Halloween is almost here, bringing a full lineup of seasonal festivities to Lincoln Square. From pumpkin painting and family festivals to Halloween film screenings, seasonal shopping, and elaborately decorated neighborhood streets, there’s plenty to explore throughout October.
Pumpkin Painting and Family Fun
Color Me Mine Upper West Side (177 Amsterdam Avenue, at West 68th Street) is hosting three Halloween painting events this month. The Pumpkin Painting Party takes place Friday, October 16, with sessions from 4:30pm to 6:30pm and 7:00pm to 9:00pm. On Friday, October 23, guests can join Witches & Wine: Paint and Sip, where they can paint a spooky ceramic keepsake while enjoying wine and light bites. Sessions run from 5:30pm to 7:30pm and 8:00pm to 10:00pm. The $25 studio fee includes painting materials, refreshments, glazing and firing, and a first glass of wine. Families can also attend the Acrylic Pumpkin Painting Family Fun Date on Sunday, October 25, from 10:00am to 11:00am. Children ages five and up can decorate real pumpkins to take home that day. Studio fees start at $20 for the ceramic painting events and $35 per person for the family activity. Reservations are required.
On Sunday, October 18, PS 452 hosts its Fall Fest from 11:00am to 4:00pm at the school (210 West 61st Street, between Amsterdam Avenue and West End Avenue). The festival features carnival games, bounce houses, hands-on activities, live performances, and more.
Families are invited to the free Community Halloween Party on Friday, October 23, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at the Bernie Wohl Center at Goddard Riverside (647 Columbus Avenue, between West 91st and West 92nd Streets). Activities include face painting, a custom photo booth, cupcakes, live music, and interactive arts activities led by Arts Ignite. Costumes are encouraged, and advance registration is requested.
The West Side YMCA hosts Boo Fest on Saturday, October 24, from 10:00am to 1:00pm at the West Side YMCA (5 West 63rd Street, between Broadway and Central Park West). The family-friendly celebration features a pumpkin patch photo booth, bounce house and slide, face painting, arts and crafts, and a glow room. The suggested donation is $15 per family, though guests can contribute what they are able to give. All donations support West Side YMCA programs.
Kids can get creative while giving recycled materials a new purpose at Green Halloween: Sustainable Costume Making, part of the second annual Ethical Culture Street Fair. On Saturday, October 24, from 12:00pm to 5:00pm, kids of all ages are invited to make their own Halloween costumes using recycled materials such as cardboard, fabric, plastic, and old clothes. A variety of donated materials will be provided, and families are welcome to bring their own. The free workshop takes place outdoors on West 64th Street, between Broadway and Central Park West, in front of the New York Society for Ethical Culture. An RSVP is required; to reserve a spot, contact Audrey at ethicalfamilies@nysec.org.
The Museum of Arts and Design hosts its Spooktacular Halloween Party on Friday, October 30, from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at the museum (2 Columbus Circle, at West 58th Street and Broadway). Families can enjoy mask-making, spooky pom-pom crafts, Halloween cardmaking, an interactive soft-sculpture installation, and a themed photo booth. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for members, and free for children 12 and under. Museum admission is not included.
Spooky Screenings, Live Music, and Halloween Nightlife
The New York Public Library’s Riverside Library (127 Amsterdam Avenue, between West 65th and West 66th Streets) hosts two Halloween-season movie screenings: Frankenweenie (2012), a screening for children, on Monday, October 19, and Lisa Frankenstein (2024), a teens-only screening, on Tuesday, October 20. Both screenings run from 3:15pm to 5:00pm.
From Wednesday, October 28, through Saturday, October 31, the New York Philharmonic presents Get Out in Concert at 7:30pm each evening at Wu Tsai Theater in David Geffen Hall (10 Lincoln Center Plaza). Jordan Peele’s film will be shown on a giant screen as the Orchestra performs Michael Abels’s score live, conducted by Anthony Parnther. Following the October 28 performance, Abels and Parnther will participate in a discussion moderated by Phillippa Cole, the Philharmonic’s Vice President of Artistic Planning.
Catch the classic 1984 comedy Ghostbusters on Saturday, October 31, from 1:00pm to 3:30pm at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts’ Bruno Walter Auditorium (40 Lincoln Center Plaza). The free screening is open to all, but registration is requested.
Halloween at the Met brings a pre-show costume party to the Metropolitan Opera on Saturday, October 31, from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at the Mercedes T. Bass Grand Tier Bar (30 Lincoln Center Plaza). Festivities include photo opportunities, specialty cocktails, and a costume contest judged by Met Board Vice President C. Graham Berwind III, opera star Anthony Roth Costanzo, and Tony Award-winning costume designer Montana Levi Blanco. The event is free for ticket holders, but registration is required, and a ticket to that evening’s performance of Lincoln in the Bardo is necessary to attend. Costumes are encouraged.
On Halloween night, Saturday, October 31, Lincoln Center presents Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan at 7:30pm at the David Rubenstein Atrium (1887 Broadway, between West 62nd and West 63rd Streets). The free screening features a live original soundtrack by DJ 2-Tone Jones. Admission is first-come, first-served, and costumes are encouraged.
The Empire Rooftop (44 West 63rd Street, between Broadway and Columbus Avenue) hosts a Halloween Party on Saturday, October 31. Doors open at 9:00pm, with a DJ starting at 9:30pm. The festivities include spooky cocktail specials and a costume contest with prizes for Best Costume, Best Couple Costume, and Best Makeup/Mask. There’s no cover charge.
Halloween Shopping in Lincoln Square
Looking for a Halloween costume that turns heads or decorations that bring the season to life? Spirit Halloween has newly opened as a seasonal pop-up at 1889 Broadway (at West 63rd Street, at the base of the Empire Hotel). Shop costumes for adults, children, and pets, along with accessories, makeup, indoor and outdoor decorations, and larger-than-life animatronic figures.
Target (1863 Broadway, between West 61st and West 62nd Streets) is a one-stop shop for Halloween essentials, from costumes and candy to seasonal decorations. For a more festive finishing touch, Paper Source (10 Columbus Circle, third floor, at West 58th Street and Broadway) offers decorations, gifts, greeting cards, and more.
Of course, no Halloween is complete without candy. Stock up at Whole Foods Market (10 Columbus Circle, Lower Level), Morton Williams (2015 Broadway, between West 68th and West 69th Streets), or Gourmet Garage (155 West 66th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue).
Getting your home ready for the season? Williams Sonoma (10 Columbus Circle, Ground Floor), Pottery Barn (1965 Broadway, at West 67th Street), and West Elm (1870 Broadway, between West 61st and West 62nd Streets) offer seasonal home goods and decorations.
For something a little different, stop by the American Folk Art Museum Shop (2 Lincoln Square, near Columbus Avenue and West 66th Street) to explore its Halloween collection of seasonal gifts and festive finds, including ornaments, pillows, and frightful figurines to get into the spooky spirit. The Store at the Museum of Arts and Design (2 Columbus Circle) has a handpicked collection of playfully eerie treasures and charming home décor to make Halloween extra festive. Explore the Halloween collection for seasonal finds with a fun, spooky twist.
Through Saturday, October 24, The Shops at Columbus Circle (10 Columbus Circle) is offering Pumpkin Patch Perks. Shoppers who spend $200 or more at eligible retailers can receive a custom hand-painted sugar pumpkin. Artist personalization is available on Saturdays from 12:00pm to 6:00pm on the second floor, while supplies last. Restrictions apply.
Trick-or-Treating and Car-Free Streets
West 69th Street is the classic choice for a lively Halloween night. Its brownstones are known for elaborate decorations, generous candy offerings, and substantial crowds. As part of NYC DOT’s Trick-or-Streets program, the West 69th Street Block Association’s Halloween party is scheduled for October 31 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, with the block between Broadway and Central Park West closed to cars. Choose this destination for spectacle and neighborhood energy rather than a quiet stroll. For more participating locations and street closures, consult NYC DOT’s Trick-or-Streets page.
Whether your idea of Halloween fun involves a creative project, a frightening film, a sweet treat, or a stroll past elaborate decorations, there’s a way to celebrate close to home. Enjoy a festive October in Lincoln Square!
