Boo at the Zoo and Spooky City both run in daylight inside the city, included with admission. The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is an evening ticket outside the city, in Croton-on-Hudson. The choice is a zoo day, a Halloween afternoon making things at a museum, or an outdoor pumpkin walk after dark.
Dates and admission details checked September 21, 2026. Confirm your chosen date before you go.
Three Halloween outings, compared
| Outing | 2026 dates | Admission and child fit |
|---|---|---|
| Boo at the Zoo, Bronx | Saturdays and Sundays, September 26–November 1, plus Monday, October 12 | Included with zoo admission or membership; organizer identifies toddlers, preschoolers and elementary-aged kids |
| Spooky City, Manhattan | Saturday, October 31, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. | Included with museum admission; designed for ages 3+, all ages welcome |
| The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, Croton-on-Hudson — outside NYC | Select evenings, September 18–November 8 | Basic trail admission advertised from $24; ages 2 and under free; organizer recommends all ages |
Boo at the Zoo: a daytime zoo outing
Boo at the Zoo is included with Bronx Zoo admission or membership rather than sold separately. Pick a date in the zoo's booking calendar for the admission price. The programming includes a hay maze, animal chats, costumes and crafts, with activities generally finishing by 4 p.m.
Spooky puppets and an extinct-animal graveyard are also listed. If either would bother your child, check the activity schedule before deciding which parts to visit.
The zoo's accessibility page recommends the Southern Boulevard entrance for fewer inclines and proximity to the central zoo, and provides accessibility and interactive maps. Terrain varies; ask Guest Relations about access to any temporary Halloween activity you plan around.
Spooky City at MCNY: Halloween day only
Spooky City: Faces and Places of NYC is one four-hour block at the Museum of the City of New York on October 31, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., included with museum admission. Activities are designed for ages 3 and up, with all ages welcome. Adults must stay with their children, and every participating child needs to be included in the online registration.
There are treat-bag, mask and spider crafts, storytelling and gallery games. The scavenger hunt is for ages 5 and up; the code mystery is for 9 and up. Stroller parking is provided. Live drumming and a dance party are on the schedule, so don't plan on an entirely quiet visit.
For an afternoon at home instead, try these Halloween crafts with paper and cardboard.
The museum's accessibility page lists the East 104th Street ramp, elevators to all levels, accessible restrooms and changing stations, a sensory guide, and noise-reduction headphones to borrow subject to availability. Ask the museum about accommodations for this specific event.
Outside NYC: the Blaze in Croton-on-Hudson
The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is at Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 S Riverside Ave, Croton-on-Hudson. Tickets are timed and advance-only; nothing is sold on site. The advertised $24 is a starting price, not a final total. Children 2 and under enter free without a ticket.
The pumpkin walk is roughly half a mile outdoors and most visitors spend about 45 minutes. It runs rain or shine, so leave room in your plans for the weather as well as the trip home after dark.
The organizer describes the trail as wheelchair accessible with no stairs, but it's unpaved and uneven, with narrow and sloped sections. Ask about those conditions before booking if they affect your visit. An all-ages recommendation isn't a guarantee that every child will enjoy an evening outdoors in the dark.
Creators and sources
- @littlekidbigcity_newyork's September NYC ideas, including Boo at the Zoo and the Blaze.
- Current event and access information: the organizer pages linked above.
Related Stasht guides
- New Jersey pumpkin farms: Happy Day and Terhune compared
- Apple picking near NYC: Demarest and Warwick compared
- Halloween crafts for kids with paper and cardboard
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