New York City offers tons of opportunities to celebrate Halloween.
There's the Halloween Harvest Festival on Saturday October 24th. You can tour the Merchant's House Museum. You can even take a Wall Street Walks Ghost Tour.
What we really want to know, though, is what are you going to do the night of the 31st? The night when ghosts really roam the street, when spookiness abounds throughout the city?
The night that's, you know, actually Halloween?
Ideally, you'll get your socks scared off, you'll wear a dope costume, maybe even get buzzed and make out with someone hot.
If none of your friends are throwing an apartment party, rest easy. Halloween apartment parties are usually way too crowded, covered in beer, and overrated anyway.
Read on to discover 7 classic NYC ways to celebrate the Day of the Dead.
1. Village Halloween Parade
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Everyone knows about the Village Halloween Parade. So many people, in fact, that this parade gets so crowded there are layers and layers of people lining the streets.
It's the nation's most vividly creative public participatory event, in fact. You're only welcome to join if you're in costume. If you want to use eyeliner to draw whiskers on your face, we're pretty sure that counts.
It starts on 6th Avenue at Canal Street between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. This year's theme is Shine a Light, which draws Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous quote into play: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."
If you want to watch the parade you can line up on 6th Avenue from Spring Street to 16th Street from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. We've got to warn you though, it's crowded. Also, they won't want you there if you're not in costume.
Plus, of course, there's an after party at Webster Hall.
2. The Amazing Halloween Scavenger Hunt (8 East 36th Street)
We know what you're thinking and the answer is yes, The Amazing Halloween Scavenger Hunt is, in fact, for adults.
There is a kid's version if that's what you're interested in, but we're going to go ahead and assume you're interested in hearing about the adult's version, if that's okay.
This event is going down from 7 to 10 p.m. on Halloween at Slattery's Midtown Pub and it costs $25 per person. It's part hunt, part obstacle course, and it takes place all throughout NYC.
You'll have to follow a series of clues around the city performing physical and mental challenges. Yes, it will be scary.
Each member of the winning team receives a gift packages including tickets to Quiet Clubbing, The Big Quiz Thing, Shake Rattle and Roll, and more. The hunt is three hours long, and you should wear sneakers. You could also ensure one of the members of your team has a smart phone.
Why? Well, the hunt is run through an app called ScanQuest, which you must download before you come to the event. Buy your tickets here.
3. Village Halloween Costume Ball (155 First Avenue)
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Do you go wild over theater, costumes, and ballroom dancing? If you found reading that list thrilling, then the Village Halloween Costume Ball is where you need to be the night of Halloween.
This 35th annual ball is known as a grand coming together for New Yorkers and artists alike, celebrating the creativity of the fall season. The ball will promenade through all four of TNC's theater spaces, plus the lobby and the block of East 10th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues.
There will be a grand buffet, with a variety of American and international delicacies available for reasonable prices. There will also be performances by performance artists, songwriters, poets, and variety artists.
Outside, there will be bluegrass and jazz bands, fire eaters, jugglers, story-weavers and stilt dancers. Inside, there will be theater all evening.
Admission to this ball costs $20, and you're required to either wear a costume or formal wear. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and entertainment begins at 8 p.m.
4. Halloween at the American Museum of Natural History (Central Park West & 79th Street)
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The Museum of Natural History is throwing a Halloween bash. If your favorite thing is being around dinosaur bones, facts about the universe, and pictorial evidence of evolution, you've got to get to their Halloween party.
They'll have trick-or-treating throughout the museum's famous halls, live performances by The David Grover and Grover's Gang, Louie Miranda and His Band, and The Big Apple Circus to Go.
They'll also have a magical performance by Robert Austin, arts and crafts, and plenty of people in Halloween costumes.
It's going down from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., so you could even attend this party and your best pal's apartment bash later on that evening. How good does that sound? Grab your tickets here.
,5. PhantasmaGorey (60 Pine Street)
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Phantasmagorey takes place in the Savage Kingdom on Halloween. You'll also get the chance to enter the Enchanted Forest.
So which will it be?
In the Savage Kingdom, you'll have to contend with barbaric beasts raging throughout the haunted halls of The DTA. In the Enchanted Forest you'll have the opportunity to mingle with fairies, fauns, giants, and witches in a mythic paradise.
You should choose wisely, because humans are ruthlessly hunted in the Savage Kingdom. So, you're advised to disguise yourself so you don't look human.
You'll also have the opportunity to buy tickets to the Witches' Party, which will offer a decadent dessert buffet.
It'll rock on the night of the 31st from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Grab your tickets here.
6. Dia de los Terribles at the Wythe Hotel (80 Wythe Avenue - Brooklyn)
This Halloween extravaganza is in its third year at the Wythe Hotel. It will include DJ sets by Dev Hynes, Caroline Polachek, Justin Strauss, George Lewis, and other ghoulish Terrible all-stars.
There will be an open bar from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., a photo gallery depicting Day of the Dead rituals from around the world, or grab a shot of yourself in the Self Portrait Project photo booth.
They'll also be screening the Halloween classic "Under the Volcano," and an insane dance party. If you come to this party, come costumed and ready for a good time.
Get your tickets here.
7. Blood Manor (163 Varick Street)
Do you love being spooked? Great, that means you're clued into the whole purpose of Halloween.
Blood Manor is a terrifying haunted house that’ll terrify your ties off. It’s got 5,000 square feet of themed rooms, corridors, and a labyrinth of passageways designed to maximize fears. You travel through this horrifying haunted house on foot. It's certainly not appropriate for young children.
Don’t worry, you can leave if you get too scared. Plus, you get free admission if it’s your birthday, which we’ve got to say is pretty dope. Especially if your birthday is on Halloween.
It’s open from October 2nd through November 7th, which includes the actual night of Halloween. Get your tickets here.
Check out 6 Ways to Scare Yourself Sh*tless This Halloween in NYC.
[Feature Image Courtesy Next Magazine]