Once again this year, in addition to the annual Village Halloween Parade, October 31st promises to bring out a veritable parade of pint-sized, adorably costumed youngsters hell-bent on scoring treats and scaring parents and each other. While urban trick-or-treating is nothing like the suburban version, it has its perks (apartment buildings can be like hitting the jackpot)–and its fair share of friendly neighbors, stores, businesses and neighborhood events. Like so many other topics, New Yorkers love to argue over which neighborhoods offer the best bounty. Below are a few picks among the least tricky with the best treats.
Manhattan
West 69th Street between Broadway and Central Park on the Upper West Side has a long history of getting downright spooky to entertain kids of all ages. Highlights from previous years include an inflated Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (a Halloween essential), fog and smoke, spiders, zombies, and graveyards.
Trick-or-treating picks on the Upper East Side include the block of 78th Street between Park and Lexington and 94th between Park and Lexington to the north. While in Carnegie Hill, check out the Spooktacular block party on East 92nd Street between Park and Madison Avenues. The block is closed to traffic between 5 and 6:30 P.M. for spooky revelry that includes a costume contest and prizes for the best townhouse, best family, best pet and more.
If you find yourself in Midtown, Trick or Treat with East Midtown gets local businesses into the act. And Greenwich Village has a longtime reputation for being the spookiest neighborhood of them all: In addition to the grown-ups’ version, the Washington Square Park Children’s Halloween Parade is one of the city’s most popular free Halloween destinations for the small fry set. This year’s version is being sponsored by NYU and hip housewares company CB2 and happens on Wednesday, October 31 from 3:00- 6:00 P.M. and promises free trick-or-treat bags, games, and rides after the parade.
Brooklyn
Nobody does kid stuff quite like Park Slope, and Halloween is no exception. Festivities for the Park Slope Halloween Parade kick off at 14th Street and Seventh Avenue and end with music in the J.J. Byrne Playground in the Old Stone House. Neighborhood store owners–especially on 7th Avenue–often provide candy for trick-or-treaters as well. In Fort Greene, BAMboo! kicks off the trick-or-treating fun in the afternoon at BAM’s annual free community event with treats, games and a costume contest to get your fright night started.
The much-anticipated annual Halloween Walk in Clinton Hill is in its 25th year, and begins at 5:30 P.M. Download a map or pick one up at listed locations.
Other Brooklyn highlights include Halsey Street and Jefferson and Putnam Avenues between Tompkins and Throop Avenues in Bed-Stuy, Park Place in Prospect Heights, Clinton Street in Cobble Hill and Garden Place and Grace Court Alley in Brooklyn Heights.
Trick-or-Treating Guide from 6SQFT: Check out the full article here!
