Spooks will run wild all across the “World’s Borough” in the days leading up to and including Halloween, as neighborhoods across Queens celebrate All Hallow’s Eve with an array of parades and parties.
All are invited to come in costume to the family-friendly events, which are scheduled to take place rain or shine. With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, many of the events that day will take place during the afternoon hours.
The festivities include the following:
Bayside
On Oct. 23 and 24, visitors can celebrate Halloween with a lantern tour of the historic Water Battery at Fort Totten from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Haunted Lantern Tour and Halloween Festival includes a free day featuring games, rides, craft projects, a costume contest, pumpkin patch and goodie bags.
The Bayside Business Improvement District will be holding a Halloween event on Oct.31 from noon to 5 p.m. on Bell Boulevard. Costume contests will be held for children, adults and pets along with photo opportunities, crafts, bouncy rides and a pumpkin patch. Admission and all activities are free, but some features are in limited supply.
College Point
The Poppenhusen Institute will be holding its fifth annual haunted house for two weekends on Oct. 23 and 24 and then again on Oct. 30 and 31 from 6 to 9 p.m. Everyone is invited to wear costumes to the event, which will include old-time scary movies, trick-or-treat candy and a free raffle for a chance to win a prize on each date. Refreshments, souvenirs and pumpkins will be sold, and admission is $10 for ages 8 and up and $5 for children ages 7 and under.
Flushing
The 109th Precinct will be having a safe Halloween trick-or-treating event on Oct. 31 from 2 to 4 p.m. Officers of the precinct—which is located at 37-05 Union St.—will be giving out candy, and children are encouraged to come in costume to the station.
Flushing Town Hall is inviting the community to enjoy hands-on, festive, family-friendly fun at the Halloween Festival. Admission is free for the event, which will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. at 137-35 Northern Blvd. The whole family will be able to enjoy mask making, pumpkin piñatas, ghost stories and more, as well as Halloween treats for all participants.
The Queens Zoo presents Boo at the Zoo on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Families are invited to see spooky animal presentations and enjoy pumpkin picking, as well as a haunted habitat animal exhibit all decorated for Halloween. A haunted habitat begins at 11 a.m. and guests will be able to meet Halloween critters at 12:30, 2 and 3 p.m. For a full schedule and more info, click here.
Forest Hills
Young ghouls and goblins will be in search of tricks and treats along Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills during the neighborhood’s annual Halloween walk on Oct. 31 sponsored by Maspeth Federal Savings bank. The walk begins at 1:30 p.m. inside the parking lot of the bank located at 101-09 Metropolitan Ave. Trick-or-treaters will walk up and down the avenue before returning to the parking lot for a raffle and prize giveaway.
Glendale
The Glendale Kiwanis Club will host their annual Halloween Parade on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 1 to 5 p.m. This year the parade will begin outside of the Stop & Shop supermarket on 65th Street and Myrtle Avenue, and proceed down the avenue to St. Pancras School located at 68-20 Myrtle Ave.
Howard Beach
All are invited to come in costume and march in the Howard Beach Halloween Parade scheduled to take place along Cross Bay Boulevard on Oct. 31. Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Howard Beach, the parade begins at 11:30 a.m. from the corner of Cross Bay Boulevard and 159th Avenue. The participants will head south to 165th Avenue, where refreshments and rides will be available.
Jackson Heights
The 25th annual Jackson Heights Parade will be hosted by the Jackson Heights Beautification Project on Oct. 31 at noon. Families will line up along 37th Avenue and 3,200 goodie bags will be handed out to crowds at 77th Street and 37th Avenue.
Long Island City
The Annual Kids Halloween Parade will begin in front of the 108th Precinct at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. Participants will be treated to music and a special dance led by the LIC YMCA. The parade will proceed down Vernon Boulevard to 46th Road and Trick-or-Treating Totes will be distributed to every child. There will also be a costume contest and winners will be announced and win a prize by Nov. 15.
Socrates Sculpture Park will host its Halloween Harvest Festival on Oct. 24. Children will be able to make their own costumes and masks with the help of the Free Style Arts Association. Guests will also get the chance to listen to live music and enjoy food from local restaurants. For more information, visit socratessculpturepark.org.
Maspeth
The Maspeth Lions Club presents the Halloween Ragamuffin Parade on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 4 p.m. The parade begins at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery Main Gate, located at 65-40 Grand Ave. and will proceed to the Maspeth Federal Savings Bank parking lot on the corner of 69th Street and Grand Avenue. All children are welcome to come dressed up in their costumes, with the best costume to win a prize.
Ridgewood
Let’s Fix Rosemary’s Playground is hosting a Halloween community event at Rosemary’s Playground, located at 7-51 Woodward Ave. The event will run from 2 to 5 p.m. and will feature a bulb planting, crafts for children and a costume contest.
Rockaway
Four-legged friends will be able to enjoy Halloween with a free Canine Costume Carnival on Oct. 31 at Rockaway Freeway and Beach Channel Drive, at Beach 84th Street from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. People can bring their dogs for the costume contest, while also enjoy carnival games, face painting and a photo booth.
Woodside
The fourth annual Woofside Halloween Pet Festival is back and hosted by Woodside on the Move. Dress your pets and bring them to Windmuller Park on 52nd Street and 39th Drive. Registration is held at Skillman Pet Store at 49-16 Skillman Ave. from 11 to 11:45 a.m. The festival occurs from noon to 2 p.m. The costume contest is free for children under the age of 16 and $10 for people 17 and above.
