Fairs & Festivals

Trick-or-Treat, Pick Pumpkins, and See Jack O'Lanterns on Governors Island This Year

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 10/07/2019 - 4:01pm

Tis the season for fall festivals and Halloween fun in New York City, and what better place to celebrate the changing seasons than beautiful Governors Island? Its season runs through Halloween, and its October calendar is scarily packed with plenty of fun.

For the third consecutive year, the Friends of Governors Island and Trustees for Governors Island have teamed up to put on a classic, daytime, small-town Halloween at Pumpkin Point. If you prefer your Halloween fun to fall in the post-dusk hours, exciting news: The Night of 1,000 Jack O'Lanterns returns for its second run in three years. For all the details about Halloween events on Governors Island this year, read on.

Halloween Fun at the Houston Zoo Boo

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Tue, 10/01/2019 - 8:51am

While Houston has no shortage of fall-themed activities, the Zoo Boo at the Houston Zoo is definitely one of our favorites. Even if you aren't a huge fan of Halloween, this not-so-spooky event is a hit with kids of all ages.

50+ Free Things To Do with Kids This October in NYC

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Thu, 09/26/2019 - 4:00pm

Now that we're fully into the back-to-school groove, families might be looking to escape the weekday routine with some festive—and better yet, FREE!—NYC weekend events. This October is brimming over with autumn activities, including lots of Harvest fests and of course, heaps of Halloween fun.

This month also boasts some great fall festivals like the Little Red Lighthouse Festival and the Greenbelt Pumpkin Festival. The FREE family fun doesn't stop there: October brings lots of non-Halloween events like the Blessing of the Animals, Pickle Day, plenty of arts workshops, and Skate Night on the Upper East Side.

Read on for over 50 FREE things to do this October in New York City, including events in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Find more top events in our October GoList, or our always-packed daily NYC event calendar and don't forget to sign up for our FREE newsletters to get the best local events and reviews delivered right to your inbox.

Día de los Muertos: What Other City Has This Many Day of the Dead Celebrations?

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 09/26/2019 - 3:22pm

Hauntingly close to Halloween, El Día de los Muertos – the Day of the Dead – is a magical holiday that's also a living history lesson, demonstrating the tendency of conquerors to absorb indigenous customs into their own. Christian Europeans arrived in Mexico already fans of All Hallows Eve (modern-day Halloween), only to stumble upon an ancient tradition celebrated by the Aztecs on November 2, with a spookily similar theme. Day of the Dead is a time when the door between worlds is meant to open so that celebrants can honor departed loved ones and hopefully lure them back for a visit.

Halloween Festivals and Theme Park Haunts LA Kids Can't Do Without

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 09/19/2019 - 11:06pm

I have a mama friend who refers to this time of year with all the Halloween Festivals and Theme Park Haunts as the High Holidays, and she ain't talking Yom Kippur. She's also not wrong; there really is no higher holiday on the kid calendar than Halloween. And Southland families can enjoy a long slow build to All Hallows' Eve with more spooky celebrations, haunted happenings, and evil events per capita than any other urban area. Little ghouls and goblins have their pick of pumpkin patches, haunted houses, corn mazes, and ghost trains—but wait; there's more! SoCal theme parks get all creepy at this time of year, too, and the annual festivals below scream Halloween like nobody's business.

14 Things to Do With Kids at the Texas Renaissance Festival

Submitted by Carrie Taylor on Thu, 09/19/2019 - 10:35pm

The Texas Renaissance Festival is back in town, and if you and your family have never been, make this year your first. As the state's largest festival of its kind (and one of the biggest in the country), it is an experience like no other - and it's just a short drive from Houston. Even its 200-acre location has an eclectic story; a former strip-mining site turned Renaissance theme park complete with authentic art, larger-than-life statues and structures, and a village of shops, restaurants, and stages that look like they've been plucked from another era.

The Texas Renaissance Festival has things to do for families and kids, making it a great weekend getaway from Houston.

35 Fall Harvest Festivals Near Philly: Pumpkins, Apples, and Scarecrows, Oh My!

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Sun, 09/15/2019 - 8:04am

With the arrival of autumn, there is no better way to enjoy cooler temperatures, colorful foliage, and delicious autumnal foods than with a fall festival. Fortunately for Philly families, there are many opportunities throughout the Delaware Valley. Whether staying local to attend a harvest festival in your community or heading to a farm or orchard, these events are sure to have something for everyone. Many events taking place this fall include hayrides, pumpkin patches, scarecrow-building, and apple picking while others have live entertainment.

Don't forget to browse checking our event calendar as well as our Fall Activity Guide for new events that are continually added and updated. For now, read on and find the perfect fall festival for your family.

Cool Pumpkin Displays, Festivals, and Decorating Events in NJ

Submitted by Michelle Vames on Sun, 09/15/2019 - 8:00am

Kick off the festive fall season at one of the many wonderful pumpkin-themed events happening around NJ, from elaborate pumpkin displays and carving competitions to good old-fashioned pumpkin picking and decorating fun.

Read on for our top picks, plus a couple of bonus events that are worth a drive across state lines. You can find even more even seasonal events in our Fall Fun Guide.