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Best Places to Celebrate Halloween on the Upper West Side

By Emily Frost | October 25, 2013 9:45am | Updated on October 25, 2013 12:19pm
 There's a plethora of Halloween events this year to satisfy every age group and reveler. 
Halloween Celebrations on the Upper West Side for Every Age Group
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UPPER WEST SIDE — When it comes to Halloween, the Upper West Side's abundance of family-friendly, child-centric offerings make it a great place to celebrate the spooky holiday.

And while the little pumpkins, princesses and ghosts running around will get their fill, DNAinfo has also scouted out nearby happenings for other revelers, of both the two-legged and four-legged variety.  

For the Whole Family

Pumpkin Fest in Central Park

Join in on a full day of celebrating fall and Halloween, with pumpkin carving, pumpkin puppets, tissue paper pumpkin making, free pumpkins and live music and entertainment. Brave participants can visit the haunted house. 

Saturday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Central Park Bandshell
Free

Haunted Halloween at P.S. 166

P.S. 166's PTA is hosting a Halloween festival in its school yard on Sunday with seven bouncy houses, a haunted house, a maze, crafts and treats. Most activities and food will cost between $2 and $4 or families will be able to buy activity bracelets allowing for unlimited activities for $40 each. Tickets and bracelets will be available at the door or online for a discounted price. 

The haunted house will be "super scary," the PTA warns, and will be appropriate for ages 8 and up. 

There will also be free events, including a coloring table, chess and a costume contest at 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
132 West 89th Street, P.S. 166
Activities $2 to $4 each

Friendly Boo at Fourth U

This Halloween party at The Fourth Universalist Society of New York City will include games for kids, a lounge for babies and stroller parking. 

Friendly ghosts, face painting, a bouncy house, a costume parade and treats are part of the festivities as well. 

There will also be a special trick-or-treat line so first timers can learn how to trick-or-treat. 

The society asks that scary masks be left at home as the event is geared towards kids under age 9.

Saturday, Oct. 26, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The Fourth Universalist Society of NYC
160 Central Park West at 76th Street
Suggested donation per family: $12 online or $15 at the door
RSVP: 4thucpi.eventbrite.com
Info: 212-595-1658, ext 21 or 4thucpi@gmail.com

For the Kids, Big and Small

Craft Time at Riverside Library

The library will supply the materials and guidance for kids to make bats, spiders and jack-o-lanterns. Kids wearing costumes can trick-or-treat, too. 

Saturday, Oct. 26, 2-3 p.m.
127 Amsterdam Avenue
Free, appropriate for kids up to 12 years old 

Apple Seeds Halloween Bash

This Sunday afternoon party will be hosted by Apple Seeds, an indoor playground and activity center, and will include playtime in costume on the playground, glow-in-the-dark activities with glow slime, glow sheets and glow pens, and a Halloween puppet-making workshop by the New Victory Theater. Snacks and pizza will be served.

Sunday, Oct. 27, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
200 West End Avenue
Free for members, $8 for non-members
RSVP required: RSVP@appleseedsplay.com or (212) 792-7591

Children's Museum of Manhattan's Spooktacular Magic and Crafts

A magician will perform for kids of all ages in a show that involves "slapstick humor" and "spooktacular surprises."

The more crafty, and younger, kids can join in a class to make spiders and "creepy creatures" to decorate a witch's cauldron. This activity is for children 4 years old and younger. 

Spooktacular Magic Show
Sunday, Oct. 27, 3 p.m.

Creepy Cauldron Witch's Pot
Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26 - 27, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Tickets for children and adults are $11, children under 12 months are free.

For Adults (and kids)

Haunted House in Central Park 

Enjoy a haunted house set up at Bethesda Terrace, in the middle of the park at West 72nd Street. The theme of the house will be zombies and feature a landmark from each of the five boroughs, taken over by creatures of the living dead. 

Take a sneak peak on Friday, Oct. 25th from 4 to 7 p.m. or Saturday, Oct. 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Free

"Frankenstein" Screening at Symphony Space

Symphony Space will screen the 2011 London production of "Frankenstein," featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, directed by Oscar-winner Danny Boyle. 

Thursday, Oct. 31 at 7 and 10 p.m.
$23; $21 for seniors and students; $19 Members

For Pets

Pup-kin Zone

Your pup will be able to enter a costume contest, snap a photo in a photo booth, try an agility course or enjoy a spa treatment, all in Central Park, as part of the Pumpkin Fest.

Festivities from from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Central Park Bandshell
Costume contest at 1 p.m. with results announced at 1:30 p.m.
Free

Bull-O-Ween

Camp Canine on West 73rd Street will host a Bull-O-Ween for bulldogs and their owners to dress up in costumes and play.

Sunday, Nov. 27, 12-2 p.m. 
$5 donation, which will go to an animal charity
RSVP: 
info@nycampcanine.com