Halloween 2026: Halloween Day Itself — Saturday, October 31 Family Guide Near NYC

 

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year — October 31, 2026 — which means the whole day is up for grabs. No school-night rush, no squeezing trick-or-treating between homework and bedtime. Here is how Bergen County families can spend the actual day, from a free morning museum party to an evening trick-or-treat trail at the zoo, with times and prices verified for 2026.

Place 1: NJ State Museum Halloween Spooktacular — 205 West State Street, Trenton, NJ — 10 AM-2 PM, FREE. Children come in costume for a parade on the front lawn, trick-or-treating for candy at 11 AM, games, crafts, and a "Boo hunt" around the museum.

Place 2: Six Flags Great Adventure Kids Boo Fest — 1 Six Flags Boulevard, Jackson, NJ — 10:30 AM-5 PM, included with park admission. The daytime, toddler-friendly side of Six Flags' Halloween: trick-or-treating, fall activities, games, live entertainment, and family rides, all before the park turns scary after dark. October 31 is one of the last Kids Boo Fest dates (it also runs November 1).

Place 3: Hoboken Ragamuffin Parade — Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ — 4:30 PM, FREE. Hoboken's beloved children's costume parade marches down Washington Street between 13th and 14th Streets, with a costume contest. Stroller-friendly and very photogenic.

Place 4: Turtle Back Zoo Howl-O-Ween — 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ — 4-8 PM, $5 per person ($3 members, under 2 free). The zoo's one-night trick-or-treat trail: candy stations throughout the grounds, stilt walkers, Halloween shows, and storytime sessions for ages 8 and under at 4:30, 5:30, or 6:30 PM ($13, $11 members). Note the regular zoo day ends early on October 31 (10 AM-1 PM).

Place 5: Trick or Treat at Physick Estate — 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ — 5-7 PM, FREE. If you happen to be at the shore for the weekend, Cape May's Victorian Physick Estate hosts free trick-or-treating on its grounds.

Drive Time: Trenton about 1 hour 20 minutes from Tenafly; Jackson (Six Flags) about 1 hour 20 minutes; Hoboken about 30 minutes; West Orange about 35 minutes; Cape May about 3 hours.

What Kids Can Do: Wear the costume twice — morning museum parade, evening zoo trail; collect candy at the zoo's stations without a single scary house; march in the Hoboken parade; make a craft at the State Museum and hunt for "Boo" clues.

What Adults Can Do: Use the Saturday timing to split the day between parents; book Howl-O-Ween tickets in advance — the zoo event is popular and timed; end the night with a family dinner out.

Things to Do Nearby: After the State Museum, walk Trenton's Mill Hill Park area or stop for a classic Trenton tomato pie; after Six Flags, the Jackson Premium Outlets are minutes away; after Hoboken, stroll the waterfront for Manhattan skyline views in costume.

Seasonal highlights: October 31 is also in the peak weeks of the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze (nightly through November 8 at Van Cortlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson). November 1 is the last Kids Boo Fest day at Six Flags — the true end of Halloween season.