Local shops and restaurants tend to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters after school on Halloween itself (October 31). But before that, there are plenty of ways to make the holiday into a multi-day affair. Note: The text below is by each respective organization; click the blue links for more info.

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Friday, October 27

Asphalt Screams 2017
Asphalt Screams will be held at both our Upper East Side and Battery Park City campuses on Friday, October 27, 2017 from 4pm to 6pm. Don’t be late—the first 500 kids at each campus will receive a goody bag! RSVP now by clicking here! Wear your best costume and join us for an afternoon of tricks, treats, and active Halloween games. Free and open to the public, Asphalt Screams will feature trick or treating and sports-related activities, including a Spooktacular Soccer Shootout. Entry is free, but donations are welcome! All proceeds from the event will support our free community programs, serving 33,000 New Yorkers with sports and fitness opportunities.

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Saturday, October 28

Church Street School for Music and Art presents the 3rd Annual Halloween Spooktacular
Celebrate the magic of Halloween at our fun-filled all ages family party! Halloween costume parade; spooky scavenger hunt; face painting; art projects; pumpkin patch; kooky karaoke; a spooky maze and haunted hallway for big kids; games, food, raffle, prizes & more! Saturday, October 28, 11-3 p.m. For more information and tickets: churchstreetschool.org/halloween.

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Friends of Washington Market Park’s Pumpkin-Carving Contest
Carve it, name it, bring it! Sponsored by the Friends of Washington Market Park, this is a free community event with trophies awarded in five categories: scariest, funniest, cutest, most realistic and most creative! Bring your own pumpkin to enter, or just stop by with your family to enjoy the festive display. Bring your carved pumpkin to Washington Market Park between 4:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. No carving will be permitted at the event, and battery-operated candles will be provided for illumination. Judging will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the winners will be announced by 6 p.m. Pumpkin entries may be taken home after the contest or may be kept in the park overnight for display during the park’s annual Halloween party the following day (see below). Should you choose to display your pumpkin, please claim it immediately after the party.

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Brookfield Place Halloween Bash
Celebrate All Hallows’ Eve in style as our family-friendly Halloween party returns to Brookfield Place! Bring your costume-clad kids to a FANGtastic afternoon full of fun! Spook-tacular activities: Quiet clubbing (grab some headphones and let the DJs transport you to a high energy costumed dance party on the Waterfront Plaza); Mysterious Cauldrons by Emilie Baltz (visual and sound installation that features a series of interactive, large format ice blocks that play music when touched); costume catwalk (walk “red carpet style” on our costume catwalk with your favorite emcees, Tracy and Mason!); Lego photo-op (snap a photo with a larger-than-life original Lego sculpture, designed and built by world-renowned artist Sean Kenney); trick-or-treat at designated locations throughout Brookfield Place! Also: Photo booth, storytelling and demos, temporary tattoos and more!

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Trick or Treat for UNICEF USA at Westfield World Trade Center
UNICEF USA will be hosting a Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF family event at the Oculus on Saturday, October 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to encourage kids and families to make Halloween about more than just candy. Kids who Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF can add purpose to Halloween by collecting donations, big and small, that add up to lifesaving change for children affected by recent disasters. When kids participate, they learn about global issues and feel empowered to make a difference. For parents and teachers, it’s a time-tested tool to teach kids the value of helping others and shape the next generation of global citizens. Since 1950, the Halloween tradition of Kids Helping Kids has raised nearly $177 million to support UNICEF’s work to save and protect the world’s most vulnerable children.

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Sunday, October 29

Friends of Washington Market Park Halloween Parade and Party
Our annual Halloween Party and Costume Parade is the park’s longest running event, and it is one of the highlights of our year and for children in the neighborhood! Inside the park, Friends volunteers run a dozen free events, from penny-in-a-haystack to a bone dig in the sandbox, and a hay circle on the lawn. Our parade line-up begins at 12:50pm near Citigroup Plaza (Beach at N. Moore). The parade travels south along Greenwich Street to the park, where the party runs till 3 p.m. (Strollers are not be permitted in the park during the event. For your convenience, a free stroller-check will be available at Duane and Greenwich streets, run by our Friends board volunteers.)

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Hudson River Park Kidz Karnival
The fun returns to Tribeca at Hudson River Park’s Pier 26! Join us from 12-5 p.m. as we transform Pier 26 into “Halloween Central” with fun-filled attractions for the family. Interactive storytelling with Story Pirates, magic with Kid Ace, pumpkin painting with the Friends of Hudson River Park Playground Committee, rides, face painting, treats and much more. All ages are invited. Most attractions will appeal to kids aged 2–8 years. Some activities are free, and select activities are $2.

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Tuesday, October 31

Friends of Canal Park
Join us in costume for some Halloween Fun before or after you trick or treat in the neighborhood. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free event; donations encouraged.