Secret Raves Planned For Halloween Partiers Despite Virus Uptick

NEW YORK, NY — As trick-or-treaters move online this weekend and health officials diligently track a spike in coronavirus cases across the five boroughs, some New Yorkers will be on their way to Halloween raves at secret, undisclosed locations.

Despite a concerning uptick in New York City's positivity rate this week, party organizers across the city are still planning DJ-led dance parties with as many as 100 people for the holiday weekend, according to several event listings found by Patch.

The raves — some with invite-only ads and still-to-be revealed party sites — come as the city and state's health officials urge all New Yorkers to avoid mass gatherings to stave off a potential second wave of the virus.

"We've got to be really careful this weekend — Halloween, you know, there's going to be a lot of celebration. That's normal, but we can not have big gatherings," Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday after describing a "meaningful jump" in the city's positivity rate.

"If people want to trick or treat outdoors, small groups with masks on? That's great. Big gatherings, parties. That's not great at all," he said. "And if we find out about them, we're going to have to break them up because it's dangerous."

The jump from 1.5 percent to 1.92 percent in the city's seven-day positivity rate average is only partially tied to ongoing localized lockdowns in Brooklyn and Queens that were led by larger neighborhood-level surges. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said this week none of the "red zone" lockdown areas have improved enough yet to have restrictions lifted.

Given the spikes, both the city and state health departments have advised New Yorkers not to go to parties or gather in large groups.

"If there are a high number of cases in your area, it is important to skip any in-person celebrations or activities altogether," the state health department said.

But the message hasn't seemed to reach party organizers.

One party Patch discovered, organized by Crust Nation, advertises a "House Music Boat Party" with tickets selling for as high as $390 for the chance to celebrate while sailing around Manhattan.

The event, which is set to include two DJ performances, advertises that "all social distancing guidelines" and "all city rules" apply, though it is unclear how they will be enforced on the boat, which includes an indoor and outdoor deck.

Organizers expect 100 people, according to one of the DJs set to perform. New York's indoor gathering limit is 50.

It is also unclear whether the event jives with Cuomo's executive order that all alcohol must be served with "substantial food." The party will have a cash bar and "food available for purchase," according to the advertisement.

None of the party organizers returned Patch's request for details about their coronavirus safety measures.

Another party on Friday, called "Nomads Halloween," includes no mention of coronavirus restrictions or safety measures on its flyer. The event, organized by Undisclosed Records, is set to take place at a "secret location" and includes six headlining musical performances.

Another Saturday rave, organized by Techno Brooklyn, is also operating on the sly.

The "invite-only" party is not listed on Techno Brooklyn's page, even though the company is listed as the organizer on the event page itself.

A flyer tells partiers who pay the $99.99 ticket fee that masks are required, but that no photos are allowed. Partiers have been told the rave will be outdoors, but so far only know it will be in a "Brooklyn location," Patch learned from a person planning to attend.

Techno Brooklyn and Undisclosed also didn't return requests for details.

Should any of the parties exceed gathering limits or violate coronavirus restrictions, their organizers could face a $15,000 fine, according to the NYC Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's office said they could not give details on how they will be monitoring the city for illegal gatherings on the holiday weekend.

"The Sheriff’s Office investigates criminal complaints of violations of the law including violations of emergency orders and alcoholic beverage control laws and we do not reveal investigative techniques and strategies," a spokespersons said. "Venues and individuals that violate emergency orders are subject to arrest by deputy sheriffs for various criminal charges."

The parties are hardly the first large gatherings that have been planned amid the pandemic.

City officials have had to shut down raves in Prospect Park, under the Kosciuszko Bridge, on a "party boat" in Red Hook and in warehouses in Sunset Park as the neighborhood was in the middle of its own coronavirus surge.

Dozens of bars and restaurants have also lost their liquor licenses in crackdowns on pandemic-rules, though enforcement has been a sticking point in Cuomo's critique of New York City's handle on the virus.

The state health department said the holiday will be no exception.

"We expect local governments, including New York City, to conduct proper enforcement regarding all gatherings that violate any COVID-19 restrictions." spokesperson Jill Montag said.