Tales from the Urban Forest: A Halloween Tree Walk

It’s a scary life out there for NYC street trees. Rats burrowing in tree beds, ghostly stumps, zombie trunks that are half-dead and still standing. It’s enough to send a chill down the spine of even the toughest New Yorker. This October, join the LES Ecology Center, MAS, and NYC DOT for a family-friendly, half-mile Lower East Side walk to hunt down the horrors haunting our urban forest, and learn the tricks that turn a tree bed from spooky to cozy. Brave walkers will be rewarded: Taste rare sweet treats made from acorns, watch a pruning demonstration, and bury daffodil bulbs that will rise from the ground come spring. The tour will be led by Hadas Fischer, Street Trees Program Manager at LES Ecology Center.

Costumes encouraged! Wear anything inspired by the urban forest or NYC and go home with a special surprise!

The walk will culminate at the Canal Street Open Street.

This event is a part of the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT)’s annual Trick-or-Streets festival, which transforms Open Streets, Plazas, and other corridors into engaging, pedestrian-friendly destinations with harvest and Halloween-themed activities. Programming includes interactive performances, fun activities, live entertainment, walking tours, and more. All events are free and open to the public. Learn more about the festival and the full list of programs.

The NYC DOT is committed to meeting accessibility needs whenever possible. If you require an ASL interpreter and/or language interpretation for the walking tour, please submit your request in advance through events@mas.org by Monday, October 19.