New York City Kids Weekend Events for October 17-18: Free Harvest and Halloween Festivals and More

Yup, Halloween Events and Fall Harvest Festivals are taking over the city. Our event calendar is packed full of them and so is this weekend. Of course, the weather may not be playing nice so you maybe looking for some indoor activities. See them all in the calendar, but here are our selects for festivals, plus some other cool events you'll like (we've noted any festivals that will be going on rain or shine):

This weekend is also Diwali, find out about the events for kids to celebrate the Hindu Festival of Lights.

Saturday, October 17

Halloween Party at the Police Museum—Financial District, Manhattan
We always have a good time at Police Museum events. This one's complete with haunted house, trick-or-treat bag decorating, slimy activities and prizes, the kids will be having such spooky time they won’t even realize they’re being taught about safety. Cool bonus: every child gets a free Halloween wrist reflector. $7 Adults, $5 Kids, Under 2 Free.

Find out about more cool festivals this weekend: Harvest Festival at Jefferson Market Garden, Manhattan Country School Farm Festival, Halloween at the Seaport, PS 11 Fall Festival and more in our calendar.   

Museo del Barrio Opening Day Celebration—East Harlem, Manhattan
After a mighty grande renovation, El Museo del Barrio is opening with a bang. This all-day open house will feature Latin music shows by children and adults, children’s book readings and art-making workshops, walking tours of the newly renovated museum and more. FREE

Madison Square Fall Kids Fest- Flatiron, Manhattan
This is an annual favorite and if the weather is a little foul, but not too bad it might even be worth going since otherwise it can be way too crowded. Stop by for all things fall from pumpkin picking and decorating, concerts, shows, crafts and more. THey're even having a Halloween costume swap. Rain or shine and FREE.

Hilarious Author Read-A-Loud—Flatiron, Manhattan
If the weather gets too much at the Kid Fest, head over to laugh the afternoon away (and inside) at Books of Wonder’s book reading. Favorite author, Jon Scieszka, along with Lane Smith, Mark Teague, Mac Barnett, Robie Harris and Nick Bruel, will be at the store and reading aloud from their recent works, like The Stinky Cheesman. FREE

Monster House Movie Screening- Midtown, Manhattan
Considering the weather, it might be a perfect weekend to catch a free screening of Monster House at the Sony Technology Wonder Lab. Call for a reservation, (212) 833-7858.  Or check out some of the other haunted houses for kids around the city, starting this weekend.

Sunday, October 18

Uptown Treasures—Washington Heights/Inwood, Manhattan
You know all those places you've been meaning to hit, but never seem to hmake it up town, like the Cloisters, the Highbridge Tower, and other places you've never even heard of...WEll, they're inviting you to come uptown and check them out with a day-long celebration to make these cool culture spots even more fun. Celebrate the variety of cultural offerings in northern Manhattan with costumed historical re-enactors, live musical performances, guided tours of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, National Track & Field Hall of Fame (to name a few), treasure hunts and more. Rain or shine. FREE

NYC Apple Day—SoHo/LES, Manhattan
Check out the real, working cider press exhibitions, music and arts-and-crafts for the kids, tips on how to green your everyday lives and walking tours, but don’t miss out on this events’ highlight: the crazy amount of apple-themed treats. FREE

Old Stone House Harvest Festival—Park Slope, Brooklyn
This is the must hit event for Brooklyn Peeps, a really fun harvest festival at the Old Stone House. Kick-off Brooklyn’s Halloween festivities with Mr. Ray, who will perform at 11:30AM, a puppet performance of “With Bungle,” a puppet costume parade, pumpkins, pony rides, face painting, and more. FREE

Don't forget there's also lots more fall festivals and other events going on in all of the boroughs this weekend, so be sure to visit our calendar and see what’s happening for families on Long Island and in New Jersey. including some really cool fall festivals.