There are many wonderful Halloween experiences in New York City – in previous years, I have posted about the experience of walking around and seeing Halloween townhouse decor (see here and here), Halloween on Governors Island, Halloween at Chelsea Market, Halloween events at Carl Schurz Park, and the Halloween event at the Bronx Zoo. One very special Halloween event that I have attended many times is the Halloween Extravanganza at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. It’s coming up later this month on October 23 and 24, but unfortunately, as per usual, is sold out. Keep an eye on their website next September to be sure to get tickets. But to give you an idea of what makes it such a worthwhile experience, this is what it was like last year (2025).
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, and is located in Morningside Heights on Amsterdam Avenue between West 110 Street (AKA Cathedral Parkway) and West 113th Street. Entering the building, you are greeted by a cello-playing ghoul – see my video here. The mood is instantly set! The cathedral is enormous. I recommend getting to the event early, as early as an hour or more early, to get a prime spot (which, in my opinion, is close to the front but not so close that you are craning your neck to see the screen – and most importantly, on the middle aisle).
Each year they select an old silent horror film to show, accompanied by live improvised organ music performed by Tim Brumfield. In my experience, they rotate through The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu, and The Phantom of the Opera, and I have seen all three (I noticed that this year, 2026, they are doing Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.) . Last year was the 100th anniversary of the Phantom movie starring Lon Chaney, and that was the movie being shown. It’s really enjoyable to watch the silent film in a group setting, sharing the mood with so many others. And it is really amazing to listen to how the organist fits the mood of the scene with appropriate music. The prelude to the film is always Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor, and then the beginning credits start as the Bach concludes and the improvisation begins.
As the end credits conclude for the film, the Processing of the Ghouls begins. Created by Ralph Lee and featuring his original costumes, the procession is presented by the Mettawee River Theater company. It is artistic, creepy, atmospheric, and immersive. You can see my video of the procession here.
Going to the Halloween Extravaganza, I am reminded of the rich array of experiences we are fortunate enough to have available to us here in New York City. There are a variety of things to experience, year-round. For Halloween, some of the events are more kid-friendly than others (I would include this one as more appropriate for older kids and teens, and most attendees are adults). I happen to love Halloween, and New York City is a particularly fun place to live in October!
