60+ not-so-spooky Halloween events for fun-loving kids in the Pittsburgh area

Halloween season is here and the Pittsburgh region offers tons of seasonal, pumpkin-related fun. Along with our guides to apple picking and fall farm festivals, check out this lineup of Halloween fun that won’t scare little ones:

Now through Oct. 26: HalloBoo!, Idlewild Park. Come in costume to trick-or-treat through Story Book Forest, hop on your favorite rides, and enjoy special seasonal entertainment. More than 30 rides will be operating during HalloBoo. Have a giggle with daily meet and greets and story time with Spookley the Square Pumpkin. Kids ages 12 and younger can get tasty treats from their Story Book Forest friends along the Trick or Treat Trail. Experience fun surprises wandering through the Mystic Wilds Jungle Maze or find your way through the more traditional Corn Maze. HalloBoo! operates on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission starts at $32.99.

Now through Oct. 26: Triple B Farms Fall Festival, Triple B Farms. Explore the Big Boo Barn, ride Scootin’ Scooters and play a game of Grain Bin Basketball. Other entertainment includes the Singing Chicken Show, hayrides and two corn mazes. Activity wristbands are $18.

Through Oct. 26: Soergel Orchards Fall Festival. Weekends are filled with games and activities, tractor rides, flower picking, pumpkin and apple picking. The pumpkin patch is also open on weekdays. Admission is free with activities individually priced.

Through Oct.26: Trax Farms Fall Festival. Festivities operate on weekends with hayrides, pumpkin picking, a 3-acre maze, yard games and farm animals. Festival admission is free. Hayrides are $12 online, $14 onsite, free for ages 2 and younger.

Through Oct. 31: Phantom Fall Fest, Kennywood Park. Family Halloween fun is programmed during the day on Saturdays and Sundays with more than 30 rides and attractions in operation. Littles can get in line for up to eight Kiddieland rides. Check out Auto Race, the Merry-Go-Round and the kiddie-sized Whip. Older thrill-seekers will head to the Kangaroo, Jack Rabbit roller coaster, the Turtle and Musik Express. Costumes are encouraged. After 6 p.m., things get scarier for teens and grownups at the Festival of Fear through Nov. 1.  Tickets start at $32.99.

Through Nov. 2: Simmons Farms Fall Festival, Simmons Farms. Activities include pumpkin, apple and flower picking, a 100-foot mega slide, petting zoo, hayrides, duck races and human hamster wheels. Activity wristbands are $18-$23, free for kids measuring less than 33 inches.

Sept. 26-27-Oct 25: Haunted River Cruises, Gateway Clipper Fleet. These one-hour guided tours, operating on Fridays and Saturdays, point out Pittsburgh’s iconic sites and spooky legends like the Monongahela Monster and the ghost that might just inhabit the Allegheny County Jail. Suitable for all ages. Cruise tickets are $35, $20 for ages 1-12.

Sept. 26-Nov. 1: Trick or Treat Mini Golf, Fun Fore All. Combine trick-or-treat with a Halloween-themed round of mini-golf. Kids can show off their costumes and golf skills on the creepy course and receive a trick-or-treat bag of goodies. Admission is $13 for adults and older kids, $10 for kids ages 3-12, ages 2 and younger are free with a paying adult. Visit on Oct. 10 for Howl-O-Ween Pup Night, when families bring their costumed dogs. Local vendors will join in the fun and give out treats to kids and dogs.

Sept. 27: Hay Day, South Park. Activities include hayrides, inflatables, puppet shows, face painters and balloon twisters, an art station, a petting zoo and a sensory-friendly play area. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Admission is free.

Sept. 28: Fall Harvest Festival, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Explore the garden, paint pumpkins, learn about composting, enjoy the fresh harvest from the free produce stand and learn all about nature. Activities details here are included with admission.

Sept. 28: Family Day Fall Festival, Schenley Plaza. Join Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy for a day of free carousel rides, musical performances and a live bird of prey meet-and-greet, plus activities for the whole family. Activities are free with no registration required.

Oct. 1-31: Laser Family Halloween, Kamin Science Center. Get into the Halloween spirit with music from the “Addams Family,” “Ghostbusters” and “Beetlejuice,” plus classics like “Thriller” and “Superstition” under the lasers. Tickets are $7.

Oct. 2-12: Oktoberfest Pittsburgh, Downtown. Festivalgoers can immerse themselves in German-inspired activities for all ages. Highlights include the ever-popular Stein Holding, as well as an array of Karneval games. Adding to the festive atmosphere, an Oompah band and Bavarian-style musicians will fill the air with accordion melodies and lively polka tunes. Admission is free.

Oct. 2-Nov. 2: Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza, Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. This family-friendly event is the perfect combination of nighttime fun, the spirit of autumn, and artistry with thousands of intricately carved pumpkins. The Extravaganza includes activities for children, gently spooky seasonal displays and specialty seasonal food items. Tickets are $20-$26 for adults, $15-$20 for kids.

Oct. 4: “Corpse Bride,” Kamin Science Center. Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Tim Burton’s classic animated film. Victor Van Dort finds himself at the center of a grave misunderstanding after unintentionally betrothing himself to the Emily, despite his upcoming nuptials to the not-undead Victoria. This movie will be screened in the Rangos Giant Cinema. Rated PG. Tickets are $12.

Oct. 4-26: Harvest Valley Farms Fall Festival. October weekends transform the working farm into a pick-your-own pumpkin festival with a straw tunnel, hayrides, cornstalk maze and corn pit. Live music, food and craft beer will keep the grownups entertained. Admission is free with activities individually priced.

Oct. 4-26: Freedom Farms Fall Festival. Visit the farm on October weekends, plus Columbus Day, for tractor rides, a challenging corn maze, corn pit, hay mountain, petting zoo and pick-your-own sunflowers, with a Trunk or Treat planned for Oct. 26. Military Appreciation Day takes place on Oct. 25, with free admission for military, vets, police, fighters and EMS workers and their families. On Oct. 26, moms are free for Moms Appreciation Day. Festival admission is $10, free for ages 3 and younger. The Pumpkin Patch, pony rides and facepainting are priced separately.

Oct. 10 and 17: Spooky Spirits Walk, Frick Pittsburgh. Explore the macabre, haunting history of Pittsburgh’s East End on a guided walk of the Frick grounds. From the city’s link to the “crime of the century” to the real-life origins of the city’s most enduring urban legends, discover the darker side of the East End. Two drink vouchers and a sweet treat are included in the cost of the ticket. Register in advance for the Oct. 10 and Oct. 17 sessions. Tickets are $50 for grownups and $25 for students.

Oct. 10-19: Magic Pumpkin Trolley, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Plant a magic pumpkin seed, then, after a trolley ride through beautiful fall scenery, your pumpkin seed will have magically grown to its full pumpkin size. Other activities include pumpkin decorating, complimentary refreshments and interactive exhibits. Tickets are $22, free for ages 2 and younger.

Oct. 11: “Ghostbusters,” Kamin Science Center. A team of unconventional scientists takes up arms against the afterlife terrors that have overtaken New York City. This movie will be screened in the Rangos Giant Cinema. Rated PG. Tickets are $12.

Oct. 12: “Casper” CineBrunch, Oaks Theater. Celebrate the 30^th anniversary of “Casper” at this screening and brunch, which includes a breakfast sandwich, bacon, hash browns, donuts and pastries from Oakmont Bakery. Tickets, on sale through Oct. 10, are $20.

Oct. 16-26: “Boo’s Halloween House Party” and Fall Fest, Point Park Playhouse Theater. This theatrical performance will have kids howling along to Halloween-themed musical hits with a cast of eerie-sistible characters that will delight boys and ghouls of all ages. Combine your show with a visit to the free Playhouse Fall Fest. Tickets are $20.

Oct. 16-26: Pittsburgh Playhouse Fall Fest, Downtown. This new street fair will include pumpkin mini golf, monster toss, face painting, crafts and carnival booths. Grownups will appreciate the pop-up bar, vendors and food trucks. Admission is free.

Oct. 18, 19, 25 and 26: ZooBoo, Pittsburgh Zoo. Enjoy daytime trick-or-treating throughout the zoo, work on fun crafts and meet favorite costumed characters. Activities included in zoo admission.

Oct. 17, 18, 24, 25: “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice,” Allegheny County Parks. Halloween Movies in the Parks visits Hartwood Acres, Settlers Cabin, Deer Lakes Park and Roundhill Park. The PG-13 film screens at dusk. Admission is free. Find dates and locations here.

Oct. 17- 25: Creatures of the Night, Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve. The Audubon Society’s annual Halloween event, running on Fridays and Saturdays, invites families to come in costume to learn about nocturnal creatures while led along a wooded path by a larger-than-life costumed firefly. Along the way, you’ll meet a great horned owl, flying squirrel and little brown bat. Expect treats, too. Online registration is $15, free for those younger than 2.

Oct.18: “The Witches,” Kamin Science Center. A boy is cursed after uncovering a coven of evil witches and their plot to turn all the children of the world into mice. With the help of his grandmother, they must fight the coven to save all the children of the world. This movie will be screened in the Rangos Giant Cinema. Rated PG. Tickets are $12.

Oct. 18: Punkin Chunkin and Bark or Treat, Hartwood Acres. Join Allegheny County Parks and SHARP Robotics from Sarah Heinz House, as they launch pumpkins across the amphitheater field with a full-size trebuchet! Enjoy crafts, games, activities and family fun. Enrollment is free.

Oct. 18: Trolley Tales of Terror, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Discover the spirits and specters that might haunt the trolley collection on this new ghost tour. Then, embark on a spooky streetcar ride through the forest. Best for ages 13 and older. Tickets are $25 for grownups, $20 for ages 17 and younger.

Oct. 18: Track and Treat for Kids, Bud Harris Cycling Track. This free annual Citiparks event combines family fun with a focus on a healthy lifestyle. Bring bicycles or borrow a bike on-site to pedal around the track. Track and Treat includes bike safety lessons, a bike decorating station, games and a costume contest. Keep the energy up with refreshments and great eats from food trucks.

Oct. 18: Haunted Hat Tea, Hartwood Mansion. Don your favorite funny or frightening hat at a three-course tea in the spookily elegant Great Hall followed by a tour of the magnificent Mansion. Vote on the creative chapeaus. Prizes will be given for the best hats. Best for age 12 and older. Registration, closing Oct. 13, is $33.

Oct. 18: Community Campfire, Frick Park Hollow. The evening will feature live music by Norside Trio, lawn games, and pumpkin painting. We’ll provide hay bales for sitting, but feel free to bring your own blankets and additional chairs. This event is BYOR—bring your own roastables. Registration is $5, free for ages 3 and younger.

Oct. 18: Haunted Trail at Camp Guyasuta, Sharpsburg. Gather around a bonfire, stroll the haunted trail and hop on a hayride. Advance tickets are $20-$25, $30 at the gate.

Oct. 18-19: Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival, Strip District. From a pie-eating contest and giant pumpkin sculptures to a floating pumpkin regatta, this festival celebrates all things pumpkin. Admission is free.

Oct. 18-19 and 26-27: Owl-O-Ween, National Aviary. This owl-themed Halloween party includes crafts, bird meets and goody bags. Activities included with aviary admission.

Oct.18-19, 25-26: Campfire Ghost Stories, Allegheny County Parks. Fall nights and spooky season set the scene for family-friendly ghost stories and songs by the glow of a roaring campfire. Halloween costumes are encouraged. Head to North Park, South Park, Boyce Park or Harrison Hills. No registration required.

Oct. 19: Children’s Harvest Festival, Oliver Miller Homestead. Kids can celebrate the season the way they did in the 18th century at Oliver Miller Homestead. Colonist kid crafts include butter churning, writing with a quill and making dolls. Compete in a sack race, apple bobbing and other games. Admission is $2.

Oct. 21: “Scooby-Doo” and Scooby Snack Night, Row House Cinema. Strange things are happening at a popular amusement park. It’s up to Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne and Velma to uncover the truth behind the mysterious happenings. Available Scooby Snacks include hoagies, popcorn and candy. Tickets are $12.

Oct. 24: Sensory-Friendly Trick or Treat, Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Kids of all ages and abilities can wear their favorite costumes to listen to Halloween stories, enjoy apple cider and other tasty treats, and get a closer look at dioramas, fossils and minerals in a relaxed setting. Tickets are $16.

Oct. 24: Boo! A Sensory-Friendly Halloween, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. This sensory-friendly environment offers lower lights, softer sounds and plenty of space to feel comfortable. Activities include silent disco, pumpkin painting, maker activities, family portraits and trick-or-treating to create your own sensory kit. Tickets will be released soon.

Oct. 24: Great Glass Pumpkin Make-It-Now, Pittsburgh Glass Center. Make a glass pumpkin ($45) in any color or create a fused suncatcher ($35) or flame-worked glass candy ($30). The experience is an opportunity to try glassmaking with the assistance of a local artist.  Activities range from 20 minutes for glassblowing, flame-working and sandblasting to up to an hour for fusing. For ages 5 and older. Registration is required.

Oct. 24: Candy Scavenger Hunt, Sewickley Public Library. Put your detective skills to the test as you hunt for candy throughout the first floor of the library. The catch? You only have 10 minutes to find as much as you can. Afterwards, enjoy your treats, some spooky entertainment and crafts. This program is for kids in grades 6-12. Registration, opening Sept. 29, is free but required.

Oct. 24, 25, 26: Explore: Bats with Park Rangers, Allegheny County Parks. Learn about these amazing nocturnal aerial predators at ranger-led stations or relax around a campfire. A short, guided walk will provide flashlights. Enrollment is free.

Oct. 25: Halloween Hoopla, B is for Books. This Halloween-themed event includes crafts, pumpkins, snacks, books and costumes. Admission is free.

Oct. 25: Trick or Tea, Frick Pittsburgh. Dress up in a costume and participate in a Halloween-themed high tea. This family-friendly event will serve tea, hot chocolate and cider, plus sweet and savory bites. Registration opens on Oct. 9. Call 412-371-0600, ext. 1, or get tickets here. Cost is $45, plus tax and gratuity.

Oct. 25: Halloween Cookie Bash, Premier Youth & Community Center, Sewickley. The Sugar Dough Cookie Co. hosts an evening of dinner (Chick-fil-A nuggets and fries), mixing up cookie dough to take home to bake, plus cookie decorating. For kids in grades 2 and above. Reservations are $35.

Oct. 25: Spooky Shrinky-Dink Drop-In, Frick Pittsburgh. Create shrinky-dink keychain creatures and play lawn games. Come in costume or a seasonal sweater. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Admission is free. 

Oct. 25: Halloween Fun Cruise, Gateway Clipper Fleet. Kids are invited to wear costumes for this family-themed cruise that includes a DJ Dance Party with DJ Cha Che. Kids will receive a goodie bag and coloring activity. Tickets are $35 for grownups, $25 for ages 1-12, free for infants.

Oct. 25: Something Wicked on Wabash, Carnegie Library—West End. Kids are invited to wear costumes and join the library to celebrate Halloween with spooky crafts, snacks and music. Free for all ages. Details here.

Oct. 25: The Great Pink Pumpkin Patch & Ghouls Night Out at SouthSide Works. The Women Who Rocks pop-up Pink Pumpkin Patch returns for its third year, with pink and traditional pumpkins available for sale, all benefitting Magee-Womens Research Institute. Find live entertainment, pumpkin decorating, Neighborhood Flea’s Night Market and more spooky fun at SouthSide Works Town Square. Details here. 

Oct. 25: “E.T. The Extraterrestrial,” Kamin Science Center. A terrified extraterrestrial being finds himself alone, stranded 3 million light years away from home. This movie will be screened in the Rangos Giant Cinema. Rated PG. Tickets are $12.

Oct. 25: Pumpkin Palooza: An East Liberty Halloween Adventure, Kelly Strayhorn Theater. Kids can dress in their favorite costumes or just come as you are for an afternoon of tricks, treats, and groovy beats. Families can enjoy candy, crafts and fun activities. Tickets are priced at pay-what-you-want from $0-$25.

Oct. 25: Monster Mash Bash: Family Halloween Party, Carnegie Library—Lawrenceville. Join the library for dancing, tricks, treats and spooky fun. Planned for grades K-5. Free. Details here.

Oct. 25: Messfest-Halloween Edition, Kamin Science Center. Get ready for a frightfully fun day of messy science at the Science Center’s annual celebration. Stir up colorful slime with cool chemistry tricks, launch rockets with fizzy potions, create giant bubbles and splash around with eco-friendly water balloons. Come in costume and enjoy hands-on experiments with a playful Halloween twist. Messfest activities are free with general admission.

Oct. 25: Halloween Block Party Drop-In, Sewickley Public Library. Wear your costumes to the Block Party, play spooky games, make a Mummy craft and Trick-or-Treat in the Children’s Department. Admission is free.

Oct. 25: Halloween Party, Carnegie Library—Mt. Washington. Join the library for dancing, tricks, treats and spooky fun. Planned for grades K-5. Free. Details here.

Oct. 25-26: Trick or Trolley, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Trick or Treat among the antique trolleys. Costumes are encouraged. This event is included with general admission, which includes access to museum exhibits and unlimited rides on the trolleys.

Oct. 25-26: “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” in Concert Live to Film, Heinz Hall. The Pittsburgh Symphony plays the soundtrack for the film that follows the earnest but misguided adventures of Jack Skellington, Halloween Town’s beloved Pumpkin King. Tickets start at $43.

Oct. 25-26: Trunk-or-Treat, Allegheny County Parks. Dress in costume and trick-or-treat from car cruisers, who will pass out candy and treats to kids. Trunk-or-Treat runs from 2-4 p.m. on Oct. 26 in South Park and Oct. 27 at Hartwood Acres. Admission is free.

Oct. 26: Family Spooky Movie and Pumpkin Painting, Sewickley Public Library. Have a spooktacular time painting pumpkins while watching a Spooky-Season Show on the big TV. Caregivers must stay. Registration required for those painting a pumpkin.  Free.

Oct. 26: “Hocus Pocus” CineBrunch, Oaks Theater. A teen accidentally awakens a trio of diabolical witches who were executed in the 17th century. Brunch includes a breakfast sandwich, bacon, hash browns, donuts and pastries from Oakmont Bakery. Tickets, on sale through Oct. 24, are $20.

Oct. 28-30: Creatures of the Night Hike, Schenley Park. Join Pittsburgh Park Rangers for a twilight hike on one of three hikes, including an exploration of plants, nocturnal animals and mythical cryptids. Registration is free but required.

Oct. 30: Improv Hour: Spooky Edition, Sewickley Public Library. Teens can get goofy, play improv games and win prizes at this spooky edition of the monthly program dedicated to creating scenes, characters and dialogue on the spot. This program is open to kids in grades 6-12. Free, no registration required.

Oct. 31: Halloween Storytime and Costume Party, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. Celebrate the spooky season with festive stories, crafts and a costume party. Come dressed in your costume for a Halloween-related read aloud and activities. Parade through the garden and collect treats and prizes along the way. Activities included with general admission.

Oct. 31: Halloween at Main, Carnegie Library—Main. Drop in at the Children’s Department for Halloween fun. Free for all ages up to grade 5. Details here.

Photo at top of story courtesy of Idlewild Park & SoakZone.