It’s Finally Halloweekend in NYC, Let’s Have Some Damn Fun
Jello shots, ASAP Ferg, and more fun things to do in NYC this weekend.
All those cinnamon brooms at Trader Joe’s and lines at Spirit Halloween have been leading up to something monumental: this weekend, aka Halloweekend.
If you make Halloween your year-round personality trait, congrats because it’s your time to shine. Along with this week’s Grand Bazaar decked out in cobwebs and a plethora of epic Halloween events across town, we’ve got all the intel on how to celebrate. Or if you’re looking for something more low-key sans costume, there’s kayaking in Queens, techno, or catching a performance from ASAP Ferg (nothing is low-key about seeing ASAP Ferg, but you get the idea).
After you’ve decided on which spot to hit from our Ultimate Guide to NYC Nightlife, here’s everything fun you can do in NYC this weekend.
Where to Explore Arts and Culture in NYC
October 27–28, 6:30 pm–9 pm
NoHo; tickets are $45
Think there’s no chance you’ll see a real-life ghost this weekend? Think again. Merchant’s House Museum, a veritable hidden gem of a place on East 4th Street, is hosting ghost tours through the 19th century house’s nooks and crannies—illuminated by flickering candlelight. Learn about the building’s history of paranormal activity, the haunted Tredwell family that once resided in it, and the blood-curdling phenomena experienced by staff and visitors to this day. Be ready for a jump scare or two.
October 27–29
Chelsea; adult tickets are $19
The “Death Is Not the End” exhibit will help you contemplate death and the afterlife deeper than ever. Featuring everything from prints and bone ornaments to manuscripts in the Tibetan Buddhist and Christian traditions, this is currently the Rubin’s largest special exhibition and will leave you with a firmer grasp on concepts like human impermanence, resurrection, and beyond.
October 27, 3 pm–5:30 pm
Long Island City; free, but RSVP
Long Island City residents: we have some news for you. This week marked the official opening of the hottest new building in your part of town—the Queens Landing Boathouse & Environmental Center, which is set to become the go-to place for kayak tours, nature walks, local ecology educational programs, and more. This Friday, you can see the center’s conservation magic for yourself with a Creek Critters event. Learn all about the oysters, mussels, snails, and crabs that live in the slice of East River between Manhattan and Queens… and maybe even touch a few of them (gently).
October 27–29, 11 am–5 pm
East Village; free
Día de Muertos—happening November 1–2 this year—is a beloved Mexican holiday where deceased family is honored through music, altar-making, and other rituals. You don’t have to be of Mexican descent to take part in this celebration of life. Head to St. Mark’s Church for a three-day celebration replete with Mariachi performances, a Mexican Folk Art market, and traditional craft workshops. The organization Mano a Mano will also install a Covid memorial during the event, accessible to all.
October 28, 1 pm–5 pm
Harlem; free to enter
To celebrate the brand’s 50th anniversary, Timberland is bringing its culture and quintessential boots to various city spots through the middle of November—including Harlem this weekend. Standouts of the activation include an apparel customization workshop; boot airbrushing; free food and bevs while supplies last; and a performance by the man, the myth, the legend ASAP Ferg at 4 pm. If Ferg rapping in the neighborhood he hailed from isn't incentivizing enough, maybe you’ll be able to come home with a fresh pair of Timbs.
Where to Enjoy Music in NYC
October 29, 2 pm–10 pm
Williamsburg; ticket prices vary
There’s a reason DJ and techno producer Stella Bossi—hailing from Berlin—has over a million IG followers and completely sold out her debut headliner show in NYC earlier this year. Her electrifying beats and deranged (in a cool way) stage presence must be experienced IRL. Luckily, this Sunday provides the perfect chance for you to do so: at Superior Ingredients, where Bossi will treat ravers to some unforgettable Berlin techno (including her own hits "Das Boot" and "Molly For Breakfast").
Where to Drink in NYC
October 27–29
Lower East Side; cocktail prices vary
Ray’s is a downtown watering hole you might already know and love—and it just got even more lovable, what with its Ray’s Runs on Dunkin’ pop-up (lasting only until this Sunday). While oiling up their patrons with five new, exclusively crafted cocktails (the Dunkintini with Dunkin’ Cold Brew; Dunkin’ Drunkin’ Pum’kin with a MUNCHKIN garnish; and tequila-heavy Dunkin’ Ray-fresher), Ray’s is also offering merch to mark this momentous collab. In case you need something to bundle up in while smoking a post-Ray’s loosie, consider investing in a Ray’s Runs on Dunkin’ hoodie.
October 27, 6 pm–10 pm
East Harlem; tickets are $20
If your only priority is to throw on a costume, dance to live DJ sets, and eat empanadas, we get you. The Museum of the City of New York gets you, too, and is treating members/non-members alike to a Saturday evening of just that: DJ Misbehaviour and DJ Shakey spinning tracks, ThrillerNYC dance performances, costume contests, and more on the museum’s South Terrace. The event is an homage to iconic NYC movies, so use this info as you will if you’re still undecided on who to dress as.
October 27–29
Greenpoint; jello shots are $9
Don’t get us wrong, we love a good “wine by the bottle” moment, especially when that wine is natural and comes in varieties like orange or pink—with endearing names such as “Fruhstuckswein” and “Waiting for Tom.” This weekend, don’t wait for a Tom that will never show up: instead, get yourself to Lise & Vito, where you can savor something arguably better than wine: the jello shot. Made (in Bushwick!) with a rotating list of flavors, these shots are sure to provide a high school throwback (albeit fancier this time) that you didn’t know you needed.