Whether it’s the Village’s 46th annual Halloween Parade or a jaunt through the crypts at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, we know just what will spook you.
So scroll down to start planning your descent into madness. Oh sorry, we meant fun.
Manhattan
The Village Halloween Parade — Don your costume and head out to New York’s biggest free Halloween tradition. The 46th annual Village Halloween Parade will feature countless floats, wild costumes, dancers and more. There is a VIP Robot Section in keeping with this year’s theme, “Wild Thing!” To guarantee a spot at this popular event, plan to get there early. Even better, walk in the parade yourself. (The route is Sixth Avenue between Spring Street and 16th Street on Oct. 31, 7 to 10:30 p.m., Halloween-nyc.com)
“Frankenstein” the musical — See the horrifying classic “Frankenstein” done as a two-act musical by composer and physicist Eric B. Sirota and director Clint Hromsco. ($39.50-$59.50; Tuesdays at 7 p.m. and at 11 a.m. on Nov. 20 and Dec. 18; St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 W. 46th St., thefrankensteinmusical.com)
“A Cynic’s Guide to Ghosts” tour — This Halloween tour takes you through the city to see the sites of some of the grisliest murders, where the CIA used prostitutes to dose unsuspecting men with LSD and where a hippie got cut in half and stuffed in a boiler, according to Hidden New York Tours. ($35; Oct. 26, 29, 30, Nov. 1-3, from 6 to 8 p.m., hiddennewyorktours.com)
“Death, Mourning, and the Hereafter in Mid-19th Century New York” —As it does each October, the Merchant’s House Museum in the East Village is transforming into a house of mourning, with a mock funeral service set up in its parlor, coffin plates and postmortem photographs in the hallways, and even funeral biscuits in the servants’ kitchen. The exhibition explains what it was like when the Tredwell family mourned the death of its patriarch and six other family members. New this year, a costumed interpreter will portray Eliza Tredwell, the patriarch Seabury’s widow, and will greet guests and answer questions about life and death in the 19th century. ($15; Sept. 26-Nov. 4, Friday to Monday, 12 to 5 p.m.; guided tours, Friday to Monday at 2 p.m. and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.; 29 E. Fourth St.; merchantshouse.org)
“Killing an Evening with Edgar Allan Poe: Murder at the Merchant’s House” — John Kevin Jones, a Poe impersonator, will perform Poe’s tales “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Raven,” “The Pit and the Pendulum” and “The Cask of Amontillado” in the parlor, which will be made up with a coffin and mirrors in black crepe. ($40-$55, Sept. 24- Oct. 13 and Oct. 31-Nov. 3; 29 E. Fourth St., merchantshouse.org)
Candlelight Ghost Tours of “Manhattan’s Most Haunted House” — Eight family members died in the Merchant House and their funerals were held in the parlor. Venture through the three-story home by candlelight to hear about people’s actual ghostly experiences in the home. The museum is said to be the most haunted place in the city. ($45; Oct. 25-26 and 28-30; 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.; 29 E. Fourth St.; merchantshouse.org)
“Halloween Extravaganza & Procession of the Ghouls” — A “Grand Procession” will saunter down the aisle at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York as part of this year’s Halloween Extravaganza and Procession of Ghouls. The annual event features characters by puppet and mask maker and theater director Ralph Lee, who created New York City’s Halloween Parade. There will also be a silent screening of the 1922 “Nosferatu” set to live organ music. ($27.50; Oct. 25 at 10 p.m.; 1047 Amsterdam Ave., Harlem; web.ovationtix.com)
“Crypt Crawls: Spotlight on Halloween” — Hear the stories of the residents of the crypt at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine and see where they are buried. The guide will also discuss the origin of Halloween as a Celtic new year celebration. ($25; Oct. 25-26; at various times; meet at the church’s visitor’s center; 1047 Amsterdam Ave., Harlem; stjohndivine.org)
Children’s Halloween Parade March — Gather at Washington Square Park’s fountain for free trick-or-treat bags, performances, games and rides, which will follow the parade on West Third Street, between LaGuardia Place and Mercer Street. (Free; Oct. 31 from 3 to 6 p.m.; Greenwich Village; washingtonsquareparkconservancy.org)
Bane Haunted House — One of New Jersey’s top-rated haunted houses has moved to Manhattan and will open Sept 20. The five-floor building has more than 30 rooms, each one with different fears represented and actors who kidnap and touch guests. The story? Dr. Michael Bane experimented on animals in the family barn. One day, his daughter got bit by one of the experiments and the next morning, most of the family was found dead, except for Jennifer, Dr. Bane’s daughter. All of the props are realistic, including a real metal mortuary cooler. ($35; 7 to 11 p.m.; 618 W. 46th St., Hell’s Kitchen; banehauntedhouse.com)
Trick-or-Treat in East Midtown —Families and children 12 and younger are invited to trick-or-treat at local businesses in East Midtown. Starting at 3 p.m. Oct. 31, ghouls and ghosts can pick up their bags, get their faces painted and more. (Free; 3 to 7 p.m.; 919 Third Ave.; eastmidtown.org)
Elizabeth Street Garden Harvest Festival — Head out to the garden for free fun and magical activities, from pumpkin decorating to face painting and more. (Free; Oct. 26 from noon to 4 p.m. Rain date is Oct. 27; between Prince and Spring streets; elizabethstreetgarden.com)
Refinery’s Hotel of Horrors — Book a room for a scary stay at the Refinery Hotel, which will transform its entire 12th floor into a haunted hotel. Guests can opt in to be scared throughout their visit with unexpected zombies, ghosts, thrills and creepy creatures. Themed room service dishes include “Devil on Horseback,” and “Witch’s Curls.” (Starting at $499 per night; Oct. 25-31; 63 W. 38th St., midtown; refineryhotelnewyork.reztrip.com)
Comedians with ghost stories — Hear from comedians about the scariest things that have ever happened to them on Halloween night. Adam Mamawala, Maria Wojciechowski, Srilatha Rajamani, Jericho Davidson, and Pranav Behari will spook you with suspenseful (and probably funny) tales. ($10-$12; 9:30 p.m.; Caveat, 21A Clinton St.; caveat.nyc)
Pumpkitecture — Watch 20 architecture firms go “gourd-to-gourd” to compete for first place at this live-carving event. “What firm will succeed in summoning the Brutal ghost of Marcel Booeuer or invoking the spirit of Michael Gravesyard? Will the Crowned Curibita be inspired by Frank-o-Lloyd Wright’s Guggengourd?” Find out for yourself. ($15; Oct. 25, 6 to 8:30 p.m.; Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Pl.; calendar.aiany.org)
Voodoo 849 — Dominique Jackson of FX’s “Pose” and Countess Luann de Lesseps and Dorinda Medley from “Real Housewives of New York” will host a Halloween ball honoring the life of Marie Laveau, the voodoo high priestess of New Orleans. When you enter, you’ll be transported to NoLa’s French Quarter with a main ballroom inspired by the St. Louis Cathedral, and a bar inspired by St. Louis One — the city’s infamous cemetery where Laveau still lies today. ($79; 9 p.m.; Second at the Kimpton Hotel Eventi, 849 Sixth Ave.; eventbrite.com)
Brooklyn
BKLYN BOO — Enjoy an afternoon of family-friendly fun at City Point in Downtown Brooklyn, including pumpkin carving, a pumpkin patch, spooky selfies, face-painting, and arts and crafts. (Free; 2 to 5 p.m.; 445 Albee Square West; citypointbrooklyn.com)
Halloween Haunted Walk & Fair at Prospect Park — Little ghosts and ghouls can come to Prospect Park for a fair on the Nethermead, where they can enjoy family-friendly activities, sweets and treats from food trucks. (Free; Oct. 26 from noon to 3 p.m.; Prospect Park, Brooklyn; eventbrite.com)
The Cityfox Halloween Festival — Avant Gardner is transforming into a Halloween festival grounds with a maze of musical stages, interactive rooms, lounges and surprises. There will be more than 14 DJs and live acts to keep you entertained, too. ($60-$80; Oct. 26, from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. Oct. 27; 140 Stewart Ave., East Williamsburg; eventbrite.com)
Halloween Fest at 50 Kent Ave. — Show up to the Pop-Up Park at Bushwick Inlet Park for an afternoon of pumpkin decorating, costume-making, parading, live music and entertainment by the Shinbone Alley Stilt Band, face-painting and more. (Free; Oct. 26, 11 a.m.; 50 Kent Ave. Brooklyn; facebook.com)
Halloween Harvest at Luna Park — Trick-or-treat and pick a pumpkin at Luna Park, which will be transformed into a maze of costumed characters, magic shows and stilt walkers for its annual Halloween Harvest that ends Oct. 27. ($42 pass for kids and their families includes unlimited rides and the aforementioned spooktacular fun; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Coney Island; lunaparknyc.com)
“Walk of Fear” at The Springs — Ominous lighting, terrifying music, creepy vignettes and Halloween-themed entertainment is coming to Greenpoint’s The Springs from Oct. 4-31. During this time, its new fall cocktails will be on the menu. (The cost of entry is one drink per person, $6-$13; 6 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and 6 to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 224 Franklin St., Greenpoint; thesprings-bk.com)
Horror films at Nitehawk Cinema — On Monday, you’ll find favorite made-for-TV horror films from the 1970s on the big screen at Nitehawk, but the cinema is keeping the titles a secret until the night of the screenings. Otherwise, you can catch “The Addams Family,” “Zombieland,” and more at both locations. (136 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg and 188 Prospect Park West, South Slope; nitehawkcinema.com)
“Hot Mama” Halloween drag show — Heartbeat Opera is back with its annual Halloween Drag extravaganza and this time the show is about climate collapse and honoring Mother Earth. (From $30; 8 p.m. on Oct. 30 and 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 31; Roulette, 509 Atlantic Ave.; heartbeatopera.org)
Best Dog Day Ever pop-up — Take your pup to this Halloween-themed experience by The Dodo that includes a 1950s-style (Trick or) Treat Shoppe, a canine corn maze and a pumpkin patch with pits full of plush toys, free doggie makeovers, a costume cam photo opp, a Halloween parade and dog adoptions. ($35; through Oct. 27; 25 Kent, Williamsburg; bestdogdayever.com)
Hell Halloween Party — Carnage is throwing a Halloween party for nearly 4,000 people with aerialists, headless ghosts, fire performers, a robot and more. ($34-$64; 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Oct. 31; Avant Gardner, 140 Stewart Ave.; eventbrite.com)
Bronx
“The Turn of the Screw” operatic ghost story — Head to Wave Hill for a night of terror and opera. This immersive production by On Site Opera and Benjamin Britten takes place at several locations around the estate, both inside and out, with the audience following the characters from place to place. The story is based on the 1898 Gothic thriller by Henry James about a governess who is thrust into life at a possibly haunted estate, where the children she watches are seemingly targeted by the malicious spirits. ($75, which includes admission to Wave Hill’s grounds; Oct. 25-26 at 7:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Oct. 27; West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx; osopera.org)
Queens
Queens Night Market Halloween edition — Trick-or-treat and compete for prizes in a costume contest at the Queens Night Market. Prizes include swag from the New York Mets, a membership to the New York Hall of Science, concert tickets from Forest Hills Stadium and numerous gift certificates from the market’s vendors. As per usual, there will be live music, drinks, crafts and more at the market. (Oct. 26, 5 p.m. to midnight; Flushing Meadows Corona Park; queensnightmarket.com)
The Big Quiz Thing: Halloween Edition — Prepare to prove your knowledge of useless information at this live trivia game themed for Halloween with a mid-show costume contest and humorous videos throughout. Winners get “frighteningly excellent” prizes from the game’s sponsors. ($10; Oct. 29 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.; QED Astoria, 27-16 23rd Ave., Astoria; eventbrite.com)
Haunted farmhouse and festival at the Queens County Farm Museum — Try getting out of Queens Farm’s maze in the moonlight on Saturdays and Sundays until 9 p.m. Tickets are $12. If you need more spooks, its Haunted Farmhouse opens on Oct. 26 from 1 to 7 p.m. and tickets are only $4; and it’s children’s Halloween Festival is slated for Oct. 27 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 on queensfarm.org.
Governors Island
Pumpkin Point — Bring your family to Governors Island’s pumpkin patch with more than 5,000 pumpkins in Nolan Park for a fun photo opp and Halloween-inspired arts and crafts or to buy your own to take home. (Free; Oct. 25-27)
Trick-or-Treat —Young visitors and their families can get free treats in their costumes on a first-come-first-served basis. (Free; 1 p.m. on Oct. 26; Nolan Park)
Night of 1,000 Jack O’Lanterns — Gaze upon 1,000 intricately carved and painted pumpkins by experts and watch live carving demonstrations. ($26; Oct. 25-27; Colonels Row)
