This Halloween season, make a fun-filled weekend activity or even an overnight trip out of these first-rate, spook-filled activities.
Gangsters and Ghosts Tour
Departing from the corner of Worth and Mulberry in the infamous Five Points neighborhood of Manhattan — known for crime, disease and debauchery in the 1800s — this walking tour runs at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., year-round.
The two-hour jaunt from Empire Tours will teach you all about the dark underbelly of Manhattan’s gangsters and ghost stories of yesteryear. You’ll hear tales of Five Points, Chinatown, Little Italy and the West Village, all with a family-friendly bent suitable for all. Bonus: New York Post readers can get 20% off with code “FRIGHT20.”
From $35.
“Phantom of the Opera”
An over-the-top celebration of All Hallows’ Eve at the world’s largest Gothic Cathedral? Only in New York, kids. This year, St. John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam Ave.) projects “The Phantom of the Opera” on a giant screen in honor of the movie’s 100th anniversary, with live organ accompaniment by Tim Brumfield. (The Cathedral’s Great Organ was recently painstakingly restored.) Meanwhile, ghosts and goblins from the Mettawee River Theatre Company will frolic with attendees before flitting up, up and away. Runs on Oct. 24 and 25, at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
$50.
Halloween Directory
Staten Island is one Halloween happy borough. So much so that there’s a website — SIHauntedHouses.com — for all the seasonal attractions there, with a list of 60-plus homes you can visit.
We’d point you towards fan-favorite Twisted Trails (8 Notus Ave.). The haunted house debuts on Sept. 27 and runs through Halloween night, with tickets from $10. John Dimiceli, co-founder of SI Haunted Houses with Michael LaPayower, called it moderately scary thanks to actors popping out of hidden areas.
Another standout for Dimiceli is the Darlington Scare (623 Darlington Ave.) with “an amazing display of Halloween horror,” which runs from Sept. 27 through Halloween night, and is free for visitors.
Peace, Love & Pumpkins
I’m a Catskills gal, and counting the days until I take my 4-month-old to my fabled summerland at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (200 Hurd Road, Bethel, NY) to see jack-o’-lantern designs inspired by mermaids, dinosaurs, Woodstock symbols and more.
Enjoy fire pits for s’mores and the specialty food makers at the night market on Fridays and Saturdays, along with live music in the Market Shed. Plus, on select nights, the grounds transform into “Friday Night Fright” for a higher fear factor.
Open select days from Oct. 10 to Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
From $30.
Dark Forest Fright Trail
For a real bone chiller, head to Burn Brae Mansion (573 High Road, Glen Spey, NY). On Oct. 11, 17, 18, 24, and 25 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., this psychological scare walk-through experience brings to life H.G. Wells’ 1896 sci-fi classic “The Island of Dr. Moreau” along overgrown woodland paths with half-beast, half-human creatures popping out in every direction. Suitable for those with teens, you can also expect music, food and drinks at this phantom fright fest.
From $20.
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
Van Cortlandt Manor (525 South Riverside Ave., Croton-on-Hudson, NY) is a Hudson Valley Halloween tradition that’s fun for all ages. The 17th-century manor will have some 7,000 hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns on display, with lighting synchronized to original music. Back for its 21st year, new draws this season run the gamut from a fantastical pumpkin backdrop to a “Headless Horseman Hideaway” for festive sippers.
Runs through Nov. 2.
From $24.
Sleepy Hollow Children’s Bookshop
Get ready for fun (and maybe a few goose bumps) at this Sleepy Hollow bookstore (95 Beekman Ave., Sleepy Hollow, NY), owned by former librarian Leah Bloom. Little ones can make crafts and enjoy story time in their Halloween costume on Oct. 30 at 10:30 a.m. and peruse age-appropriate spooky season reads.
Free.
The Armour-Stiner Octagon House
This pink, octagonal manse (45 W. Clinton Ave., Irvington, NY) dates back to 1859 and is known to have several spooks on tap.
Their Myths and Mysteries Tour offers a taste of the area’s supernatural spirits, while “The Lady in White” is a dramatic ghost story reading. Or sign up for ‘Tis the Wind and Nothing More home tour and a reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven.” Runs until Nov. 3.
From $29.
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