Nightmare on 62nd Street: Tips for a Great Halloween in the City

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New Yorkers take Halloween seriously, so keep an eye out for costumes on the subway. (PHOTO COURTESY OF DREW XXX VIA FLICKR)

By EMMA CHILDS and SIBEL ISKENDER

The mini pumpkins are on display in the McKeon dining hall and you can’t pass a CVS without spotting a haunted ghoul beckoning you into the premises. There’s a crisp chill in the air, with the sweet aroma of pumpkin spice wafting up and down every block. It’s the time of year that the kids inside of us love: Halloween. While many of us have retired our trick or treating pillow sacks and accepted the new responsibility of our college lives, that doesn’t mean we can’t indulge in everyone’s favorite spooky holiday. Haven’t made any Halloween plans yet? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

If you’re looking to see what other crazy costumes fellow New Yorkers are wearing, head over to Greenwich Village to witness the world’s largest halloween parade. But don’t expect just ghosts and goblins- any costume goes, and these parade-goers won’t be playing around. At noon on Halloween day, attendees can expect a pandemonium of characters, floats and performers marching all the way down 6th Avenue.

Matt Di Vitto, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ‘20, is most excited for this event. “I love the Village and I’m really excited to people watch,” Di Vitto said. An avid Halloween fan, Di Vitto also thinks Halloween is meant for all ages. “I don’t there’s age limit on Halloween. I mean, you can’t go trick-or-treating when you’re forty, but you can still celebrate and enjoy the spirit of the holiday.”

Just because we are surrounded by skyscrapers and office buildings doesn’t mean we can’t partake in the chill-inducing experience of a haunted house. At Vorhees Theater in Brooklyn, Theatreworks, City Tech’s resident theatrical troupe with design, construction, is putting a wonderfully spooky scare fest. If you show your student ID, tickets are only $5. We may live in a concrete jungle where dreams are made of, but due to Theatreworks, nightmares may bloom in this beloved city of ours as well.

If you’re still up for free candy (who wouldn’t be!), scope out stores and restaurants in Midtown who give out candy to trick-or-treaters who don’t get the chance to knock door to door of apartment buildings. If you’re looking for a traditional candy-hunting experience, venture to the more residential areas of the city like the Upper East Side and Upper West Side. A popular spot for trick or treaters every year is East 78th Street.

You’ll definitely spot many Fordham students out on the streets searching for candy, Di Vitto included. As of now, he is still undecided as to what he plans on being for the spooky night. “It’s a tossup between a cowboy or a hot dog, but regardless, I’m excited for the free candy,” Di Vitto said.

Gina Taddeo, FCLC ‘20, when asked if going trick-or-treating this year said, “Yes, I can’t wait to go trick-or-treating on the Upper East Side.”

Ultra thrill-seekers, this one’s for you. Head over to Randall’s Island for the ultimate haunted hayride that will make it hard for you to sleep the next night. The ride consists of three main attractions, House of Shadows, Purgatory Haunted Village and Theater Macabre.

So grab a few friends and a costume, and make this Halloween in New York City your best one yet!