For many Fordham students (especially those who love the spooky season), this Halloween is incredibly exciting. For the first time since 2014, Halloween will be taking place on a Friday. This means that not just Friday, but the whole weekend is a time to indulge in celebrations, eating too much candy and watching horror movies. From the time your last class ends on Friday to your first one on Monday, it is a nonstop, terror-filled weekend. Being in New York City makes Halloween all the more exciting, as there is so much to do all over the boroughs.
If you have non-Halloween related plans in Greenwich Village, you might want to cancel them, because the streets will be unwalkable this Halloween … unless you come in costume, that is. The annual New York City Village Halloween Parade will be taking place on Oct. 31, allowing people to dress up and join in the parade as they walk down 6th Ave, from Canal Street to 15th Street. The event begins at 7 p.m. with thousands joining in the march. If you aren’t too tired from the walk and are 21 or older, the official afterparty, rightfully named “The Vampire Ball,” is taking place at Industry City in Brooklyn from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. the next day. Featuring seven stages of music with countless artists, the outdoor festival is definitely one of the most exhilarating events taking place this Halloweekend.
However, if you are looking for something that is more relaxing Brooklyn is also home to Madame Morbid’s Trolley Tour, a thrilling trolley ride that takes you through the 400 years of Brooklyn’s haunted history. Along the way, it also stops along cemeteries and historical sites explaining local urban legends associated with the area, adding onto the spooky atmosphere of Halloweekend. On Fridays it operates tours at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., while on Saturday it will be at 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
In the Bronx, just across the street from Fordham’s Rose Hill campus, both the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) and The Bronx Zoo are joining in on the festivities. At NYBG, you can enter into the world of Tim Burton’s “A Nightmare Before Christmas” through a light show and music. Even if you can’t get to it during Halloweekend due to a busy schedule, the event will remain open until Nov. 30. Further down the road at The Bronx Zoo, they are hosting their annual Harvest Glow, an event in which sculptures are made out of illuminated jack-o’-lanterns. The last night it’s open will be Oct. 31, so going on Halloween will end the event with a bang.
For a more untraditional haunted house, the interactive and audio-driven play “Viola’s Room” at The Shed is the way to go. It is a haunting experience as visitors are asked to remove their shoes then are blindly led through multiple rooms, some with wet grass or sand as the floor. One visitor described it as being, “an uncomfortable, out of body experience” and unlike anything they had ever been to. Even without monster masks and jump scares it still leaves a lasting, chilling impression.
Additionally, there are so many at-home activities you can do with your friends. Painting pumpkins, watching Halloween movies and baking Halloween-themed treats are all fun examples. These more simple activities offer a relaxing alternative if you would rather stay away from all the craziness and crowds of Halloweekend. Sometimes, simply being with those you care about is enough to make the weekend memorable.
No matter where you choose to spend your Halloweekend, whether that be at one of these New York City events, a spooky costume party or just relaxing while watching a scary movie, it always makes it much more fun and safe when you are with a good group of friends (especially when it starts getting scary). Staying alert and aware of one’s surroundings can not only protect you from any possible jumpscares from scareactors but also ensure that you remain cautious in whatever activities you are participating in as they extend late into the night. The most important thing for surviving Halloween though is to have fun and use it as a time to let loose and embrace all of the festivities.
