Date and venue: Throughout October at Studio 54

The Rocky Horror Show is leaning into its frightfully fun roots this Halloween season with a monthlong lineup of giveaways, talkbacks, costume contests, and more. Every Friday night show will be the “Fashion Floor Show,” where venue staff will reward the best-dressed audience members. Other ongoing events include partnerships outside the theatre, such as a Dr. Frank-N-Furter hotdog at select Nathan’s locations and a limited-time window display at the famous lower Manhattan costume shop Abracadabra. Find the full list of events online.

Get The Rocky Horror Show tickets now.

Date and venue: October 8-11 at the Javits Center

New York Comic Con is back for its 20th year, celebrating all things fandom with celebrity signings, star-studded panels, limited-edition merch, screenings, and more. Notable events for Broadway fans include meet and greets with Idina Menzel, a special 40th anniversary celebration of The Phantom of the Opera with Masquerade, a panel about the crossover between Hollywood and Broadway, and more. Read our full guide to Broadway at Comic Con.

Date and venue: October 31 along Sixth Avenue

New York City’s famous Village Halloween Parade is back for its 53rd year, filling Sixth Avenue with costumes, floats, and larger-than-life puppetry. The parade is free to attend, and although costumes aren’t required, they’re highly recommended. This year, the theme is Body & Soul.

Date and venue: Through November 1 at the Bronx Zoo

Head to the Bronx for a family-friendly Halloween celebration with its annual Boo at the Zoo event. With daytime activities intended for toddlers through elementary school kids, the zoo offers fall-themed activities like a hay maze and a Halloween carnival that’s part of your regular admission. You’ll also find magic shows, a candy trail, Halloween crafts, a costume parade, and much more. Learn more and get tickets online.

What's more Halloween-appropriate than a masquerade ball? Whether or not you attend the immersive Phantom of the Opera adaptation Masquerade, you can visit its underground bar starting at 9:30 p.m. six days a week, and it's home to multiple special events this month.

Join Space Invaders Social: The Immortal Ball, a costume ball, on October 17; the queer dance party Masc-erade on October 23; the Broadway-themed rave Masquerave on October 24; and the main event, the sumptuous Le Bal Macabre masquerade ball, on Halloween night. Advance tickets are required, and they are separate from Masquerade show admission.

Get Masquerade tickets now.

Date and venue: October 26 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre

In honor of the 30th anniversary of Jonathan Larson’s hit rock musical Rent, a special concert will take place as a fundraiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Original cast members Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Fredi Walker-Browne, and more will perform with other Rent alums like Aaron Tveit, Jai Rodriguez, Jordan Fisher, and Nicholas Christopher. Original director Michael Greif, music director Tim Weil, and the entire original band will also return. Find tickets and more info online.

Date and venue: September 25 to October 12 at various venues near Lincoln Center

For its 64th year, the New York Film Festival returns with a selection of films from around the world. The festival highlights works from acclaimed and emerging filmmakers alike, as well as screenings of digitally restored or preserved movies. There will also be a series of conversations between filmmakers, critics, and more. Find the full lineup and tickets online.

Date and venue: Select nights through October 30 at Hudson Yards

Summer might be over, but you can still catch free outdoor movies at Hudson Yards through October. The month is filled with movie musicals, such as Chicago on October 2, Wicked on October 16, and Hairspray on October 23. Guests can bring their own blankets, food, and drinks, with complimentary popcorn and food and drinks for purchase also available. Find the full lineup online.

Date and venue: Select dates through December at Bowtie Bar

The Theatre District's Bowtie Bar is launching the Singing Telegram series of happy-hour Broadway performances. Actors from Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) will sing requested songs from 5-7 p.m., and Six performs November 5. Themed cocktails will also be available to purchase, with a a buy-one-get-one-free drink offer for patrons with a day-of ticket for that night's featured show.

Get Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) tickets now.

Get Six tickets now.

Date and venue: Saturdays and Sundays at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop in Long Island City

Previously closed to the public, the Jim Henson Creature Shop is opening its doors this summer to limited tours. The workshop is behind some of the most famous puppets in history, from The Muppets to the residents of Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock.

Guests will learn about the history of the Creature Shop, experience a demonstration with a Henson puppeteer, meet a puppet builder, and get photo ops with some of these well-known characters. More information and tickets are available online.

Date and venue: Through October 11 at Cool Sips

Order the Heathers way with three new limited-edition drinks at popular dirty soda chain Cool Sips, each inspired by a character from the musical. Each drink matches the Heather it’s based on: a cherry, strawberry, and citrus flavor for Heather Chandler, a green apple and lime flavor for Heather Duke, and a lemonade, pineapple, and passionfruit flavor for Heather McNamara.

Date and venue: Through October 31 at the Museum of Broadway

The current special exhibit at the Museum of Broadway will focus on the 2023 play The Life of Pi, displaying many of the animal puppets used in the production, along with puppets from other shows, like Avenue Q's Trekkie Monster and Frozen's Olaf. Visitors can look at concept drawings, prototypes, and videos, and explore a recreated puppet workshop to see every step of the design process.

Get Museum of Broadway tickets now.

Date and venue: Sundays through November 15 at Ellen’s Stardust Diner

Mamma mia, here we go again — to brunch! The famous Ellen’s Stardust Diner, featuring singing waitstaff, is kicking off a ticketed brunch event inspired by the hit musical. Hear your favorite Mamma Mia! tunes while enjoying themed dishes liked “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme Chicken + Waffles” and “Chiquitita Chilaquilies.” Tickets are available online.

Date and venue: Throughout October at Mom’s, Dolly’s, and Lady Blue

Before your Rocky Horror Show trip this October, head over to one of three popular Theatre District bars — Mom’s, Dolly’s, and Lady Blue, all within walking distance of Studio 54 — for a specialty cocktail inspired by the show. Patrons who show their same-day ticket to the Broadway show will get 10% off their bill.

Get The Rocky Horror Show tickets now.

Date and venue: May 23 to October 18 at the New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden is getting groovy. The Flower Power exhibition channels the hippie culture of the of the ‘60s and connection with the natural world. Concurrently, an Art of the Era exhibit showcases paintings, photographs, screen prints, and collages by artists from the '60s and '70s that celebrate peace and love.

On select nights, you can catch the Liquid Light Shows, a colorful light display. Find more info and tickets online.

Date and venue: Ongoing at Shy Shy NYC

While Heated Rivalry made a huge splash when it landed on HBO late last year, it’s now making a similar impact on theatre lovers thanks to Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody. If you’re planning on seeing the acclaimed show, head to cocktail bar Shy Shy NYC to sip on its Heated Rivalry cocktail. Made with habanero tequila, passionfruit, pink peppercorns, and lime, this is the perfect pre-or post-show drink (aside from a ginger ale or blueberry-banana smoothie, of course).

Get Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody tickets now.

Date and venue: Through September 2027 at Tempo by Hilton Times Square

Taking inspiration from Tony Award-winning musical The Lost Boys, the Tempo by Hilton Times Square has redesigned one of its hotel rooms to feel like you’ve been transported to 1980s SoCal. The suite features everything from a vintage cabinet television to a Ferris wheel mural, and guests will receive exclusive merch, a themed welcome treat, and a food and beverage credit.

The public can also head to the Tempo restaurant to enjoy a three-course Lost Boys-themed prix fixe menu, which wraps up with dessert served in a Chinese restaurant-style takeout container in honor of a notable scene from the show. Then, finish your night with a visit to the Palace Theatre to see The Lost Boys.

Get The Lost Boys tickets now.

Date and venue: September 15 to November 7 at The Ruby Theatre

What happens when an actor takes five shots before a performance? Chaos—and that’s the point. In the same vein as Drunk Shakespeare, Drunk Dracula is an Off-Broadway show that sees one drunk actor have to perform alongside their fellow actors and try to keep up. Loosely based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, this hilarious, drunken Halloween-ready show is perfect for a night out with friends to celebrate the season.

Get Drunk Dracula tickets soon.

Date and venue: Through October at Grand Central Transit Museum

Although the MetroCard has been phased out, it lives on at Grand Central’s Transit Museum — but probably not in the way you expect. The free Inspired by MetroCard exhibit at Grand Central features art inspired by and created with MetroCards. Sculptors, painters, collage artists, fashion designers, and more turned this once ordinary part of NYC daily life into gorgeous works of art. Learn more online.

Date and venue: Now through 2028 at MoMA PS1

For the first time, all visitors, not just New Yorkers, can go to the MoMA PS1 for free. Just a short 7 train ride from Times Square, the Queens art museum, an offshoot of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in Midtown, highlights rotating exhibits throughout the year.