Ghosts, and ghouls, and goblins, oh my! Halloween decorations in NYC run the gamut from creepy to kooky and everything in between.
While we love a good costume party and can’t resist marching in the Village Halloween Parade, some of the best Halloween events in NYC consist of simply walking down the street, eyeing seasonal aesthetics adorned on brownstones, mom and pop shops, attractions, and beyond.
Trust us when we say scary-good options abound across the five boroughs this autumn. And, should you crave a getaway, you’re in luck: the Haunted History Trail of New York State is filled to the brim with spine-tingling adventures.
From the Hudson Valley up to the Adirondacks, across the Catskills to the Greater Niagara area, this map pinpoints locations throughout the Empire State that are believed to be inhabited by spirits of years past. Hotels, mom and pop shops, museums, restaurants, asylums, and yes, even an amusement park made the cut.
1. Industry City, Brooklyn
Industry City is famous for its creativity, and that spirit flourishes once autumn arrives. Every year, the Sunset Park attraction provides a country-esque pumpkin patch display that warms our hearts. Perhaps we’re partial, but it’s one of our favorite things about the six-million-square-foot space.
📍 220 36th St, Brooklyn
2. Upper West Side
There’s nothing quite like gorgeous brownstones decked out in cobwebs, don’t you think? You’ll find everything from spiders and jack o’ lanterns to witches and skeletons in this neighborhood, all of which are equally impressive and bone-chilling! (In the best way possible.) Make sure to walk by a few of our favorite blocks while uptown:
- 📍 West 81st Street
- 📍 West 82nd Street
- 📍 West 87th Street
- 📍 West 94th Street
3. West Village
Home to the iconic Village Halloween Parade, NYC’s festive neighborhood puts a quaint spin on the spookiest time of the year thanks to its cobblestone streets and 19th century townhouses. Plus, the downtown spot is versatile: it has great places to bring your children trick-or-treating, and spooky restaurants and bars for the 21+ crowd. Make sure to stop by Grove Court for a cozy autumnal photo opp, too.
📍 10 Grove Street
4. Astoria, Queens
One Astoria resident on Ditmas Blvd never fails to disappoint when October rolls around. Rumor has it she uses over $1,000 worth of decorations in her yard each year. Now that’s dedication. (Psst: think we should ask Pennywise for a balloon?)
📍 Ditmars Blvd, Queens
5. Chelsea
There are plenty of reasons to make your way around Chelsea this Halloween season. One neighborhood townhouse gets an annual redesign from Hatch Studio to add some peace and love to spooky season. (Totally groovy, man.) Plus, the nearby Chelsea Market is always decorated with ghoulish displays that are fun to explore after you grab a bite!
📍 W 22nd Street
6. Upper East Side
When visiting this lavish nabe on October 31st, we’re particularly fond of these spots:
- 📍 East 62nd between Lexington Ave and Third Ave
- 📍 East 64th between Madison and Fifth Ave
- 📍 East 67th Street between Madison and Fifth Ave
- 📍 East 74th between Third and Madison
- 📍 East 77th Street between Second Ave and Third Ave
7. Ditmas Park, Brooklyn
Ditmas Park lands a spot on our list, largely thanks to the Victorian Queen Anne-style house on Albemarle Road that goes all out with the creepy and kooky fun on its expansive porch.
8. Midtown
Rockefeller Center is obviously well-known for its iconic NYC Christmas tree, but don’t count out the attraction in October — its cozy autumnal display is one for the books. While in the neighborhood, stop at Jimmy Fallon’s Tonightmares…if you dare.
📍 45 Rockefeller Plaza
9. South Street Seaport
South Street Seaport’s delightfully over-the-top pumpkin arch is a yearly Halloween-time classic! At 10 feet tall, it’s the perfect place to get a fall photo (and it’s especially magical at night when it’s all lit up)! What could be better than the combination of fall colors and picturesque views of the river?
📍 89 South St
10. Dyker Heights, Brooklyn
Sure this Brooklyn neighborhood may be most well known for the iconic Dyker Heights Christmas Lights during holiday season…it actually goes all out for spooky season too. The area gets turned into a stomping grounds for all kinds of ghouls and ghosts…haunting passersby in the lawns of the neighborhood. You can just tell that homeowners here put as much effort into their makeshift haunted homes as they do during Christmas time!
📍 Between 12th and 13th Avenues in Dyker Heights
See? NYC has the spooky festivities on lock this year. Happy Halloween!