New York families can start Halloween under one of the city’s most beloved giants. On Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, the American Museum of Natural History hosts its Halloween Celebration, a joyful, all-ages party beneath the 94-foot blue whale in the Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life.
The museum describes the day as a Halloween celebration of prehistoric proportions, with a deep-sea twist. The program includes live music and dancing, Halloween-themed art and craft stations, face painting, balloon animals, live marine biology experiences, and science demonstrations spread across the first floor.
The highlight for many children is the trick-or-treat route and costume parade around the museum’s first floor, a safe and cheerful warm-up before the evening’s neighborhood rounds. Costumes are encouraged, although the museum asks families to leave full face masks at home so everyone can see and move comfortably.
The celebration is included with museum admission for Saturday, October 31. General admission tickets are available online or at the door, and New York residents can take advantage of pay-what-you-wish admission. It is a happy, not-too-spooky way to spend Halloween day in New York, surrounded by dinosaurs, ocean life, and plenty of treats.
Photo: AMNH
