NEW YORK, NY — New York City is bringing back Trick-or-Streets with its biggest program yet, turning 160 car-free open streets and plazas into Halloween and fall gathering spots throughout October. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city Department of Transportation announced the expanded lineup, which is meant to give families a festive way to celebrate while keeping streets safe for kids and neighbors.
The events will stretch across all five boroughs and include trick-or-treating, games, music, interactive performances and other community activities. Organizers say schools and neighborhood groups will help shape many of the celebrations, giving local communities a chance to make familiar public spaces feel seasonal and welcoming.
How the city is using open streets for Halloween celebrations
Trick-or-Streets was created to offer New Yorkers a safer way to enjoy Halloween without the usual traffic risks that come with crowded sidewalks and busy roadways. This year’s version leans into that idea on a much larger scale, with dozens of plazas and streets closed to cars for themed events during the month of October.
According to the city, the open streets will be transformed by community groups and schools into places for trick-or-treating, hands-on activities and live entertainment. The setup is intended to be simple and family-friendly, with an emphasis on neighborhood participation rather than a single citywide festival. City officials said the only cars seen at these events should be cardboard creations or other kid-made versions powered by imagination.
Signature events planned in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx
The city highlighted five signature Trick-or-Streets events that will anchor the month-long program in each borough. Those events include Hillel Plaza in Brooklyn on Oct. 22 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Water Street on Staten Island on Oct. 25 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Austin Street in Queens on Oct. 25 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Manhattan’s signature event is set for Canal Street on Oct. 28 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., while the Bronx event will take place at James Baldwin Plaza on Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each site will use an open-street or plaza setting already familiar to nearby residents, making the celebrations easy to reach for families planning to walk, browse and take part in the festivities.
Schools across the city will add Halloween activities for children
Beyond the signature street events, New York City said a separate set of schools will host Halloween-themed play and creative programming for children. The school-based events will give younger students and families another way to take part in the season without having to travel far from their neighborhoods.
The participating schools include PS 59 The Community School of Technology, PS 28 Mount Hope Centennial School and PS 159 Luis Munoz Marin in the Bronx; PS 18 Edward Bush, PS 137 and the Dock Street School for STEAM studies in Brooklyn; Community Health Academy of the Heights and PS 102 Jacques Cartier in Manhattan; and PS.95Q The Eastwood School in Queens. The city said these activities will feature kid-friendly fun and other seasonal programming, though event details may vary by school.
A broader partnership will add guided walks in the city
In addition to the Halloween events, the Department of Transportation has teamed up with the Municipal Art Society of New York on guided walking tours. The tours are meant to highlight history, architecture and public spaces, adding another way for residents to experience the city on foot during the season.
Officials have not yet released full details about those walks, including dates or routes. Even so, the partnership suggests Trick-or-Streets is becoming more than a one-day celebration, blending neighborhood recreation with a chance to learn more about the streets and spaces that shape daily life in New York City.
Why the program has become a seasonal fixture for families
Trick-or-Streets has grown into a recognizable part of the city’s fall calendar because it combines public safety, outdoor fun and neighborhood involvement. By temporarily opening streets to pedestrians and festive programming, the city is trying to make Halloween easier for parents, schools and community organizations that want an organized place to gather.
The expanded 2026 lineup shows how widely the idea has spread. With 160 participating locations, the program reaches far beyond a few headline events and gives residents across the boroughs more chances to find something nearby. For families looking for a low-cost outing, the mix of games, music and trick-or-treating offers a simple seasonal option close to home.
