Are people who FaceTime while walking down the street literally insane?

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine’s annual Halloween Extravaganza returns to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25 at the uptown house of prayer.

The long-standing Upper West Side tradition was born decades ago under the direction of Artist in Residence Ralph Lee, founder of the Mettawee River Theatre Company. This year, the cathedral honors that legacy with an evening featuring frightening Mettawee performers who will haunt the audience with tricks and treats. 

The evening will kick off with a showing of The Phantom of the Opera in celebration of the film’s 100th anniversary. Additionally, the Cathedral will celebrate the return of the Great Organ to the Halloween Extravaganza with live accompaniment by Tim Brumfield.

Showings begin at 7pm on both days for the Halloween Extravaganza, with $50 tickets available on the cathedral's website starting September 2.

The Moth, the acclaimed storytelling show, is DARING to be different. For the first time in the organization's 25-plus-year history, its 2025 mainstage season will be dedicated to one theme. From New York to Nairobi, The Moth will be taking their deep and poignant show on the road to 18 cities. 

In East Harlem on October 24, El Museo del Barrio will host a Spanish language-centric performance, which happens to be the only one on the whole tour. The last NYC performance will be at St. Ann & The Holy Trinity Church in Brooklyn on December 5. You've got plenty of opportunities to catch this show and its stories.

Learn more here.

Calling all real life supermen! Are you and/or a friend searching for love? Head to House Watch in the East Village on Friday, October 24 for the "Rescue Me Halloween Party" dedicated to men that are first responders and women of all professions. 

Whether your a firefighter, EMS/paramedic, cop or military personnel, this event promises thrills, chills and maybe some mouth-to-mouth resucitation. Come in your uniform/gear or wear a costume—ladies, costumes are highly recommended. Mix and mingle with NYC's finest and bravest from 8pm to 1am (arrive before 10:30pm to get in). 

Heads up that this part is open ONLY to men who are legitimate and active/retired first responders. However, their civilian guy friends can tag along, too. First responders with valid agency ID get to drink for free from 8-9pm. 

Get tickets early now for $25 or at the door for $30. 

Shhh... an unbelievable, exclusive four-night Halloween Masquerade Party is taking over the former McKittrick Hotel at the end of October. Every floor of this historic location will be transformed into a multi-level, immersive nightlife production, each night offering a unique theme inspired by Hieronymus Bosch’s oil painting "The Garden of Earthly Delights."

More than 250 artists, performers and musicians are coming together to make this experience unlike anything the city has ever seen, inviting guests to wander through six levels of hidden chambers, forbidden gardens and surreal stages, all with live music, art and interactive installations. Each night is a living labyrinth where worlds collide, offering a one-of-a-kind experience that evolves with every visit.

Guests are encouraged to dress to seduce in "a decadent masquerade that blurs boundaries and heightens fantasy." Events run on October 24, 25, 31 and November 1. October 31, Halloween night, promises to be one of the largest gay Halloween parties in NYC. 

Don't miss out, get your tickets now. 

The Met's first major exhibition of Egyptian art in over a decade is on its way. From October 21 until January 19, 2026, "Divine Egypt" will focus in on images of gods in ancient Egypt. The exhibit considers how these physical tools brought the gods to life for daily worship, offering ancient Egyptians a vital connection between the human and divine worlds.

Spanning more than 3,000 years, the Egyptian people's belief system grew to include more than 1,500 gods with many overlapping forms and traits. At the exhibit, expect to see statues and small elegant figurines that represent 25 of ancient Egypt's main deities. Look for subtle visual cues, like what a figure wore, how they posed or the symbols they carried to help identify each one.

"The ways in which the ancient Egyptian gods were depicted are vastly different from the divine beings in contemporary religions and therefore are intriguing to modern audiences," said Diana Craig Patch, Lila Acheson Wallace Curator in Charge of Egyptian Art in a press release about the exhibition. "The identity of an ancient Egyptian god may at first seem easy to recognize but looks can be deceiving, as one form can be shared by many deities. Across more than 3,000 years of history, gods, attributes, roles and myths were rarely dropped from use, yet the Egyptians of the time had no difficulty understanding and accepting the resulting multiplicity. Through hundreds of spectacular objects, 'Divine Egypt' will allow visitors to understand the complex nature of these deities and help translate the images that were needed to make the inhabitants of the celestial realm available to ancient Egyptians."

The exhibition will conclude with artifacts relating to the transition to the next life. 

Lincoln Center is throwing a party for the bold and the brand-new—and you’re invited, no ticket required. Now through through October 23, the David Rubenstein Atrium is being taken over by the Festival of Firsts, a spree of free performances that spotlight artists making their U.S. and NYC debuts, launching albums, premiering works or stepping onto the Lincoln Center stage for the first time.

The fourth annual edition leans into the unexpected. One night you might catch a drag-fueled rock cabaret staged as a gothic Halloween fantasia; the next, an intimate multimedia theater piece straight from Chile.

With every performance free and first-come, first-served, the Festival of Firsts offers a rare chance to catch rising artists at turning points in their careers—all under one roof.

Step aside, neurotypicals! Join host Virginia Dickens and a squad of fellow funny and proudly neurodivergent folks as they hilariously deep-dive into their super-nice hyperfixations—we're talking everything from the JFK assassination to the wives of Henry VIII, from Southwest Airlines' open seating policy to the inherently evil quality about pickleball.

Shows are coming up on October 21 and November 16.

Many New Yorkers know about the Harlem Renaissance, but a new exhibit opening this fall explores a more unknown facet of the era—the Gay Harlem Renaissance. The New York Historical will host a new exhibit examining the Black LGBTQ+ artists, writers and performers vital to the Harlem Renaissance and everyday Black gay life in the early 20th century. 

"The Gay Harlem Renaissance" runs until March 8, 2026. This unique exhibit traces queer creativity, friendship circles and mentorships that once flourished in Harlem's salons, social clubs and thriving nightlight. The show also highlights specific Harlem Renaissance poets, novelists and artists—many of whom were gay or bisexual.  

A century ago this fall, Robert Rauschenberg was born in Texas. He went on to become a Pop art pioneer and one of the most renowned American artists of this era. Now, museums and galleries across the globe are planning shows that honor the artist's expansive creativity, spirit of curiosity and commitment to change.

For its part, NYC's Guggenheim Museum on the Upper East Side will host a major show called "Robert Rauschenberg: Life Can't Be Stopped," running through April 5, 2026. The show will feature more than a dozen historic pieces, including Rauschenberg's monumental painting "Barge," all which reflect the artist’s radical legacy. 

The only thing better than the Bronx Zoo is the Bronx Zoo at night. The famed zoo's annual family-friendly celebration, Harvest Glow, is back and at its best. 

Every Thursday-Sunday until October 31, families are invited to explore this immersive jack-o'-lantern trail with its own spin: the 5,000 pumpkins are animal-themed, of course! Senses will be heightened as you explore illuminating ecosystems through the use of music, special effects and dramatic lighting to make sure that you really feel the spookiness. 

And if that wasn't enough, visitors will have the opportunity to live in the Mesozeric Era while walking amongst over 60 animatronic dinosaurs and pterosaurs at the event's Dinosaur Safari. Paired with the darkness, this prehistoric adventure is not to be missed.

Also expect pumpkin carving demos, games, face panting and tons of photo opps.