The best Halloween events for 2023 in NYC

The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze is set to return this September in two New York locations, along with a full slate of Sleepy Hollow-themed events.

The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze will be back in the Hudson Valley at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson for the 19th year, from September 15 through November 19, as well as Old Bethpage Village Restoration in Old Bethpage, Long Island for the fourth year, from September 22 through November 5.

Both experiences will feature thousands of hand-carved jack o'lanterns set up in elaborate displays: along with annual favorites like the Statue of Liberty and the Pumpkin Planetarium, you'll find a circus sideshow, a jack o’lantern tribute to the Day of the Dead, and the country's first-ever pumpkin Ferris wheel in Hudson Valley, while Long Island attendees can be wowed by an under-the-sea installation, including a giant pumpkin octopus and a Montauk mermaid. 

If you want your spooky celebrations to be more festive and less frightening, Halloween House is serving up a fear-free All Hallows Eve attraction at The Oculus this fall.

Kicking off on Friday, September 29, and running through Wednesday, November 1, Halloween House—which welcomed 100,000 visitors across its various locations last year—will take over the transportation and shopping hub at 185 Greenwich Street with an array of immersive, intricately designed themed rooms: a Glow in the Dark space, a mysterious Vampires' Lair, a Horror Movie Graveyard and an indoor pumpkin patch, among others. 

Unlike traditional haunted houses, the all-ages Halloween House "sets itself apart by delivering entertainment through meticulously detailed environments, devoid of actors, jump scares, and strobe lights," reads a press release. In terms of decorations, expect more ghouls and graveyards, not gross-out gore or ghastly characters.

You can get tickets at the Halloween House website; adult entry costs $40, while tickets for kids and under are set at $35. 

Grab your garlic because a vampire masquerade is making its debut in NYC this fall, and it's going to be truly immersive. "Dreams of Dracula: An Immersive Masquerade Experience" will recreate the classic Dracula universe as a brand new vampire theatrical adventure.

The production opens on October 4 and runs through November 11 at Musica NYC in Hell's Kitchen; previews begin September 22. Gothic and Victorian costumes are "very much encouraged," event organizers say. Tickets start at $69 and are available for purchase here.

Putting a new spin on the Bram Stoker classic, this choose-your-own-adventure evening whisks visitors through two floors and six rooms across 25,000 square feet for a heady mix of immersive theater, dance and decadent masquerade.

The fall festival at the Bronx Zoo will showcase more than 5,000 carved, animal-themed pumpkins in a jack-o’-lantern trail stretching over half a mile. Live pumpkin carving demonstrations, games, festive fall treats and food trucks will also take place at the all-ages Pumpkin Nights.

Pumpkin Nights will debut on Thursday, September 28 and run Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, October 29 from 6pm to 10pm.

Tickets for Pumpkin Nights range from $26.95-$36.95 for adults; kids' tickets range from $24.95-$26.95 for kids. 

In addition to the new Pumpkin Nights, the Bronx Zoo will continue the tradition of Boo at the Zoo, which will return on Saturdays and Sundays, September 30 through October 29, plus Monday, October 9. 

Back for its annual celebration of all things pumpkin (and your best opportunity to take a selfie with a scarecrow in NYC), New York Botanical Garden's Fall-O-Ween officially opens on Saturday, September 16. 

The event includes hundreds of pumpkins and gourds on display, hands-on activities like mini pumpkin decorating, 3D pumpkin carving, food and beverage talks, tastings and more. Two family-friendly Spooky Garden Nights (Saturday, October 21 and Saturday, October 28) will also offer Halloween-themed entertainment including dancing skeletons, decorating trick-or-treat bags, live shadow puppets, plant potting ad more. 

Master pumpkin carver Adam Bierton will return to NYBG on select weekends to create his intricate and nature-inspired pumpkin carvings, and to host a master carver competition. At the “pumpkin patch” at NYBG Shop, guests can pick and purchase the perfect pumpkin.

Rooftop Cinema Club is screening rooftop movies this fall with a packed slate of films running all the way through October 31. 

Sip wine and eat vegan popcorn while watching classics like When Harry Met Sally, The Addams Family, Hocus Pocus and lots more this autumn. Tickets are on sale here.

October's lineup include scary screenings such as Rosemary’s Baby, Paranormal, The Exorcist, The Shining, American Psycho and other cult classics as well as family favorites like Coco and Monsters, Inc. That all leads up to All Hallow's Eve's screenings of Hocus Pocus and Halloween.

Join an elite group this Halloween season: The League of Inebriation Technology (L.I.T.), a storied institution dedicated to studying the celebratory effects of alcohol. Get in on the fun at The Drunken Laboratory, a bar in Brooklyn where you’ll wear lab coats and goggles for a night of sipping drinks and doing science. 

The bar's Haunted Laboratory experience includes a ghostly drink menu, haunted decor and scare actors for a truly immersive experience. Tickets are on sale now starting at $45; the experience begins on September 22 in Bed-Stuy with dates running through the finale on Halloween night. 

During the event, guests will try to free the laboratory from the clutches of the supernatural. Plus, you’ll get to compete against each other—from performing exothermic reaction experiments that send heat erupting into the air, to competing in ghoulish trivia quizzes—for the chance to win free themed shots, merch or hangover kits. 

Enjoy some thrills this fall with a celebration at NYC's classic amusement park. Luna Park is hosting its annual Hallowen Harvest, a monthlong celebration with balloon twisting, caricature portraits, trick-or-treating, tractor racing, pumpkin decorating and a pumpkin patch. It's a great spot for families and friends to celebrate autum's warm and spooky spirit.

Also expect autumn treats like spooky churros and Halloween-themed cotton candy. Plus, pumpkin spice everything — gelato, funnel cake and fried Oreos. 

The park's Halloween celebrations kick off on September 22 and run through October 29 on weekday holidays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in Coney Island.

Celebrate Halloween through the ages at New York Historical Society's Historical Hallowe’en Party. 

Learn about Victorian-era mourning jewelry (made of real human hair!), then make your own piece of mourning jewelry to take home (with fake hair, of course). Also discover the many ways clothing and accessories were used to show remembrance. Historical interpreters will share the meaning of their outfits, including widow's caps, pins and dress colors. Plus, create a special offering to take part in a communal ofrenda (altar) as part of Día de los Muertos, which is celebrated in Mexico and beyond by many families.

For even more Halloween fun, expect hands-on games, Hallowe’en bingo, spooky stories, historical Hallowe’en crafts and buckets of candy.

This all-ages celebration at the Upper West Side museum runs from 4-6pm on Halloween night, Tuesday, October 31. Costumes are encouraged.

Prepare to scream in horror. Blood Manor is confirmed to return to New York City this fall from September 29-November 4, marking the haunted house's 20th season in the city. 

To celebrate two decades of terrifying New Yorkers, Blood Manor will present yet another theater-quality production. The space in Soho at 359 Broadway will include three new rooms, and brand-new costumes by designers from Abracadabra, Manhattan's iconic Halloween store. The multiroom immersive experience employs professional actors, set designers and makeup artists, and promises to leave visitors more afraid than ever in 2023. 

Blood Manor’s most infamous attractions will return for repeat visitors looking to relive their self-induced terrors, and the space will be revamped, and amplified to intensify the fear factor. Visitors will journey through dark, sinister corridors filled with twisted characters and jumpscares at every turn.

We all have an inner party monster that likes to come out and play. And this Halloween, you’ll have the chance to unleash it at The McKittrick Hotel.

“Monster: A Halloween Party” invites the monster within you to enjoy a live spectacle at The McKittrick Hotel that will unfold as you explore a forbidden dreamscape filled with monsters, myths, and acts ranging from intimate to epic in scale, according to the venue.

As with every Halloween event at The McKittrick, you’re encouraged to dress as your inner monster (whatever that looks like) or in all black. You can get some inspiration on the hotel’s website (linked below).

The stage is set for monsters of all shapes and sizes—the show is produced by Emursive and conceptualized and directed by Conor Doyle and Oliver Sayer, the founders of immersive creation studio, One Hundred, as well as dance artist and choreographer, Marla Phelan, who was the associate choreographer/director for Fiddler on the Roof’s Broadway touring company. 

Book your tickets now for the most monstrous night of the year!

Spine-chilling pop-up bar series Black Lagoon is coming back this fall. 

The "adult Halloween celebration of your nightmares" from bar experts Kelsey Ramage and Erin Hayes will return with immersive Halloween pop-ups in cocktail bars across 19 cities this October, including here in New York at Pretty Ricky's (101 Rivington Street). The experience will feature a curated cocktail menu of eerie Halloween-themed drinks created by Ramage and Hayes, as well as transforming the hosting drinking dives into macabre dens festooned with frightfully fun decor. 

This spot really puts the BOO in booze.

Times Square is a nightmare for so many of us already (cue the unkempt Elmos and the smelly, zombie-like crowds), but now it's even more terrifying.

"Horrorwood Studios" is now open in Times Square at 300 West 43rd Street for a spooky season of "heart-pounding" immersive experiences from artistic directors Will Munro and Katie McGeoch (the duo has spent more than two decades as the heads of Six Flags’ Fright Fest). Dubbed "TerrorVision - Live Screaming Your Nightmares," you’ll live out your Samara dreams and step through a flickering TV screen into a horrible scene.

Filled with 140 actors across 20,000 square feet, what could be the largest haunted house in NYC, you’ll enter under the guise that you’re behind the scenes at the filming of an upcoming TerrorVision Halloween episode.

Tickets cost $39 per person.

"Nightmare Dollhouse" is scheduled to premiere at Teatro SEA at the Clemente at 107 Suffolk Street by Norfolk Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan on October 13. The limited engagement will run through October 31, with an official opening date of October 18.

The premise is a terrifyingly simple one: "Nightmare Dollhouse" is a petrifying roadside attraction in the middle of nowhere that’s home to all of the world's scariest dolls (and we can think of plenty!).

"At first it may seem like a serious museum, but beware, the demonic and bloodcurdling lurk around every corner," reads the chilling official description. "The dolls have come to life and want to make you one of them! Can you escape with your soul intact, or will you succumb to the evil in the Nightmare Dollhouse?"

Tickets are available for purchase right here.

This fall, head to the remote Shelter Island for a three-day murder mystery that’ll unfold all around you at one of its historic resorts.

The Pridwin, which we recently awarded five stars to, is hosting a murder mystery weekend October 20-22 that includes deluxe overnight accommodations (2 nights), welcome cocktails for two at The Terrace, three days of Murder Mystery Fun, breakfast for two each morning and dinner for two on Saturday evening— for $1,300.

“As you notice glasses clinking, you’re clued into an open secret: proprietor Dutch Schultz has opened a speakeasy on the property. His girlfriend, Lu Lu, is a regular fixture on the entertainment stage, much to the chagrin of local flapper, Rosie. The night roars along nicely, until bullets crack and the law shows up. As the smoke clears, a body falls—and it doesn’t look like the Charleston did it! Now, it’s up to you to crack the case during this exciting weekend at The Pridwin.”

RSVP if you dare!

Thousands of stories lie beneath the grounds at the historic Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, and this season, those tales are coming back to life through a variety of tours. Tours highlight everything from the cemetery’s Egypt-inspired art to fall foliage to tales of murder, mayhem, spirits and the utterly bizarre. If you dare, there are also midnight and after-hours tours where you can explore the grounds after dark.

Other highlights include the Concerts in the Catacombs series on Wednesday, October 4 and Thursday, October 5; a large-scale altar installation honoring Dia de los Muertos from October 15 through November 5; and the return of Nightfall, a 21-and-over evening of music and moving image on October 20.

Check out the full lineup of fall programming, and register for events, at the Green-Wood Cemetery website. 

Autumn brings some of the beautiful colors in nature with its crispy red leaves and bright orange pumpkins, so it's no surprise that Color Factory is going all out for the season as well.

The Soho immersive art museum will present Haunted Hues, a Halloween-themed takeover, running from September 14 to November 1 with plenty of tricks and treats. Tickets start at $39 and are on sale here.

The experience will include a pumpkin patch with a Color Factory twist, fun giveaways and fresh seasonal treats. Plus, guests can add on a new scavenger hunt to search for hidden monsters throughout the venue.

Magic Hour at the Moxy Times Square is now dubbed "Pink Pumpkin Patch" for fall.

Pink Pumpkin Patch on the hotel’s 18th floor incorporates gourds of unexpected hues—some o’-lanterned—into the grassy Stories/TikTok wall, bench setup and aforementioned steps. There are also the apparently nude, human-sized anthropomorphic bunnies with which Magic Hour has aligned itself, and some hay. 

The Moxy’s Magic Hour’s Pink Pumpkin Patch’s menu also includes on-theme treats like a flaming pink pumpkin dessert, “mummy” Krispies and caramel apples and cupcakes with spiders and skulls on top, respectively. In a zag from “I’m gonna do a cute costume this year” to the macabre, timely tipples include the doctor death, a bright red mix of rum and Vita Coco divided into a duo of IV-style bags for you and your boo, and the also moribund kiss of death, containing a way-less-threatening-than-it-sounds combination of rose petal gin, raspberry tea, lemon, and prosecco.

Literature lovers never go to bed alone. Prepare yourself for a night of good text at the immersive cabaret-and-reading series’ special Halloween-themed Masquerade blowout. Be sure to don a haunting costume and bring your occult magic energies to the Poetry Brothel: COVEN show.

The event promises an interactive poet-theatrical event "that is here to haunt your psyche, channel your fears into fables, and give you an unforgettable Halloween experience." You'll see a cast of poets each with their own carefully crafted characters, plus burlesque, live music, vaudeville, aerials, visual art, magic, and mysticism.

The show's on October 29 at DROM, with tickets ranging from $30-$300. 

Journey down the rabbit hole with this theatrical concert inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Brooklyn-based jam band Walrus (specializing in Beatles music) will perform new original music while doning wild costumes. They'll be joined by dancers and visual projections.

The band's comprised of Chris Mackin (guitar/vocals), Josh Santiago (guitar/vocals), Dan Shein (drums), Satoko Mori (keyboard/vocals), and Will Corona (bass/vocals). The show's presented by Loop Troupe with visual by projection designer Ghost of Provence and choreography by Megan Roe. 

Walrus in Wonderland at the event on Thursday, October 26 at Brooklyn Bowl. Be sure to wear wacky wonderland costumes for the event. 

Make sure to pair your costume with dancing shoes for Rollingween, an annual Halloween event known for its impeccable soundtrack. Music includes Afrobeats, dancehall, hip-hop and Amapiano. 

Be sure to wear a costume—and compete for a $500 prize awarded for best dressed costume. As the event organizers say, "Don't kill the fun by not wearing something to be part of the vibe."

The party's hosted by Blacc Fire Entertainment at SOB's Nightclub in Lower Manhattan's Hudson Square neighborhod. Rollingween runs from 11pm-4am on Sunday, October 29.

Autumn is the time to pick two of the season’s most emblematic fruits: apples and pumpkins. Fortunately there are some fantastic farms where you can go apple and pumpkin picking near NYC. These farms and orchards will get you into that fuzzy fall feeling in no time.

There’s nothing quite like taking a bite out of a crisp apple straight from the tree (even better, taking home a basketful for making pie), and your Halloween pumpkin will be that much more special when you pick it right off the vine. You’ll find a wide variety of apples and pumpkins at these farms, plus fun activities like hayrides, corn mazes and petting zoos. Don’t miss hot apple cider and other fresh-made treats at the farmstand. 

Laughing in a funeral home might feel as taboo as shouting in a library or microwaving fish in the office, but Ben Wasserman’s Live After Death comedy show performed in a Brooklyn funeral home will have you laughing out loud.

Part catharsis, part circus, you can see this comedy show about grief and loss at Blair-Mazzarella Funeral Home for $15. Live After Death promises juggling, karate, a seance, ventriloquism and intimate discussions with the audience about grief.

The show is coming up on October 28.

Shop 'til you drop at FAD Market, a curated fashion, art and design pop-up marketplace, which is back for 2023. Expect to see your favorite makers plus brand new creatives to help you live smarter, gift better and support local businesses. 

FAD—which stands for Fashion, Art and Design—takes over different venues with a horde of independent vendors and creators. Admission is free and dogs are welcome!

Around Halloween, the market will be held on October 28 and 29 (Fall Pop-up) at The Invisible Dog Art Center in Boerum Hill.