There is a chill in the air. The sun sets earlier every day. Your kid has changed her mind six times about what to wear. She is coming up with the best way to maximize her candy haul. Yep — it’s spooky season. The Philly region is packed with great activities to keep your whole family busy all October long. Let MetroKids help you find the not-so-spooky places to show off your costume all season long.
Some of the best activities are places you already go all the time. Many local libraries host Halloween events in the weeks leading up to the big day. Some elementary schools have parades for your little ones to show off their costumes. Consider bringing younger siblings to march alongside in the Halloween finery as well. Your county’s parks department is also a great place to check and see what events are happening near you. Here are some of our highlights.
Orchards, Pumpkin Patches and Hayrides
Start the season off with a trip to the pumpkin patch to get in the holiday spirit. Philadelphia and surrounding areas have some terrific orchards for your whole family to enjoy. Johnson’s Corner Farm Harvest Festival in Medford, New Jersey, has a wide variety of family-friendly events to entertain the whole gang. Bump along the road on a hayride to your own pumpkins, gourds and apples. Jam along to music, check out the discovery barnyard and animal farm and hit the festival farm tent for all your yummy fall favorites. The corn maze is open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day. Johnson’s recommends buying your tickets in advance as the festival often sells out ahead of time. While enjoying your day out, try and snap a few good pictures for your holiday cards.
Just 30 minutes south of Philadelphia, Linvilla Orchards in Media, Pennslyvania, has everything you need for the perfect day out. Running from now until the last weekend in October, Pumpkinland has a wide variety of events for all ages. With no general admission tickets, you can pick and choose the adventures and activities that work for your family. Designed with younger children in mind, the hayride to the witch’s house has a friendly witch telling stories and cracking jokes and gives the little ones treats. The Fall-Autumn Moon Hayride is a gentle 20-minute loop around the orchard. Both hayrides end at a campfire with marshmallows and cider to warm your bellies. Pick your pumpkins, enjoy walking through a straw bale maze or a corn maze, get your face painted and more. As most events required timed entry, Linvilla recommends purchasing your tickets in advance. Some events, such as face painting, may only be purchased on site and for cash. For more information, visit the orchard’s website.
Did you and the fam already do everything there is to offer last year? Fear not, the inaugural Manayunk Fall Festival is happening from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 18 right along Main Street. This brand-new outdoor event features family-friendly games, live music, tasty food truck treats, local artisans and even a mac n’ cheese crawl (yes, you read that right). Throw on your costumes and enjoy a family fun fall day for free. (The mac n’ cheese festival is a ticketed event.) Check online for more information about this new event.
All Day Spooky Fun
Running weekends all day from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26, and Monday, Oct. 13, Philadelphia’s annual Boo at the Zoo is packed with fun. Members get early access to the 42-acre zoo Oct. 18 and Oct. 26. There is a sensory-friendly morning with smaller crowds, lowered music and designated quiet hours from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 11. Make sure to visit all your favorite animal exhibits to see the spooky Halloween-themed decorations. Enjoy fun kids’ activities and photo opportunities through the zoo. Costumes are encouraged; however, no weapons (real or fake) are allowed. While children may wear costume face masks, adult masks are prohibited. All tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets range in price according to age. Tickets are included in the annual zoo membership pass; however, they must still be reserved online in advance. Find more information on tickets, costume guidelines, parking and more on the Philadelphia Zoo’s website.
The daytime Kids Boo Fest is happening on selected dates through Nov. 2 at Six Flags Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. Hit the trick-or-treat trail in your costumes to gather yummy goodies. Need to eat more? Check out all the tasty fall-themed treats throughout the park. The Spooky Kooky Magic Show is an all-ages show and the Witch’s Brew is a magical story time. Got older kids? Consider the scary Fright Fest. Beginning on selected nights at 7 p.m., this after-dark event features spooky haunted mazes and scare zones. This evening event is not recommended for children younger than 13. All live shows and most activities and rides are included with your ticket. Fright Fest’s haunted mazes require a special ticket. Go to the Six Flags Adventure website to get more information about ticketing, hours, rides and restrictions.
Come visit Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, for The Count’s Annual Halloween Spooktacular. Running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on selected days through Nov. 2, this family-friendly festival features tons of activities for all ages. Dress up in your finest Halloween gear and celebrate with a day of not-so-scary fun. Enjoy trick-or-treating at Big Bird’s Beach, check out a Sesame Street Parade, boogie down at a dance party, gather clues on the Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt, watch Halloween-themed shows and more! Make sure you check out the newest attraction, the Count-A-Long Castle Maze. There is a costume contest at the Sesame Street Theater Oct. 26. Sign-ups begin at 10 a.m. on the day of the contest and are limited to 70 entrants for the child costume contest and 30 for the family costume contest. There are prizes for first, second and third place in both categories. For rules about the costume contest, more information about the event and to purchase your tickets, check out the Sesame Place website online.
For alle events and happenings, check the appropriate website for ticketing information, pricing and other details. Make sure to double check the day of your spooky adventure to see if there are cancellations or changes to the day’s events.
Katie Schubert went to a very scary haunted house while trying to impress her now-husband early on in their relationship. She hasn’t been in one since.
