There are a million and one great things about living in New York City, one of the biggest being that there are always a million and one things to do here! From the museums, concert venues, art galleries and the bright lights of Broadway to hidden restaurants and bars, an unrivaled nightlife scene and over 1,700 parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities, you’ll never be bored—especially during Halloween! So, get your jack-o-lanterns, faux spider webs, cauldrons, skeletons and ghoulish costumes out of storage: Here are some handpicked ways for everyone to do the monster mash this October.

For Kids

  • Spooky Fest: Take the whole family to this Tanglewood Nature Preserve event for arts and crafts, spooky (and not-so-spooky) walks, live animal exhibits, face painting and more. October 14-29, $15 all-inclusive admission, $10 non-scary admission.
  • Town Square and Greenpoint Children’s Halloween Parade, Party and Zombie Nerf War: Kids 13 and under will have fun screaming at this parade, with arts and crafts, games, contests, Nerf battles and more! October 21, parade is free, $15 each for Spooktacular Party and Zombie Nerf War, or $20 for both.
  • Astronomy Live: Spooky Astronomy: Kids dressed in an “out-of-this-world” costume earn a special giveaway when they spend the evening navigating the stars and listening to spooky stories. October 31, $15 admission, $13.50 for seniors and students, $12 for American Museum of Natural History members.

For Furry Kids

  • The Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade: Your dog will paws-itively love this Tompkins Square Park costume contest that CNN called “the largest dog costume parade in the world.” October 21, free admission ($5 donation suggested).
  • The 19th Annual Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest: Enjoy some live music, dance workshops, games with giveaways, face painting, a pumpkin patch, creepy-crawlies with the Urban Park Rangers, and the Great PUPkin costume contest for dogs. October 28, free admission.
  • Halloween Harvest Festival: This Socrates Park Halloween festival includes arts and costume-making workshops, face painting, food, live music and a dog costume contest. October 28, free admission.

For Grown-Ups

  • NYC Horror Film Festival (NYCHFF): Watch terrifying short- and feature-length films at this horror film festival. October 26-29, ticket prices vary.
  • 15th Annual Halloween Masquerade Ball: For adults 21 and over, come dressed in your scariest party costume for a night you’ll never forget at this DJ party. October 28, tickets start at $10.
  • Gravesend Inn: This high-tech haunted hotel, produced by students in City Tech’s Theatreworks program, is sure to thrill and chill even the bravest among you! October 19-21 and 26-31, $10 general admission, $5 for students, free for City Tech students.

Once you’ve celebrated a frightfully ghoulish Halloween, contact the Manhattan mini storage experts at Gotham Mini Storage to keep costumes and decorations safe until next year!