Upper East Side Halloween: Where To Find Spooky Fun

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Halloween is best known on the Upper East Side for the lavishly decorated townhouses across the neighborhood.

But there's so many more ways to celebrate spooky season beyond a neighborhood stroll. 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 scheduled for the weekend and for Halloween:

Friday, Oct. 27

Asphalt Screams (3:30 - 6:30 p.m.)

• This community favorite event kicks off early on Friday for some spooky family fun at Asphalt Green's Litwin Field at East 90th Street, near FDR Drive.
• A haunted maze, games and spooky costumes will all be found at the annual event.

Saturday, Oct. 28

Third Annual Sutton Spooktacular Celebration (2-5 p.m.)

• The Spooktacular returns to Sutton Place Parks on East 55th and 56th streets and Sutton Place South.
• Starting off with a Kid's Costume Parade at East 57th Street, the afternoon of fun continues with a magic show, a FDNY and NYPD vehicle show, dog treats, arts and crafts, pumpkin painting, a haunted house photo shoot, games, treats and a pooch & pup parade.

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," at the White Garden next to Field 74, organized by the Randall's Island Park Alliance.

Sunday, Oct. 29

Carl Schurz Park's Halloween Howl & Healthy Hound Fair (12-3 p.m.)

• Also called the "HOWL," the annual event hosted by the Carl Schurz Park Conservancy is the not-to-miss Upper East Side dog costume parade.
• Over 200 pups will parade before a tough panel of judges at the basketball courts and John Finley Walk.

Tuesday, Oct. 31 (Halloween)

Trick-or-Streets Open Streets (4-7:30p.m. in some cases):

• East 92nd Street between Park and Fifth 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." This year, a second block was added between Madison and Fifth avenues, which will be exclusively for toddlers. Big kids can trick-or-treat between Park and Madison avenues.
• East 82nd Street between Third and Lexington avenues will open up for a Halloween Party with the Robin Hood Foundation.

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.