Free Halloween events for kids on Long Island
Walter Lynch, of Stony Brook, dressed as a police officer, trick or treats at the annual Stony Brook Village Halloween Festival, at the Stony Brook Village Center. Credit: Linda Rosier
Costumes, candy and scares: Halloween is a time for tricks and treats, but some spooky attractions and festive events can be — BOO! — expensive. Here are some free family-friendly Halloween events, parades, haunted attractions and photo-ops:
‘Otto’s Animated Halloween Story’ at Hicks Nurseries
100 Jericho Tpke., Westbury
Otto the Ghost at the Hicks Nurseries in Westbury. Credit: Kendall Rodriguez
Part of the store’s annual Fall Festival, kids can stroll through a story featuring Otto the friendly ghost, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 27. Otto is only present on weekends and Columbus Day from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. It’s free to meet him and take photos. The animated story includes a path of animatronic scenes created in-house, the lighting is dimmed with black lights illuminating the scenery, and is enlivened by Halloween-themed music. Mannequins of Otto, as well as a witch, a boy throwing leaves into the air and a girl playing hula hoop are on display. Kids will learn about the holiday, the importance of helping others and friendship. Attendees can bring a nonperishable food item to donate to Hicks’s annual Long Island Cares food drive.
More info 516-334-0066, hicksnurseries.com
Halloween costume parade in Long Beach
Magnolia Boulevard and the Bay, Long Beach
Grades 5 and under are invited to dress in their favorite costume and parade from the Recreation Center to Kennedy Plaza at noon Oct. 13. Kids in costume will receive treats and awards will be given for best costume.
More info 516-431-3890, longbeachny.gov
Halloween Family Festival at Freeport Recreation Center
130 E. Merrick Rd., Freeport
The event includes trick-or-treating, a DJ, haunted house, costume contest and balloon animals, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 19.
More info 516-643-4008, limarketevents111.com
Riverhead’s ‘Halloween Fest’
Downtown Riverhead
A skeleton figure holds Halloween-themed cookies and cupcakes in Riverhead during the Halloween Festival. Credit: Daniel Brennan
Shops in Downtown Riverhead will be decorated in Halloween decor and all are welcome to arrive in costume, 2 to 7 p.m. Oct. 19. The event begins with a 2 p.m. Coffin Race, where contestants ride decorated coffins down Main Street in age groups 5-12 and 12 and older (register in advance at downtownriverhead.org). Kids can go trick-or-treating from 3 to 5 p.m. and then a 6 p.m. Halloween parade follows.
More info 631-440-1350, downtownriverhead.org
Witches Night Out
Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor
People dressed as witches shop during the 14th annual Cold Spring Harbor Witches Night Out in October 2023. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
Wander Main Street in costume and trick-or-treat, 5 to 8 p.m. Oct 24. Some businesses will offer complimentary small bites and beverages and select stores will have sales and discounts. Candy for trick-or-treaters will be given out at all participating stores, plus free cotton candy will be given away at Living (123 Main St.) and there will be free face-painting at Pashley Children's Boutique (169 Main St.).
More info 631-692-7100, luckytolivehererealty.com
Halloween Family Festival at Samanea Mall
1500 Old Country Rd., Westbury
Kids can trick-or-treat, get balloon animals, take part in a costume contest, dance to live music, take photos in the photo booth and explore a haunted maze, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 26-27.
More info 516-643-4008, limarketevents111.com
Hampton Library's annual Halloween Parade
2478 Main St., Bridgehampton
All can dress in costume and march from the library to businesses along Main Street for trick-or-treating. The Bridgehampton Museum (2368 Montauk Hwy.) will host a free "Halloween Fiesta" featuring photo opportunities, 10 to 11 a.m. Oct. 26.
More info 631-537-0015, myhamptonlibrary.org
Oyster Bay’s Annual Halloween Parade
150 E. Main St., Oyster Bay
Join the costume parade in Oyster Bay hosted by Raynham Hall Museum. Credit: Raynham Hall Museum
Presented by Raynham Hall Museum, families can dress in costume and march in a procession featuring attendees holding spooky puppets, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 26. The parade begins in the parking lot of Oyster Bay High School on East Main Street, then continues west on East Main Street to Townsend Park (at the intersection of Audrey and Shore avenues) before heading south on Spring Street, then moving east on West Main Street before reaching Raynham Hall (30 W. Main St.). There will then be a dance party featuring vendors selling food and drink, such as Gimme Burger, Penelope Bean and Co. and Oyster Bay Brewing Company.
More info 516- 922-6808, raynhamhallmuseum.org
Trick-or-Treat at The Heckscher Museum of Art
2 Prime Ave., Huntington
Create a spooky monster or a Halloween greeting using the Digital Action Painting at The Heckscher Museum of Art. Credit: The Heckscher Museum of Art
Families can wear costumes, create an art activity and then make a spooky Digital Action Painting where use a brush to electronically paint on a touch screen monitor before heading home with a treat to eat, noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 27. Museum admission is free.
More info 631-380-3230, heckscher.org
Creepy Crawl in Babylon
158 E. Main St., Babylon
Wear your costume for a creepy crawl that has participating establishments displaying different color spider decals in their windows for non-food treats and candy, registration begins between noon and 1 p.m. Oct. 27 at LaLa Land (158 E. Main St.); crawl runs noon to 3 p.m. A creepy fest with a monster mash dance party and treats follows at the Babylon Public Library (24 S. Carll Ave.). Tote bags with a map will be provided to the first 200 creepy crawlers.
More info babylonchamber.com
Howl-o-ween at Michael J. Tully Dog Park
1801 Evergreen Ave., New Hyde Park
A dog dressed in a Halloween costume takes part in the "Howl-O-Ween" event held at the Michael J. Tully Park Dog Park in New Hyde Park by the Town of North Hempstead. Credit: Town of North Hempstead
The Halloween event for families and their dog features a pet costume contest, music, crafts, giveaways, prizes for best dog costume and best human and dog duo costume, noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 27 at Michael J. Tully dog park.
More info northhempsteadny.gov
Trick-or-treat with Stew Leonard's characters in Farmingdale
261 Airport Plaza Blvd., Farmingdale
Kids can dress in costume and trick-or-treat at various stations throughout the store, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 29. Wow the Cow will be on-site for photo-ops. Event is for ages 8 and younger. Register for tickets online.
More info 516-962-8210, stewleonards.com
Sag Harbor Halloween Pumpkin Trail
Main Street, Sag Harbor
Kids can come in costume and trick-or-treat at participating businesses which will have a Sag Harbor Chamber Pumpkin Trail sign in the window including shops and restaurants along Main Street and Long Wharf, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
More info 631-725-0011, sagharborchamber.com
The Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s Halloween festival
111 Main St., Stony Brook
Families can dress in their Halloween best and trick-or-treat for candy in Stony Brook. Credit: Claudia Powell
Back for a 34th year, the annual festival includes games to play, a monster mash dance party, costume parade led by spooky character Monster Merlin, live music, a scarecrow competition and trick-or-treating at the Stony Brook Village shops, 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 31.
More info 631-751-2244, wmho.org
