11 Halloween Activities for Kids Around the Country
Do your kids love Halloween? Bring your little pumpkins to one of these family-friendly events—they'll get to wear their costumes!
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Dates: August 17 - October 31
At Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, guests can trick-or-treat, catch the "Boo-to-You" Halloween parade or Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, and stay for the bewitching "Happy HalloWishes" fireworks.
Dates: Oct. 19-21, 26-28 & Nov. 2-4
At this theme park in central Pennsylvania, kids ages 12 and under can stroll through 13 stops of the Trick-Or-Treat Trail to get pieces of Hershey’s candy. Plus, there are flashlight tours of ZooAmerica, entertainment, and 13 coasters to ride, including the park's funhouse-themed indoor coaster, Laff Trakk. During October, the ride on Laff Trakk will be in darkness.
SeaWorld's Halloween Spooktacular
Dates: Weekends, Sept. 22 – Oct. 28
Kids can show up in costume and take part in trick-or-treating in the park. In Orlando, families will enjoy a Halloween dance party and Sesame Street’s Countdown to Halloween show while the San Diego location features a Halloween-themed sea lion and otter show. The events are included in park admission; one child ages 3 to 9 gets in free to the San Diego location in October when a full-price adult ticket is purchased.
Dates: Select days through Oct. 28 in California, and Oct. 31 in Florida
A costume search, nightly fireworks, and Halloween characters meet and greets are just a sliver of the fun at Legoland Florida. Astro Bash Dance Party and a huge trick-or-treat trail aren't to be missed at Legoland California Resort.
Morgan's Wonderland More Delightful Than Frightful Halloween
Date: Oct. 31
At this San Antonio park that brings kids with and without special needs together, little ghosts and goblins can go trick or treating, get their face painted, and enjoy rides, like a carousel and train, that are accessible to everyone.
Dorney Park's The Great Pumpkin Fest
Dates: Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 15 – Oct. 28
Paint a pumpkin at Linus' Pumpkin Patch, visit favorite farm animals at Peppermint Patty's Petting Zoo, and make a mask with Charlie Brown at this theme park in Allentown, Pennsylvania, about 90 minutes from New York City.
Sesame Place's The Counts Halloween Spooktacular
Dates: Select days from Sept. 22 – Oct. 28
Three Halloween shows, a parade with 10 floats, a maze, and a hayride are among the silly, not-to-spooky fun at this park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.
Roger Williams Park Zoo's Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
Dates: Oct. 4 – Nov. 4.
In Providence, Rhode Island, stroll through this nighttime display of more than 5,000 illuminated jack-o-lanterns plus 100 pumpkins carved into works of art.
Great Wolf Lodge's Howl-A-Ween
Dates: Oct. 1-31
This chain of indoor waterparks offers Monster Bash dance parties, storytimes that are just a "boo bit" scary, costume parades, and a trick-or-treat trail in addition to its usual water-ride awesomeness. Check your nearest locations for the details.
Many zoos around the country offer Halloween-themed events. Some faves: In Chicago, Lincoln Park Spooky Zoo Spectacular (Oct. 27, with trick or treating and kids' tunes); in Washington, DC, National Zoo's Boo at the Zoo (Oct. 19-21, with 40 treat stations, animal demos, magicians, and jugglers).
