halloweenIf you’re going to be in NYC around Halloween 2013, here are some ideas for Halloween fun and some discounts to save you money.

Pumpkin Fest – Saturday, October 26, 2013 at the Central Park Bandshell (enter at 72nd Street). A family event full of free activities. There’s a pumpkin patch with free pumpkins for the kids, pumpkin decorating, a haunted house, live quidditch matches (!), marionette performances, crafts, live entertainment, and a farmer’s market.

Central Park Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Sail – October 27, 2013 4:00 – 6:00pm.  Costumed fun, kids activities, and carved pumpkins set afloat at the Carles A. Dana Discovery Center.

Village Halloween Parade – They call it “the nation’s most wildly creative public participatory event in the greatest city in the world.”  The Village Halloween Parade has been happening for 40 years now.  The 2013 parade will be held on Thursday, October 31st at 7:00pm.  You can watch the parade on 6th Avenue between Spring Street and 16th Street.

 

Times Scare New York City  (located at 42nd Street and 8th Avenue) is said to be one of the most haunted building in the country (there was a crematorium located there in the 1920’s). Times Scare features a haunted house, cocktail lounge (featuring drinks such as “Bewitched” and “Corpse Reviver” ) and the Crypt Cafe. Times Scare is open year-round, but makes a particularly appropriate destination for Halloween. Regular admission price is $27 for adults and $22 for kids.  There’s a limited-time Groupon deal available that gets you tickets at the discounted rate of $13 for adults and $10 for kids.   Living Social also has discount Times Scare tickets for $13.

Blood Manor is a Halloween season attraction located in the Hudson Square district at 163 Varick Street. There are subway stops within a few blocks. The attraction consists of about “5,000 square feet of themed rooms, corridors, and a labyrinth of passageways designed to maximize one’s fears.” (from their website)  Not recommended for children under 14 years of age. Living Social has a deal on Blood Manor tickets – $20 for general admission (regularly $33) or $29 for an RIP Express Lane ticket (regularly $48).  Goldstar also has discount Blood Manor tickets available. Their prices vary a little by date. With service fee, they come out to be between $19.50 and $23.50 for general admission or $28.00 to $33.50 for RIP Express Entry. See the Goldstar Blood Manor tickets offer details and make your purchase.

The Haunted Pumpkin Garden at The New York Botanical Garden is a fun Halloween outing for the kids. The Everett Children’s Adventure Garden features giant carved pumpkins, and there are two parades held each afternoon that the kids can participate in. On the weekends, there are bugs and creepy creatures on exhibit.  Goldstar has discount tickets available.

The Ride: Haunted New York.  The Ride is featuring a special Halloween version of their high-tech, performance oriented bus tours October 9th – November 2nd.  The tour features ghost stories and urban legends featuring “Gotham’s most famous missing, dead and undead characters” and a combination of horror and humor.  Goldstar has discount tickets for The Ride: Haunted New York.