By Ericka O’Connell, The Roosevelt Island Daily
Friends, it’s that magical time of year again when pumpkins glow on doorsteps, spiderwebs stretch between trees, and laughter echoes down our promenades. Spooky Season has arrived on Roosevelt Island, and our little strip of the East River is dressed to impress. From community parades to haunted tours and family crafts, this year’s celebrations prove that Halloween on Roosevelt Island is as spirited as ever.
Decorations That Dazzle
Take a stroll around the Octagon or Riverwalk this week and you’ll see that Roosevelt Islanders have been busy. Porches bloom with pumpkins, ghosts dangle from balconies, and skeletons wave from park benches. Main Street’s storefronts have joined in too, with creative window displays that make even a quick errand a festive experience.
It’s these little details—the flicker of an orange light, the friendly “boo!” sign in a window—that remind us how neighbors here bring imagination to life.
Community Events to Celebrate
This year’s lineup of Roosevelt Island Halloween events is packed with fun for all ages. Whether you’re crafting, touring, or catching a classic movie, there’s a little magic for everyone.
- New York Public Library (Roosevelt Island Branch) — Halloween Art Hour
Monday, October 27 | 4:00 PM
Get creative with spooky crafts, mask-making, and pumpkin decorations at the local library.
Details here - Film Screening: Clue (1985)
Wednesday, October 29 | 5:30 PM | Roosevelt Island Library
The beloved cult classic brings murder, mystery, and laughter—perfect for a Halloween week movie night.
See event info - Boroughs of the Dead Tour: “Island of Lost Souls”
Select evenings through December | Start at the Tram Plaza
A haunting historical tour exploring the island’s eerie past—from the smallpox hospital ruins to the asylum’s ghostly echoes. Not for the faint of heart!
Learn more - RIOC’s Annual Halloween Parade & Extravaganza
Saturday, October 26 | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
A Roosevelt Island favorite returns! Families parade from Capobianco Field to Rivercross Lawn for live music, games, and sweet treats. - Building & Lobby Festivities
Many of our apartment complexes are turning lobbies into mini haunted houses and organizing candy stops for little ones. Look for signs in your building for trick-or-treat times.
If You’re Venturing Off-Island…
For those looking to take their spooky spirit across the river, a few NYC classics await:
- Village Halloween Parade
Friday, October 31 | 7:00 PM | Sixth Avenue, Greenwich Village
Join or watch thousands of New Yorkers parade in outlandish costumes under towering puppets and glowing floats.
halloween-nyc.com
The Spirit That Unites Us
Halloween on Roosevelt Island has always been about more than costumes and candy. It’s about how we show up for one another—how we decorate, volunteer, and make space for joy. Neighbors lend ladders to help hang bats from balconies, teens help toddlers with treat bags, and everyone shares a smile beneath the cobwebs. That’s the real treat of the season.
Air Doesn’t Have an Address
The Roosevelt Island Steam Plant fight has reached a new stage: DOB has agreed to a site walkthrough, ArchRI says it is bringing independent engineers and architects, and four elected officials have formally asked RIOC to create a Community Advisory Group (CAG) for the project.
