High Line Halloween: Ghostly Gardens: Saturday, October 26, 1pm to 4pm on the High Line at West 14th Street | A festive, family-friendly celebration that delivers thrills and chills for all ages is the promise of this Halloween-themed event that features lively musical performances and storytelling; spooky sculptures made from High Line dried plants; larger-than-life carnival games; art activities; a photo booth; creative face painting; and treats too special to specify here. Seasonal food and drinks will be available for purchase from frighteningly fantastic High Line food vendors. The whole shebang is produced by artist and High Line Educator Greg Corbino, whose work the New York Times proclaimed to be “crafty and audacious.” For more info, click here. Please RSVPvia this link.

Halloween Events at Verdi Cannabis (158 W. 23rd St. btw. 6th & 7th Aves.)| We’ll resist the urge to say “high times” can be had at Verdi Cannabis. But good times are to be had, for sure, at Chelsea’s legal cannabis distributor, whose music, art, and special events happenings cultivate a friendly, sociable vibe. Add “chills” and “thrills” to the emotional harvest, with a few chechmarks on the Verdi calendar custom-made Halloween. First and foremost, the shop is decked out in traditional Halloween tropes, from the flying bats on the wall to the pumpkin-headed scarecrow near the entrance, who seems to be positioned to give a second opinion as you present valid ID to gain entry.

On Saturday, October 26, the Halloween Pumpkin Painting event provides the paints, with you showing up with pumpkin in hand (or on head). On Thursday, October 31—Halloween—Verdi will be running an all-day Costume Contest, with prizes for Best Individual Costume, Scariest/Spookiest Costume, Best Group Costume, and Best Pet Costume. “We plan on having a Photo Booth for people to take mini-Polaroids with them throughout the day,” says co-curator Kenny Cunningham. The whole shindig is sponsored by cannabis brand names Bloom, HighSkrapers, and Supernaturals—whose local rep will be part of the fright’s (sorry, the night’s) entertainment, when the band OG’s Noise plays OCM (Original Cannabis Music). To keep up with what else is up with Verdi,click hereto visit their website.

Halloween Spooktacular: A Free Event on Saturday, October 26, 12pm to 2pm at the McBurney YMCA (125 West 14th St. btw. 6th & 7th Aves.) | West 14th Street’s McBurney YMCA sponsors this early afternoon full of fall favorites and fright season traditions. All are invited to partake in the Haunted Desserts, Pumpkin Crafts, and a 1:30pm parade that’s the perfect place to debut your costume of choice on Halloween’s official date. “Spooktacular” gets the jump on October 31, calendaring their Halloween happening a full four days before. But nobody’s complaining–presumably because their mouth is busy watering at the thought of all those Haunted Desserts…

Barktoberfest: Saturday October 26, 4pm at Pier 57’s Rooftop Park (25 11th Ave. at West 15th Street) | For humans who excel at dressing up their dogs—and for the precious pooches who indulge them—comes this annual happening, held for the first time this year at Pier 57’s sprawling Rooftop Park.  The centerpiece feature of this paws-itively adorable gathering is its highly competetive, fur-tastic Costume Contest. Special prizes are awarded for best-dressed pups: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place for Best Costume, and individual prizes in the categories of Best Original/ Creative, Best Pop Culture, and Best Group Theme. The event is free to the public and participants must pre-register here.

The Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance Presents Spooky Streets Trick or Treat / A Free Event on Thursday, October 31, 3pm-5pm at Bella Abzug Park (33rd St. to 36th St. btw. 10th & 11th Aves.)| Free candy, of course, is the guaranteed reward for trick or treaters who venture into Bella Abzug Park on Halloween. While there, it would be a frightful shame to pass by the Bouncy House without getting an insider’s feel for the place. Other activities will be offered, along with a special Halloween menu from @paradisinthepark including pumpkin soft serve and churros!

ONGOING EVENTS

Through October 30, Free Programming in Bella Abzug Park (W. 34th to 35th Sts., 10th to 11th Aves.) | Said a recent statement by the Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance, the area’s BID (Business improvement District) is “excited to extend the season for free outdoor yoga and kids concerts this year through October 30th. Join us in the park for free yoga on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays with Veronica from Bien Good Well. On Tuesdays at the playground, stop by for a fun sing a long with Mike Messer Music. Our popular outdoor dance parties will also continue into October with one more event with DJ The Real on October 24th.” To register for yoga, click here. For other calendar info, click here.

Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea: Saturdays, 9am-2pm | Seasonal, local food by vendors you can rely on for the basics and trust when it comes to embracing new cuisine and ingredients is the great strength of this weekly Market that pops up Saturdays, 9am-2pm, on West 23rd Street Off of Ninth Ave. And they’ve been there, early spring to early winter, year in and year out for a full decade (an occasion celebrated at the October 12 Market). A tip worth taking:Click here to sign up for their newsletter, and every week you’ll get a preview of what’s so special about the next Market.  Also a source of food for thought in advance of each Saturday’s Market: A visit to its online presecce (click here to do so). A new addition for 2024: Textile Recycling! Bring your linens, old clothes, shoes, torn, stained, or new to recycle (look for the green bin). Also Note: Food Benefit Programs are welcome. Go to the Manager’s Tent to use your SNAP EBT card and get tokens to spend with the vendors. Matching Health Bucks are available ($2 for every $2 withdrawn, up to $10). FMNP vouchers can be used June-November. For a full explanation of benefits, visit this link. NYC residents who have questions about the FMNP program can dial 311.