Free family events in New York City this month

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

• Stomp, Clap and Sing with Esther Crow

  10:30am, Central Library, Dweck Center, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza

  Singer Esther Crow performs original acoustic songs for babies and young children, some as duets with her handmade felt puppets. Free, at the Brooklyn Public Library's main branch. Organizer

• Banned Books Week Family Storytime

  11am, Spuyten Duyvil Library, Spuyten Duyvil, The Bronx · Free

  A family storytime built around books that have been banned or challenged. Tickets are first come, first served for up to 20 families, handed out from 10:30am. Organizer

• After School Art Explorers: Free Drop-In

  2:30pm, The Jewish Museum, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 6 to 96 St

  A free drop-in art program for kids after school. Organizer

Friday, October 9, 2026

• Family Camping: Overnight at the Unisphere

  6pm, Unisphere, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens · Free
  Subway: 7 to Mets-Willets Point

  The Urban Park Rangers host an overnight family camping trip in the shadow of the Unisphere, from 6pm to 7am. Check the Parks page for sign-up and gear. Organizer

Saturday, October 10, 2026

• Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration with NAIC-NY

  11am, Mitsubishi River Walk, Bronx Zoo, Bronx Park, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: 2/5 to West Farms Sq-E Tremont Av

  NYC Parks lists this Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration with NAIC-NY at the Mitsubishi River Walk in Bronx Park, and flags it as a Must See event. Check the Parks page for the day's program. Organizer

• The Past and The Curious Live

  11am, Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to 66 St-Lincoln Center

  Fun forgotten firsts from history with Mick Sullivan, in the David Rubenstein Atrium. Free, all ages. Organizer

• Governors Island Tree Tour

  11:45am, Soissons Landing, Governors Island, Governors Island, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry, then the ferry

  A free guided outdoor tour from the Governors Island nature team about the island's nearly 3,500 trees. It meets at Soissons Landing on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Register through the event page. Organizer

• Boo Bash in the Bronx

  noon, St. James Park, Fordham, The Bronx · Free

  A free Halloween afternoon in St. James Park. NYC Parks lists it as open to the public with no ticket. Organizer

• Movie Under the Stars: Ghostbusters (PG)

  6:45pm, Frank Principe Park, Maspeth, Queens · Free

  A free outdoor screening of Ghostbusters on a park lawn. Bring a blanket and a jacket for the October evening. Organizer

Sunday, October 11, 2026

• Free Second Sunday

  Whitney Museum of American Art, Meatpacking District, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: A/C/E to 14 St or L to 8 Av

  Admission to the whole museum is free on the second Sunday of the month, and ages 25 and under are always free. Family programming on these days is not listed on the pages we checked. Organizer

• Dig & Create: Free Family Drop-In

  11:30am, The Jewish Museum, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 6 to 96 St

  A free drop-in family art-making program at the museum. Organizer

• Family Camping: Staten Island

  6pm, Blue Heron Nature Center, Prince's Bay, Staten Island · Free

  An overnight camping trip for families with the Urban Park Rangers at Blue Heron Park, from 6pm to 7am. Check the Parks page for sign-up and what to bring. Organizer

Monday, October 12, 2026

• Rockaway Fall Festival

  noon, Beach 17 at O'Donohue Park, Far Rockaway, Queens · Free

  A free fall day near the boardwalk with a pumpkin maze, a pumpkin patch, rides, crafts, games and music. It falls on the Monday holiday, so expect families. Organizer

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

• Paper Bag Haunted House

  3:30pm, Woodhaven Library, Woodhaven, Queens · Free

  Kids make a paper bag haunted house at the Woodhaven Library, a craft for ages 6 to 12. Organizer

Friday, October 16, 2026

• Hallowscream Fright Walk

  4pm, J. Hood Wright Park, Washington Heights, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: A to 175 St

  A costume-friendly spooky walk at the basketball courts in J. Hood Wright Park, on a Friday after school. Wear a costume if you like. Organizer

• Family Camping: Bronx

  6pm, Van Cortlandt Nature Center, Van Cortlandt Park, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: 1 to Van Cortlandt Park-242 St

  The Urban Park Rangers lead an overnight family camping trip at Van Cortlandt Nature Center, 6pm to 7am. Check the Parks page for sign-up and what to bring. Organizer

Saturday, October 17, 2026

• Dia de Muertos Family Celebration

  10am, El Museo del Barrio, East Harlem, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 6 to 103 St

  Art-making, live music and community altars honoring loved ones who have died. Free. Organizer

• Halloween Family Day

  10am, MoMA PS1, Long Island City, Queens · Free
  Subway: 7 to Court Sq, or E/M/G to Court Sq

  Free, all-ages Halloween activities led by artists, including pumpkin carving, costume making and spooky short films, with gallery access. Organizer

• Open House New York: Grand Army Plaza

  10am, Grand Army Plaza Arch, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza

  A special access tour of the Prospect Park entrance arch from the Urban Park Rangers and Prospect Park Alliance, as part of Open House New York. Organizer

• Farmhouse Family Day: Autumnal Wonders

  11am, Wyckoff House Museum, East Flatbush, Brooklyn · Free

  Fall crafts and activities at the Wyckoff House, one of the oldest buildings in the city. It repeats on Sunday, October 18. Organizer

• Open House New York: Fort Totten

  11am, Fort Totten Park, Bayside, Queens · Free

  The Urban Park Rangers walk through the historic structures of Fort Totten for Open House New York weekend. Registration may be required through OHNY. Organizer

• Terrific Tales from Ancient Traditions

  11am, Bay Terrace Library, Bayside, Queens · Free

  An interactive storytelling program for kids ages 5 to 8 and their families at the Bay Terrace branch. Organizer

• Williamsbridge Fall Fiesta

  11am, Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, Williamsbridge, The Bronx · Free

  A free fall celebration at the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center on Saturday late morning. Organizer

• Faber Park Fright Fest

  noon, Faber Park Recreation Center, Port Richmond, Staten Island · Free

  A free daytime Halloween party outdoors at the Faber Park Recreation Center. A Hocus Pocus movie night follows there at 7:15pm. Organizer

• Hallowscream Fright Walk and Fall Festival

  noon, J. Hood Wright Park, Washington Heights, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: A to 175 St

  A daytime Halloween walk and fall festival at the basketball courts in J. Hood Wright Park. Costumes are welcome. Organizer

• Springfield Park Fall Festival

  noon, Springfield Park, Springfield Gardens, Queens · Free

  A free afternoon of fall family activities on the lawn at Springfield Park. Organizer

• Family Halloween Carnival

  2:30pm, East Flushing Library, Flushing, Queens · Free

  Games and creative crafts for kids and families at the East Flushing branch of Queens Public Library. Organizer

• Flagpole Pinata Party

  3pm, Soissons Landing, Governors Island, Governors Island, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry, then the ferry

  A free drop-in workshop where families make piñata pieces from 3 to 5pm, then a 5pm procession led by the First Panamanian Marching Band of Brooklyn. RSVP is required. Organizer

• Movie Under the Stars: Hocus Pocus (PG)

  7:15pm, Faber Park Recreation Center, Port Richmond, Staten Island · Free

  A free outdoor Hocus Pocus screening at Faber Park. Dress warmly and bring something to sit on. Organizer

Sunday, October 18, 2026

• Little Manila Parade and Block Party

  General Hart Playground, Woodside, Queens · Free
  Subway: 7 to 69 St

  A Filipino American Heritage Month parade and block party in Woodside with food, music and cultural programs. NYC Tourism lists the date; confirm times with the organizers. Organizer

• Free Halloween Puppet Pop-up

  10am, Old Stone House, Park Slope, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: R to Union St

  White Bird runs a free all-ages puppetry pop-up at the Old Stone House in Washington Park. A good short stop on the way to Park Slope. Organizer

• Open House New York: Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument

  10am, Fort Greene Park Visitor Center, Fort Greene, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: C to Lafayette Av

  Rangers talk about the Brooklyn landmark that honors the prisoners who died on British prison ships, as part of Open House New York. Organizer

• Farmhouse Family Day: Autumnal Wonders

  11am, Wyckoff House Museum, East Flatbush, Brooklyn · Free

  Fall crafts and activities at the Wyckoff House, one of the oldest buildings in the city. This is the Sunday repeat of Saturday's day. Organizer

Monday, October 19, 2026

• Halloween Craft and Movie

  3:30pm, Coney Island Library, Coney Island, Brooklyn · Free

  Kids and teens watch Hocus Pocus and make paper Halloween lanterns at the Coney Island Library. Organizer

• Mummy Fashion Show

  4pm, South Jamaica Library, Jamaica, Queens · Free

  Families wrap each other up in a mummy dressing competition. Open to the whole family, according to the library. Organizer

Friday, October 23, 2026

• Greenbelt's Haunted Trail

  3pm, Greenbelt Recreation Center, Greenbelt, Staten Island · Free

  NYC Parks and Staten Island Recreation run a family Halloween haunted trail from the lower parking lot. Halloweentown shows outdoors at 7pm the same night. Organizer

• Library Lab: Spooky Science

  3:30pm, Brooklyn Heights Library, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: 2/3/4/5 to Borough Hall

  A monthly Library Lab session with Halloween-themed science experiments for school-age kids. No registration needed. Organizer

• Movie Under the Stars: Halloweentown (TV-G)

  7pm, Greenbelt Recreation Center, Greenbelt, Staten Island · Free

  A free outdoor showing of Halloweentown in the lower parking lot at the Greenbelt Recreation Center. Organizer

Saturday, October 24, 2026

• Ocean Breeze Fall Festival

  10am, Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex, Ocean Breeze, Staten Island · Free

  A seasonal celebration at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on the Staten Island shore, running most of the day. Organizer

• Pumpkin Point

  10am, Nolan Park, Governors Island, Governors Island, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry, then the ferry

  A free pumpkin patch with trick-or-treating, ghost tours, pumpkin painting, fall foliage walks and performances. The ferry costs $5 round trip, free for children 12 and under. Organizer

• High Line Halloween: Gnome-topia

  11am, The High Line, 14th Street Passage, Chelsea, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: A/C/E/L to 14 St-8 Av

  Themed games and activities for families at the High Line's 14th Street Passage, with a garden gnome theme. Costumes welcome. Organizer

• Juniper Valley Park Fall Festival

  11:30am, Juniper Valley Park, Middle Village, Queens · Free

  Halloween activities with inflatables, crafts, games, music and pumpkin picking on the hard top play area. Organizer

• Governors Island Tree Tour

  11:45am, Soissons Landing, Governors Island, Governors Island, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry, then the ferry

  A free guided outdoor tour from the Governors Island nature team about the island's nearly 3,500 trees. It meets at Soissons Landing on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Register through the event page. Organizer

• Conference House Haunted Trail

  noon, Conference House Park, Tottenville, Staten Island · Free

  A family Halloween afternoon at the historic Conference House at the southern tip of Staten Island, run by NYC Parks and Staten Island Recreation. Organizer

• Halloween Boo Bash

  noon, White Garden, Randall's Island Park, Randall's Island, Manhattan · Free

  Come in costume for themed activities, crafts, music and treats at the White Garden on Randall's Island. Organizer

• Wayanda Park Fall Festival

  noon, Wayanda Park, Queens Village, Queens · Free

  A free afternoon of fall family fun on the grass field at Wayanda Park. Organizer

• Community Joy/Justice Day

  1pm, Bronx Museum of the Arts, Concourse, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: B/D or 4 to 167 St

  An artist-led community day at the Bronx Museum, which has free admission for everyone. Organizer

• Magnetic Archery and Foam Axe Throwing

  1pm, Crotona Nature Center, Crotona Park, The Bronx · Free

  Free archery lessons from the Urban Park Rangers using safe magnetic equipment, plus foam axe throwing. Organizer

• Fantasy Forest Immersive Hike: Alien Visitors

  4pm, Blue Heron Nature Center, Prince's Bay, Staten Island · Free

  The Rangers tell a theatrical story as the group walks the Blue Heron Park trails. A good one for children who like to be part of the tale. Organizer

• Autumn Starfest

  7pm, Inwood Hill Nature Center, Inwood, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to 215 St or A to Inwood-207 St

  The Urban Park Rangers and the Amateur Astronomers Association host the annual fall stargazing night in Inwood Hill Park. Dress warmly. Organizer

• Movie Under the Stars: Scooby-Doo (2002)

  7pm, Great Lawn, Conference House Park, Tottenville, Staten Island · Free

  A free outdoor Scooby-Doo screening on the Great Lawn at Conference House Park, with a haunted trail earlier in the day. Organizer

Sunday, October 25, 2026

• Pumpkin Point

  10am, Nolan Park, Governors Island, Governors Island, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry, then the ferry

  The second day of the free pumpkin patch with trick-or-treating, ghost tours, pumpkin painting and performances. Leftover pumpkins are composted on the island. Organizer

• Fall Foliage Canoeing

  11am, Audubon Center at the Boathouse, Prospect Park, Prospect Park, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: B/Q to Prospect Park

  A calm autumn paddle on the Prospect Park Lake with the Urban Park Rangers. Check the Parks page for age rules and sign-up. Organizer

• Autumn Festival

  noon, Carmine Carro Community Center, Marine Park, Marine Park, Brooklyn · Free

  Pumpkin giveaways and a costume parade at the Marine Park community center. NYC Parks lists it as a Must See event. Organizer

• Celtic Halloween Tree Tales

  noon, Clove Lakes Park, Clove Lakes Park, Staten Island · Free

  A Ranger program on the Celtic origins of Halloween, told among the trees at Clove Lakes Park. Organizer

• Beginner Fishing

  1pm, Crotona Nature Center, Crotona Park, The Bronx · Free

  Rangers teach the ethics of fishing and the ecology of local waters. All equipment is provided. Organizer

• Geology: Central Park Rocks!

  1pm, Harlem Meer, Central Park, Central Park, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 2/3 to Central Park North-110 St

  A Ranger-led look at the geology under Central Park and how the rock shaped the park's design. Organizer

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

• Rock or Treat: Halloween Around the World!

  4pm, Crown Heights Library, Crown Heights, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: 2/5 to Winthrop St

  Brian Barrentine's dance-along, sing-along Halloween musical for kids, described by the library as the city's only one of its kind. Organizer

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

• Ranger Tot Time

  11am, Inwood Hill Nature Center, Inwood, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to 215 St or A to Inwood-207 St

  A morning of kid-friendly activities with the Urban Park Rangers at the Inwood Hill Nature Center, aimed at toddlers and preschoolers. Organizer

Friday, October 30, 2026

• Haunted Heights: Halloween at Morningside Park

  3pm, North Lawn, Morningside Park, Morningside Heights, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: B/C to 116 St

  NYC Parks, Friends of Morningside Park and Columbia University host a Halloween afternoon on the North Lawn. Organizer

• Wicked Walker Family Fun and Halloween Event

  3:30pm, Walker Park Field House, Livingston, Staten Island · Free

  A family Halloween celebration at Walker Park from NYC Parks and Staten Island Recreation, timed for after school. Organizer

• Family Halloween Themed Activities

  4pm, Hamilton Fish Recreation Center, Lower East Side, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: F to 2 Av

  Halloween activities with prizes, free candy and popcorn at the Hamilton Fish Recreation Center. It is indoors, so rain does not matter. Organizer

• WBO Haunted House

  6pm, Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, Williamsbridge, The Bronx · Free

  An evening haunted house at the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center. The listing is short, so check the Parks page for age guidance before bringing little ones. Organizer

Saturday, October 31, 2026

• Creepy Crawly Halloween

  10am, Audubon Center at the Boathouse, Prospect Park, Prospect Park, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: B/Q to Prospect Park

  Prospect Park Alliance's Halloween day at the Audubon Center looks at the creatures that give people the creeps, with activities and experiments. Organizer

• Halloween Hike to Heyerdahl Hill

  11am, Greenbelt Nature Center, Greenbelt, Staten Island · Free

  An autumn hike through the central Greenbelt to Heyerdahl Hill on Halloween morning. Wear sturdy shoes. Organizer

• Autumn Animal Crafts and Exploration

  1pm, Crotona Nature Center, Crotona Park, The Bronx · Free

  No costume needed: kids make masks inspired by the wildlife of Crotona Park with the Urban Park Rangers. Organizer

• Folklore Tales on the Trail Hike

  1pm, Prospect Park (Washington Irving statue), Prospect Park, Brooklyn · Free

  The Rangers meet at the Washington Irving statue for a hike with folklore and Halloween stories. Organizer

• Pumpkin Palooza

  1pm, Basketball Courts, St. Mary's Park, Mott Haven, The Bronx · Free

  A free Halloween afternoon at St. Mary's Park. NYC Parks says it is open to the public. Organizer

• Dia de los Muertos Celebration at Brooklyn Army Terminal

  2pm, Brooklyn Army Terminal Arches, Sunset Park, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: R to 59 St, then about a 15 minute walk

  A free Day of the Dead celebration from ArtBuilt and Casa Cultural with a communal ofrenda, crafts, face painting, live music and performances, from 2pm to 7pm. Organizer

• Hippo Playground Halloween Parade

  3:30pm, Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Riverside Park, Upper West Side, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to 86 St

  The annual costume parade for kids in Riverside Park, with music from Ramblin' Dan's Freewheelin' Band. Organizer

• Inwood Hill Park After Dark Hike

  4pm, Inwood Hill Nature Center, Inwood, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to 215 St or A to Inwood-207 St

  A Halloween walk through Inwood Hill Park at dusk with the Urban Park Rangers, for bats, bones and the like. Start time is 4pm, so it is light at first. Organizer

• Park Slope Halloween Parade

  6:30pm, Seventh Avenue, Park Slope, Park Slope, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: F/G to 7 Av

  A children's costume parade on Seventh Avenue from 14th to 3rd Street, running since 1986. People start lining up around 6pm and trick-or-treating on Seventh and Fifth Avenues is a draw. Organizer

• Village Halloween Parade

  7pm, Sixth Avenue, Greenwich Village, Greenwich Village, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: A/B/C/D/E/F/M to W 4 St-Wash Sq

  The 53rd Village Halloween Parade with costumed marchers, giant puppets and bands, going up Sixth Avenue from Canal Street to West 15th Street. It runs rain or shine and the crowds are big. Organizer

Sunday, November 1, 2026

• TCS New York City Marathon

  Fort Wadsworth to Central Park, Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island · Free

  Nearly 60,000 runners cover 26.2 miles from Staten Island through Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan to Central Park. Families cheer along the route, so pick a spot away from the finish for room. Organizer

• Fall Canoeing

  11am, Wolfe's Pond Park, Prince's Bay, Staten Island · Free

  A calm autumn paddle with the Urban Park Rangers at Wolfe's Pond Park. Check the Parks page for age rules and sign-up. Organizer

• Nature's Workshop: Fall Foliage Leaf Art

  11am, Crotona Nature Center, Crotona Park, The Bronx · Free

  Kids collect fallen leaves and turn them into art with the Urban Park Rangers. Organizer