Upper East Side Halloween: Costume Contests, Open Streets & More

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Halloween on the Upper East Side might mainly be associated with lavishly decorated townhomes — which you can find simply by taking a walk in the neighborhood.

But there's more than just decorations on tap this week. In addition to a slate of free costume- and candy-filled events, three Upper East Side blocks will be opened up to trick-or-treaters as part of the city's first-ever "trick-or-streets": a one-day expansion of the Open Streets program.

Here are a few of the best and spookiest events on tap:

Saturday, Oct. 29

Andrew Haswell Green Park Halloween Party (1-4 p.m.):

• This East River Esplanade event will be held at the Alice Aycock Pavilion, the red-framed structure near East 60th Street.
• Featuring free candy, activities for kids, craft events and live music by Gene Casey and The Lone Sharks band, the event is hosted by Friends of the East River Esplanade. Costumes are, of course, welcome.

Sutton Spooktacular Celebration (3-5 p.m.):

• East 55th, 56th and 57th streets will host "fun and games, music and magic, an all-day scavenger hunt, goodies, and a costume parade for pooches and kids," courtesy of the Sutton Place Parks Conservancy.
• A kids' parade will line up at 3 p.m. at the cul-de-sac at East 57th Street and Sutton Place South — followed by a dog costume parade at 4 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 30

Randall's Island Halloween Boo Bash (12-3 p.m.):

• Head to the 103rd Street footbridge to Randall's Island (on the island side) for an afternoon of "crafts, games, treats, and spooky fun," organized by the Randall's Island Park Alliance.
• There will also be a special bike tour starting in Manhattan at 11:30 a.m., ending at the Boo Bash.

Monday, Oct. 31 (Halloween)

Trick-or-Streets Open Streets (4-8 p.m. in some cases):

• East 92nd Street between Park and Madison avenues will host the annual "Spooktacular" Halloween party by Carnegie Hill Neighbors, from 4-6 p.m. The event will include costume contests, dancing, a DJ, and "lots of candy."
• East 82nd Street between Third and Lexington Avenues will open up for a Halloween Party with the Robin Hood Foundation.
• East 78th Street between Lexington and Park avenues will host trick-or-treating by the Allen-Stevenson School

East Midtown trick-or-treating (3-7 p.m.):

• The East Midtown Partnership is inviting kids 12 and under for trick-or-treating at dozens of neighborhood businesses. To join and pick up a treat bag, kids can meet the organizers at either of two locations: the plaza outside 919 Third Ave. (at East 56th Street), which will have a free spooky photo booth to capture Halloween memories; or the senior facility Sunrise at 139 East 56th St. (Lexington Ave.), which will have free pumpkin-painting.
• From there, trick-or-treaters can stop at the many participating locations, from the 58th Street Library to Blooms Tavern to Oxford Cafe.
• Find a map of the participating businesses at the East Midtown Partnership website.