Now that you know how to do Halloween in NYC right, you need a place to do it. Tickets to the mysterious "You Are So Lucky" party may or may not be sold out, but if you're still looking for a party to scare you out of your Party City pants, we've got you covered.
First things first: New York City loves a parade. And Halloween brings out the best in citizens storming the streets. The 42nd Annual Halloween Parade begins at 7 p.m., heading up 6th Avenue from Broome Street. According to the official website, the streets are most crowded between Bleecker and 14th Street, so you might consider getting there early or try another place along the route. (To march in the parade, simply show up in costume at 6th Avenue at Canal Street between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.) And if you can't make it out, or are scared of the sheer number of Sexy Pizza Rats on the street, you can watch a telecast live on NY1 from 7:30 to 9:30.
On Friday night, break out your best Kurt Cobain or Huey Lewis costumes (extra points if you convince your roommates to be the News) at The Skint's Come as You Are/Express Yourself & 90s Halloween Party. Kick it at the pre-All Hallows' Eve blowout featuring the best of the '80s and '90s spun by DJ Steve Reynolds (mix master of Party Like It's 1999), horror movie and music video projections by Stephen Pitalo (Music Video Time Machine), a haunted photo booth by Ventikoland, $5-$7 drink specials, and lots of candy.
The Skint, 622 Degraw Street, Brooklyn // Tickets $5 in advance or $8 at the door
On Halloween proper, check out PSYCHOPOMP: A Halloween Club Night at The Brooklyn Masonic Temple. A collaboration between Boom Collective, Meatball, and GAYLETTER, this spooky boogie down is a gay Halloween party, but organizers promise that "if you're into amazing dance music, and you like spooky Masonic Temples, you'll want to check us out, regardless of your orientation." Inclusivity and Freemasons? Yes and yes.
Brooklyn Masonic Temple, 317 Clermont Ave// Tickets $20 in advance and $25 at the door.
On the other side of the Verrazano in Staten Island, roll up to Cobra Sun Studio's Haunted Skatepark Halloween Show. Along with kick-flipping ghosts (not yet confirmed), rock out with Rising Sun All Stars, Frank Castle, Wester, Sicada, and more. There's also a best costume contest, with 100 spooky bucks on the line for best male and female get-up.
5050 Skatepark, 354 Front Street, Staten Island // Tickets $10 // Ages 18+
BangOn!NYC presents its fourth annual Warehouse of Horrors, a freaky sideshow carnival in Bushwick. The extravaganza features two music stages, a silent disco, interactive art and performances, and "mutant vehicles," whatever those terrifying things could be. For more Coney Island-style attractions, check out the bouncy castle, games, popcorn, cotton candy, and flesh-suspension show. Tickets are going fast—they're on the last round of the Final Sale.
Secret Williamsburg Location // Tickets $80, age 21+
MoMA and PS1 are getting ghoulishly festive with The Poison Big Apple, their exclusive Halloween ball, for which guests are encouraged to "dress in every manner of fantastical finery or dastardly devilry." Featuring DJ sets by Valise Yoe and W Jeremy, you'll have no choice but to dance your face off, you zombie, you.
MoMA PS1, 22-25 Jackson Avenue, Queens // Tickets $15, Member Tickets $13
Horror movie buffs will want to inject their weeknights with some Halloween spirit with a memorial Wes Craven Film Festival at Standard Toycraft. Starting at 8, settle in for a triple feature each night:
Tuesday, Oct 27th is Last House on the Left (1972), A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Wes Craven's New Nightmare; Wednesday, Oct 28th is The People Under the Stairs, Scream, and Swamp Thing; and Thursday, Oct. 29 is The Hills Have Eyes (1977), The Serpent and the Rainbow, and Scream 2.
Toycraft, 722 Metropolitan Ave (3rd floor), Brooklyn // Tickets $20 per evening: Night 1, Night 2, and Night 3.
NYC Parks and & Rec is hosting a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in McCarren Park on Friday, Oct 30th at 6 pm. Show up early for a good spot and shiver with antici...pation.
McCarren Park Pool Deck in McCarren Park // Free
On Saturday, pop culture geek paradise Videology transforms itself into Winchester Tavern to celebrate "one of the greatest films in the history of cinema," Shaun of the Dead. They have drink specials, prizes, a photo booth, and the movie playing on loop all day starting at noon. Yeah, boy-eeeee!
Videology, 308 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn
Halloween is really just another excuse to show everyone how adorable your dog is. Declare your pup the cutest at the Fort Greene Halloween Festival at Fort Greene Park, where they're hosting their annual the Pup-kin canine costume contest. Registration starts at 11 a.m. and the judging starts at noon. There will be hay rides and pumpkin giveaways too, but it's all about the dogs.
Fort Greene Park, at the bottom of the monument steps, Myrtle Avenue at St. Edwards Street // Free, $5 for contest entry
If you're looking for some culture with your frights, The New York Botanical Garden is celebrating Dia de Los Muertos through the weekend in honor of the end of Frida Kahlo exhibit (as seen here attended/vetted/blessed by Queen Bey) The festivities include stilt walkers, Latin music acts, Mexican films, an artist carving giant pumpkins, and an opportunity to create your own mask. The park is open for 10 to 6, so there's plenty of time to rage after you survey the flowers.
New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx // Tickets $20
Finally, Skrillex is going to scare the beat drop right out of you as he headlines a Halloween rager on Hudson River Pier 94. The line-up includes Marshmello, Sliink, Leikeli47, Jahlil Beats and Vindata; you can already hear the bass thumping in Secaucus.
Pier 94, 711 12th Avenue, Manhattan // Tickets $85+
