NYC to have its largest Halloween celebration yet, with 160 car-free open streets and city plazas

New York’s streets are about to get a little more haunted. Trick-or-Streets is returning for its biggest edition yet, with 160 car-free Open Streets and plazas across all five boroughs hosting free Halloween and fall celebrations throughout October.

That’s a record for the city’s seasonal program, which gives New Yorkers room to trick-or-treat, play games and show off costumes without dodging traffic. Cultural organizations, community groups and schools will organize festivities, with face painting, live entertainment and other activities on the agenda. NYC DOT is also supplying 75,000 pieces of candy.

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn announced the expanded lineup on September 30.

“We’re opening up 160 streets and plazas for trick-or-treating, games, music and a whole lot of fun,” Mamdani said.

RECOMMENDED: Village Halloween Parade in NYC 2026 guide

New this year, the Municipal Art Society of New York will lead free guided walking tours exploring the history, architecture and public spaces of participating neighborhoods—an appealing addition for anyone whose Halloween interests lean more toward interesting old buildings than candy.

Street Lab will also produce festive events outside select public schools, including Brooklyn’s Dock Street School for STEAM Studies, Manhattan’s Community Health Academy of the Heights and Queens’ PS 95 The Eastwood School. Several Bronx and Brooklyn elementary schools are participating, too.

If you want to plot your costume’s borough tour, Brooklyn’s signature event takes over Hillel Plaza on Thursday, October 22, from 2–6 pm, with music, dancing and Halloween and harvest festivities at Flatbush Junction.

Staten Island follows with Water Street Open Street on Saturday, October 24, from noon–5 pm. Expect a costume contest, live music, face painting and more family-friendly fun. Queens’ Austin Street Open Street in Forest Hills gets its turn on Sunday, October 25, from 2–5 pm.

Manhattan’s signature celebration happens at Canal Open Street and Division Plaza on Wednesday, October 28, from 3–7 pm. The Bronx rounds out the borough lineup on Halloween itself: James Baldwin Plaza will host its event on Saturday, October 31, from 10 am–3 pm.

Those five gatherings are just the signature events; the broader program includes celebrations across the city throughout the month. The full schedule is available on NYC DOT’s Trick-or-Streets page, so check your neighborhood’s listing before heading out.