Your 2018 Guide to Downtown's Halloween Happenings

Looking for just the right pumpkin at last year's Halloween celebration on Governors Island.

From pumpkin-picking and scavenger hunts to trick-or-treating in a churchyard where historical figures come to life, there are plenty of ways for Downtown families to celebrate the spooky holiday. Here's a rundown of Halloween happenings in Lower Manhattan. All events are free, except where noted.

PIER 25, end of North Moore Street
FALL FEST Sun Oct. 21, 11 am–5 pm
Performances and activities at Hudson River Park's annual Fall Fest include Kid Ace, Story Pirates, face painting, cotton candy, carousel rides, pumpkin art, Big City Fishing, and a doggy adoption tent sponsored by Hearts & Bones Rescue.

BATTERY PARK CITY LIBRARY, 175 North End Ave.
HOLIDAY ARTS AND CRAFTS Wed Oct. 24, 4 pm
Simple Halloween crafts for 3- to 5-year-olds. First come, first served. All materials are provided.

GOVERNORS ISLAND
PUMPKIN PICKING Sat & Sun, Oct. 20–21 & Sat & Sun, Oct. 27-28, 10 am–5 pm
Returning for its second year, Pumpkin Point will bring thousands of ripe pumpkins to the island, ready to be be handpicked and purchased for a small donation that benefits the Friends of Governors Island. There will also be free live music, and pumpkin painting with the Children’s Museum of the Arts. Visitors can buy warm cider, mini pumpkin pies and other treats.

THE OCULUS
TRICK OR TREAT FOR UNICEF Sat, Oct. 27, 10 am–3 pm
Kids and families can come in costume for the  Halloween activities. There will be a scavenger hunt, a life-size Haunted Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Box and more.

BARNES & NOBLE, 97 Warren St.
HOW TO SCARE A GHOST Sat Oct. 27, 11 am
Anyone who has ever wanted to scare a ghost can find out how at the reading of this charming story for 4- 8-year-olds by Jean Reagan, with illustrations by Lee Wildish. Storytime visitors get a coupon from the café for a grilled cheese sandwich with milk or juice for $4.

CHURCH STREET SCHOOL FOR MUSIC & ART, 41 White St.
SPOOKTACULAR Sat, Oct. 27, 11 am–3 pm
The day's events include a Halloween costume parade, spooky scavenger hunt, face painting, art projects, a pumpkin patch, kooky karoake, a spooky maze, haunted hallway, raffles, prizes and more. Tickets here.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN, One Bowling Green
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS Sat Oct. 27, 11 am–5 pm
During Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, Mexican families honor their ancestors. At this year's annual event, kids can embellish paper skull masks, decorate skeleton puppets, create paper flowers, and paint plaster skulls.There will be a performance of the holiday's traditional dances.

ROCKEFELLER PARK
STORY PIRATES Sat, Oct. 27, 11 am
The popular kids theater group will perform spooky and funny tales based on stories written by elementary school students. Part of the show is made up on the spot by the kids in the audience.

BROOKFIELD PLACE
HALLOWEEN BASH Sat, Oct. 27, 12–3 pm
The awarding-winning Brooklyn band The Pop-Ups will perform, with much more on tap: A costume catwalk, trick-or-treating; screenings of "Monsters University" and "Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie"; escape artist Adam Rinn; a demonstration by Mad Science; juggler Michael Karas; temporary tattoos and more.

GOVERNORS ISLAND
TRICK-OR-TREATING AT PUMPKIN POINT Sat, Oct. 27, 1–3 pm
Exhibitors and spooky friends will be stationed at the historic houses of Nolan Park to hand out candy to kids.

WASHINGTON MARKET PARK, Greenwich & Duane Sts
PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST Sat, Oct. 27, 4:45–6 pm

Sponsored by The Friends of Washington Market Park, this is a free community event with prizes awarded in five categories--funniest, cutest, scariest, most creative and most realistic. Bring your own jack-o-lantern to enter (judging starts at 5:30 p.m. and winners are announced at 6 p.m.) or just stop by to enjoy the display.

WASHINGTON MARKET PARK, Greenwich & Duane Sts.
HALLOWEEN PARTY AND COSTUME PARTY Sun, Oct. 28, 1–3 pm
The annual Halloween Party and Costume Parade is the park’s longest running event. The parade line-up begins at 12:50 p.m. at Beach and North Moore Streets and travels along Greenwich Street to the park, led by the Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Marching Band. Inside the park, Friends of Washington Market Park volunteers run a dozen free events, from penny-in-a-haystack to a bone dig in the sandbox, and a hay circle on the lawn. Note: Strollers are not be permitted in the park during the event. A free stroller-check will be available at Duane and Greenwich streets.

TRINITY CHURCH & GRAVEYARD, Broadway & Fulton
HOMETOWN HALLOWEEN Wed, Oct. 31, 3–8:30 pm
Trinity Church's annual event features a trick-or-treat for young children and their families from 3 to 5 p.m. in the church's graveyard, where there will be historical characters from New York City's past. Hot apple cider will be served and visitors can use a photo booth. Costumes are encouraged! From 7 to 8:30 pm,  the original silent movie "Phantom of the Opera" (1925) with live organ accompaniment will be shown in the church.