Halloween is just two weeks away and there are plenty of unique ways to celebrate in New York City. Instead of wasting your night indoors, peeking through the blinds and fending off hungry trick-or-treaters, head to an extravagant masquerade, solve a murder mystery game or participate in an immersive film experience in Brooklyn. Here’s our list of Untapped Halloween events for this year.

14. Murder Mystery in Mount Vernon Hotel and Museum

Explore Mount Vernon Hotel and Museum by candlelight as you search for clues that will help you solve a chilling murder mystery. The case is loosely based on an actual newspaper account of an unidentified skeleton discovered underneath the floorboards of the building. Who did it? And what exactly happened? That’s for you to figure out. For tickets and details, click here.

13. Halloween Magritte’s Way in a Gilded Age Fifth Ave Townhouse

Albertine-French Bookstore-Cultural Services of French Embassy-972 Fifth Avenue-Payne Whitney Mansion-NYC-001Photo by Jess Nash

Housed inside the former Gilded Age mansion of Payne Whitney, Albertine is the only bookstore in New York City devoted entirely to books in French and English. It sits within the French Embassy and hosts a number of free events every month, featuring French and American authors. This October, come celebrate Halloween with Belgian Author Klaas Verplancke, who will read from his new book, Magritte’s Apple, which celebrates the life and works of painter René Magritte. For more details, click here.

12. Carrie Screening Inside Little Cinema

Netflix has nothing on Little Cinema. The immersive pop up film series combines live performance and film to create unique and visually stunning productions. For Halloween, it will screen Carrie (1976), co-produced with The Love Show, a Brooklyn-based theatrical dance company. Expect dancers, aerialists and fire. Purchase tickets for Tuesday, Oct. 25th and Wednesday Oct. 26th here.

11. You Are So Lucky Masquerade

This Halloween weekend, a dilapidated gothic manor house will house an all-night masquerade, complete with spirit readers, circus performances and acts of fire, among a number of other “intoxicating performances.” The event, spread across three acres, promises to offer plenty of surprises, including unique, themed experiences like “The Shanghai Mermaid Experience” and “The Caravan Gitane Experience.” (We’ll leave you guessing as to what those are.) Click here to rsvp for tickets.

10. Secrets of Eldridge Street Walking Tour

On Sunday October 30th, join Untapped Cities and the Museum at Eldridge Street for a historical walking tour of Eldridge Street. You’ll hear stories about the immigrant experience and the realization of the American Dream as you walk along the length of the block. To add to the spook-factor, the tour will also visit the site of a former prison and delve into the gruesome backstory of the man the street was named after: Lieutenant Joseph C. Eldridge.

Also browse our other walking tours in NYC and rediscover your city!

9. Critical Halloween: Luxury

critical-halloween-nyc-halloween-untapped-cities-costumes-2015-640x427Costumes from Critical Halloween 2014: on I-Relevance. Image via Storefront for Art and Architecture. 

Critical Halloween is not just a party; it’s an art and architectural production that provides a space for the open expression of radical thought. Every year, guests use their costumes to address critical themes and to engage in intellectual debate. This year’s party revolves around the topic of “Luxury” and its shifting meanings. (Also feel free to share your thoughts hidden behind the safety of a mask or costume makeup.) For more information about the event, click here, or check out the event on Facebook here.

8. Scarecrows: From the Heartland to Horror at NY Botanical Garden

From September 17 to October 30th, the New York Botanical Garden is hosting artist Ray Villafane’s installation, which explores the evolution of the scarecrow from an agricultural fixture to its status as a cultural icon. During the day, take your time to explore the garden and find vignettes crafted from natural materials. After 3 p.m. (and on Scarecrow Nights), the installation will really come alive.

7. Halloween Extravaganza and Procession of the Ghouls

The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine is holding its annual Halloween celebration, which will kick off with a screening of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), followed by a procession of ghouls, ogres and boogeymen performed by Ralph Lee and members of the Mettawee River Theatre Company. Other Halloween themed events will also be taking place at the church, including Crypt Crawl: Spotlight on Halloween, which will take visitors into the Cathedral’s crypt. For more details and to purchase tickets, click here.

6. The Halloween Blood Fest

The annual Halloween Blood Fest will be held at the Flushing branch of the Queens Library. Hosted by Dark Soul, the event features a night of spooky activities, including a ghostly laser light show, psychic readings, and costume and scream contests. Make sure to take a stroll through the haunted tunnel and listen to musical performances by rock band DMK. The special guest this year is also Krampus the Christmas Demon, which should definitely put you in the holiday spirit. For more details, click here.

5. Supercinema Dance Party

For three nights, the McKittrick Hotel will host Supercinema’s Halloween dance party. Come dressed in costumes inspired by classic monster horror movies and command the dance floor all night long. There will also be live performances, an open bar and music spun by world-renowned DJs. For more information, click here.

4. Halloween Bash at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!

Join New York Adventure Club and doNYC for a Halloween bash inside Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, home to a Robert Ripley’s extensive collection of oddities. As part of the event, visitors will be able to roam through a maze of 20 dimly-lit rooms, taste complimentary snacks and beverages and compete in a costume party. More details here.


3. Halloween 3000 with Moon Boots at House of Yes

On Saturday, October 29, Bushwick’s House of Yes is celebrating Halloween with a futuristic space themed party, featuring Anjunadeep’s Moon Boots, and other Brooklyn favorites, including David Kiss, Zephyr Ann, Ryan Clover, and Fabi Jugo. Join the event on Saturday, October 29, and check out highlights including intergalactic aerial acrobatics, abduction stations and secret science chambers. Purchase tickets here.


2. Sleep-in Cinema

Nothing beats a movie in bed. Reserve a king, queen or full-sized one and catch some spooky films in a Halloween-themed series presented by The Standard and Casper. Food will be available at a concession stand too! See more information here.


. Center for Architecture’s Pumpkitecture Competition

Kick off Halloween weekend at the Center for Architecture’s first annual Pumpkitecture competition! Come watch 20 New York City-based architecture firms live-carve gourds, and vote for the “People’s Pumpkin.” The event will take place on Friday, October 28 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. For more information, click here.

 

To get in the Halloween spirit, check out these spooky articles about abandoned asylums and the abandoned 18th Street subway station.