Things to do this weekend for (mostly) free

Word is, there are going to be up to 2 million people watching the big parade on Saturday, and maybe another 2 million watching the Marathon Sunday, so this would be a terrific weekend to enjoy the wonders of public transportation (parade here, marathon here (pdf)).

Saturday

The Greenwich Village Halloween Parade Line up in costume on 6th between Spring and Canal 6:30-8:30 to march, or between Spring and 21st after 7 to watch.

Also, a Greenwich Village children's parade and local parades in Jackson Heights, Cobble Hill, Park Slope, Riverside Park, Washington Market Park, Battery Park City, Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Ditmas Park, and Williamsburg (link).

Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead at the National Museum of the American Indian and El Museo del Barrio (which is also having a skeleton parade)

Carnival of Carnage in Clinton Hill

Halloween Festival at the City Reliquary in Brooklyn

Theater for the New City costume ball, costume required ($20)

Inwood Hill Haunted Forest and Halloween-theme stargazing

Crypt tours at the Cathedral of St John the Divine

Halloween on the Intrepid, free if you're wearing a costume

Tour Woodlawn Cemetary or Green-Lawn Cemetary

Canoe the Bronx River

World's largest block party, fifteen blocks of Madison between 42-57

Halloween events at local parks

Sunday

The NYC Marathon sets off on Staten Island (the full route is here).

Sixth Avenue Autumn Fair, between 34-42

Union Square Broadway Festival, between 17-23

Tai Chi at Wave Hill in the Bronx ($18, including admission) and the Greenbelt, Staten Island ($15). Free tai chi in Fort Tryon Park

Dia de los Muertos at St Mark's on the Bowery

Fall garden tours, Fort Tryon Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Mushroom hunting in Inwood Park

Make tin lanterns at Dyckman House

All Weekend

The Chocolate Show Chocolate nirvana, with demonstrations, samples, and previews of songs from the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opera. $30 at the door, two free kids with every adult. Additional kids $8.

America's Got Talent, or at least they think they do - auditions for Season 5 at the Javitz Center all weekend

Steampunk Haunted House at Henry Street ($25/$10 for students)

Boo at the Zoo - Halloween activities for the kids at the Queens, Prospect Park, Bronx and Central Park zoos and the Aquarium (w/admission)

The Catapult at the New York Hall of Science will chuck your pumpkin for you