Halloween in New York 2021

Halloween in New York is big! Every year people go all out for this spooky holiday. New Yorkers decorate their houses and put on their most outlandish costume while the kids go trick or treating, door to door through their neighbourhood or apartment building for sweets and treats. Read on for my fun tips for what you can do on Halloween in New York!

What is Halloween?

Originally, Halloween is a pagan festival. It was considered to be the day on which spirits could contact the physical world. These days, people celebrate by dressing up and going out in their creepy costumes. Children go door to door, trick or treating in their local neighbourhoods to collect bags full of candy. Most households are well prepared with treats but if no sweets are available, a trick may be played! All this is done in fun, it is not the intention to pull nasty pranks.

When is Halloween?

Halloween falls annually on October the 31st.

What can you expect on Halloween?

During Halloween (and the weeks prior to it) in New York, houses and shops are decorated with Halloween memorabilia. Examples of which are: bats, spiders, witches, skeletons, blood, tombstones and, of course, ghosts and pumpkins that have been carved in to ghoulish shapes. These symbols can also be seen in people’s Halloween costumes.

The shops in New York are open for business as usual during Halloween as it is not a public holiday. You also won’t experience problems with traffic or irregular subway schedules.

Halloween Tours

If you’re in the mood for a spooky experience, I suggest taking the Madame Morbid’s Trolley Tour. This 1.5-hour tour in a Victorian style decorated trolley will give you goosebumps as you explore the darkest parts of Brooklyn! The tour is available Wednesday to Sunday.

Another tour taking you through New York’s most haunted locations is the Ghost Tour of Greenwich Village. Discover some of the spookiest spots in the city, like the house of Edgar Allan Poe and the Hanging Tree in Washington Square Park.

If you want to learn all about the ghosts of Broadway, you can book the Haunted Broadway Walking Tour. You’ll visit haunted theatres and sing along to famous ‘dark’ musicals, like Ghost and Phantom of the Opera.

Halloween Parties

Another great way to spend Halloween in New York is to attend a Halloween party in one of the fancy clubs or rooftop bars in the city. Join local New Yorkers dressed up in their best costumes and party all night long!

Click here for all Halloween Parties in New York

What can you do on Halloween in New York?

In the evening, at 19:00, the (Greenwich) Village Halloween Parade takes place in New York. Anyone (in costume) can participate in this parade, including tourists. Up to 50.000 people participate in the parade each year. There is live music, creepy decorations and people dressed up in their wildest Halloween costumes.