Halloween lands on a Saturday in 2026, which means the neighborhood calendar is especially full: spooky storytimes, museum parties, pumpkin crafts, family concerts, costume parades, and car-free trick-or-treating blocks. I pulled together all the Halloween events I have found so far in Midtown and on the Upper West Side, with the easy library options first and the big October 31 plans at the end.
Double-check the event page before you go, especially for outdoor events and anything that requires tickets or RSVP. Want weekly updates? Join the newsletter →
Early October
October 3 — Storytime at the Morgan: Spooky Stories Morgan Library A gentle spooky-season storytime and related craft in one of Midtown's prettiest museum spaces.
October 10 — Oíche Shamhna / An Irish Halloween Irish Arts Center, 726 11th Avenue A Samhain-rooted Halloween celebration with music, dance, storytelling, and crafts about Ireland's legendary cats.
October 16 — Spooky Storytime! St. Agnes Library Festive Halloween stories that are spooky, not scary.
Halloween Week
October 20 — Halloween Perler Beads St. Agnes Library Kids can make Halloween designs with Perler beads.
October 20 — Little New-Yorkers: She Made a Monster The New York Historical A Little New-Yorkers storytime about how Mary Shelley dreamed up Frankenstein, followed by art-making.
October 23 — Little New-Yorkers: She Made a Monster The New York Historical A second afternoon for the same Frankenstein-inspired storytime and art-making program.
October 24 — Vanderbilt Hall-O-ween Vanderbilt Hall, Grand Central Terminal Come in costume for pumpkin crafting, a kids' costume parade contest for ages 5–12, raffle prizes, and a live set from The Rock and Roll Playhouse.
October 24 — Mozart for Munchkins: Spooky Sounds Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, 263 W 86th Street A short, Halloween-themed classical concert on the Upper West Side where wiggling is welcome and costumes are encouraged.
October 25 — Columbus Avenue Open Street Columbus Avenue, West 68th Street to West 77th Street A car-free open street on Columbus Avenue during Trick-or-Streets season.
October 25 — Sunday Story Time: Lila and the Jack-o'-Lantern The New York Historical A cozy pre-Halloween storytime and craft built around a Halloween history picture book.
October 25 — Halloween Children's Party East 50th Street and Beekman Place A neighborhood Halloween party with face painting, tattoos, and balloons.
October 26 — Movie Monday: The Nightmare Before Christmas Riverside Library A low-key after-school screening of the Halloween-and-holiday classic.
October 26 — Crafternoon: Clay Monsters 53rd Street Library A storytime followed by making clay monsters.
October 27 — Family Movie: Twitches St. Agnes Library A Halloween-week movie afternoon about magical twins.
October 30 — Spooktacular MAD Halloween Party! Museum of Arts and Design Come in costume for hands-on art activities, mask making, spooky pom-poms, pop-up cards, and a Halloween photo booth.
October 30 — HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR Dance with Miss Rachel UWS, 529 Columbus Avenue A drop-off Halloween party with dancing, spooky songs, crafts, pizza, and costumes encouraged.
Halloween Day: October 31
Family Mornings: FaBOOlous Farm Friends Central Park Zoo, Tisch Children's Zoo A sensory-inclusive morning before the zoo opens, with animal-themed activities, a chance to help with animal breakfast, and all-day zoo admission included.
Halloween Celebration American Museum of Natural History A big museum Halloween day with trick-or-treating, a costume parade, music, dancing, crafts, science demos, face painting, and balloon animals. Costumes are encouraged, but Halloween masks are not allowed.
Spooktacular at Hudson Yards Hudson Yards Public Square and Gardens A Midtown Halloween morning with Spooky Sounds by Mozart for Munchkins at 11 AM, a KIDZ BOP Monster Bash Dance Party at 1 PM, a photo booth, pumpkin decorating, and trick-or-treating on Vessel for ticket holders.
Family Screening: Phantom Boy L'Alliance New York, Florence Gould Theater A French animated mystery for older kids who can handle a little noir mood. French with English subtitles.
1976 Historical Hallowe'en Party The New York Historical A history-meets-Halloween party with a 1970s twist.
Wink Pediatric Eye Care Halloween Party 424 West End Avenue, between 80th and 81st Streets Celebrate Halloween with a photo booth, coloring station, balloons, and a bubble dance party.
Hippo Playground Halloween Parade Meet at Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Riverside Park at W 89th Street A classic Upper West Side parade from Soldiers and Sailors Monument to Hippo Playground, followed by a family concert.
Tricks and Treats Bryant Park, Overlook and the Holiday Shops Bring the kids in costume for pumpkin decorating, face painting, a puppet show, crafts, and a 5 PM magic show. Pick up a free trick-or-treat tote at Le Carrousel or Overlook starting at 4 PM, then visit participating Holiday Shops for treats. Pumpkins and totes are available while supplies last. Check the event page for the confirmed date before making plans.
Trick-or-Treating Streets
NYC DOT's Trick-or-Streets list includes several Upper West Side and Midtown blocks that are especially useful for families planning Halloween evening:
- West 78th Street, Amsterdam Avenue to Columbus Avenue: 4:00–9:00 PM
- West 87th Street, Columbus Avenue to Central Park West: 4:00–9:00 PM
- West 87th Street, Riverside Drive to West End Avenue: 4:30–7:30 PM
- West 69th Street, Broadway to Central Park West: 6:00–8:00 PM
- West 55th Street, 8th Avenue to 9th Avenue: 6:00–8:00 PM
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