Water Street Closes to Cars for a Halloween Afternoon
An afternoon of costume games, face painting and live acts takes over a car-free block on Staten Island.
🎃 One Afternoon on Water Street
🧡 What Fills the Block
NYC DOT closes Water Street between Canal Street and Beach Street, and the roadway itself becomes the venue for the borough's signature Trick-or-Streets event. The Van Duzer Civic Association and NYC KidsFest run the programming alongside the city. Structured games and face painting anchor the middle of the block, with interactive performances scheduled through the afternoon. The day sits inside a citywide program that closes streets across all five boroughs on the same weekend.
🎭 Costumes and Contests
Families arrive in costume and move between stations set up along the open roadway. Kids queue for face painting, play through the organized games, and gather whenever a performance starts. Costume contests run as the main draw for the crowd, and spectators line the curb on both sides. Strollers roll freely with no traffic to dodge. Volunteers from the civic association direct arrivals at either end of the closure.
🚇 Getting There and Cost
The block is open Saturday, October 24, from noon to 5 in the afternoon. Admission costs nothing and no ticket or registration applies. The closure covers Water Street from Canal Street to Beach Street, and parking sits on the blocks around it. Dress for standing outdoors with a plan for rain. Anyone looking for a quiet daytime walk should pick a different Saturday on this stretch.
