Halloween at the Zoo
The Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport organizes a series of events for 6-12 year olds to celebrate the ghoulish holiday in the zoo, surrounded by the cutest and most amazing zoo animals. During the last two weekends of October they are running Howl-O-Ween parties. The evening is filled with fun programs such as Fairy Tales Gone Wrong hayrides, a special haunted farmyard, visits to the gruesome greenhouse, magic shows, face painting. Of course, candy will also be given out at the events.

On October 30th the youngest crowd of grade schoolers is invited for the Boo at the Zoo, a 'spooctacular' afternoon at the zoo. Costumes are almost mandatory! The hayride will be busy shuttling visitors around and the winner of the Scarecrow Competition will also be revealed.

Howl-O-Ween
Tickets: $8 per person
Dates: 10/22/2011, 10/23/2011, 10/28/2011 and 10/29/2011

Boo at the Zoo
Ticket: Children under 12 free with paying adult
Date: 10/30/2011

Fantasy and Fairy Tales for Halloween
For the younger and meeker little ones Fairfield's Enchanted Castle is a non-threatening, mesmerizing alternative to step out of the ordinary for a Halloween outing. The Burr Homestead in Fairfield will be transformed into a real-life storybook with six fantasy themed rooms. Youngsters from 2 to 10 years of age can walk through the Cindarella, The Beauty and the Beast, The Wizard of Oz, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and The Pirate Rooms. The rooms will hide treats, as well.

The Enchanted Castle
226 Mill Hill Avenue
Fairfield, CT, 06824
Phone: 203-336-7364
Tickets: $5
For days and hours, see website.

Neighborhood parties with spooky stories and magic shows
The Bridgeport Public Library's Black Rock branch will host its 3rd annual Halloween Parade and Neighborhood Party. The highlight of the event is the reading of fantastic and spooky stories at the library after the march of costumed little 'haunters'.

Black Rock branch of Bridgeport Public Library
2705 Fairfield Avenue
Bridgeport, CT, 06605
Phone: 203-337-9676
Date: 10/28/2011 4.30 to 7 pm

The annual Ridgefield Halloween party sponsored by the Ridgefield Police is an established tradition by now. The haunting night of October 31st will find the Ridgefield Community Center decked out in full Halloween 'gory', complete with a special haunted house. There will be tricks – magic shows and maybe even a psychic with a crystal ball – and plenty of treats, too.

Ridgefield Community Center
316 Main Street
Ridgefield, CT, 06877
Date: 10/31/2011 after dusk

For A Good Fright
Older kids may want more out of Halloween than cute costumes and a few bags of candy and may be ready for a good fright and some serious 'spook-out'. The Fairfield Museum and History Center challenges the bravest to join them on a Legends and Hauntings Walking Tour of Fairfield to roam the dark streets of Fairfield in search of ghosts, witches and bone-chilling legends of dark and scary events.

The Discovery Museum in Bridgeport dares you to hit the Trails from the Crypt , a half mile long walk through horror and terror – well, just for fun, on display. The trail weaves through a wooded terrain, set up for maximum shrill and thrill factor, but only recommended for kids above the age of 11.

Fairfield Museum and History Center
370 Beach Road
Fairfield, CT, 06824
Phone: 203-259-1598
Tickets: $5 and $7 (members and non-members)
Dates: 10/29/2011 and 10/30/2011 6 to 8 pm

The Discovery Museum
4450 Park Avenue
Bridgeport, CT, 06604
Tickets: $10
Dates: 10/21/2011-10/23/2011 and 10/28/2011-10/30/2011, evenings

Fun Parades
Why not make use of that fancy fairy costume or cool Darth Vader mask more than once? Joining the ranks of little marching fairies, ghouls, Marios and Supermen allows you to show off you holiday gear one more time and to score extra candies, as well. Most Fairfield County towns plan a Halloween Parade in their beautiful, nice downtown area: on a sunny warm day it could be a nice activity for families with young children.

Westport Halloween Parade
Main St and Post Road W
Westport, CT
Date: 10/27/2011 2 to 4 pm

30th Annual Halloween Parade, New Canaan
Park Street Parking Lot
New Canaan, CT
Date: 11/30/2011 1.30

Halloween Walk on Main Street, Ridgefield
Main Street
Ridgefield, CT
Date: 10/29/2011 10 am

Race it On Halloween
Do you know how much fun it is when Spiderman's cape goes floating in the air as he leaps forward? You can get almost the same feeling by enrolling in a Halloween running race where you get to speed around in your Halloween costume or at least in one of those spooky hats. Community Halloween races invite small and big kids and their parents for a special holiday race down the pumpkin- and spook-decorated streets of their towns. Kids and grown-ups alike can enjoy the holiday candy with a clear conscience after a heart-healthy, cool 1 or 5 kilometer run.

Brookfield Halloween Run
Kids 1K race and 5K race for everyone
Brookfield Municipal Center
100 Pocono Road
Brookfield, CT
Date: 10/30/2011 9.30 am
Check website for registration fee.

Halloween Hustle and Scarecrow Scamper
Kids' race and 5K trace
120 Old Ridgefield, Road
Wilton, CT
Date: 10/30/2011 10 am
Check website for registration fee.