As usual, neighborhood storefronts will be handing out candy on Saturday, Oct. 31, shortly after school gets out. To follow is the list of free events leading up to the big day.

WASHINGTON MARKET PARK
12th Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest
The Friends of Washington Market Park will hold its annual Pumpkin Carving Contest on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 3 to 6p. Bring your carved pumpkin to the park between 3 and 5; judges will announce awards at 5:30.

Annual Halloween Parade & Concert
Halloween Parade on Sunday, Oct. 25, starting at 1p from Greenwich and Beach. The parade will queue up starting at approximately 12:45p and will be led by The Queer Big Apple Marching Corps! The marching band will play till 2p on the park lawn, followed by the School of Rock House Band, jamming from the park’s gazebo.

THE DISPLAY & PARTY AT 21 JAY STREET
The residents of 21 Jay put up an elaborate Halloween installation on the corner at Greenwich — and for the past few years, the building has also closed the street for a block party with an inflated corn maze and DJ. This year it’s official, and part of the city’s Trick-or-Streets program.

BPC HALLOWEEN PUPPY PARADE
BPC Dogs, the Battery Park City Dog Association, will host its annual Halloween Puppy Parade on Saturday, October 24, at the North Allée near the Wagner Park Pavilion at 11:50a. (The parade is usually on the Esplanade but it is under construction.) The parade will proceed south parallel to Battery Place then turn right at the waterfront to the plaza area for costume judging. Rain date: Sunday, October 25, same time and place. Check the website for more details and rain info.

BOOGARDUS HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR
The Friends of Bogardus Plaza will host an interactive spooky setup with lights, sounds and spooky surprises at the plaza on October 31 from 3 to 7p. Best for ages 5 to 12.

TRICK-OR-STREETS NEARBY
There are several other closed streets nearby set up as part of the city’s Trick-or-Streets program, including a citywide party set for Wednesday, October 28, from 3 to 7p on Canal and Orchard/Essex; an event at Barnett Newman Triangle and the Arches under the Brooklyn Bridge. See more info here.

Photo by Julienne Schaer

PUMPKIN POINT AT GOVERNORS ISLAND
Governors Island will host its free family-friendly pumpkin patch at Nolan Park on Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25, from 10a to 5p. Festivities will include trick-or-treating, music and crafts, a Fall Foliage Tree Tour, fall-themed food and drink from island vendors, and more. Performances will include traditional and contemporary folk music curated by long-time Governors Island event partner Porch Stomp, daily performances by Hopalong Andrew, and puppet theater by Cara’s Caterpillars. More info here.

HALLOWEEKEND AT THE SEAPORT
October 31 | 11a to 5p | Free museum admission
The South Street Seaport Museum will host free general admission on Halloween from 11a to 5p, with a spooky scavenger hunt aboard the 1885 tallship Wavertree. And from 11a to 4p, Pier 16 will host a Healthful Halloween Fair with Mommy Poppins with crafts and free samples of healthy Halloween treats. Then at 2p, there’s a costume parade followed by trick-or-treating throughout the Seaport from 3 to 5p. More info here.