New Yorkers love Halloween!
We plan some of the biggest parades and bashes in the country every year. October is already a great time to visit to see the Fall foliage and enjoy less crowds compared to the madness of the summer and the winter holiday season but seeing all the great decorations, costumes, and events makes it even better! Here at Top Dog we have rounded up some of the best activities and special events to consider if you will be with us this month.
Best Spooky Decorations
Many NYC locations go all out with their Halloween decorations each October. While you are here you have to get some great pictures to send to relatives or post online. Check out some of our favorite places to snap a photo!
Chelsea Market
One of our most popular tours is our Chelsea, Highline, and Meatpacking District Tour. Chelsea Market is fun any time of year but our favorite time to visit has to be around Halloween. They have some decorations which can actually be a bit scary, especially because they utilize their ceiling space to hang scary things above your head! This year they seem to be focusing on skeletons, a few years ago they had some very scary scarecrows all over the place so come back annually to see what they do next! Chelsea Market offers some incredible local food, drink, and shopping while you check out their decor. This year they also offer trick or treating and pumpkin carving on Halloween, more details below.
chelseamarket.com/events-all/pumpkincarving-6ehr9-mxp37
topdogtours.com/tours/new-york-city/chelsea-market-high-line-meatpacking-district/
Lillie’s Victorian Bar and Restaurant
Halloween lovers have two great choices for a spooky place to eat and drink. Lillie’s Victorian has a space in Union Square and another right off Times Square, both very convenient locations. This bar and restaurant is packed to the gills with animatronic figures of Annabelle the doll and swinging clowns with cobwebs all over the place. They are going for a haunted Victorian mansion theme and they definitely deliver. If you like your decorations scary rather than simply spooky consider grabbing drinks or dinner here. They are not just a tourist trap either- they have incredible steak, cocktails, and some crowd-favorite french fries. After strutting your stuff in your Halloween costume, they are the perfect place to get some food and photos. Also keep in mind October 28th they are having a Halloween runway contest with awards for best costume!
Halloween House at the Oculus
Described as “no fear, just fun” this is an immersive Halloween experience for people with children (or adults) who may scare easily but still want to see some amazing decorations in a beautiful space. The Oculus is steps away from the 9/11 Memorial and is a bustling transportation hub and shopping mall. It is impressive and worth a visit any time of year but this Halloween event is a great addition to your visit. Running all month long this experience allows you to enter a Halloween world with different themed rooms such as the “trick or treat room” and the “vampires lair”, each offering many opportunities for photos. Get tickets below.
NYC Halloween Parades
We have no shortage of Halloween parades here in NYC, here are just a few!
Greenwich Village Halloween Parade
This is a big year for NYC’s most famous Halloween Parade- they are celebrating 50 years of bringing the creepy and creative to the streets of the Village. People plan all year and make amazing costumes, huge puppets, and elaborate group dance numbers and it really is a sight to see. Be prepared to get to the village early, space fills up fast and don’t even think about driving, we can guarantee there will be no parking! This event is Halloween night starting at 7 PM. Find out more below.
Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade
Tompkins Square Halloween Dog ParadeThe whole city was up in arms when organizers for the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade announced an indefinite halt to the beloved annual event due to skyrocketing permit costs. Fortunately after much outrage the mayor’s office dropped their permit fee from $50,000 to only $5,000 and a company called Getjoy partnered with the organizers to make sure the event could be held this year after all. Each year in the East Village thousands of dogs and dog lovers get together to see some adorable and creative costumes. Check out more info at the link below.
Park Slope Halloween Parade
Now in its fifth year, this event is perfect for the kids. They can show off their Halloween costume and get some candy. On Halloween this year the trick or treating runs from 3-6 PM and the parade begins at 6:30 PM. On the route you should also see some of the best Halloween decorations Brooklyn has to offer! This event is considered to be one of the biggest Halloween events for children in the area so don’t miss it!
parkslopeciviccouncil.org/events/halloween-parade/
NYC’s Best Haunted Happenings
For some people, Halloween is not just about costumes and candy but about ghosts and haunted locations too. Many people do not know how haunted NYC is, we are home to many ghostly sites. Check out some below if you dare.
The Morris-Jumel Mansion
The Morris-Jumel MansionThis place is a must-see for history buffs. The Morris-Jumel mansion is considered the oldest surviving house in Manhattan. It should be no surprise that it is considered to be one of the city’s most haunted buildings as well. The building dates to 1765 and was used by George Washington and later occupied by British and Hessian forces during the American Revolution. The building’s most prolific ghost is that of Eliza Jumel, who some say still interacts with people to this day and has been spotted both inside the house and on the grounds surrounding it. During the day they offer tours (both self-guided and docent led) but this month they also feature candle-lit after hours ghost tours some evenings. Check for availability, they are selling out fast!
morrisjumel.org/events/candlelight-ghost-tour-2/
The Merchant’s House Museum
Another one of the most haunted buildings in NYC is the Merchant’s House Museum in Greenwich Village. The Treadwell family lived here for generations and ever since its last resident passed away many strange paranormal phenomena have been reported. Many believe Gertrude Treadwell who was born in the house in the 1840s and lived there all her life is the spirit most likely behind all the strange activity but perhaps plan a visit to find out for yourself! The house is now home to a museum and is open year round but there are many extra activities for spooky season such as an evening of American Gothic stories and candlelight ghost tours. Check out more below.
merchantshouse.org/october2023/
Top Dog Tours Ghosts of Greenwich Village Tour
One of the few ghost tours that run year round, we really love ghosts at Top Dog Tours! Easily one of our most popular tours, we can show you the places that are truly haunted, not just the ones you can find online. From a former graveyard turned park to an unassuming apartment building called “The House of Murder” to a plethora of haunted bars and speakeasies we can turn the biggest skeptics into believers. Running every night from 8-10 PM our ghost tour is a great compliment to your visit whether you come during spooky season or not! More information and tickets are available below.
topdogtours.com/tours/new-york-city/ghosts-of-greenwich-village/
