You do not have to be a trick-or-treater to hop door to door and enjoy the Halloween spirit each home has to offer. With leaves of amber and gold as a picturesque backdrop, the streets of New York City transform from blank canvases into a vibrant display of spooky decor. From bright orange pumpkins to towering skeletons to “beware” signs, the city displays all the classic Halloween decorations just in time for the spooky season.
Coming from a suburb in Georgia, I figured a big city with towering buildings, rather than houses with big yards, did not have the room to decorate as much. I found it hard to believe that such a place could create the ambiance of a classic trick-or-treating neighborhood I experienced as a child. I was delightfully surprised to see that I was wrong. The artistry of some of the Halloween decor showed me that New Yorkers go all out. Many residents even take advantage of the city’s architecture; there were candles hanging off scaffolding, cobwebs covering staircases and skeletons scurrying up the side of apartment complexes.
After my investigation to find the absolute best Halloween decor, I decided to explore the Upper East Side, Upper West Side and West Village. These well-known areas did not disappoint in the hype surrounding their skills in decorating. The historically classic architecture of the brownstones and cozy brick apartments only enhanced the eerie feeling of the displays. What I loved most about wandering the streets was how the seasonal atmosphere fostered a greater sense of community. Simply placing a jack-o-lantern on their stoop or hanging a witch hat off a tree shows a shared joy in the festivities surrounding the holiday. Friends, families and children were strolling through the streets and admiring what the residents had created for us.
The Upper West Side had more of the extravagant Halloween accessories. There were lots of oversized spiders hanging off trees, ginormous skeletons and ghosts flying about. The area gave off a nostalgic feel as the decorations reminded me of the lively atmosphere from my trick-or-treating days. I also found that this area had a very all-or-nothing attitude when it came to decorating. Many people showed some real dedication by covering the buildings with cobwebs to the point where some residents could not use the staircases. A fun surprise was that some homes were playing a track of unsettling melodies to add to the spooky vibe.
The majority of the Upper East Side had more of a cohesive and aesthetic theme to its decorations. This is the place to go for a fun photoshoot with friends, because it feels like walking through a Pinterest board. There were definite color schemes and inspirations for the Halloween decor in this neighborhood. One of my favorite homes I saw was a “Harry Potter”-themed porch with Hedwig front and center.
If you decide to take a look at the Upper East and West Sides, I recommend taking the Ram Van to the Fordham University Lincoln Center campus to put you right at Central Park. Instead of walking through honking cars and bustling crowds to get to your destinations, walk through the park to embrace the stunning fall foliage and rusting leaves beneath your feet with the crisp air brushing over your face. You can also make a day out of it by grabbing a pumpkin spice latte before it is too late and the menus change to winter holiday specials.
You can find some more notable Halloween displays farther south in the West Village, where residents put a lot of quirky spins on their decorations. There are baby pink skeletons, fake rats scattered about and pumpkins in an array of blues rather than oranges. This area also had many more pumpkin carvings and jack-o-lanterns on the staircases compared to the other neighborhoods. While you are in the area, start showering yourself with candy a little early by popping over to Lil Sweet Treat. This quaint candy shop has an impressive collection of sweet and sour candy flavors from all over the world. Snacking on these while observing the Halloween decor transports you back to Halloween nights we had as kids.
