Photograph Courtesy of the Friends of Governors Island

While you may still be deciding what to wear for Halloween this year, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best Halloween events happening in New York City. From family friendly festivals and pumpkin picking spots to late night romps and an intimate concert with bizarre instruments, here are our Untapped Halloween Picks for 2018:

16. Pumpkitecture! Architectural Pumpkin Carving Competition

Photograph by Dan Cole, Courtesy of the Center for Architecture

Watch New York City-based architecture firms like Weiss/Manfredi, SITU and Rogers Partners, compete for the Pritzkerpumpkin Prize by carving incredible pumpkin structures at Archtober’s second annual Pumpkitecture competition! After a live carving session, contestants will defend their designs to a panel of jurors who will crown the winner. Guests will get to vote for the People’s Pumpkin and enjoy festive food and beverages while watching the competition unfold. This exciting event is part of Archtober, New York City’s month-long celebration of design and architecture.

Pumpkitecture! will take place at the Center For Architecture on October 26th. The carving will last from 6:15p.m. to 7:30p.m. The event ends at 8:00p.m. Tickets are $15 for the general public, but if you are an Untapped Cities Insider, you can attend this event for free courtesy of our partner, Archtober.
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14. Behind the Scenes Hard Hat Tour of the Abandoned Ellis Island Hospital

See haunting life sized images of scenes from Ellis Island‘s history on the decaying walls, windows and doors of the island’s abandoned hospital complex. Once the standard for American healthcare, the over 100 year old hospital has been closed off to the public since the 1950s. On this behind-the-scenes hard hat tour, guests will learn the history of the hospital while venturing into spaces like the contagious disease ward and morgue and viewing pieces of the the site-specific art installation Unframed by world renowned artist JR.

Behind-the-Scenes Hard Hat Tour of the Abandoned Ellis Island Hospital

13. Night of Noir Halloween Party

Image Courtesy of the Museum of the City of New York

Inspired by the Museum of the City of New York’s current exhibition, Through a Different Lens: Stanley Kubrick Photographs, join revelers for a high-style Halloween party inspired by the lurid yet glamorous world of 1940s Hollywood and film noir. Music from DJ Operator Emz will sample iconic film noir scores, Halloween classics, and dance floor anthems. Entertainment will be provided by dancer Princess Lockerooo while guest imbibe retro-themed cocktails and snacks from Amy’s Bread which will be available to purchase.Through a Different Lens will be open for viewing after-hours.Break out your spiffiest 1940s noir attire for a chance to win prizes and the best dressed award!

Tickets are $25 in advance for general admission and $20 for Museum Members. On the day of tickets will be $35 for general admission and $30 museum members. The party will be on Friday, October 26th from 7:00p.m. to 11:00p.m.

12. Scream at the Brooklyn Museum

Little Cinema presents an immersive night of horror at the Brooklyn Museum with a screening that reimagines the cult classic black comedy Scream (Wes Craven, 1996). The screening will be accompanied with dance performances by The Love Show, audiovisual remixing by CHNNLS (Jay Rinsky), spoken word by Nathan Oglesby, horror trivia, and more creative and interactive crowd activities.

Tickets are $25 and include Museum admission. Doors open at 7:00p.m. and the show starts at 7:30p.m. on October 25th.

12. Tour the Remnants of Penn Station

One of the most horrifying things to happen in New York City’s architectural history was the demolition of the original Pennsylvania Station. But if you dare to enter the bowels of the current station, you can find remnants of the original McKim, Mead and White designed Beaux-Arts structure hidden in plain sight. Join this Untapped Cities walking tour to reveal remnants of the station’s past, appreciate works of art that busy commuters overlook everyday, and peer into the future of this bustling transportation hub.
Tour of the Remnants of Penn Station

11. Inferno at the McKittrick Hotel

Inferno is The McKittrick Hotel’s annual Halloween extravaganza, three nights of deviant witchcraft that takes place across the entire building. This devilishly fun party features live performances and an open bar all night long. Guests are encouraged to come dressed in attire inspired by the nighttime’s darkest deviants, be it a witch, sorcerer, enchanter, vampire, other creatures of the night or all in black. The dress code will be strictly enforced.

All guests must be at least 21 to enter. You can purchase tickets for October 26th, 27th and 31st and can pair the party with tickets to Sleep No More, the McKittrick’s immersive theater experience.

10. the skint’s Prom from Hell

Photograph by Elyssa Maxx Goodman, Courtesy of the skint

Don your most creative costume and head to Littlefield’s in Brooklyn for the skint’s Prom From Hell, a night of revelry to the tunes of the 1980s-2000s spun by DJs Brendan & Bianca. There will be horror movie projections by Music Video Time Machine, a photo booth by Nikki, spiked drink specials and 100 pounds of candy! The best costumes will be in the running for a special prize.

Tickets are just $7 in advance or $10 at the door. The party starts at 10:30p.m. on October 26th.

9. Halloween Harvest Festival

Socrates Sculpture Park’s annual Halloween Harvest Festival, Image courtesy Socrates Sculpture Park, Photo by Reiko Yanagi

Take part in a Halloween Harvest Festival inspired by Fet Gede, the Haitian Festival of the Ancestors, at Socrates Sculpture Park. The Park is located just blocks away from the NYC Ferry’s Astoria landing in Hallets Cove and is one of many Halloween activities accessible by ferry this year. This festival will feature a special Fet Gede dance and drum circle performance and song workshop with Menesky “Sky” Magloire. Haitian food will be provided by Kombit Restaurant, and desserts from Val’s Cookie Canvas. There will also be traditional Halloween festivities like a doggie costume contest, face painting, card reading and costume making.

This event, which will run from 12p.m. to 4p.m. on October 27th, is free and no RSVP is required.

8. Musical Oddities and Monstrosities

Photograph Courtesy of Nick Yulman  

At this special concert presented by Atlas Obscura, you will hear sounds you’ve likely never heard before from strange and wonderful instruments you’ve probably never seen. Sound artist Nick Yulman has put together a program of musical oddities and delights with Natalia ‘Saw Lady’ Paruz and her singing saws, musical vegetables played by composer Angélica Negrón, new musical inventions by Merche Blasco, and a demonstration of the daxophone by Daniel Fishkin. Yulman will start the night by playing original songs with his orchestra of robotic instruments. This intimate concert takes place at the Areté Venue and Gallery, a former rope factory. While you listen to the haunting sounds of these strange instruments, you can enjoy a themed Monster Mash specialty cocktail.

Tickets can be purchased here. Seating is first come, first served. There are two start times, 4:00pm and 7:00p.m. on October 27th.

7. Underground Tour of the NYC Subway

The New York City subway can be a scary place and has no doubt caused commuters plenty of nightmares throughout its over 100 years in operation. On this Untapped Cities walking tour, uncover the secrets of this infamous underground transportation system and the history of how it came to be. Using the 6 train as a time machine, travel through abandoned ghost stations like the storied City Hall Station, where the subway system began.
Underground Tour of the NYC Subway

6. Brooklyn Boo

Photograph by Amanda Gentile, ADG Photography, Courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance

Join the official Prospect Park Halloween after party Brooklyn Boo! at City Point in downtown Brooklyn. After the Halloween Haunted Walk and Fair, take the family over to this second annual event to keep the frightening festivities going. There will be music, face painting, balloon art and more spooky activities for all to enjoy!

The Haunted Walk and Fair will take place between 12p.m and 3:00p.m. at Lookout Hill and Nethermead in Prospect Park. The Brooklyn Boo After Party runs from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at City Point, 445 Albee Square West. Both events are free and do not require registration but you can RSVP here for the October 27th events.

5. Spooky Secret Speakeasy

Image via Facebook

Join the Museum of Interesting Things for a night of Halloween themed historical entertainment. Watch creepy antique 16mm films, listen to music on vintage LPs, and handle interesting historic medical, prohibition era, musical, film and photography artifacts at a Spooky Speakeasy gathering in a SoHo loft. There will be food and drinks and special performances by Tessa Fights Robots and the contortionist Amazing Amy.

Tickets are $10 and can purchased here. The party runs from 6:00p.m. to 10:00p.m. on October 28th and all ages are welcome.

4. Illuminated Mausoleums  Moonlight Tour

Photograph by Peter Nagy, Courtesy of Woodlawn Cemetery

Take a stroll through the Bronx’s historic Woodlawn Cemetery guided by the glow of some of the cemetery’s most extravagant mausoleums. Appreciate the architecture and marvel at the beautiful detail of these memorials as they are lit up in vibrant colors under the moonlight. Illuminated Mausoleums is one of Woodlawn’s many cemetery tours offered this season and the most popular. Some time slots are already sold out, so grab your tickets for the remaining tours on October 26th, 27th and 28th while they last!

3. Cobble Hill Pumpkin Impalement

Photograph Courtesy of Jane Greengold

Join artist Jane Greengold for the annual Cobble Hill Pumpkin Impalement! Everyone is invited to bring their own carved pumpkin to be impaled on one of the 274 spikes of an iron fence of on the corner of Kane Street and Strong Place in Brooklyn. All of the pumpkins must be 4 3⁄4” – 5” inches in diameter and taller than it is round. Each much have a 3/4″ square hole in the middle of the bottom for the spike. Be sure to leave the top on and carve away, all of the impaled pumpkins have a unique face.

Bring your carved pumpkin to the corner of Kane Street and Strong Place between 3:00p.m. and 7:00p.m. on October 31st to be impaled!

2. Pick Pumpkins on Governor’s Island

Photograph Courtesy of the Friends of Governors Island

Governors Island’s Nolan Park will be transformed into Pumpkin Point with thousands of ripe fall pumpkins available for picking. Surrounded by beautiful fall foliage and the village-like atmosphere of former officer’s homes, this free fall spectacular will include live music and pumpkin painting with the Children’s Museum of the Arts. Visitors can enjoy a fall beer garden and tasty treats including warm cider, mini pumpkin pies, “ghoulash” by Island vendor Little Eva’s, Blue Marble ice cream and more.

The patch is free to visit, and small and medium-sized pumpkins can be handpicked and purchased for a small donation that benefits the Friends of Governors Island.

1. Boos in the Borough

The Brooklyn Historical Society opens its doors tonight for an evening of Halloween hijinks! Boos in the Borough will feature tales of Brooklyn’s ghosts as told by Boroughs of the Dead founder Andrea Janes, an exploration of funerary traditions with an illustrated talk by funeral director Amy Cunningham, and more celebrations of all things macabre. Come in costume and participate in a contest for the title of Best Dressed Ghoul in Brooklyn!

This free event on October 31st will take place 6:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. at the Brooklyn Historical Society. You can RSVP here.

See our full list of Untapped Cities Insiders Tours and our upcoming Public Tours.