Halloween in Brooklyn 2017

Family festivals, parades, haunted houses and best places for kids to trick-or-treat

October 26, 2017 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The streets of Cobble Hill are ground zero for zombies every Halloween. Photos by Mary Frost

Share this:

Ghosts, goblins and superheroes of all shapes and sizes will soon be haunting the streets and alleys of Brooklyn. Check out this listing of some of Brooklyn’s most popular Halloween events and haunted houses for families. (Here are some tricks and treats for the over-21 crowd.)

Saturday, Oct. 28

Ghouls & Gourds: This fest at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a cornucopia of spectacular shows, weird workshops and Brooklyn’s wackiest costume parade. Includes performances by seven bands, including the legendary The Persuasions; magnificent stilt dancers and Victorian creatures; crazy games and readings by 18 local authors. Saturday, Oct. 28, noon – 5:30 p.m. $15/adults; $10/students and seniors; free/children 12 and under. 990 Washington Ave. www.bbg.org

Brooklyn Heights Halloween Parade: Take cute pictures, mingle with your neighbors and buy yummy baked goods. Parade takes off at 10 a.m. on Sat., Oct 28 in Pierrepont Playground. The festivities are sponsored by the Brooklyn Heights Association. All proceeds fund family events in the playground and to lock it at night.

Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Harvest Festival: Make art with Private Picassos, get active with Dodge YMCA’s obstacle courses, take a tour of the Haunted Marsh, enjoy face painting with CATS, pumpkin patch, touch tank. 11 to 2 p.m., with parade kicking off at 11. Pier 6 in the park.

Halloween in Prospect Park: Look out for zombies, werewolves and witches on Lookout Hill during Prospect Park’s 38th Annual Halloween Haunted Walk and Fair from noon to 3 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 28. Join Prospect Park Alliance on the Nethermead for family-friendly activities, treats from some of the city’s top food trucks, a spooky puppet show from the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre and more. https://prospectpark.org/Halloween

BKLYN BOO! After party: The first ever Prospect Park Halloween after party is hosted by City Point Brooklyn, taking place from 2 – 5 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 28. Features boo-gie down music by DJ Mikey Palms and Mister Marc the MC, bewitching face painting, wicked nail art, a ghostly photo booth, costume contest and more.

Boo at the Zoo: Prospect Park Zoo’s annual Halloween event takes place Saturday, Oct. 28 and Sunday, Oct. 29. Events include a costumed character scavenger hunt, face painting, spooky barn, and of course, plenty of animals. prospectparkzoo.com/events

Carroll Gardens Children’s Halloween Celebration: A two hour festival of fun on the Louis Valentino Jr. Ballfield. (No parade this year.) Games, prizes, music, treats, a bouncy house, two face painting stations, an arts area, clothing donation bin and more. Saturday, Oct. 28, noon to 2 p.m.

Haunted Halloween Carnival of Puppetry Arts: Crafts, games, and activities for kids of all ages as well as performances, puppet shows, free giveaways, and a costume contest. The first 200 kids will receive Puppetry Arts gift bags filled with tons of goodies. Guests include Tuffy Tiger and cameos by Star Wars characters from the 501st Empire City Garrison, the Echo Base Rebel Legion and Empire Saber Guild. Saturday, Oct. 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1st Street Recreation Center of P.S. 372 in Park Slope. www.puppetryarts.org

Howloween Yappy Hour: Chloe the Mini Frenchie will be raising funds for The Sato Project, rescuing abandoned and abused dogs from Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. So far, the project has rescued more than 1,900 dogs. Bring your pup dressed in its best costume to enjoy light bites, wine, beer and specialty cocktails from the cash bar. Saturday, Oct. 28, 3 – 6 p.m. at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, 60 Furman St. (Brooklyn Bridge Park).

Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest: The 19th Annual Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest is guaranteed to blow your mind and embarrass your dog. (The PUPkin will take place alongside the Fort Greene Park Conservancy’s Halloween Festival; see below.) Registration will open at 10:30 a.m. on the monument plaza for an additional 60 entrants. NW plaza performance mounds in Fort Greene Park. Saturday, Oct. 28, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. For more info, visit fortgreenepups.org/the-great-pupkin.

Fort Greene Park Halloween Festival: Stop by the central lawn for an afternoon of rides, games, giveaways, face-painting, crafts, live music and more. Saturday, Oct. 28 noon – 3 p.m.

Gravesend Inn: Prepare to be scared at New York City College of Technology’s (City Tech) annual high-tech haunted hotel. This theme-park-quality Halloween attraction has been thrilling children (ages 10 and up recommended) and adults alike since 2000. Saturday, Oct. 28 1 – 5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. (Through Halloween, schedule varies.) www.citytechtheatreworks.org/gravesendinn/

Coney Island Children’s Halloween Parade: Festivities begin at 10 a.m. with live music, magic shows, face painting, caricature art, balloon artists and more. The costume contest takes place at 1 p.m. and the parade kicks off at 1:30 p.m. All children must register to participate and be ages 3 – 15-years-old. Local elected officials and the Xaverian High School Marching Band will lead the parade on the Boardwalk to Luna Park where they will be able to enjoy two hours of free rides at the park for the first 1,500 registered children in the parade. 1904 Surf Avenue.

Evergreen Cemetery Community Halloween Event: Wear your spookiest costume to explore the beautiful grounds of the Evergreens Cemetery on a horse-drawn hayride. Enjoy a petting zoo, pumpkin decorating and refreshments. Free and open to the public; for all ages. Saturday, October 28, 2 to 4 p.m. at 1629 Bushwick Avenue.

Harvest Festival at McCarren Park Greenmarket: Celebrate the bounties of the season with apple cider donut eating contests, live music, and pumpkin painting on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Union Avenue at North 12th Street in Williamsburg.

Shocktober Fest – The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Park of Movies Under the Stars, this cult classic takes place from 6 – 7:45 p.m. at McCarren Park Pool Deck, Williamsburg.

Kid’s Halloween Parade & Scavenger Hunt: Scavenger hunt in the 1st floor lobby at Liberty View from 10 a.m. to noon. Parade down third Ave. at noon. Afterwards, trick or treating, arts & crafts, face painting and more at The Rock and Roll. Saturday, Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Playhouse at Industry City Beyond at Liberty View in Sunset Park, 850 3rd Ave.

FunikiJam’s Rock or Treat – Halloween Around the World: Dress up in your favorite costumes and join the fun at NYC’s only sing-along, dance-along, play-along Halloween musical for kids with a stellar cast from the Caribbean, Brazil, Israel, Italy, and Dominican Republic. Clinton Hill Library, 380 Washington Ave. at Lafayette Ave. Saturday, Oct 28, 2 to 3 p.m.

Fall Fest: The North Flatbush Business Improvement District presents its annual Fall Fest, on Saturday, Oct. 28 from noon – 4 p.m. on Flatbush Avenue near 6th Avenue and St. Marks Pl. Featuring: Trick or Treat for UNICEF, Pumpkin decorating, Face painting, food tasting tent, live music, dancing, arts & crafts and much more.

Halloween Pub Crawl: The Atlantic Avenue Business Improvement District is hosting a Halloween Pub Crawl on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Not for kids!). More than a dozen bars along Atlantic Avenue between 4th Avenue and the BQE will be participating in this event, which will also feature a costume contest.

Sunday, Oct. 29

CalabazaFest 2017: This annual community celebration melts the traditions of Dia de los Muertos, Halloween, and fall festival all in one fun-filled afternoon. Free giveaways, Halloween costume competition, pumpkin carving, dancing, live music, and arts. Free food from Tony’s Pizza & Amaranto. Sunday, Oct. 29 at noon, at Maria Hernandez Park (Central Stage Area)/In case it rains: RB Youth Center, 1474 Gates Ave., Bushwick.

Thriller Dance Party: The Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership is inviting all litte monsters to celebrate Halloween at a fun dance party at the Myrtle Avenue Plaza in Clinton Hill, on Sunday, Oct. 29. Dance with choreography inspired by Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Get a head start on the dancing fun by watching the choreography video at myrtleavenue.org/thriller to learn the moves in advance or arrive early to the event for a tutorial with AbunDance. Call 718-230-1689 extension 3# for more information.

Become a Mermaid: Join author/illustrator Melanie Hope Greenberg and become a mermaid or any sea creature you can imagine. Create and take home your own mermaid or Neptune crown. Based on her book “Mermaids on Parade.” Sunday, Oct. 29, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., Borough Park Library, 1265 43rd St. at 13th Ave.

Gravesend Inn: Prepare to be scared at New York City College of Technology’s (City Tech) annual high-tech haunted hotel. This theme-park-quality Halloween attraction has been thrilling children (ages 10 and up recommended) and adults alike since 2000. Sunday, Oct. 29 1 – 5 p.m. (Through Halloween, schedule varies.) www.citytechtheatreworks.org/gravesendinn/

Old Stone House Halloween Costume Contest and Mini Parade: Roll out that great Halloween costume early for the Park Slope Parents sponsored costume contest and mini parade – perfect for anyone who can’t stay up past 6:30 p.m. Arrive at 3 p.m. to sign up for a category. Halloween marching band is Paprika. 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29. See categories at https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2017/10/29/halloween-costume-contest-and-mini-parade

Monday, Oct. 30

Gravesend Inn: Prepare to be scared at New York City College of Technology’s (City Tech) annual high-tech haunted hotel. This theme-park-quality Halloween attraction has been thrilling children (ages 10 and up recommended) and adults alike since 2000. Monday, Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 6 – 9 p.m. (Through Halloween, schedule varies.) www.citytechtheatreworks.org/gravesendinn/

Tuesday, Oct. 31 – Halloween

Cobble Hill Halloween Parade: A popular neighborhood Halloween parade, which takes off from Cobble Hill Park at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Park Slope Civic Council Halloween Parade: This very popular parade takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 31, kicking off from 14th Street and 7th Avenue at 6:30 pm. The parade ends in a dance party. More at http://parkslopeciviccouncil.org.

Halloween in Clinton Hill- 24th Annual Halloween Walk: Download a map of the most generous homes and dazzling Halloween shows in Clinton Hill at societyforclintonhill.org or pick it up at 321 DeKalb Ave. (at Hall Street). Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Halloween 313: From 5 to 9 p.m., you can catch an original 30-minute, one-night-only Broadway-quality show at 313 Clinton Ave. in Clinton Hill. This year’s show will feature the VooDoo queen and her Zombie Minions. Tuesday, Oct. 31. www.halloween313.com

BAMboo! BAM’s free outdoor Halloween block party, featuring candy, counce house, carnival games costume contest, arts & crafts and more. Tuesday, Oct 31, 4 to 7 p.m. at BAM’s Peter Jay Sharp Building, 30 Lafayette Ave. bam.org

DUMBOWEEN: The annual March to the Arch (4:30 p.m.) will be followed by crafts, costume contests, live music and candy in the Archway under the Manhattan Bridge in DUMBO. Meet at Brooklyn Roasting Company, 25 Jay St. for the march. The Archway kids’ party features the Funkrust Brass Band, arts & crafts, photobooth, prizes for the best costumes and lots of candy. Free. (Plus beer and wine specials at The Lighthouse for Mom and Dad.)

Halloween Bash at Brooklyn Roasting Company: The free event has beer and spiked punch; costumes are required for admission. A donation of $20 is suggested, with all proceeds benefitting Unidos, which supports hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico; and 350.org, which supports building clean energy solutions. Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 7 to 11 p.m. at 25 Jay St., DUMBO.

Assemblyman William Colton’s Halloween Candy Bash: Games and candy can be yours at Assemblyman Colton’s office on Halloween from 3 to 5 p.m. 155 Kings Highway (between West 12th and West 13th Streets).

The Cabinet Of Dr Caligari: Special Halloween night experience at The Kings Theatre. The 1921 silent classic will grace the theater’s big screen for nearly 3,000 people. Includes seven-piece ensemble Rags & Roots; The Catskill Jazz Factory; Tatiana Eva-Marie & the Avalon Jazz Band; jazz singer Melanie Scholtz; a pre-screening performance of Tchaikovsky’s haunting “Piano Trio In A Minor (Opus 50) and more. 1054 Flatbush Ave. Tickets from $25 – $45 at http://bit.ly/2fg7WLG.

Halloween Trolley Tour: Soulful Creatures and Green-Wood Cemetery: Get spooky this Halloween with the Brooklyn Museum’s one-of-a-kind tour of mummies and mausoleums. Curator of Egyptian art Ed Bleiberg will be your guide as you explore animal mummification and mummy myths. Then, hop on the trolley to Green-Wood Cemetery for a walking tour of the secrets of the cemetery, including the opening of a mausoleum that features hidden symbols. From 6 to 9 p.m. Meet in the Rubin Lobby, 1st Floor. $40 www.brooklynmuseum.org

Gravesend Inn: Prepare to be scared at New York City College of Technology’s (City Tech) annual high-tech haunted hotel. This theme-park-quality Halloween attraction has been thrilling children (ages 10 and up recommended) and adults alike since 2000. Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 6 – 9 p.m. www.citytechtheatreworks.org/gravesendinn/

Best Trick-or-Treat Neighborhoods: Here are a few suggestions — On the big day, take the kids to Garden Place and Grace Court Alley in Brooklyn Heights; to Boerum Hill between Court and Hoyt Streets; or to DUMBO. The DUMBO BID sponsors storefront trick-or-treating for the little ones from 4-7pm. 40+ businesses will be giving out candy. Look for the pumpkin sign. According to mommypoppins.com, East Third Street in Windsor Terrace between Vanderbilt and Greenwood turns into a Halloween block party each year with the street closed to traffic. In Ditmas Park, an “awesome parade” starts with cider and treats at a house on Albemarle between Rugby and Argyle, with many of the beautiful Victorian-style mansions spooked out to the max. A smaller, similar parade in West Midwood starts on Glenwood and Rugby.