A freaky Window at 62 West 69th Street
West 69th Street, legendary for its Halloween celebrations since 1971, is set to host another thrilling evening on October 31. The two-block stretch between Central Park West and Broadway will come alive with costumes, candy and haunted houses, with festivities in full swing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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Whether you’re trick-or-treating or simply looking to celebrate Halloween, West 69th Street has long been a favorite destination for locals and visitors, known for its extravagantly ghoulish fright night escapades. The tradition began when four-time Tony Award winner Gwen Verdon, an actress and dancer who lived at 91 Central Park West, approached the West 69th Street Block Association to request permission to take her daughter trick-or-treating along the block.
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The Block Association agreed and the tradition was born in 1971. What started as an event for around twenty kids has now peaked at approximately 4,000 children arriving in full costume, accompanied by their parents, many of whom are also dressed in Halloween regalia. Due to the pandemic, the Halloween happening on West 69th Street was closed to the public from 2020 to 2022, but Halloween made its triumphant return in 2023.
One local celebrity and her kids were especially impressed with West 69th Street’s Halloween décor in 2023.
“I didn’t know what to expect. There were literally thousands of people on the street,” said Kelly Clarkson, the original American Idol winner and host of her own show on NBC, in an Instagram video. “There were literally skeletons repelling from a house; it was crazy.” Clarkson added that her son was so enamored with the setups that he was constantly asking her to take pictures and videos to commemorate the evening. “He loves Halloween,” she said.
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While we’re still over two weeks away from the big night, we’ve been spotting some Halloween decor on the street. A tree bed houses a human and k9 skeleton, along with a witch; a lamppost has been repurposed to hold up a ghoul; and some aliens can be found behind a second-floor window, with one holding a sign that reads, “Are you ready? AREA 51.” Every day will bring new surprises as Halloween draws closer.
Human and k9 skeletons with witch by 108 West 69th Street
Ghoul on lampost at 108 West 69th Street
Aliens at 39 West 69th Street
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