NYC announces nearly 140 car-free Halloween events

New York City’s Halloween open streets program returns for another record-breaking season, with nearly 140 participating locations over two weeks. On Monday, Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the “Trick-or-Streets” program, which will close streets, plazas, and other corridors across the five boroughs to vehicles, opening the spaces for spooky (and safe) festivities from October 17 through 31.

Rodriguez unveiled this year’s initiative at a ribbon-cutting for the new 29th Street Plaza at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City. The 17,390-square-foot pedestrian space, located between Skillman and 47th Avenues, features a block-long mural by Fernanda Contreras, now one of the city’s largest asphalt murals.

“Throughout the month of October, NYC DOT’s fourth annual Trick-or-Streets program will bring seasonal events to plazas and Open Streets, just like 29^th Street Plaza, to bring joy, culture, and greater safety for New Yorkers of all ages and abilities to celebrate the Halloween season,” Rodriguez said.

“Building on years of successful Open Street activations in partnership with LaGuardia Community College, 29^th Street Plaza is a testament to what can be accomplished when we rethink how our streets can enrich our communities and make city life even better for all.”

The DOT will host a series of special signature events throughout the month:

• October 18: Castleton Avenue, Staten Island (Castleton Avenue, Bement Avenue to Davis Avenue)—from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hosted by the Staten Island Business Outreach Center, Castleton Avenue Merchants Organization, with programming by NYC Kids Fest.
• October 24: 61st Street Open Street, Queens (61st Street, Roosevelt Avenue to Woodside Avenue)—from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hosted by Woodside On The Move, Inc., with programming by Hive Public Space.
• October 25: Franklin Avenue Open Street, Brooklyn (Franklin Avenue, Atlantic Avenue to Eastern Parkway)—from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Hosted by Bridge Street Development with programming by Street Lab.
• October 31: Manor Avenue Open Street, Bronx (Manor Avenue, Westchester Avenue to East 172nd Street)—from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Hosted by the C.O.R.E. Family Enrichment Center with programming by Orisha Wholeness.
• October 31: St. Nicholas Avenue Open Street, Manhattan (St. Nicholas Avenue, West 116th to West 118th Streets)—from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hosted by the A. Philip Randolph Square Neighborhood Alliance with programming by Broadway for Arts Education.

There will also be a variety of plaza events, hosted at plazas across the five boroughs:

• October 25: Ditmars Halloween Family Parade, Queens (Steinway Street, Ditmars Boulevard to 23rd Avenue)—from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• October 25: 40th Annual Halloween Parade, Bronx (Westchester Avenue, Simpson Street to Southern Boulevard)—from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• October 26: Day of the Dead Parade, Brooklyn (5th Avenue, 58th to 44th Streets)—from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• October 26: Greenpoint Children’s Halloween Party (Manhattan Avenue, Driggs to Greenpoint Avenues)—from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• October 31: 52nd Annual Village Halloween Parade, Manhattan (6th Avenue, West 18th to Canal Streets)—from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• October 31: 18th Annual Washington Heights Halloween Parade, Manhattan (Cabrini Boulevard, West 190th Street to Margaret Corbin Plaza)—from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Find a selection of partner events in each borough below:

Manhattan

• October 18: Doyers Street Plaza (Doyers Street, Pell Street to Bowery)—from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Produced by the Chinatown BID.
• October 24: Plaza de las Americas (West 175th Street, Broadway to Wadsworth Avenue)—from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Produced by the Community League of the Heights, Inc.
• October 25: Amsterdam Avenue Open Street (Amsterdam Avenue, West 110th to West 106th Streets)—from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Produced by the Columbus Amsterdam BID.
• October 26: Columbus Avenue Open Street (Columbus Avenue, West 77th to West 68th Streets)—from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Produced by the Columbus Avenue BID.
• October 31: Clarkson Street Open Street (Clarkson Street, Varick to Hudson Streets)—from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Produced by City as School.
• October 31: East 123rd Street Open Street (East 123rd Street, Third to Second Avenues)—from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Produced by the East Harlem Council for Human Services, Inc.

Brooklyn

• October 17: Strauss Street Open Street (Strauss Street, Newport Street to Riverdale Avenue)—from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Produced by the Riverdale Avenue Community School.
• October 19: BQ Flea (Under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway) (Meeker Avenue, Lorimer Street to Union Avenue)—from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• October 23: Jitu Weusi Plaza (Putnam Avenue, Grand Avenue to Fulton Street)—from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Produced by the Fulton Area Business Alliance Business Improvement District.
• October 24: Albermarle Road Open Street (Albemarle Road, Malborough to Argyle Roads)—from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Produced by the Prospect Park South Association.
• October 25: Lexington Avenue Open Street (Lexington Avenue, Classon to Grand Avenues)—from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Produced by the Brooklyn Bazar Festival.
• October 27: Pearl Plaza (Pearl Street, Water Street to Anchorage Place)—from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Produced by the Dumbo Business Improvement District.

Queens

• October 25: Ditmars Boulevard (Ditmars Boulevard, 37th to 31st Streets)—from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Produced by the Destination Ditmars Merchant Association.
• October 25: Murdock Plaza (Murdock Avenue, 180th Street to dead end)—from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Produced by the Addisleigh Park Civic Organization.
• October 29: 165th Street Open Street (165th Street, Jamaica to 89th Avenues)—from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Produced by the Downtown Jamaica Partnership.
• October 29: 29th Street Plaza (29th Street, Skillman to 47th Avenues)—from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Produced by LaGuardia Community College.
• October 31: 106th Street (106th Street, 85th to 86th Avenues)—from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Produced by Friends of North Richmond Hill.
• October 31: Austin Street (Austin Street, Continental Avenue to 71st Road)—from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Produced by Neighbors for a Safer Austin Street.

The Bronx

• October 23: East 148th Street Open Street (East 148th Street, Morris to College Avenues)—from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Produced by P.S. 018 The John Peter School.
• October 25: Bronx Night Market + Bindlestiff Family Cirkus at Fordham Plaza (Fordham Road, Webster to Washington Avenues)—from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Produced by the Bronx Night Market and DOT.
• October 27: Bathgate Avenue Open Street (Bathgate Avenue, East 182nd to East 181st Street)—from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Produced by Street Lab and PS 59.
• October 29: Grand Avenue Open Street (Grand Avenue, West Burnside to Tremont Avenues)—from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Produced by Bright Leaders Day Care.
• October 30: Roberto Clemente Plaza (Third Avenue, East 148th Street to Willis Avenue)—from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Produced by the Third Avenue BID.
• October 31: Decatur Avenue Open Street (Decatur Avenue, East 195th to East 193rd Street)—from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Produced by the Decatur Block Association.

More information on 2025’s Halloween open streets can be found here.

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