Halloween 2011 NYC Weekend Event Guide for Kids & Adults

Looking for frightening adult or family-friendly Halloween events in New York City?

Since Halloween is on a Monday this year it actually elongates Halloween fun! Events will take place across the city all weekend long. Kids will definitely make use of their costumes this year with family-friendly parades, pumpkin patches, and scavenger hunts.

For adults this year, there is, of course, the famed Village Halloween Parade, but also chances to eat bugs, drink great fall beers, visit haunted houses, and show off a great costume across the city. Most events are happening this weekend, so those that have to work early Tuesday morning won't be left out.

Many Halloween events put on by the city are free, so put together a homemade costume for you and the kids and have some budget-friendly fun.

Here's a preview of some of the best events happening in NYC for Haloween 2011:

Friday, Oct. 28

The National Comedy Theatre's Halloween Spooktacular:
Each year the National Comedy Theatre performs its annual Spooktacular, which combines improv comedy with a horror film. The show will take place Friday Oct. 28 and Saturday Oct. 29 at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. The theater is located on 347 West 36^th St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves. Make your reservation online as soon as possible, as tickets sell out every year. The show is only $15 for general admission.

Bugs and Brews at the New York Botanical Garden:

The New York Botanical Gardens is hosting a bizarre and daring event after hours called Bugs and Brews. Menu items include cricket flour bread with honey and Green Papaya Salad with Water bugs (there will also be non-bug food available for purchase). Hey, if you're going to eat bugs, at least there will be great fall beers to wash them down. Tickets cost $30 for non-members and include one complimentary brew.

The New York Botanical Garden also hosts a family-friendly Haunted Pumpkin Garden until Sunday Oct. 30 with carved pumpkins, bats, and other spooky garden fun.

Saturday, Oct. 29

Highland Park Fall Harvest Festival and Pirate Day

NYC's park Web site ranks the Highland Park Fall Harvest Festival a family must-see. Kids can dress up as a pirate or their favorite costume. There will be carriage rides, a pumpkin patch, and more. Captain Jack is even said to make an appearance. The event starts at noon and ends at 3 p.m. in the Highland Park at Elton and Jamica Aves. in Queens.

Dread of Night:

Staten Island Historical Society takes visitors through haunted buildings telling mostly true stories of haunted happening in the Dread of the Night. It starts in the historic Richmond Town. This haunted tour cost $10 for adults and $8 for children. Reserve tickets ahead of time.

Sunday, Oct. 30

Halloween Hi-Jinks on the High Line:

This is the first year that a parade will take place on the High Line park. The parade will begin at noon at the Seating Steps on the High Line at West 22^nd St. After the parade ends at West 15^th St., kids can have their faces painted or decorate a pumpkin.

For more free and low-cost events for the family check out NYC Department of Parks & Recreation Web site.

Monday, Oct. 31

Village Halloween Parade:

New York's Village Halloween Parade is an institution in the city; thousands of participants dress up in unusual and mind-bending costumes with approximately two million spectators watching. For those who want to participate in the Village Halloween Parade, in costume of course, line up on Sixth Ave. South of Spring Street and North of Canal from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. To watch the parade, grab a spot on Sixth Ave. from Spring St. to 16^th.The parade will last from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., but it's best to get there an hour early to get a good viewing spot. For those in New York who want a less chaotic view of the parade, it will be broadcast live by WPIX 11 and NY 1.

Greenwich Village Children's Halloween Parade:

Greenwich Village Children's Halloween Parade is the G-rated version of the Village Halloween Parade that you can bring the whole family to. This parade, put on by New York University, starts at 3:30 p.m., but those wishing to join the parade should line up a half hour earlier at Washington Square north. The parade ends at LaGuardia between Washington Square South and West Third Street. At the end of the parade there will be face-painting, rides, and a performance.

Village Halloween Costume Ball:

The Theater for New York City is hosting its 32 annual Village Halloween Costume Ball. This ball has everything from a costume contest to tarot card readings. Indoor entertainment begins at 8 p.m. and tickets cost $20, entertainment outside begins at 4:30 p.m. and is free.

Happening all weekend long:

Watsons' Adventures Halloween Scavenger Hunts:

Watsons' Adventures has ghostly scavenger hunts all weekend long. Over the weekend, visit secret cemeteries and haunted buildings on the Ghosts of Greenwich Building Village Scavenger Hunt or the PG-version Ghosts of Greenwich Village Family Scavenger Hunt. On Monday at 6:30 p.m., visitors can make there way through old hotels and theaters, hearing of their haunted past on the Haunted Times Square Scavenger Hunt.

Merchant's House Museum:

Merchant's House Museum is known as Manhattan's most haunted house. It was built in 1932 and those that have visited say its like walking into another world. October 27-29 the house holds candle light stories of strange happening inside the house. On Sunday Oct. 30 from 3-5 p.m. there will be a special event where visitors can watch a reenactment of an 1865 funeral and then continue to the New York City Marble Cemetery, which rarely opens to the public.

Blood Manor haunted house:

Blood Manor is so intense that it is only recommended for those 14 and up. This year the blood manor is located on 163 Varick St, in the Hudson Square district. All of your fears may come alive in the graveyard of the doomed or in the chamber of killer clowns. Tickets cost $25 for general admission.

For more haunted houses around the U.S. see America's Scariest Haunted Houses.