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By land, by sea, by river—however!— families are coming to the best Museums in Connecticut! Connecticut River Museum photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins
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17 Best Things To Do in Connecticut October 2023 with Kids

Not all of the best things to do in Connecticut with kids are scary—October 2023 gets cuddly too! Photo courtesy of the Halloween Stroll Facebook page
Not all of the best things to do in Connecticut with kids are scary—October 2023 gets cuddly too! Photo courtesy of the Halloween Stroll Facebook page
9/29/23 - By Jennifer Coe

Autumn brings the best things to do in Connecticut for October 2023! Fall is so much fun for Connecticut families. Every weekend, grab the last bits of warm weather and wander apple orchards. Take a hay ride or pick your perfect pumpkin for the season. This time of year, there are super, duper scary events to attend. And there are not-so-scary ones for little minds and tender hearts. There are also historical happenings that fit the theme of the season. And October 2023 features mind-blowing creativity like Night Fall and the Wee Fairie Village. Make sure to try it all!

Explore Mommy Poppins' Fall Fun Guide for more ideas for harvest and farm activities or spend some time looking through our Best Harvest and Fall Festivals in Connecticut for Fall Family Fun.

 

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Fall nights are lighting up with fun this October 2023! Photo courtesy of Night Fall
Fall nights are lighting up with fun this October 2023! Photo courtesy of Night Fall

Best Things To Do in Connecticut October 2023 with Kids

Pumpkin Patch Trolley in East Windsor

Sunday, October 1 - Sunday, October 29, 2023 —East Windsor
Traveling tothe Pumpkin Patch is a family fun filled adventure where you ride on a trolley car out to the pumpkin patch field and each child can pick out a FREE pumpkin. Additionally, when you return back to the Museum you can decorate the pumpkin, play in the corn box, enjoy the outside play area and the entire museum. A great annual tradition for families. READ MORE

Pumpkin Picking at Lyman Orchards

Sunday, October 1 - Saturday, ,November 4, 2023 —Middlefield
Follow the yellow brick road! Stroll through Wizard of Oz themed corn maze, pick up a batch of fresh cinnamon cider donut holes, or pick apples. The maz ie 4 acres and should take between 30-40 minutes to meander through.  READ MORE

Pumpkintown USA

Sunday, October 1 - Sunday, October 31, 2023 —East Hampton
One of New England's premier non-scary Halloween villages, Pumpkintown USA annually draws about 25,000 visitors. The Village at Pumpkintown USA is home to more than 70 Pumpkinhead people and their pets. The unique village includes a fast food restaurant called MacPumpkins, a saloon, a jail, a church, barbershop, country store, farm, and a fire station. READ MORE

Southington Apple Harvest Festival

Sunday, October 1 and Saturday, October 6-8, 2023 —Southington
Situated around the beautiful Southington Town Green, the Apple Harvest Festival is a family-oriented event which attracts an estimated 100,000 visitors annually. READ MORE

Hollowed Harvest - Greater Hartford Area

Sunday, October 1 and Thursdays through Sundays until October 31, 2023 —Plymouth
Experience the spooky family-fun of Halloween at the Hollowed Harvest. The Hollowed Harvest brings to life thousands of incredible Jack-O'-Lanterns creating stunning landscapes and larger-than-life displays designed to amaze audiences of all ages. Be amazed at our towering Jack-O'-Lantern sculptures, the  epic Jack-O'-Lantern Tunnel & our intricately-carved Jack-O'-Lanterns at the Marshfield Hollowed Harvest. READ MORE

Wee Faerie Village: Old Timey Town at Florence Griswold

Sunday, October 1 - Sunday, October 30, 2023 —Old Lyme
This year’s Wee Faerie Village theme is Yesterville: A Wee Old-Timey Town! Everyone has a history, including the wee faerie folk. Inspired by the living history museums in the human world such as Mystic Seaport, Greenfield Village, Sturbridge Village, and Colonial Williamsburg, Yesterville is just the place for the faeries to experience the joys of yesteryear. READ MORE

Halloween Haunt

Friday, October 6 - Sunday, October 29, 2023 —Middlebury
Terror At Quassy - Halloween haunt event in the amusement park with numerous attractions, live entertainment, food and beverages. Uniting adrenaline, fear, and fun, the event features captivating performances by the spellbinding Sanderson Sisters. If you dare, embark on eerie rides and brave through eerie landscapes, but beware, for this event is not for the faint-hearted.  READ MORE

Night Fall

Saturday, October 7, 2023 —West Hartford
Hartford's magical FREE outdoor community celebration of seasonal change through performance, featuring art, music, dance and Anne Cubberly's legendary giant puppets! Located at Bushnell Park this year! READ MORE

Pumpkin Passage

Weekends until Sunday, October 29, 2023 —Montville
The Dinosaur Place in Montville, CT, once again opens their gates for all things magical & mystical — get ready for the annual Halloween event named the Pumpkin Passage Toddler-friendly trail of lights and fun family activities are awaiting you this October at the dinosaur-themed adventure park every Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Toddler friendly! READ MORE

Annual Witch Paddle and Coat Drive

Saturday, October 14, 2023 —Mystic
Wear your Favorite WITCH or Halloween Costume to the 5th Annual Witch Paddle and Coat Donation event. This event is looking for experienced paddler please as there will be no instructions given.  READ MORE

Halloween Stroll

Saturday, October 21, 2023 —West Hartford
Join us for the 2023 Halloween Stroll from Moms & More of West Hartford.Kids annually love this free trick or treating event that runs throughout West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square. Families will enjoy music, giveaways, costumed mascots and more. A great event for kids of all ages. Kids are encouraged to come in costume. READ MORE

Witches & Tombstones Tour

Saturday, October 21 - Saturday, October 28, 2023 —Wethersfield
Bone-chilling, but historically accurate, Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum’s Witches and Tombstones Tours will be held Saturday, October 21, from 10:30 to 2:30 p.m.  An up-close and creepy examination of all things funereal, Witches and Tombstones Tours begin in the museum’s Stevens House. Visitors step back in time and into the parlor set up for the wake of little Henry Stevens, who perished in 1828 at the age of three. The tiny coffin is surrounded by tansy and rosemary, herbs used to mask any “odors.” The windows and mirrors are covered, and a small... READ MORE

Eastern Connecticut Ballet Presents Ballet Spooktacular

Saturday, October 28, 2023 —Old Saybrook
Ballet Spooktacular is a Treat at The Kate! For children who just can't wait for Halloween, Eastern Connecticut Ballet's Spooktacular serves up a mix of "BOO-tiful" dancing, clever costumes, and a chance for young audiences to be a part of the fun. ECB's family-friendly celebration returns to the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts center in Old Saybrook, CT. READ MORE

HSO's Tales of Halloween

Saturday, October 28, 2023 —Hartford
Take your seats for a thrilling Halloween celebration with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and the Hartford Chorale.  John Jesensky leads the HSO through chilling favorites from “Hocus Pocus,” “Jurassic Park,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” and more – with plenty of shocking surprises in store.  Guests are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes as The Bushnell transforms into a spooktacular theater with spellbinding decorations, festive activities, and tons of tricks and treats!  Join us…if you dare, READ MORE

Trunk or Treat Ellington

Saturday, October 28, 2023 —Ellington
Join Ellington Baptist for their third annual Trunk-or Treat at Ellington Baptist Church. This is a fun, family-friendly alternative to Halloween with candy, games, face painting, and more. This is a completely free community event. READ MORE

The Enchanted Castle

Through October 29, 2023 —Fairfield
The Enchanted Castle is a family friendly event where kids and parents walk through the entire Burr Homestead together. Each room is decorated with a different “Fairy Tale” theme, including Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Besides awesome decorations kids will enjoy the live characters who will tell their stories.   READ MORE

Lyman Orchards Corn Maze

Through November 5, 2023 —Middlefield
Follow the yellow brick road in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" themed Corn Maze at Lyman Orchards. The 2023 Lyman Orchards Corn Maze transports you into the Land of Oz, revisiting the classic 1900 American fairytale book of a young girl named Dorothy and her adventures in a magical land where she meets new friends and powerful witches. In the maze, you'll learn how "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" story came to be, how it has influenced pop culture, and you'll even learn about the history of other popular fairytales! READ MORE

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