New York City is full of ways to get out, connect and have fun without spending a fortune. From neighborhood Halloween celebrations to a citywide marathon and a beautiful Día de Muertos gathering, here are 10 handpicked events happening Thursday, October 29 through Wednesday, November 4, 2026. We’ve mixed the order so there’s something for different ages, boroughs and interests.
⭐ Editor’s Choice: Socrates Halloween Harvest Festival
Saturday, October 31 · noon–5 p.m. · Queens · Free with RSVP. Artmaking, neighborhood connections, a dog costume contest and a market—all in one waterfront park. See the organizer’s schedule and RSVP.
🗽 10 things to do this week in NYC
1. 🎃 Asphalt Screams 2026
📅 When: Friday, October 30 · 2:30–6:30 p.m.
📍 Where: Asphalt Green, 555 East 90th Street, Manhattan
💵 Cost: Free ticket required; availability may be limited
Family-friendly frights on the Upper East Side, including a haunted maze, street fair and a sensory-friendly early period. Reserve through the official ticketing page and confirm the entry window before traveling.
2. 🎭 53rd Village Halloween Parade
📅 When: Saturday, October 31 · 7 p.m.
📍 Where: Sixth Avenue, Greenwich Village, Manhattan
💵 Cost: Free to watch or march in costume
NYC’s giant-puppet, music-and-costume spectacle returns with a “Body & Soul” theme. Costumed marchers can join the lineup near Canal Street and Sixth Avenue from 6:30 to 9 p.m.; spectators can watch along the route. Expect crowds and transit changes.
3. 🎨 Socrates Halloween Harvest Festival — Editor’s Choice
📅 When: Saturday, October 31 · noon–5 p.m. (check workshop times)
📍 Where: Socrates Sculpture Park, Long Island City, Queens
💵 Cost: Free with RSVP
An unusually good all-ages neighborhood pick: hands-on art workshops, a community resource fair, a vegan food market and a delightfully over-the-top dog costume contest. Food and market purchases are extra.
4. 🗣️ Death Café at Brooklyn Public Library
📅 When: Saturday, October 31 · 2–4 p.m.
📍 Where: Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
💵 Cost: Free; registration recommended (15 places)
A thoughtful small-group conversation about mortality and living well—not a lecture or grief-support session. Hosted at the library’s Business & Career Center classroom; reserve ahead because seating is limited.
5. 🏃 Cheer on the NYC Marathon
📅 When: Sunday, November 1 · race day, morning through afternoon
📍 Where: Spectator locations along the five-borough marathon route
💵 Cost: Free along most of the course
Bring a sign, make some noise and help runners through the city. NYRR offers a spectator guide; the start, bridges and some finish areas have restrictions, so choose an open viewing spot and check road closures.
6. 🕯️ Día de Muertos at St. Mark’s Church
📅 When: Friday–Sunday, October 30–November 1 · noon–5 p.m. daily
📍 Where: St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery, 131 East 10th Street, Manhattan
💵 Cost: Free admission
Mano a Mano’s community ofrenda welcomes photos and letters honoring loved ones. Expect traditional crafts, a Mexican marketplace and cultural performances; Sunday features Indigenous dance and mariachi.
7. 🎶 Soft Beats Halloween at Soft Bar
📅 When: Friday, October 30 · 6–10 p.m.
📍 Where: Soft Bar, 200 Banker Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
💵 Cost: Free entry; RSVP requested
A nonalcoholic Halloween social with DJ SOMONEY, a playful icebreaker, costume catwalk, tarot and treats. Drinks are available for purchase; a welcoming option for people seeking a different kind of Friday night.
8. 🌿 Wave Hill-O-Ween
📅 When: Thursday, October 29 · 3:30–6:30 p.m.
📍 Where: Wave Hill, Riverdale, Bronx
💵 Cost: Free; advance registration encouraged
Bring the kids for a garden scavenger hunt, a lawn dance party, fall photos and drop-in artmaking. The garden says severe weather activities move indoors, and last admission is at 6 p.m.
9. 👻 Wicked Walker Family Halloween
📅 When: Friday, October 30 · 3:30–6 p.m.
📍 Where: Walker Park Field House, 50 Bard Avenue, Staten Island
💵 Cost: Free; no registration required
A neighborhood haunted house, pumpkin painting, crafts and games make this a low-cost family option on Staten Island. Costumes welcome; check NYC Parks for last-minute weather information.
10. 🍜 Queens Night Market — Season Finale
📅 When: Saturday, October 31 · 4 p.m.–midnight
📍 Where: Behind the New York Hall of Science, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
💵 Cost: Free entry; food and shopping extra
The market’s final night of the 2026 season brings affordable global street food, independent vendors and live performances. Take the 7 train to 111th Street and bring an appetite.
🍬 Bonus: Trick-or-Streets near you
NYC DOT is hosting free car-free Halloween activities at 160 streets and plazas across all five boroughs this October. Find your closest event and its hours on the official Trick-or-Streets calendar.
Planning note: Events, capacity, weather plans and admission rules can change. Check each linked organizer before heading out. Some free activities require advance tickets or RSVPs; food and vendor purchases are not necessarily free.
Curated by Michele Evans News from this week’s Gothamist Looped In and The Joy List newsletters, event discovery listings, and organizer calendars. Updated October 29, 2026.
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