Halloween Fun and Activities for NY Kids

Halloween can be one of the most magical times of year for New York City kids; you just have to know what to do. It's one of the few times where the city turns itself over to the children and everyone goes out of their way to make sure they have a great time. Here's what you need to know to have the best Halloween in New York—from the best children's parades, the best places to Trick or Treat, and more ghastly goodness. And more to come. Like always, we'll keep adding more great posts as we write them. So check back in. Or subscribe to our free emails.

Enter our Halloween Photo Contest. Snap a shot of your little one in their Halloween Costume and send it in. Lots of winners, loads of prizes. Find out more on our Halloween Photo Contest Page.

For some winning Halloween costume ideas for children take a look at our Homemade Kids Costume Ideas post. And for Halloween costume ideas for babies, check out the RookieMoms Halloween Costumes for Babies Guide.

Halloween Fun for NYC Kids

Best Places to Trick or Treat with Kids in NYC

Trick or treating in your building is great for adults because it feels so safe, but it is nowhere near as exciting and magical for kids as getting to run around the neighborhood at night and go door to door. We've rounded up the best places for trick or treating in New York for kids.

6 Haunted Houses for NYC Kids
Looking for some spooky, but not too spooky, fun for Halloween? We've got 6 Haunted Houses in NYC that won't give your kids nightmares. Some of them are even free.

15 Free Halloween Events for Children in NYC
15 cool and free events throughout the city including magic shows, creepy candle-lt tours, haunted houses and more.

5 Magical Family Halloween Events
Five events that each take a different spin on celebrating the holiday, aren't too commercialized, and bring that Halloween magic that will give you and your family great Halloween memories.

15 Halloween Parades for NYC Kids
15 of the best Halloween Parades for kids in NYC, in some of the best trick or treating neighborhoods, where you'll see lots of great, creative costumes and adorable kids. Go for the parade. Stay for the trick or treating.

Best (not too scary) Haunted Houses on Long Island for Kids
There is one activity that is synanomous with Halloween: a trip to a Haunted House, and it can be hard to find a haunted house that isn’t scary. We set out to find some of the best Haunted Houses on Long Island, keeping everyone in the family in mind.

Best Places to Trick or Treat in Long Island
We’ve compiled a list of great villages and spots across Long Island that are perfect to visit where you’ll find plenty of kids and lots of candy.

Best Halloween Children's Books and Spooky Stories

Reading some great Halloween stories is a fun way to extend the fun and excitement of Halloween. I've collected my all-time favorite Halloween books, a bunch of classics and a couple of brand-new classics. All sure to either make Halloween even spookier or a little less so.

3 Cool Halloween Events on Long Island
The museums, the parks, the playspaces: everyone is doing Halloween events right now. With more options than ever before, I set out to find some of the coolest and most unique Halloween activities on Long Island that would be worth a trip from the city or beyond. 

Best Halloween Links
We've rounded up our best finds for fun and helpful tips for parents from all over the internets. Find decorating and costume ideas, how to make your halloween greener, your jack o'lantern spookier, and tons of other tips.

More Halloween Links Cool craft projects, spooky treats and more NYC Halloween fun.

For more Halloween activity ideas, don't forget to check our event calendar which has over 55, mostly free, Halloween events for kids in New York.

More Fall Fun

Apple Picking Where to go apple picking plus some apple festivals right here in the city. Also check out our recommendations for where to go Apple Picking with Toddlers.

Pumpkin Picking and Fall Festivals in Long Island
A list of some of the best pumpkin picking and Fall farms on Long Island with soe special reasons that it will be worth a trip.

Visit the farms of Westchester
Did you know that there are also farms in Westchester that you can visit with kids? Here are the spots that are under an hour of New York City, where your kids could be gamboling with sheep, rounding up chickens, and milking cows.