A Million Ways for Kids to Celebrate Halloween in Park Slope
If you’ve got a kid who loves the Halloween season, we’re in the best place in Brooklyn to celebrate. Here are some of the events, starting this weekend, that you can enjoy in and around Park Slope:
The House of Ichabod Crane
The Old Stone House
Saturday, October 20, 27 and November 3 at 7pm; Saturday, October 27 at 2pm; Sunday, October 21, 28 and November 4 at 2pm
Tickets: $10 for kids, $15 for adults (plus service fee)
Expect troubled spirits and strange sights as the company Trusty Sidekick performs an immersive theatrical event. Could be a little scary, so it’s for ages 9 and up.
The Muppet Vault: Monsters!
Union Hall
Sunday, October 21, 2pm
Tickets: $8 for all ages
Screenings of The Muppet Show, plus monster-y moments from Sesame Street and other classic Jim Henson productions, audience participation with trivia questions, prizes, drink specials and more. Special bonus for trick-or-treaters: If you show up in a Muppet costume, you get a prize.
Monster Mash
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Friday, October 26, 3-7pm; Saturday, October 27, 3-8pm
Tickets: Friday, members $5, non-members $10; Saturday, members $6, non-members $12
The museum closes at 2pm to get ready for spooky street trick or treating, a Michael Jackson “Thriller” tribute, drop-in programs, a costume parade, spooky crafts, and more.
Boo at the Zoo
Prospect Park Zoo
Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28, 10am-5:30pm
Tickets: must pay zoo admission, no additional cost for Halloween activites
Learn about bats, watch baboons smash pumpkins, take a trip through the haunted barn, join a costume parade, and enjoy face painting, craft making, and more.
Puppetry Arts’ Haunted Halloween Carnival
1st Street Recreation Center of PS 372
Saturday, October 27, 11am-4pm
Tickets: free, but $2-4 for some activities
Spooky puppet and mask making crafts, face painting, carnival games, raffles and giveaways, and more. The first 200 children will get a free trick-or-treat bag filled with goodies from local merchants and more.
Ghouls & Gourds
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Saturday, October 27, 12-6pm
Tickets: $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, free for kids under 12 and BBG members (plus service fee is purchased online)
You’ll see colossal puppets, an orchestra of gourds, mustache-making, children’s book creators, flamingo croquet, a pretend petting zoo, and more in a day packed with events and activities.
Haunted Carousel
Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28, 12-5pm
Prospect Park Carousel
Tickets: $2 per ride
Expect a spooky spin on the historic carousel where creepy bats, scary cats, and spiders will watch you ride to the sounds of chilling Halloween music.
Halloween Haunted Walk & Carnival
Prospect Park’s Nethermead and Lookout Hill
Saturday, October 27, 12-3pm
Tickets: free, but $1 suggested donation for some activities
Watch out for zombies, wolf men, headless horsemen, witches, and more (which could be scary for younger children, so use your discretion) as you walk to the carnival, where you’ll find games, pony rides, face painting, and treats.
Musical BOO-Festival
Central Library, Dweck Center
Saturday, October 27, 1pm
An energetic, interactive variety show of ghoulish music performed by costumed characters with strange and haunting instruments. Arrive early, as seating is limited.
Creepy Crawly Halloween
Prospect Park’s Audubon Center
Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28, 1-4pm
They’ll have spiders, worms and more creepy creatures on hand for kids to check out, plus some crafts and experiments.
City Stomp Live: Halloween Edition
Littlefield
Saturday, October 27, 3pm
Tickets: $8 for ages 2 and up ($10 at the door); package of $30 for a family of four (maximum of two adults) also available, but sold in advance only
Wear costumes and dance to Halloween favorites performed by the Brooklyn-based band. Also on the play list are rock versions of children’s classic melodies and songs that celebrate the sights and sounds of New York City.
Scary Stories from the Past
Lefferts Historic House in Prospect Park
Sunday, October 28, 2 & 3pm
Master storyteller Tammy Hall will keep the tradition of scary stories alive with tales told in the little village of Flatbush 200 years ago.
Halloween Playspace
BAX (Brooklyn Arts Exchange)
Monday, October 29, 9:30am
Tickets: $10 per family
Expect playing, singing, dancing, and enjoy a special goody bag of treats.
The Diviners Costume Party for Teens
Central Library, Dweck Center
Monday, October 29, 6pm
A speakeasy-style costume party based on the book The Diviners, and author Libba Bray will be on hand. There’ll be free books, music, dancing, mocktail “giggle water,” fortune telling and more.
Halloween Movies for Kids
Park Slope Library
Wednesday, October 31, 3pm
We’re not sure what’s on the schedule yet, but it’s sure to be spooky (and free).
The 2012 Park Slope Civic Council Halloween Parade
Starting point: 14th Street and 7th Avenue
Wednesday, October 31, 6:30pm
A Halloween tradition since 1986, expect volunteers handing out candy, giant puppets, and hundreds of children (and parents) in costume.
Know of any events that we missed? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll add them to the list.
Photo of the Halloween Parade by gilly youner