Forest Hills has three Halloween events on the calendar over the next two weekends, starting with Austin Street closing to cars on Sunday, October 25. The block of Austin Street between 71st Avenue and 71st Road is the Queens signature location for this year's Trick-or-Streets, the city Department of Transportation's Halloween program that opens 160 streets and plazas across the five boroughs to people instead of traffic.

After that comes a children's Halloween party at the Forest Hills branch of Queens Public Library on Friday, October 30, and a Halloween parade along Metropolitan Avenue on the morning of Saturday, October 31.

Sunday, Oct. 25: Trick-or-Streets on Austin Street

The city chose the Austin Street Open Street as one of five borough signature events for Trick-or-Streets 2026, alongside Hillel Plaza in Brooklyn, Water Street on Staten Island, Canal Street in Manhattan and James Baldwin Plaza in the Bronx. The Forest Hills event is produced with Neighbors for a Safer Austin Street and Hive Public Space, which is returning for a second year as the Queens signature partner. Citywide, DOT says the program includes trick-or-treating, games and music, and the agency is handing out 75,000 pieces of candy across all of its locations this month.

DOT's event listing shows the Austin Street Open Street running from 2 to 7 p.m., while the city's announcement lists the signature program from 2 to 5 p.m., so families aiming for the main activities should plan to arrive close to 2 p.m. The event is free.

The same afternoon, the Municipal Art Society of New York is leading a free half-mile walk, A Walk Through Forest Hills' Edible Urban Forest, from 2 to 2:45 p.m. Guide Jordan Engel will point out the neighborhood's fruit-bearing street trees and talk through how to identify them and forage safely, with the walk ending at the Austin Street Open Street. MAS lists the walk as sold out with a full waitlist, but anyone heading to Austin Street that day may see the group arrive.

Friday, Oct. 30: Children's Halloween Party at the library

The Forest Hills branch of Queens Public Library, at 108-19 71st Avenue, is holding its annual Children's Halloween Party on Friday, October 30, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Kids are invited to come in costume.

The branch has more on its calendar during the week of Trick-or-Streets. On Wednesday, October 21, Toddler Time runs from 10:30 to 11 a.m. On Friday, October 23, the Pokemon Club meets from 4 to 5 p.m. to teach children how to play the card game step by step. On Saturday, October 24, Teen Game Sessions for grades 6 to 9 run from 1:30 to 3 p.m., with players building Dungeons and Dragons characters and setting out on quests. Adults can join the American Mahjong Club on Thursday, October 22, from 12:30 to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 31: Forest Hills Halloween Parade

On Halloween itself, the Forest Hills Halloween Parade takes over Metropolitan Avenue between 71st Avenue and Selfridge Street from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. DOT lists Metro Village of Forest Hills as the organizer, and the stretch is part of the city's Trick-or-Streets lineup, so that section of Metropolitan Avenue will be closed to cars during the parade.

Getting there

Austin Street between 71st Avenue and 71st Road is a short walk from the Forest Hills-71 Av station on the E, F, M and R trains and from the Forest Hills stop on the Long Island Rail Road. The library branch at 108-19 71st Avenue is in the same area. The parade route on Metropolitan Avenue runs from 71st Avenue to Selfridge Street.

For the library, call (718) 268-7934 or check the branch page for program updates. For any changes to Trick-or-Streets times, check DOT's list at nyc.gov/trickorstreets.

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