BEST HALLOWEEN EVENTS FOR KIDS IN NYC

Find the best Halloween festivals and activities for kids in New York City. Here, we've rated each of the biggest NYC events by level of scariness, so there's something fun for everyone, from a Boo at the Zoo to a scream-worthy Haunted House.

We New Yorkers take Halloween pretty seriously. And who can blame us? The spirit of spooky revelry is contagious throughout the month, as nearby farms prep their pumpkin patches for pickers (see our pumpkin picking guide for more info on that) and local venues beckon us to their festive celebrations, which include everything from terrifying haunted houses to tame trick-or-treating. Below is a roundup of our favorites, organized by level of scariness. And check out the full calendar for many more options.

G-Rated Halloween Events

Boo at the Zoo: Celebrate a New York Halloween tradition with safe, family-friendly activities including the Haunted Safari, Hess Hayride, Costume Parade, musical performances, wildlife magic shows, and craft workshops. Attractions and activities embrace the spirit of the season and highlight wildlife-like bats, snakes, and nocturnal animals. Weekends in October and Columbus Day. 10am-5:30pm. Zoo admission $16; $14 seniors; $12 ages 3-12; free children 12 and younger wearing a Halloween costume.

Bronx Zoo, Fordham Road and Bronx River Parkway, Bronx

The Haunted Pumpkin Garden: Pumpkin sculptures of spooky scarecrows, frightening spiders, sneaky snakes, and more, all designed by artist Michael Natiello, greet visitors at the Everett Children's Adventure Garden. Kids can play inside a Pumpkin House, put on a scary show at the Pumpkin Puppet Theater, have a "hoot" finding out what owls eat by dissecting pellets, and look for wiggly worms under a rotting log. Tuesday-Sunday through October 30. 10am-6pm. $20; $18 seniors/students with ID; $8 ages 2-12; free children younger than 2.

The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx

PG-Rated Halloween Event

The Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze (near NYC): The tri-state area's biggest Halloween event returns for 21 nights. Meander through an 18th-century riverside landscape and discover a breathtaking display of more than 4,000 individually hand-carved, illuminated Jack O' Lanterns! This elaborate walk-through event features original atmospheric music, sound effects, and synchronized lighting. October 1-2, 7-10, 14-16, 20-23, 27-31, November 4-6. $20. All admissions are by timed ticket only, which must be purchased in advance. All ages.

Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 South Riverside Avenue, Croton-on-Hudson

PG-13-Rated Halloween Event

After Dark: The Haunting: Tread the wax museum's corridors in unnerving darkness and feel chills run up your spine as hundreds of sinister eyes follow your every move. See why Madame Tussauds is notorious for terrifying paranormal activity, especially at night. 9pm-12am. October 20-23, 27-30. $22 in advance; $25 at the door.

Madame Tussauds New York, 234 West 42nd Street; www.afterdarknewyork.com

R-Rated Halloween Event

Nightmare Haunted House: Fairy Tales: This year, the famous haunted house will stage original versions of well-known (and some lesser known) fairy tales at their most gruesome and horrific. Get lost in a dark forest and wander through the woods while reliving terrifying experiences extracted from more than a dozen twisted stories handed down by the Brothers Grimm, Aesop, Hans Christian Andersen, and more. Try to stay on the path as you go from cottage to cottage, each intended to scare the wits out of you. You can also have a sensory-assaulting 5-D theater experience called The Experiment, where audience members are subjects in a case study for research on the threshold of fear. No one younger than 10 will be admitted; children younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult. September 30-November 5. Dates and times vary; see full schedule online. $30 in advance; $35 at the door.

Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center, 107 Suffolk Street; www.hauntedhousenyc.com

More Fun

Find even more NYC Halloween events in our constantly updated Calendar of Events

Get Halloween recipes, costume ideas, and more at www.nymetroparents.com/halloween

Enter our Halloween photo contest for a chance to win tickets to Broadway's spookiest show, The Addams Family!

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