137 car-free events held across the city for Halloween

The City’s Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on the 10th that its fourth annual Trick-or-Streets event will return for Halloween starting on the 17th, with at least 137 events taking place across the city’s five boroughs throughout October. This year’s event will be larger and more diverse than ever before.

Now in its fourth year, the program is part of the city’s vision to better utilize public space. “Car-free open streets will bring festivities to plazas and open streets, providing fun and safe cultural experiences for New Yorkers of all ages,” said Ydanis Rodriguez, the city’s transportation commissioner. He also emphasized the program’s widespread success over the years, “providing a rich tapestry of possibilities for communities when we rethink the use of streets.”

Trick-or-Streets features a wide variety of activities, from pumpkin patches and haystack photo ops to live performances, games, and Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations. Organizations and groups in various neighborhoods will also present their own versions of the celebrations. For example, the open streets project on Saint Nicholas Avenue in Harlem will feature arts education and dance performances, while the nonprofit Street Lab will create a family-friendly play area on Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn.

Leslie Davol, co-founder of Street Lab, said Halloween is a special day. “New York City kids have always felt excited, happy, and safe on the streets, and this project ensures that.”

To kick off the celebration, the New York City Department of Transportation will unveil the new 29th Street Plaza outside LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City on the 17th. This 17,000-square-foot pedestrian space features tables, chairs, bicycle parking, and one of the city’s largest murals, painted by LaGuardia art student Fernanda Contreras.

The plaza will also be part of the Trick-or-Streets lineup later this month, featuring music and dance performances. LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Adams said the mural has transformed 29th Street into a vibrant, welcoming space for community members to gather, connect, and relax.

For more Trick-or-Streets event listings and details, visit the NYC Department of Transportation’s website at nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pedestrians/trickorstreets.shtml.