Halloween in New York City: Things to See and Do

Have you ever been to New York City? It's a fast paced place. There's always something going on and if you're not quick, you might get left behind. It's like this all year long. The hustle and the bustle of busy people partaking in both business and pleasure. There's never a dull moment here. If it's like this all year long, imagine how it is during a holiday like Halloween? You bet, it's even busier than usual. October, November and December are the busiest and the most fun times of the year in New York City. So if you're planning a trip, plan it for then. And we don't just celebrate on the date of the holiday, we celebrate all month long.

But this hub is going to focus on the month of October and Halloween. During this holiday, New Yorkers go all out. Whether it's haunted houses, pumpkin picking, or parties, there's plenty of Halloween fun going on in October, in New York City.

Blood Manor is a Haunted House located at 163 Varick Street in the Heart of NYC's Hudson Square District. It's said to be the scariest haunted house in New York, using real actors to produce the scares more than animatronics. Blood Manor is 5,000 square feet of themed rooms, corridors and passageways, in which you journey through on foot in groups of 6. The journey usually lasts for about 20 to 25 minutes. Some of those themed rooms include: The Vampires' Lair, The Wolves' Den, Disgraceland and The Graveyard of the Doomed. Though the actors are trained to not touch anyone, there are several emergency exits if it should become to scary for anyone.

Blood Manor Staff do not recommend children under 14 entering the manor. They also recommend that people with heart and/or back problems, pregnant women, epileptics or anyone with a condition that is worsened or affected by anxiety or flashing lights, should not enter the manor.

You can purchase tickets online, in person or by phone and they range in price from $25-$45 depending on the type of ticket, how you purchase it and the date. The lines can be quite long,s o I recommend purchasing your general admission tickets ($25 + $3.50 handling) in advance online or by phone or you can purchase the express entry ticket for a higher price ($40 + $3.50 handling). Keep in mind e-tickets are only good for the date printed on them.

From Oct. 7 to Nov. 5 Blood Manor's hours of operation for the 2011 season are:
Thursdays 7:30pm to 12am
Fridays & Saturdays 7:30pm to 2am
Sundays 6pm to 11pm

October 25, 26 & 27 - 7:30pm to 1am

Halloween, Oct. 31 - 6pm to 1am

Madame Tussauds is a celebrity wax museum found in the biggest cities all over the world. For eight nights in October, right here in New York, Madame Tussauds hosts an event known as Madame Tussauds After Dark. The museum is located in Time Square. During the event you'll walk the halls of the museum after dark and hear the sounds of horrifying screams and ghostly noises. You're sure to have a paranormal experience.

This event uses real actors who are trained not to touch you and the museum asks that you don't touch them in return. It's also recommended that anyone affected by strobe lights should not attend the event. The museum will not allow flash photography and asks that you do not bring over-sized bags or strollers to the event. They also recommend that you dress comfortably.

Tickets can be purchased online for $23.95.

Dates & Times of the event:
Thursdays-Sundays (Oct. 20-23 and Oct. 27-30)
9pm to 12am

New York's annual Village Halloween Parade takes place in Greenwich Village on October the 31^st. It's said to be the nation's most creative public participatory event. Every year the parade features a vast number of artists, dancers and musicians. Anyone in costume can march and anyone not in costume can volunteer as a puppeteer and help carry and control those huge puppets as you walk almost a mile. Every year 1 million people publicly gather for this event and another 2 million view it on TV.

The parade starts on 6^th avenue from Spring Street to 16^th Street. It begins at 7pm and goes to 10:30pm. Did I mention it's absolutely free?

Halloween Parties at the Bars & Clubs
-- With hundreds of Bars and clubs all over New York City, you can bet that there will be hundreds of Halloween parties, Masquerades and costume balls you can check out every night. Check out NY Halloween Parties for more information on locations, prices and themes.

Halloween at the Queens County Farm Museum
-- Queens County Farm Museum is the only working farm surviving in the city today. It's located in Floral Park, Queens NY. They host events all year long and for all the big holidays. Especially when the holiday is Halloween. In October the Queens County Farm features The Amazing Maize Maze, the Pumpkin Patch, The Apple Festival, The Children's Fall Festival, the Halloween Haunted House, pony rides and hayrides. Check out The Queens County Farm Museum's website for more information on dates, times and admission fees.

Boo at the Bronx Zoo
-- Boo at the Bronx Zoo takes place every weekend in October. You'll see their creepiest and scariest inhabitants including: bats, rats, owls and leopards. They also host an array of Halloween themed activities such as, magic shows, face painting, pumpkin carving, spooky stories, costume parades, musical hayrides and trick or treating. All activities are included in the Zoo's general admission (Check out the Bronx Zoo's website for pricing) and children in wildlife costumes get in free with a paying adult.

Halloween in Central Park
-- Central park usually has a variety of events going on during specific holidays and they're always free. This year (2011) for Halloween Central Park has several events going on in October: Bats at Belvedere, Parade and Pumpkin Sail, and Spider Crafts.

Halloween in the Historic Richmond Town in Staten Island
-- October 30^th from 3:30pm to 5pm, the Historic Richmond Town in Staten Island invites everyone to celebrate Halloween with them. Celebrate the holiday like you're back in the 1950s. Here you'll find crafts, bobbin for apples, trick or treating, games and more. Reservations are required. Check out the Richmond Town website for prices.

Gotham City Ghost Tour
-- The Gotham City Ghost Tour is a walking tour or the historic and eerie Greenwich Village in New York City. On this tour you'll see the cemetery at St. Marks, the Hanging Elm, a 19^th century execution site, the home of Edgar Allen Poe and the burial ground at Washington Square. Tickets are $18-$20. Call (212) 465-3331 for reservations and more information. Maybe I'll see ya there!

Steampunk Hautned House
-- For several days in October the Abrons Arts Center at the Henry Street settlement will be converted into a Neo-Victorian haunted paradise designed to terrify their audience with hitchcockian suspense and dread. This Steampunk Haunted House will feature sci-fi environments, clockwork spiders, steam engine cyborgs and mad scientists. Tickets are sold in 15 minute intervals and tours are 20 minutes long. Children under eight are not permitted to go in. Check out The Steampunk Haunted House's website for prices and more information.

Murder Mystery at the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden
-- For two days in October the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden invite adults and families with children over age eight to join in on a fictional murder mystery game. In the game an unidentified skeleton is discovered, hidden under the floorboards. Your job is to play detective; solve puzzles and collect clues to crack the case. This year the game will take place on Friday October 28^th and Saturday October 29^th, at 6:30 and 7:30pm. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $10 for kids under 12 and $15 for members.

Halloween Celebration at the American Museum of Natural History
-- From 4-7pm on October 31^st, families can come to the American Museum of Natural History and join in on the festivities. Activities will include: trick or treating, arts and crafts, costumed characters, and a Halloween Space Show. Admission price is $10 and $9 for museum members.

St. John's the Divine Halloween Events
-- Crypt Crawls: Visit the Cathedral's crypts with Cathedral guides and learn about the Celtic origins of Halloween and it's transformation into All Hallows Eve. Participants must be 12 years or older. Tickets are $20 per person, and $15 for students and seniors. This event takes place on October 25^th, 26^th, 27^th, 28^th and 30^th.
-- Morning of Gargoyles: This is a Halloween workshop for Children. Activities include: a reading of Eve Buntings Night of the Gargoyles, then down to the workshop to create clay gargoyles, skeleton creatures, and paper gargoyle masks. Reservations are required. This event takes place on October 22^nd from 10am to 12pm. Tickets cost $8 per child, with an adult.
Call the Public Education & Visitor Services Department at (212) 932-7347 for more information and reservations.

Scavenger Hunts
-- Watson's Adventures hosts a series of scavenger hunts in NYC and other historic neighborhoods throughout the United States during the month of October. In NYC, some of these hunts include: The Ghosts of Greenwich Village Scavenger Hunt, and The Haunted Time Square Scavenger Hunt. Check out Watson's Adventures website for more information.

TNC's Village Halloween Costume Ball
--The Theater for the New City hosts it's annual Village Halloween Costume Ball on October 31^st. This festival offers non-stop theater, a costume contest and ballroom dancing.Throughout the event you'll find still dancers, jugglers, fire-eaters, and more. Attractions in the lobby will include: a Psychic Reader, Astrology/Numerology, Astral Portraits, and an Aura Reader. Admission costs $20 per person (not including food) and costume or formal dress is required. The doors open at 7:30pm and the entertainment begins at 8pm. There is also free outdoor entertainment beginning at 4:30pm which includes: bluegrass and jazz bands, fire eaters, jugglers, storyweavers and stilt dancers, as well as an annual medieval ritual show performed by torchlight. Check out The Theater for the New City's website for more information.

Skylar Spring © copyright 2011