Brooklyn families can celebrate Halloween at a free fall festival and haunted house at the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center on Friday, Oct. 30, as part of New York City’s monthlong programme of seasonal activities.
The Haunted House and Hallow Gala will run from 3:00 to 7:00pm at the recreation center in Brooklyn. The event will feature a spooky carnival, haunted house, arts and crafts, games, music, pumpkin decorating and costume and dance contests. Admission is free and registration is not required.
The celebration offers families an opportunity to enjoy Halloween activities without paying for a ticketed attraction. It also brings residents together through recreation, creative activities and entertainment at a public facility serving the Brooklyn community.
“It’s no trick: spooky season is taking over parks and recreation centers across our city this month,” said Mayor Mamdani. “We’re bringing free, family-friendly fun to every corner of New York City and there’s something for everyone: from haunted houses and pumpkin patches to Mad Science demonstrations and arts and crafts. This is what it looks like to build a city that recognizes play and joy as a public good.”
The gala is part of HalloWeek, a weeklong celebration featuring additional programming, including karaoke, a pool movie, a silent disco and more haunted house activities. The mix of attractions is intended to appeal to children, teenagers and adults looking for different ways to celebrate the season.
The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center, which opened in East Flatbush in February 2026, is the borough’s largest recreation center and the first new Parks recreation center in Central Brooklyn. Its facilities and community programming provide a setting for events that bring residents together beyond their usual recreational activities.
The Brooklyn celebration is one of several free fall festivals organized by New York City Parks across the five boroughs this month. Other events include a fall festival and haunted house in Manhattan, a seasonal festival in the Bronx, a fall celebration on Staten Island and a haunted house and festival in Queens.
The Hallow Gala will move indoors in the event of rain. Residents can check the NYC Parks event listing for updates and additional details before attending.
