See below for events in western Queens or continue to the next page for Halloween in Eastern and Central Queens.
Costume Shops in Queens
Not satisfied with the prepackaged monsters at the drugstore or party store? Find your dream costume at:- Rubie's Costume Company, 120-08 Jamaica Avenue, Richmond Hill, 718-846-1008
Rubie's is one of the largest costume manufacturers in the world, supplying costumes to retailers across the country. Their own retail headquarters in Richmond Hill is worth a visit for that hard to find item. It can get overrun with customers, but be patient and you'll find what you need. Rubie's also rent costumes for adults.
Halloween in Western Queens
Everybody Loves a ParadeThe Jackson Heights Halloween Parade is the second-largest Halloween parade in New York. It's all about the neighborhood kids and their costumes. And a few over-the-top grown-ups too.
- October 31, 2011, TBD
- USUALLY - but this year's is TBD - 37th Ave, starting at 89th St, ending at 76th St, Jackson Heights
- Sponsored by the Jackson Heights Beautification Group (JHBG)
Halloween Bash in Astoria
The A.R.R.O.W. Community Center hosts a day of Halloween fun for the kids -- inflatable games, crafts, face painting and music.
- A.R.R.O.W. Community Center
- 35-30 35th St, Astoria
- Saturday, October 29, 2011, 2-6 p.m., free
Halloween Harvest Festival in LIC
The Halloween Harvest Festival is great chance to check out the Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City. Join the Halloween costume workshops where kids can learn from Socrates artists. Or enter your dog in the Canine Costume Contest. Plus there's face-painting and art-making, pumpkin-painting, and harvest foods from local restaurants. And the Red Door Theatre Company performs
- Saturday, October 22, 2011; free; rain or shine
- Festival is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Socrates Sculpture Park, 3134 Vernon Blvd at Broadway, Long Island City, 718-956-1819
What better way to celebrate the spooky season than to visit the grave of Harry Houdini? Before his death on Halloween in 1926, the famous contortionist, it has been said, left behind a code with which friends could contact him on a future Halloween night at his grave in Machpelah Cemetery, Ridgewood. Unfortunately, there's no chance to see the escape artist's ghost escape this Halloween. The cemetery will be closed on October 31.
- Machpelah Cemetery, 82-30 Cypress Hills St, Ridgewood, NY, 718-366-5959
Smash That Pumpkin!
At the NY Hall of Science, there will be a catapult launching pumpkins to their deaths. Ah, the scientific method! This is the most original Halloween has gotten in a while.
- October 29 and 30, 2011, Free with admission.
- On October 30, also enjoy "Dead or Alive Food Experiments" at the science museum.
- NY Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St, Corona, NY 11368, 718-699-0005
- At Flushing Meadows Park. The catapult would pair well with the nearby Boo at the Queens Zoo.
It's the only fundraiser that will scare you half to death with the decorations, not the financials. This isn't a regular Hallowene event, but one if you got $75 to support the Queens Museum of Art.
- October 22, 2011, 2 p.m.
For the Halloween animal in you: bring the kids to the Queens Zoo's Boo at the Zoo, where they can enjoy face-painting, trick or treating, pumpkin-decorating, and a haunted habitat. And find out what the Zoo bills as "spooky animal presentations" at 1:30 and 3 p.m. Boo!
- October 29 and 30, 2011
- Free with regular zoo admission ($8 - free for childen under 12 wearing costumes), 718-271-1500
- Queens Zoo, 53-51 111th St, in Flushing Meadows Park, the Corona side
Spooktacular at Flushing Meadows
The Al Oerter Recreation Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park hosts an evening of Halloween crafts and mischief, ghost stories and pumpkin patch.
- Al Oerter Recreation Center, Flushing Meadows Corona Park
- 131-40 Fowler Avenue, Flushing
- Friday, October 28, 2011, 5-8:30 p.m., free
Harvest Fest and Pumpkin Patch at the Garden
The Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing has a Sunday afternoon of Halloween fun, stories, and music this October 16. Have you heard of the Fresh Meadows Poets? I haven't, but they'll be performing, along with bluegrass bands The Birdhive Boys and Lonesome Moonlight String Band, and storyteller Bobby Gonzalez. Plus, there are garden workshops and tours, a pumpkin patch, food, crafts, and a beer tent.
- Queens Botanical Garden
- 43-50 Main Street, Flushing, NY
- Sunday, October 16, 2011, noon to 4:30 p.m.
Halloween Remixed at Flushing Town Hall
The preeminent arts organization in central Queens hosts two Halloween events this year in its Victorian headquarters. There's the Halloween Remixed Costume Party for grown-ups on Saturday night, and a Halloween bash for families on Sunday.
- Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY
- Halloween - Remixed Costume Party
Saturday, October, 29, 2011, 8 p.m. - Halloween - Remixed (for kids and families)
Sunday, October, 30, 2011, 2 p.m.
Haunted Poppenhusen Institute
There's a haunted house at Poppenhusen Institute this October. Wear costumes as you explore the 143-year-old building. Then find food, drink, souvenirs, and pumpkins for sale. There's no mention on its website, but just give a call if you want more details.
- Poppenhusen Institute
- October 28, 29, and 30, 5-9 p.m., $8
- 114-04 14th Rd, College Point, NY, 718-358-0067
Halloween Costume Party - Country Style
It's a honky-tonk Halloween at the local country music society's costume bash, with music by the San Antones. Prizes for the best costumes.
- October 15, 2011, 7:30 p.m. doors open, free dance lesson, 8 p.m. band starts; $10/$12
- Glendale Memorial Building, Myrtle Ave and 72nd St, Glendale
- Hosted by New York Metropolitan Country Musics Association
