creep through a haunted house, then take part in hands-on activities such as making slime and decorating trick-or-treat bags. Sat Oct 27 11am—2pm. New York City Police Museum. Free with museum admission. Ages 3 to 12.

Halloween Extravaganza at the Conference House
Celebrate Halloween in Staten Island with hayrides, a costume parade, bouncy castles, magic shows and balloon animals. Gutsy kids can also tour a haunted house, if they dare. Sat Oct 27 11am—4pm. $10, hayrides $5, children under 5 free. All ages.

Puppetry Arts Haunted Halloween Carnival
Appealing to kids with many interests, this annual blowout bash features a haunted house, bouncy castle, crafts, giveaways and a costume contest, plus special appearances by the Staten Island Yankees and Star Warscharacters. Plus, the first 200 children to arrive will receive goody bags stocked with treats. Sat Oct 27 11am—4pm. P.S. 372. Admission free; activities $2—$4. All ages.

Boo at the Queens Zoo
The Queens version of the popular Bronx Zoo extravaganza offers the first 200 zoogoers a free pumpkin to decorate. Everyone can also enjoy pumpkin enrichment, when pumas and bears are fed pumpkins filled with tasty treats, alongside a haunted habitat, "spooky animal presentations" (1:30, 3pm), arts and crafts, and face painting. Sat Oct 27, Sun Oct 28 11am—4pm. Queens Zoo. Free with zoo admission. All ages.

Pick Your Own Pumpkin
Get in the Halloween spirit by hunting down the gourd of your dreams in the farm's pumpkin patch. Sat Oct 27, Sun Oct 28 11am—4:30pm. Queens County Farm Museum. Pumpkin prices vary based on size. All ages.

Ascarium: A Pirate Adventure
This annual Halloween fest will be a treasure trove of fun for everyone in the family. After embarking on a Haunted Sea-fari in the "Explore the Shore" exhibit, little swashbucklers can groove to the terrifying tunes of the Brigands, catch a one-man vaudeville show and meet such creepy critters of the deep as goblin sharks and vampire squid. Buccaneer-themed games, collages and trick-or-treating round out the nautical festivities. Sat Oct 27, Sun Oct 28 11am—5pm. New York Aquarium. $14.95, children under 13 and in costume free with purchase of an adult ticket. All ages.

Boo at the Zoo
This Halloween celebration takes over the Bronx wildlife spot every weekend in October. Kids can venture through the Haunted Habitat Mansion, hold on tight for a spooky hayride, catch a magic show or Boo Revue concert, and check out demonstrations by professional pumpkin carvers. While brave kids meet live spiders, bats and snakes, more timid guests can check out the extinct-animal graveyard, where they'll learn about endangered and extinct species. Bonus: Kids under 13 who show up in costume receive free admission and can rock their outfits in a Halloween parade. Sat Oct 27, Sun Oct 28 11am—5pm. Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society. Free with Total Experience pass, children under 13 and in costume free. All ages.

Ghoulish Gourmet Halloween Cuisine
Little goblins can hone their creepy cooking skills with a menu of eerie-sounding (peanut-free) dishes including evil eyeballs, gingerbread skeletons and putrid worm punch. Best of all, guests leave with their own treats, plus recipes with which to re-create the Halloween-themed meals at home. Mistress of Scarimonies Yvonne Brooks presides, and McNally Jackson's intrepid troupe of puppeteers stages a show at 1pm. Sat Oct 27 noon–2pm. McNally Jackson Books. Free. Ages 3 to 10.

Princess & Superhero Themed Halloween Party
Whether your kid is more of the Batman or Cinderella persuasion, they're guaranteed to have a blast at this themed bash. After gaining access to the sleek rooftop lounge, which will be transformed for the day into a kid-friendly playspace, little ones can decorate trick-or-treat bags, get inked up at a temporary tattoo station and have a photo session with a princess or superhero. While grown-ups sip on complimentary wine and beer, costumed kids nosh on pizza and candy. Plus, admission includes a superhero mask or princess wand! Sat Oct 27 noon—2pm. $40, children under 3 free. All ages.

Fort Greene Halloween Festival
At this annual fete, kids can enjoy hayrides, games, face painting, entertainers and free pumpkins to decorate, as well as a kiddie costume parade. Rain date is Sunday October 28. Sat Oct 27 noon—3pm. Fort Greene Park. Free. All ages.

World Financial Center Screamin' Green Halloween
For the first time ever, this annual Halloween extravaganza is moving outside! The Plaza will be transformed into a Halloween Village, complete with a 30-foot-high scarecrow, roaming characters and game booths. Eco-minded tykes can craft costumes from repurposed materials and snack on organic and fair-trade goodies. Costumed kids can also take part in a Ghosts and Goblins parade through Battery Park City. Sat Oct 27 noon—3pm. World Financial Center Winter Garden. Free. All ages.

Rolie Polie Guacamole Costume Party Tour
Join the kindie rock trio for a series of costumed concerts in Brooklyn! Get the brood all dolled up in their Halloween attire for a performance at the Prospect Heights Health Harvest Fair, where they'll dance along with songs that pay homage to everything from hummus to acai berries. Sat Oct 27 noon–4pm. St. Johns Pl at Underhill Ave. Free. All ages.

Ghouls & Gourds
Little ones flaunt their eye-catching outfits alongside gigantic puppets in this daytime parade and festival. Other entertainment offerings include a gourd orchestra, a moustache-making workshop, a Victorian toy parlor and readings by children's book authors. Sat Oct 27 noon—6pm. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. $10, children under 12 free. All ages.

Musical BOO-Fest
Get ready for Halloween with this festive concert at the Brooklyn Public Library. Kids can boogie down to spooktacular songs, get their face painted and enter the costume contests. Sat Oct 27 at 1pm. Brooklyn Public Library, Dweck Center. Free. All ages.

Halloween Walking Tour: Murder, Mayhem, Spirits and Ghosts
Thrill-seeking kids can get ready for Halloween by wandering through one of New York's largest and oldest cemeteries. Green-Wood's resident historian Jeff Richman, clad in 19th-century garb, leads visitors through some of the historic cemetery's spookiest sights, including the graves of famous murderers and victims and eerie catacombs. Kids will be psyched to visit the grave of the "Wizard of Oz," Frank Morgan, and the daylight hour tour shouldn't be too scary for younger tots. Reservations are recommended—last year's tours saw about 300 visitors each. Sat Oct 27, Sun Oct 28 at 1pm. Green-Wood Cemetery. $20. All ages.

Oiche Shamhna
At this Irish Halloween celebration, kids can learn about the spooky traditions indigenous to the Emerald Isle. They'll participate in crafts—like carving turnips!—and games, then listen to tales about fairies and puca, the Old Irish term for ghosts. Sat Oct 27 at 1pm. Irish Arts Center. $8, children in families with three or more children $5. Ages 2 to 10.

Tricks and Treats
Costumed kids can join resident amphibian entertainer Flaubert Frog for an hour of spooky stories and songs, followed by Justin the Magician's spine-tingling illusions. Afterward, go for a spin on Bryant Park's iconic merry-go-round. Rain date is October 28. Sat Oct 27 1–2pm. Le Carrousel. Free. All ages.

Dr. Blood: Losing His Patients
David Kaye, who is perhaps better known as the clown Silly Billy, debuts a show dedicated to his alter ego, Dr. Blood, and it is as gory as it sounds! His show is not for the faint of heart—he performs scary experiments and magic tricks that will keep even the most gore-loving children at the edge of their seats, including arm chopping, eyeball poking and people sawing. At the end, audience members are invited to adorn themselves with fake blood and learn some of Dr. Blood's scariest tricks. Sat Oct 27, Sun Oct 28 1—2:30pm. Times Scare. $10, children under 13 $15. Ages 7 and up.

Day of the Dead Celebration
Honor your ancestors at this celebration of Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. The festivities include music and dance performances and lots of hands-on workshops for the kids. Sat Oct 27 1—4pm. National Museum of the American Indian. Free. All ages.

Halloween Craft Workshop at the Louis Armstrong House
The onetime abode of jazz legend Louis Armstrong invites Halloween lovers to its garden for candy (for costume wearers), an arts project and live music from the Louis Armstrong House Stompers. While the event is free, admission to the museum costs extra. The rain date is Sunday, October 28, from 1 to 4pm. Sat Oct 27 1—4pm. Louis Armstrong House Museum. Free.All ages.

Children's Halloween Parade and Party
Arrive early to get decked out with balloons, tattoos and face painting, and then take part in this not-so spooky procession, which culminates with a spooktacular movie party. The parade goes from Java Street (between McGuinness Blvd and Manhattan Ave) down Manhattan Avenue to Driggs Avenue and then back to Java Street. Sat Oct 27 2—5pm. . $5. Ages 12 and under.

Cido's Halloween Spooktacular
Forest Park Carousel celebrates a successful first year with a magic show by Cido the Clown, a costume contest and birthday cake for all. Plus, kids in costume get buy-one-get-one-free rides on the merry-go-round. Sat Oct 27 2–5pm. Forest Park. Free. All ages.

The House of Ichabod Crane
This experiential production begins as the audience navigates the grounds of the Old Stone House, site of the American Revolution's first battle. Theatergoers will then head indoors to a large banquet table, where they'll conjure the spirit of Ichabod Crane and let their imaginations carry them off to the bewitching glen of Sleepy Hollow. As they weave Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" with real-life history, the actors will reimagine the events leading up to the classic tale, casting nervous schoolteacher Crane as a veteran of the Battle of Brooklyn and the Headless Horseman as a victim of the same clash. Sat Oct 27 at 2, 7pm; Sun Oct 28 at 2pm. Old Stone House. $15, children ages 9 and up $10. Ages 9 and up.

A Mermaid's Tale
Little theatergoers are invited to dress up as underwater creatures for a special performance of the musical adapted from L. Frank Baum's The Sea Fairies. In addition to scoring half-price tickets for arriving in costume, kids will receive Halloween giveaways and be entered in a costume contest. Sat Oct 27 at 3pm. The Triad. $15, children in costume $10. All ages.

City Stomp Live: Halloween Edition
Rock out to Halloween melodies as well as the Brooklyn band's signature urban-inspired tunes about the subway, garbage trucks and Coney Island. Snacks, giveaways and kids' activities are also on tap. Sat Oct 27 at 3pm. Littlefield. $10, in advance $8, children under 2 free; $30 for family of four. Ages 6 months to 8 years.

Scholastic Store Halloween Costume Parade
Little ones can don their favorite costumes and march around the block to kick off this trick-or-reading event celebrating 20 years of the eerieGoosebumps series. Afterwards, everyone heads back to the store to make fake monster blood, try out Goosebumps' Horrorland for Wii and spin the Wheel of Misfortune to receive a spooky prize. Sat Oct 27 3–4pm. Scholastic Store. Free. Ages 3 and up.

Drive Me Batty
Prepare to be amazed by high-flying aerial stunts and zany circus acts in this Halloween-themed benefit show by the Espana-STREB Trapeze Academy. Don't be scared to show up in costume—kids who do earn a special treat! Sat Oct 27 at 3, 8pm. Streb Lab for Action Mechanics (SLAM). $20, children under 13 $15. All ages.

Halloween Open House
This Halloween event takes a "note"-worthy spin with musical trick-or-treating, interactive Brazilian drumming and dancing, crafts and more. Call to R.S.V.P. or e-mail info@tbms.org. Sat Oct 27 3—5pm. Turtle Bay Music School. Suggested donation $25 per family. All ages.

Halloween Cooking Workshop with Sylvie Berger
To satiate Halloween cravings, French pastry chef Sylvie Berger will help youngsters create their own spooky desserts. Sat Oct 27 at 3:15pm. French Institute Alliance Franaise. $10, children under 13 $7. Ages 3 and up.

The Ghosts of Greenwich Village Family Scavenger Hunt
Kids and grownups join forces as they track down the storied neighborhood's spooky secrets. During the journey families will discover such Village haunts as hidden cemeteries, bat-adorned buildings, and the onetime residences of Mark Twain and Edgar Allan Poe. Sat Oct 20 at 4pm. Washington Square Park. $22, children under 18 $18. Ages 7 and up.

Hollow
Your tweens will venture into the woods of 18th-century New England to meet Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman in this creepy new musical based on Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Sat Oct 27 at 5:30pm. Players Theatre. $35—$50. Ages 10 and up.

The Moxie Spot Halloween Monster Mash
Kick up your heels to classic tunes and the latest hits at this family-friendly costume dance party. Plus, come early to secure a Moxie Spot gift bag and personalize it as you get ready for All Hallows' Eve. Sat Oct 27 6–8:30pm. The Moxie Spot. $2.50 per child, $5 maximum per family; $2.50 admission fee waived for every $15 spent on food or beverages. Ages 1 to 11.

Family Pumpkin Carving
This rare evening event at the Staten Island Zoo lets kids ages 5 and up try their hand at pumpkin carving, the result of which can either be taken home or donated to the zoo for its Spooktacular event. A pizza dinner and Halloween-themed storytime are on the roster as well. Preregistration is required, at 718-442-3101, ext 33. Sat Oct 27 6:30—8:30pm. Staten Island Zoo. $16 per person. Ages 5 and up.

Ripley's Boolieve It or Not Times Square Slumber Fest
Inspired by the company's famed Extreme Sleepovers, this overnight experience isn't your average Halloween party. Brave guests can peruse such eerie displays as the world's largest collection of shrunken heads and a Transformer statue made from car parts. Then, at midnight, grab your flashlight for a haunted scavenger hunt around the building. The spooky stay also features a movie screening, a costume contest and live entertainment. All children must show up equipped with a sleeping bag, pillow, pajamas, flashlight and (of course) their most creative costume. One adult required for every four children attending. Sat Oct 27 at 7pm—Sun Oct 28 at 8am. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium $129. Ages 6 and up.

Fall Fiesta
This 90-minute workshop is the Central Park Zoo equivalent of a fall harvest festival, complete with pumpkin carving, animal encounters, and apple donuts and cider from the local farmers' market. Sun Oct 28 9—10:30am. Central Park Zoo. Adult-child pair $50. Ages 4 to 8.

Bring Your Own Kid Concert Series: Alastair Moock
The Boston-based singer-songwriter plays a special Halloween show for this installment of the 92YTribeca music series. Moock and his band will perform slightly scary tunes in their folksy, rollicking style, as well as favorite covers from Moock's repertoire and songs from his new kids' album, These Are My FriendsSun Oct 28 at 11am. 92YTribeca. $15, children under 2 free. All ages.

Kiddie Cruise: A Princess and Pirate Adventure
All aboard for a two-hour Halloween party on the Queen of Hearts! As the boat circles Lady Liberty you'll party on deck with myriad activities, from a performance by The Rockdoves and a magic show to arts and crafts and face painting. Bagged lunch will be provided. Sun Oct 28 10:30am–1pm, 1:30–4pm. Pier 40. $40, children under 13 $35, children under 1 free. Ages 2 to 9.

Zickity Wickity Boo! Halloween Bash
Tots can celebrate a relatively spook-free Halloween at Apple Seeds' UWS location, with a Songs for Seeds performance, infant gym play, glow-in-the-dark science lab activities, a pumpkin patch art project, pizza and holiday tattoos. Call 212-792-7591 to RSVP. Sun Oct 28 11am–1pm. Apple Seeds. $8, children under 6 months free. Ages newborn to 5 years.

Children's Fall Festival
Show up in your Halloween duds to join a sack race, dance along to live country & western music, visit the Haunted House (for an additional fee) and mingle with costumed characters at this old-fashioned fair. Sun Oct 28 11am—4pm. Queens County Farm Museum. $5. All ages.

Morningside Montessori's Fall Festival
Moey's Music Party headlines the school's outdoor festival with an interactive Halloween-themed performance (11:30am). Spooky hijinks will ensue: Ghost and goblin bowling, biting doughnuts off a string, pumpkin decorating, face painting and a haunted house tour. Meanwhile, grown-ups can peruse the goodies on sale at the Bargain Boutique, Caf Morningside and Bialas' Farmer's Market. Sun Oct 28 11am—4pm. Morningside Montessori. Free. All ages.

Halloween Kidz Karnival
Hudson River Park throws its fourth annual family-friendly Halloween party at Pier 46, featuring such kid crafts as mask decorating and wax hands, plus rides, face painting and plenty of cotton candy. Plus, headlining this year's spooktacular celebration are the Story Pirates, who will perform a swashbuckling Halloween-themed show. Sun Oct 28 at noon. Free. Ages 2 to 8.

Halloween Remixed
If you're bored of the same old Halloween celebrations, check out this multifaceted party, which celebrates the Day of the Dead, Halloween and All Saints Day all at once. Hands-on crafts, activities, treats and giveaways await. Sun Oct 28 at noon. Flushing Town Hall. Free. All ages.

DayLife featuring Lower East Side Pickle Day
An area rich in history with more unique traditions than can be documented, the Lower East Side smiles back on the past today. In the heart of the old Pickle District, this Orchard Street fair features samples of the green delicacy from India and Haiti to Malaysia, Brooklyn and, of course, those good old-fashioned kosher dills from the LES. Plus, in keeping with the spirit of Halloween, kids will get their faces painted and compete in a costume contest. Sun Oct 28 noon5pm. Orchard St between Delancey and E Houston Sts. Free. All ages.

Cido's Halloween Spooktacular
Flushing Meadows Carousel celebrates a successful first year with a magic show by Cido the Clown, a costume contest and birthday cake for all. Plus, kids in costume get buy-one-get-one-free rides on the merry-go-round.Sun Oct 28 25pm. Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. Free. All ages.

Rolie Polie Guacamole Costume Party Tour
Join RPG for a series of costumed concerts in Brooklyn! Get the brood all dolled up in their Halloween attire for a performance by the kindie rock trio, where they'll dance along with songs that pay homage to everything from hummus to acai berries. Sun Oct 28 34pm. Jalopy Theatre. $10, children under 1 free; $35 for family of four. All ages.

Scholastic Store Annual Halloween Party
Grab a broom and fly up to Scholastic's Haunted Headquarters for this afternoon blowout. Kids will stretch their skeletons in monster yoga with Karma Kids, take a mini music class with Gymboree and rock out with kindie songstress Bari Koral. After brewing up bubbling potions, decorating monster cupcakes and bowling for mummies, little ghouls will join a costume conga and meet Clifford and friends. Plus, each kid receives a Scholastic Store gift card! Call 212-343-6166 to RSVP. Sun Oct 28 35pm. Scholastic Store. $20 per adult-child pair, each additional adult $10. Ages 3 and up.

PhilharMONSTER
Carnegie Hill Orchestra and ISO Symphony, two of NYC’s InterSchool youth orchestras, perform a spooky classical concert in anticipation of Halloween. The young musicians, ages 8 through 12 (Carnegie Hill Orchestra) and 12 through 19 (ISO Symphony), will be decked out in scary costumes and play under the direction of a ghostly conductor. Sun Oct 28 at 4pm. Symphony Space. $15. All ages.

A Not-So-Spooky Halloween Concert
Tykes can break out their costumes a few days early for this Halloween-themed performance from Erin Lee & Co. Before the show, kids can romp through the play space ($15 for an hour)—including the two-story tree house's fiber-optic-star cave—or splash around in the multitiered water table. Sun Oct 28 45pm. City Treehouse. $25, in advance $20; adults free. Ages 18 months to 8 years.

Kids Halloween Party
Come in costume for an afternoon of festive readings featuring Patty Bowman. The author shares her new picture book The Amazing Hamweenie, about a precocious top hat-wearing cat who knows how to dream big. Sun Oct 28 45pm. The powerHouse Arena. Free. Ages 3 to 8.

State Scare
The brainchild of special effects artist Anthony Giordano, this New Jersey haunted house hosts a Not So Scary Matinee for kids on Sunday afternoons. Little ones can feel free to explore "Maim Street"—a haunted indoor thoroughfare outfitted with a creepy barber, butcher shop, pub, hotel and five-and-dime that reflects the attraction's real-life retail surroundings—with the lights on and the promise that no monsters are waiting to startle them. Sun Oct 28 46pm. State Fair Halloween SuperStore. $20, children under 13 $8. Ages 8 and up.

Central Park Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Sail
Your family can bring its finest jack-o'-lantern (5 to 10 lbs) and watch as it sets sail in Harlem Meer with tons of other carved masterpieces. Kids can also parade through the park in the annual Halloween procession to show off their dashing costumes. See website for decoration restrictions. Sun Oct 28 46:30pm. Central Park, Charles A. Dana Discovery Center. Free. All ages.

Happy Owl-o-ween!
Prepare for Halloween by hearing stories and facts about these sometimes-scary nocturnal birds, then channel your inner ornithologist by studying owl pellets. Call in advance to reserve a spot. Sun Oct 28 56:30pm. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Free. Ages 7 to 12.

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