The Best Things to Do with Kids in NYC This October & Halloween 2026
October in New York City is one of the most exciting times of year for families. The weather cools down, the leaves begin to change, pumpkins appear around the city, and Halloween activities start popping up in every borough.
If you're looking for things to do with kids in NYC this October, there are plenty of ways to make the most of the season — from pumpkin picking and fall festivals to Halloween crafts, costume events, museum activities, and plenty of opportunities to dress up.
And if you're looking for Halloween activities for toddlers and young children in Manhattan, you don't have to wait until October 31st to celebrate. There are family-friendly Halloween activities happening throughout the entire month.
Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy October in NYC with kids in 2026.
🎃 1. Celebrate Halloween at Chelsea Forest Play
If you're looking for a Halloween activity designed specifically for little ones, Chelsea Forest Play is celebrating all month long!
Located in Chelsea, Manhattan, Chelsea Forest Play is an indoor, forest-themed play space designed for young children and their caregivers. Throughout October, families can expect Halloween-themed activities and crafts, making it easy to add a little spooky fun to your child's regular playtime.
👻 Spooky Fest with Puppetsburg — Saturday, October 31, 2026
Looking for something special to do with your kids on Halloween Day in NYC? Join us at Chelsea Forest Play on Saturday, October 31, 2026, for Spooky Fest with Puppetsburg!
Families are invited to come dressed in their Halloween costumes for a special Halloween celebration featuring a 30-minute Halloween-themed Puppetsburg puppet show, followed by Open Play in the Forest.
The event will also include:
🎃 A 30-minute Halloween-themed puppet show
👻 Open Play after the show
🍬 Goodie bags for little guests
🎨 Halloween-themed activities and crafts
🕷️ Festive seasonal fun
👗 Costumes encouraged!
It's a fun way for toddlers and young children to celebrate Halloween in NYC in a playful, age-appropriate environment — without having to wait until trick-or-treating later that evening.
Spooky Fest with Puppetsburg takes place Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Chelsea Forest Play.
If you're searching for Halloween events for toddlers in NYC, Halloween activities for preschoolers, or things to do with kids on Halloween in Manhattan, this is one to add to your October calendar.
🎃 Halloween All Month Long
You don't have to wait until Halloween Day to celebrate!
Throughout October, Chelsea Forest Play will have Halloween-themed activities and crafts happening all month long, giving families plenty of opportunities to enjoy the season.
Come in for Open Play, make something festive, explore the Forest, and let your little one enjoy a little Halloween magic throughout the month.
🍂 2. Get Outside and Enjoy NYC's Fall Foliage
October is also a great time to get outside with kids before the colder weather arrives.
Take a family walk through Central Park, explore one of NYC's many playgrounds, or make a simple fall scavenger hunt for your little ones. Look for colorful leaves, acorns, pumpkins, squirrels, and other signs of fall.
For families with young children, you don't necessarily need a major event to make an afternoon special. Grab a warm drink, bundle up, and let your child explore.
🎃 3. Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin picking is one of those classic fall activities that kids look forward to every year.
You don't necessarily have to leave NYC to find a pumpkin-themed experience, either. The Queens County Farm Museum hosts its annual pumpkin patch throughout October, giving families a chance to enjoy a traditional fall activity right in the city.
For younger children, pumpkin decorating can also be a great alternative to a full pumpkin-picking outing. Set up a little decorating station at home with washable paint, stickers, googly eyes, and markers.
🦇 4. Look for Family-Friendly Halloween Events
Halloween events aren't just for older kids.
Throughout October, NYC offers family-friendly Halloween celebrations with costumes, crafts, music, pumpkin decorating, story times, and other activities designed for children.
When choosing an event for a toddler, look for activities that aren't overly crowded or scary and that allow your child to participate at their own pace.
🧟 5. Visit the Bronx Zoo for Boo at the Zoo
For a bigger Halloween outing, families can head to the Bronx Zoo for Boo at the Zoo, where Halloween-themed fun comes to the zoo throughout the season.
It's a great option for families who want to combine a day of exploring with seasonal activities.
Because October weekends can get busy, it's a good idea to check the current schedule and plan ahead.
🎨 6. Make Time for Halloween Crafts
Sometimes the simplest Halloween activity is one of the best.
Set aside an afternoon for Halloween crafts with your child. You can make:
Paper plate pumpkins
Handprint ghosts
Halloween masks
Spider crafts
Paper bats
Pumpkin decorations
Halloween cards for friends and family
Crafts are especially great for toddlers because they give children a chance to explore different textures, colors, and materials while creating something they can take home.
And of course, Chelsea Forest Play will have Halloween-themed activities and crafts happening throughout October, so families can enjoy the season while they're here to play.
📚 7. Find a Halloween Storytime
A Halloween-themed storytime can be a great way to celebrate the holiday without making things too spooky.
Libraries, bookstores, museums, and children's programs around NYC often offer seasonal storytimes and activities during October.
For toddlers and preschoolers, look for stories featuring friendly ghosts, pumpkins, animals, costumes, and silly Halloween characters rather than anything too frightening.
🏙️ 8. Explore NYC's Halloween Decorations
You don't need a ticket to enjoy Halloween in New York City.
Make a day of walking around the city and looking for the best Halloween decorations. Some neighborhoods go all out with pumpkins, skeletons, ghosts, giant spiders, and elaborate displays.
Turn it into a scavenger hunt for your child:
Can you find a pumpkin? A ghost? A black cat? A spider? Something orange? Something purple?
It's an easy, inexpensive way to make an ordinary walk feel like a Halloween adventure.
🎭 9. Dress Up for the Village Halloween Parade
For older children and families who are comfortable with large crowds, the Village Halloween Parade is one of NYC's most iconic Halloween traditions.
Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31, 2026, making it an especially exciting day for families looking to celebrate in the city.
With very young children, however, keep in mind that the crowds can be intense. A quieter neighborhood Halloween celebration may be a better fit for toddlers.
🏛️ 10. Visit a NYC Museum for a Halloween Activity
October is a great month to explore NYC's museums with kids, especially when the weather isn't cooperating.
Many museums offer hands-on family programming, art activities, scavenger hunts, and seasonal events.
It's a great reminder that Halloween activities don't have to revolve around candy or trick-or-treating.
🍁 11. Make a Full October Bucket List
One of the best things about Halloween in NYC is that you don't have to fit everything into one day.
Instead, make October a month-long celebration.
Try creating a family Halloween bucket list with things like:
☐ Visit a pumpkin patch
☐ Make Halloween crafts
☐ Read a spooky story
☐ Wear a costume to playtime
☐ Decorate pumpkins
☐ Visit a fall festival
☐ See Halloween decorations around NYC
☐ Go to a Halloween-themed puppet show
☐ Have a family Halloween movie night
☐ Make Halloween treats
☐ Visit a museum
☐ Go trick-or-treating
☐ Celebrate Halloween at Spooky Fest at Chelsea Forest Play on October 31!
👻 Halloween in NYC Is for the Little Ones, Too
You don't have to wait until your child is old enough for traditional trick-or-treating to make Halloween special.
For toddlers and preschoolers, October can be about costumes, crafts, music, stories, sensory play, pumpkins, and imaginative play — all the things that make the season feel magical without being too scary.
Whether you're looking for things to do with toddlers in NYC, Halloween activities for kids in Manhattan, fall activities for preschoolers, or family-friendly events in Chelsea, October offers plenty of ways to get out and enjoy the city together.
🎃 Come Celebrate Halloween at Chelsea Forest Play
We're making the entire month of October feel a little more magical at Chelsea Forest Play with Halloween-themed crafts, activities, and plenty of opportunities for seasonal play.
And on Saturday, October 31, 2026, don't miss Spooky Fest with Puppetsburg!
The celebration will feature a 30-minute Halloween-themed puppet show followed by Open Play, plus goodie bags, Halloween-themed activities and crafts, and plenty of festive fun.
Costumes are encouraged!
It's the perfect Halloween activity for little New Yorkers who want to celebrate spooky season in a fun, playful, toddler-friendly environment.
Come play, get creative, and celebrate Halloween with us in the Forest!
