Halloween on the Harlem Meer

Come see the Harlem Meer get spooky! Join us for an evening of free family-friendly activities. Costumes encouraged!

Thursday, October 30
4:00 PM–7:00 PM

Join us for a spooktacular, family-friendly Halloween celebration in Central Park, featuring crafts, music, and entertainment, plus our signature pumpkin flotilla on the Harlem Meer.

Bring your own carved pumpkin and drop it off to be part of New York’s largest pumpkin flotilla, where hundreds of glowing jack-o’-lanterns will light up the water in a stunning display.

This event is free and open to all ages.

Tickets are not required, but please enter your email below to let us know you're coming and to receive event updates. You’ll also receive our monthly newsletter on the latest updates and events around the north end of the Park.

Please note: Event details are subject to change based on weather conditions.

Schedule of Activities

4:00 PM-5:30 PM

  • Pumpkin drop-off (see details below)

  • Enjoy fun, hair-raising tunes and family-friendly music at the Dana Discovery Center Plaza with Nice Brass, a lively NYC-based brass band.

  • Create glowing paper lanterns at the Dana Discovery Center Plaza with teaching artist Cievel Xicohtencatl from El Museo del Barrio.

5:00 PM–5:30 PM

  • Not-so-spooky storytime hosted by our friends at the New York Public Library

5:30 PM-6:00 PM

  • Show off your costumes and paper lantern creations in a spooktacular parade along the Harlem Meer, led by Anne Cubberly’s giant puppets.

6:00 PM-7:00 PM

  • Pumpkin flotilla sets sail on the Harlem Meer

7:00 PM

  • Pumpkin pick-up
    At the conclusion of the flotilla, you can retrieve your carved pumpkins from the Harlem Meer beach near Fifth Avenue and East 108th Street.

PUMPKIN FLOTILLA INFORMATION

Please bring your own carved pumpkin. Pumpkins will not be given away for the flotilla.

Drop-off between 4:00 pm and 5:30 pm
Enter at 110th Street and Lenox Avenue

Space is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Pumpkins will be accepted until 5:30 PM or until all spots are filled—whichever comes first. Stop by our information table for directions to the drop-off location.

Pumpkin Guidelines

DO bring a pumpkin that weighs about eight pounds after it’s carved (approximately the dimensions of a size 4 soccer ball).

DO bring carved, gutted pumpkins with their tops.

DON’T bring mini or extra-large pumpkins. They will not fit on the flotilla.

DON’T bring pumpkins with artificial decorations, such as paint, glitter, marker, food dye, paper, or plastic. These will pollute the Harlem Meer and harm wildlife.

DON’T bring light bulbs, candles, or floats. We’ll provide these!