How to celebrate Halloween with family in New York?

Planning a trip to New York during late October? Get ready for a transformation: as Halloween approaches, the city becomes a pumpkin patch. Here’s how to make the most of it with your kids.

1/ Go all out with costumes and accessories

• Visit most drugstores around the city to find endless costume accessories. From glowing pumpkin glasses to wicked wands, you can easily transform into a ghost or vampire.
• The rule: go big and don’t hold back on accessories. They’ll make great (or hilarious) souvenirs to take home.

2/ Trick or treat!

• Love candy? Then play the part. When you want treats, you have to earn them. Flash your best fangs and shout the traditional “Trick or Treat!” to passersby. It’s a real threat: candy or a trick. While extortion isn’t usually part of my parenting philosophy, Halloween is the one exception I allow. 🙂

3/ Join a kids’ parade

• In the United States, people embrace Halloween celebrations and show them off. Why not let your kids join a Halloween parade? It’s a great way to experience local culture with New Yorkers.
• Tip: some parades are just for kids. Look for the one on James Cagney Place, located on East 91st Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. And don’t forget to practice saying “Happy Halloween!”

4/ Follow a witch through a spooky adventure!

• Every mid-October, I transform into a witch—a friendly one, don’t worry! Each year, I mount my broomstick to solve a new mystery. Can you help me crack the case?
• During our adventure, you’ll discover all the Halloween decorations alongside me. For 1.5 hours, you’ll be my apprentice witches! You’ll need to listen carefully to my clues to complete your mission and avoid being turned into a New York pumpkin. 😉 Abracadabra! Here’s the link to book your family Halloween tour.

5/ The great pumpkin contest

• Head to Washington Market Park on Saturday, October 25, 2025, starting at 4:45 pm to watch the pumpkin carving contest.
• Categories include scariest, funniest, and most creative pumpkins. If you want to enter, go for it! Washington Market Park is located on Greenwich Street between Duane and Chambers Streets.

6/ Experience a unique nighttime show

• Every year, The Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns transforms Governors Island with thousands of illuminated pumpkins, creating a magical world. It’s a must-do for any true New Yorker.
• Governors Island is the perfect setting, especially with its eerie legends. Visit after dark to see these glowing pumpkins at their most spectacular. Book your tickets early—access is limited.