The Staten Island Greenbelt, the network of parkland and trails next to Todt Hill, has a free Halloween week lined up: a guided hike to Paulo's Peak on Thursday, a haunted trail and an outdoor screening of Halloweentown on Friday, a games afternoon for seniors next Wednesday, and a Halloween morning hike to Heyerdahl Hill. Every event below is free, and all of them are listed on the NYC Parks events calendar.

Thursday, Oct. 22: Hike to Paulo's Peak

The Greenbelt's adult hiking series heads out from the Greenbelt Nature Center at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, for a two-hour round trip to Paulo's Peak on the Greenbelt's rustic trails. The group starts and finishes at the nature center in Blood Root Valley, 700 Rockland Avenue at Brielle Avenue. Organizers ask hikers to wear sturdy shoes or boots. The hike is free, with registration through Eventbrite; the nature center can be reached at 718-351-3450 with questions.

Friday, Oct. 23: Greenbelt's Haunted Trail, then Halloweentown

On Friday afternoon, NYC Parks and Staten Island Recreation take over the lower parking lot of the Greenbelt Recreation Center at 501 Brielle Avenue for Greenbelt's Haunted Trail. From 3 to 7 p.m. there will be a pumpkin patch with pumpkin painting, arts and crafts, games and a walk through a haunted trail. The event listing notes that the trail gets scarier in the final hour: from 6 to 7 p.m., the trail switches to bigger frights and scarier surprises. The event is free and no registration is needed. Questions go to the recreation center at (718) 667-2545.

Stay in the same lot after dark and the evening turns into a movie night. At 7 p.m., NYC Parks' Movie Under the Stars series, presented with the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, screens Halloweentown, the TV-G story of a young witch who has to protect her home town from a dark force. Bring a blanket. The screening is free; NYC Parks lists a registration link on the event page through October 23. Glass bottles and alcohol are not allowed, and the city says it will post any weather cancellation on its website before the show.

Wednesday, Oct. 28: Senior Happy Hour

The Greenbelt Recreation Center's Senior Happy Hour runs from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, in the center's arts and crafts room. The afternoon is set up for socializing, with tables available for card and board games including bridge, chess, Chinese chess and mahjong. It is free, and no registration is required.

Saturday, Oct. 31: Halloween Hike to Heyerdahl Hill

On Halloween morning, a guided hike leaves the Greenbelt Nature Center at 11 a.m. for Heyerdahl Hill in the central Greenbelt. Over 90 minutes, the group will look at fall foliage, plants and wildlife and hear about the natural and cultural history of the area, with a nod, the listing hints, to the haunted history of the area. The hike is suited to children 10 and older. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and dress for the weather. It is free, with registration through Eventbrite.

Looking ahead: Pouch Camp on Nov. 5

The adult hiking series continues on Thursday, November 5, with a hike listed as High Rock Park and Pouch Camp, starting from the High Rock Gate in High Rock Park. It runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is free. High Rock Park, at 200 Nevada Avenue, is also home to the Greenbelt Conservancy's headquarters.

Getting there

The Greenbelt Nature Center is at 700 Rockland Avenue at Brielle Avenue, and the Greenbelt Recreation Center is at 501 Brielle Avenue. For the hikes, register in advance through the Eventbrite links on each NYC Parks event page and plan for uneven ground. For Friday's haunted trail and movie, just show up; the trail opens at 3 p.m. and the film starts at 7 p.m.

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