Halloween 2026: The Last Big Halloween Weekend Near NYC — Oct 24–25 Family Guide

 

Halloween is one week away, and this weekend — Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, 2026 — is the last big Halloween weekend before the big night itself. If your family has not yet worn out the costumes, this is the weekend to do it. We rounded up four daytime, toddler-friendly options near New York City, plus one glowing evening finale. All of them run this weekend, and all of them are fun without being frightening.

Photo: Pexels — a topical Halloween photo, not a photo of a specific event listed below.

🎃 Saturday: The 37th Annual Nyack Halloween Parade

📍 Place: Main Street & Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960. The parade assembles at Memorial Park, 4 Depew Avenue, and marches through downtown Nyack.

The Nyack Halloween Parade is one of the biggest Halloween parades near New York City, and it is free to watch. On Saturday, October 24, the day builds all afternoon: a pet costume contest at noon, costume judging from 3 to 5 PM, and the parade kick-off at 5:30 PM. Anyone can march in costume — you only need to register if you want to compete for prizes. The rain date is Sunday, October 25. Arrive early, because Main Street fills up fast, and bring a bag: many marchers hand out candy along the route.

🦁 Saturday & Sunday: Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo

📍 Place: Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460.

The Bronx Zoo's daytime Halloween celebration runs on Saturdays and Sundays from September 26 through November 1, 2026, so October 24–25 is your last full weekend for it. All Halloween activities are included with zoo admission, and costumes are welcome. Expect a hay maze and challenge trail, a Boo Carnival with inflatable games, animal chats, a magic show, a costume parade and dance party, face painting for ages 3 and up, and seasonal crafts. Weekend hours are 10 AM to 5:30 PM, and tickets are date-specific, so book online before you go. Children 2 and under are free.

🎢 Saturday & Sunday: Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure

📍 Place: Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Boulevard, Jackson, NJ 08527.

Kids Boo Fest is the daytime, not-scary side of the park's Halloween season, running select days from September 12 through November 1, 2026 — including October 24 and 25, from 10:30 AM to 5 PM. Daytime activities are included with park admission: trick-or-treating, a costume contest, games, live entertainment, and family rides, plus the park's Oktoberfest food and entertainment. After dark the park turns into Fright Fest, which is not recommended for young children — so plan to head home before sunset with happy, tired kids.

🎃 Evening finale: The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze

📍 Place: Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 South Riverside Avenue, Croton-on-Hudson, NY.

If your kids still have energy after dark, the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze runs every night through November 8, 2026, with more than 7,000 hand-carved, illuminated pumpkins. It requires advance timed tickets, and it is a walk-through trail rather than a haunted house, so it works well for families with older toddlers and grade-schoolers. Strollers are allowed on the trail, but the paths are dark and uneven in places, so a carrier is easier for the littlest ones.

👶 Toddler Tips for Halloween Weekend

- Do costumes early in the day: daylight events are calmer, lines are shorter, and little ones are happier.

- Pack a backup outfit. A costume that itches at noon will ruin a 5:30 PM parade.

- Bring a wagon or stroller with a blanket — October evenings near the Hudson get chilly fast.

- Eat before the event. Parade routes and zoo paths have food, but lines grow long on Halloween weekend.

- Have an exit plan. Agree in advance on a meeting spot in case the crowd separates you.

🍂 Seasonal treats to try this weekend

Cider donuts at a farm stand on the way home, a warm pretzel on Nyack's Main Street, and hot chocolate after the Blaze. Halloween weekend is the last call for most pumpkin patches too — if you still need a pumpkin, buy it now, because the fields empty out fast after this weekend.

One last note: check each event's official site on the morning you go. Hours and rain plans can change, especially for outdoor parades. Happy Halloween weekend — and save a little candy for the parents.