New York City has expanded NYC Trick-or-Streets 2026 from an initial 160 locations to more than 180 planned free Halloween events across all five boroughs. With activities continuing through October 31, the city’s latest schedule identifies neighborhood celebrations, school programs and street closures that residents can check before attending.
Key Takeaways
- NYC Trick-or-Streets 2026 has expanded from an initial 160 participating locations to more than 180 planned events across October.
- Free Halloween celebrations continue through Saturday, October 31, with scheduled activities in all five boroughs.
- The Bronx will host a signature Halloween event at James Baldwin Plaza on October 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- NYC DOT says it has distributed 75,000 pieces of candy to event partners, although availability at individual locations may vary.
- The program includes nine special school events and free guided walking tours, with some activities requiring advance registration.
The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) announced the expanded schedule on Tuesday, October 27, adding more neighborhood celebrations to its annual Halloween program. The events include car-free streets, pedestrian plazas, school activities and community gatherings scheduled throughout October.
The updated total represents events planned across the month, including celebrations that have already taken place. It does not mean more than 180 events will occur on Halloween itself.
Several gatherings remain scheduled for October 28 through October 31, with different locations, activities and operating hours. Residents can use the city’s published schedule to identify participating streets before visiting.
NYC Trick-or-Streets 2026 Expands Beyond Its Original Schedule
NYC DOT initially announced 160 participating Open Streets and plazas on September 30. The October 27 update increased the program to more than 180 planned events, reflecting additional programming organized with neighborhood groups and participating institutions.
The initiative, now in its fifth year, allows community organizations, schools and neighborhood associations to use designated streets and public spaces for seasonal activities. Participating locations range from residential blocks to pedestrian plazas and established Open Streets corridors.
The program is organized around local events rather than one citywide gathering. Individual organizers determine their programming, resulting in different activities and schedules across participating neighborhoods.
According to NYC DOT, this year’s activities include live music, dance, theater performances, puppetry, arts and crafts and science demonstrations. The department also lists seasonal photo booths, pumpkin patches, interactive games and cultural programming among the offerings.
Some events feature activities such as traditional drumming, opera, sugar painting and skateboarding demonstrations. These are examples from the overall program, not activities guaranteed at every participating location.
Candy distribution is another part of the initiative. NYC DOT reported distributing 75,000 pieces of candy to event partners, but the department has not published an individual candy allocation for each listed location.
That distinction matters for families choosing where to attend. A neighborhood gathering listed as part of Trick-or-Streets may focus on performances, games or community activities rather than traditional trick-or-treating.
The October expansion also takes place alongside other seasonal programming. Separate free NYC Parks festivals have been scheduled across the boroughs, with their own venues, event hours and participation requirements.
Trick-or-Streets events remain organized through the transportation department’s Open Streets and public-space programs. Each scheduled location identifies a participating organization responsible for the neighborhood celebration.
Free Halloween Events Continue Across NYC Through October 31
The remaining Trick-or-Streets calendar includes events on Wednesday, October 28, starting with a Queens gathering at 29th Street Plaza. Located between Skillman Avenue and 47th Avenue, the event is scheduled from 2 to 6 p.m. and lists LaGuardia Community College as its organizing partner.
In Manhattan, Flatiron Plaza has an October 28 event scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. The Flatiron NoMad Partnership is listed as the participating organization for the Broadway plaza.
Another Manhattan event takes place at the Canal Street Open Street, between Orchard and Essex streets, from 3 to 7 p.m. The gathering is one of the program’s signature events and is organized with the Canal Street Merchants Association.
Additional celebrations are listed for Thursday, October 29. In the Bronx, New Settlement is hosting an event on Rockwood Street between the Grand Concourse and Walton Avenue from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Brooklyn’s Bristol Street Open Street, between Blake and Dumont avenues, is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. The participating organization is the Brownsville Neighborhood Health Action Center, working through the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Manhattan also has Thursday listings, including Pershing Square Plaza near Grand Central Terminal from 3 to 5 p.m. Another gathering is scheduled at Brooklyn Bridge Arches Plaza from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., according to the published calendar.
Friday, October 30 brings additional neighborhood events before the main Halloween celebrations. In the Bronx, Morrison Avenue Plaza, between Westchester Avenue and Harrod Place, is scheduled to host activities from 3 to 6:30 p.m.
Queens residents have an October 30 event listed at Corona Plaza from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. A separate celebration on 109th Avenue, between 157th and 158th streets, is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m.
Brooklyn’s Gates Avenue Plaza is listed for October 30 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. In Manhattan, a Macombs Place gathering near West 150th Street is scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m.
Halloween Day Includes Events Across All Five Boroughs
On Saturday, October 31, one of the day’s designated signature events will take place at James Baldwin Plaza in the Bronx. The gathering is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Goulden Avenue and Mosholu Parkway.
The James Baldwin Outdoor Learning Center and Orisha Wholeness are the participating organizations for the Bronx celebration. The event is part of the city’s signature programming, which includes activities developed with public-space partners.
Brooklyn residents will have several neighborhood options throughout Halloween afternoon and evening. Prospect Heights Open Streets has three connected street listings on Park Place, Sterling Place and Underhill Avenue, each scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m.
The Park Place section runs between Underhill and Vanderbilt avenues, while Sterling Place extends between Washington and Underhill avenues. The Underhill Avenue section runs between Saint Johns Place and Prospect Place.
Other Brooklyn gatherings include the Cobble Hill Association Halloween Parade on Congress Street from 3 to 6 p.m. Marcy Avenue Plaza in Bedford-Stuyvesant has a separate event scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m.
In Queens, the Maspeth Lions Halloween Ragamuffin Parade is scheduled along Grand Avenue from 69th Street to Remsen Place between 3 and 4 p.m. Another event on 47th Street, between Ditmars Boulevard and 21st Avenue, is listed from 3 to 9 p.m.
Manhattan’s Halloween listings include Mott Street between Canal and Bayard streets from 3 to 7 p.m. Residents can also find an event on West 107th Street between Manhattan Avenue and Central Park West during the afternoon and early evening.
Staten Island’s Hamilton Park Halloween Block Party is scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m. on Park Place between Franklin and Harvard avenues. The event is listed among the borough’s participating neighborhood celebrations.
These gatherings are separate from the Village Halloween Parade route along Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. The annual parade begins at 7 p.m. on October 31 and follows its own schedule and participation arrangements.
School Programs and Event Schedules Require Separate Checks
Alongside public street celebrations, NYC Trick-or-Streets 2026 includes nine special school events across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. These activities are organized with Street Lab and the Horticultural Society of New York.
The participating schools include PS 59, PS 28 and PS 159 in the Bronx. Brooklyn locations include PS 18, PS 137 and the Dock Street School for STEAM Studies.
Photo Credit: Unsplash.com
In Manhattan, participating locations include Community Health Academy of the Heights and PS 102 Jacques Cartier. Queens is represented by PS 95Q The Eastwood School.
The school program began October 21 at the Dock Street School for STEAM Studies in Brooklyn. According to NYC DOT, the activities include pumpkin patches, interactive games, arts and crafts and other seasonal programming.
These school-centered gatherings differ from public neighborhood events. Families interested in attending should confirm the schedule and applicable participation arrangements for the specific location rather than assuming every activity operates as an open street festival.
The Municipal Art Society of New York is also participating through free guided neighborhood walks. The tours focus on local history, architecture, streets and public spaces, adding an educational component to selected Trick-or-Streets events.
One of the scheduled walks, Tales from the Urban Forest: A Halloween Tree Walk, takes place on Wednesday, October 28, from 5 to 6 p.m. The event explores the Lower East Side’s street trees and includes activities organized with the Lower East Side Ecology Center.
The Municipal Art Society’s event listing currently identifies the tour as sold out, with its waitlist full. The separately scheduled Canal Street Open Street celebration remains listed for 3 to 7 p.m. that day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many NYC Trick-or-Streets 2026 events are scheduled?
NYC Trick-or-Streets 2026 includes more than 180 planned free Halloween and fall events across the five boroughs, according to the October 27 announcement. The total covers the entire October program, including events that have already occurred.
Are all NYC Trick-or-Streets events free to attend?
NYC DOT describes Trick-or-Streets as a free public Halloween program featuring neighborhood celebrations and seasonal activities. Individual events may have different participation arrangements, while certain guided tours require advance registration.
Where is the main Trick-or-Streets event on October 31?
The city’s designated Bronx signature event is scheduled at James Baldwin Plaza, near Goulden Avenue and Mosholu Parkway, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additional neighborhood events are scheduled throughout all five boroughs on Halloween.
Will every participating street distribute Halloween candy?
NYC DOT says it distributed 75,000 pieces of candy to event partners across the program. The city has not confirmed that every location will distribute candy or that supplies will remain available throughout each event.
Where can residents check event times and cancellations?
The official NYC DOT Trick-or-Streets page provides an event map and a date-by-date schedule with locations and times. The department advises checking the listings because weather or other circumstances may affect scheduled events.
