Last-Minute Halloween Plans in NYC: Five Nights, One Costume, Zero Panic

If you're making last-minute Halloween plans in NYC, you have more options than you think. Starlets in Woodside, Queens is running Halloween Week: a themed party every night from Wednesday, October 28 to Saturday, October 31, each one open 11 PM to 4 AM, plus Startender Sundays after it. The calendar listings for Friday and Saturday both currently show free entry before midnight, so a late plan can still be a good plan.

Written by the Starlets team in Woodside, Queens.

Here's the quick version: pick your night, throw together a costume from your closet, book your table and your ride today, and be at the door before 12.

Last-minute Halloween plans: pick your night of Halloween Week

Wednesday, October 28: Sinners. The first night of Halloween Week. If your weekend is already spoken for, a Wednesday party is the easiest Halloween to add.

Thursday, October 29: The Starlets CarnEVIL. Going by the flyer, think feathers, beads and jeweled skulls: a carnival gone wrong. A good night for a mask and anything colorful in your closet.

Friday, October 30: The Gothic Purge. Dark, all black, a little dramatic. The club's calendar listing for October 30 currently shows free entry until 12 AM. Friday is the move if your friends are split between Halloween plans on Saturday, or if you want to do Halloween twice.

Saturday, October 31: Brides of Chucky, on Halloween itself. The listing for October 31 currently shows one free drink and free entry until 12 AM, plus buy one bottle, get the second 50% off. If you want the full New York Halloween, catch the Village Halloween Parade at 7 PM, eat, and head to Queens. And at 2 AM the clocks fall back an hour, so Saturday runs long.

Sunday, November 1: Startender Sundays. The marathon starts at 8 AM, the clocks just went back, and most of the city is home recovering. If you worked Halloween weekend or you're celebrating a finish line, Sunday at 11 PM is all yours. We wrote more about that in the Sunday night out post.

The Halloween Week flyer doesn't list prices or offers, and offers change from week to week, so check the events page for your night before you go.

The closet costume (no store trip required)

You do not need to buy anything. Here are costumes you can put together in twenty minutes from what you already own:

• All black plus one thing. Black outfit, add cat ears, a witch hat, or a pair of small horns. Done.
• The "I'm a vampire" upgrade. Your best dark outfit, a red lip, a collar flipped up.
• Matching shirts for the group. Four friends in the same color is a costume. Nobody will argue.
• Something with a half-mask. It looks dressed up, and you can lift it easily at the door.

Whatever you pick, it has to let you show your face. Starlets is 21+, and every person shows a valid government-issued photo ID at the door, with the face visible to match the photo. Starlets hasn't published a costume policy, so if you're wondering about a prop or heavy face paint, email management@starletsnyc.com and ask before the night.

The two things to book today

1. The table, if you want one. Halloween weekend is not the time to show up with a group of eight and hope for the best. A VIP Reservation is reserved seating with table service for a small group, and if somebody's birthday falls on Halloween weekend, the Birthday VIP Table comes with a shout-out from the booth. Every table is booked by request and quoted, so send the request through the services page today, not Friday at 6 PM.

2. The ride home. Starlets is at 49-09 25th Ave, Woodside, NY 11377, and the buses near the club finish by about 1:40 AM. Book a car or set the pickup point now, so nobody is standing on the sidewalk in a costume at 4 AM figuring it out. The getting to Starlets guide has the nearest stations if you're taking the train in.

Already got a plan? Fill in the gaps

Maybe you have a party earlier and nowhere to go after. Starlets doesn't open until 11, which makes it a natural second stop. Maybe you're running the marathon on Sunday, in which case we say this with love: go to bed on Saturday, and come see us Sunday night. The marathon weekend plan has the details.

For the full picture of Halloween Saturday, including the parade route and the lineup times for marching, see the Halloween 2026 night plan. If you're staying in Queens for the whole day, Halloween in Queens 2026 covers the parades and events around the borough.

Frequently asked questions

Is it too late to make Halloween plans in NYC?

No. Starlets in Woodside, Queens has a Halloween party every night from Wednesday, October 28 to Saturday, October 31: Sinners, The Starlets CarnEVIL, The Gothic Purge and Brides of Chucky. Each runs 11 PM to 4 AM, and the Friday and Saturday listings currently show free entry before midnight.

What Halloween parties is Starlets having in 2026?

Sinners on Wednesday, October 28, The Starlets CarnEVIL on Thursday, October 29, The Gothic Purge on Friday, October 30, and Brides of Chucky on Saturday, October 31.

What's the free entry offer on Halloween at Starlets?

The October 31 listing currently shows one free drink and free entry until 12 AM, plus buy one bottle, get the second 50% off. Check the listing for the latest.

Can I still book a table for Halloween weekend?

Send a request through the services page or email management@starletsnyc.com as early as you can. Tables are quoted per group and night.

Do I need a costume to get into Starlets on Halloween?

No costume is required. You do need a valid government-issued photo ID, and you need to be 21 or older.

What time should I get to Starlets on Halloween?

Doors open at 11 PM. The current free-entry offers run until 12 AM, so arriving between 11 and midnight makes sense.