Where to Find Halloween Events in New York City This Weekend

If you are looking for a Halloween event in New York City this weekend, the key date is Saturday, October 24, 2026. Halloween itself falls on Saturday, October 31, 2026, so many of the city’s family-friendly events are happening one week early. The most reliable place to start is the City’s seasonal roundup, Happy Halloween, NYC!, which lists current city-backed events including park festivals, dog parades, movies, and neighborhood parades.

Below are some of the clearest, current options happening in NYC this weekend, with important details on where they are, what kind of event they are, and what to know before you go.

Best official Halloween events in NYC this weekend

Halloween Fest 2026 in Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn

One of the most straightforward city-listed options is Halloween Fest 2026, taking place at Monument Plaza in Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn, on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The city says the event includes spooky stories, face painting, family-friendly games, and more. It is free, no RSVP is required, and the listed rain date is October 25. This is a good pick if you want a simple daytime Halloween outing for children and families. (nyc.gov)

High Line Halloween: Gnome-topia in Manhattan

Another city-listed event is High Line Halloween: Gnome-topia, scheduled for October 24, 2026 on the High Line in Manhattan. The city listing notes that if there is extreme weather, the event will move to October 31, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you want a Manhattan event and prefer a well-known public space, this is one of the most prominent official choices for the weekend. (nyc.gov)

Halloween Boo Bash on Randall’s Island

NYC’s main site also highlights the Halloween Boo Bash at the White Garden in Randall’s Island Park on October 24 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The city describes it as a free, family-friendly Halloween event. Randall’s Island can be a good option if you want something outdoors that is a little less centered on busy commercial corridors. (nyc.gov)

Riverside Park Pup Halloween Parade on the Upper West Side

If you want a Halloween event with dogs rather than a standard kids’ festival, the Riverside Park Pup Halloween Parade is happening on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Riverside Park. The route starts at Dinosaur Playground on 96th Street and ends at Ellington’s Cafe at 105th Street for a costume contest. The organizer says people who want to walk in the parade and enter the costume contest should register, while spectators can simply show up and watch. The listed rain date is October 25. (riversideparknyc.org)

Gowanus Fall Fest in Brooklyn

For a broader fall event with Halloween elements, Gowanus Fall Fest is set for Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 420 Baltic Street, Brooklyn. According to the Brooklyn Borough President’s office, it includes a winter coat giveaway, health screenings, food, face painting, a costume contest, and more. This may be a practical choice if you want a neighborhood event with community services mixed in. (brooklynbp.nyc.gov)

Citywide street events and Trick-or-Streets locations

If your question is less “which single event?” and more “where in NYC can I find Halloween activity this weekend?”, the City’s Trick-or-Streets program is especially useful. NYC DOT lists many car-free open streets and plazas with Halloween-themed activities.

For Saturday, October 24, 2026, listed examples include:

Southern Boulevard to Simpson Street, Bronx for the 41st Annual Bronx Halloween Parade, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (nyc.gov)
Brady Avenue, Bronx, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (nyc.gov)
Franklin Avenue Open Street, Brooklyn from Eastern Parkway to Dean Street, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (nyc.gov)
11th Avenue in Brooklyn from 67th Street to 66th Street for NIA Halloween Spooktacular, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. (nyc.gov)
Harway Avenue, Brooklyn from Bay 37 Street to 24 Avenue, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. (nyc.gov)
Murdock Plaza, Queens, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (nyc.gov)
Forest Parkway, Queens from 86 Road to Jamaica Avenue, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. (nyc.gov)
Roebling Street Open Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (nyc.gov)
5th Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn from 85th Street to 72nd Street, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. (nyc.gov)

The Mayor’s Office also announced that the 2026 Trick-or-Streets program includes 160 car-free open streets and plazas citywide, with specific Saturday, October 24 signature activity in borough locations including Canal Open Street and Division Plaza in Manhattan and James Baldwin Plaza in the Bronx. (nyc.gov)

How to choose the right Halloween event

Best for families with young children

Events in parks and plazas are the easiest choices if you want crafts, costumes, and a daytime schedule. The strongest official picks are:

Fort Greene Park’s Halloween Fest (nyc.gov)
Halloween Boo Bash on Randall’s Island (nyc.gov)
High Line Halloween (nyc.gov)
Trick-or-Streets neighborhood events across multiple boroughs (nyc.gov)

Best if you want to stay in Manhattan

Your best Manhattan options this weekend are:

High Line Halloween: Gnome-topia (nyc.gov)
Riverside Park Pup Halloween Parade if you like dog costume events (riversideparknyc.org)
City-listed Manhattan locations in the broader Trick-or-Streets network, including the Mayor’s Office mention of Canal Open Street and Division Plaza on October 24. (nyc.gov)

Best if you want lots of neighborhood activity

Brooklyn appears especially busy this weekend, with:

Fort Greene Park Halloween Fest (nyc.gov)
Gowanus Fall Fest (brooklynbp.nyc.gov)
Multiple Trick-or-Streets sites in Franklin Avenue, Harway Avenue, Roebling Street, and Bay Ridge 5th Avenue. (nyc.gov)

Important information before you go

1) This weekend is not Halloween night

A lot of visitors assume the big Village Halloween Parade is happening this weekend, but the official city event listing for the 2026 Halloween Parade is dated October 31, 2026, not October 24. So if you are asking about this weekend, you should focus on the early neighborhood festivals, park events, and DOT open-street celebrations instead. (nyc.gov)

2) Many events are outdoors

Several of the weekend events are in parks, plazas, or open streets. Some list rain dates or weather contingencies, including Fort Greene’s Halloween Fest and the Riverside Park Pup Halloween Parade, while the High Line notes an extreme-weather move to October 31. Check the organizer page again before leaving home. (nyc.gov)

3) Free does not always mean walk-up participation for every activity

Most of these events are free to attend, but some activities inside them may have their own rules. For example, the Riverside Park Pup Halloween Parade asks participants to register if they want to walk in the parade and enter the costume contest. Spectating is simpler than entering. (riversideparknyc.org)

4) Street closures can affect travel

Because many events use open streets or parade routes, local traffic patterns may change. NYC DOT’s weekly advisory notes street closures for multiple events on Saturday, October 24, 2026. If you are traveling between boroughs or using rideshare, expect extra time. (home4.nyc.gov)

Quick picks by borough

Manhattan

High Line Halloween: Gnome-topia (nyc.gov)
Riverside Park Pup Halloween Parade (riversideparknyc.org)
Canal Open Street / Division Plaza Trick-or-Streets programming (nyc.gov)

Brooklyn

Halloween Fest at Fort Greene Park (nyc.gov)
Gowanus Fall Fest (brooklynbp.nyc.gov)
Franklin Avenue, Roebling Street, Harway Avenue, and Bay Ridge 5th Avenue Trick-or-Streets sites (nyc.gov)

Bronx

41st Annual Bronx Halloween Parade area on Southern Boulevard to Simpson Street (nyc.gov)
James Baldwin Plaza Trick-or-Streets programming (nyc.gov)

Queens

Murdock Plaza Trick-or-Streets event (nyc.gov)
Forest Parkway Trick-or-Streets event (nyc.gov)

Randall’s Island

Halloween Boo Bash (nyc.gov)

Bottom line

If you want a single easy answer to “where is a Halloween event in New York City this weekend?”, start with Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn, the High Line in Manhattan, or Randall’s Island Park on Saturday, October 24, 2026. If you want more neighborhood choices, use the City’s Trick-or-Streets list to find a car-free Halloween event closer to your borough. And if you were hoping for the big Village Halloween Parade, that is next weekend, on October 31, 2026, not this weekend. (nyc.gov)