Forget those pedestrian haunted houses of our yesteryear. These days you have to be an Artiste to put on a Halloween spookfest in NYC. It’s more performance art and less kids-having-fun-with-make-up.

Third Rail Project presents Steam Punk Haunted House at the Abrons Arts Center Henry Street Settlement. The contemporary adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass”  is an installation, dance and performance art that takes place on three floors of the historic theater. Tickets start at $20 and the show begins on October 22nd.

Creepshow at the Freakshow is Coney Island’s answer to a Halloween haunted house. It’s an interactive play named “The Ride Inspector’s Nightmare” that takes place all throughout the landmarked Freak Show building. The show starts on October 7th and runs until All Hallow’s Eve. Tickets are $10.

Blackout NYC promises a sexual and violent experience. You must be 18 to enter, must enter alone and sign a waiver! Sounds pretty creepy to me! The midtown haunted house has already started and runs all month. Some shows are already sold out. Tickets are $35-$40.

Of course, if you want to do a zombie walk for a cause, you can always join them at Occupy Wall Street. That is free, as in Free-dom.