Get ready to snap some festive selfies as you explore the Christmas House in Hicksville. Photo by the author
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Laurie Berkner performs her holiday hits at the Paramount in Huntington this month. Photo courtesy of Laurie Berkner
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Fifth Street in Ronkonkoma is aglow with Christmas lights during the holidays.
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The Railroad Museum of Long Island has special open houses for the holidays. Photo courtesy of the museum
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LuminoCity returns to Long Island, this year at Eisenhower Park.Photo by Jaime Sumersille
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LuminoCity comes to Eisenhower Park in East Meadow this year with an illuminating holiday show. Photo courtesy of LuminoCity
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Dart's Christmas Tree Farm in Southold has a Magic Color Forest to frolic through.
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All aboard a festively decorated Polar Express train ride for some holiday magic and memories. Photo by Gwendolyn Tundermann
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Long Island Cares food banks are a great way to give back to those in need this holiday season. Photo courtesy of Long Island Cares
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Take some special photos with Santa on Long Island this Christmas. Photo via Canva
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Winding paths, ponds, and streams line the lush grounds of Clark Botanic Gardens.
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Sayville's new Marina Park playground offers gorgeous views and tons of romping space. Photo courtesy of the Town of Islip.
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Westfield South Shore mall's family play space is an ideal pit stop when shopping with kids.
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Find free fun for Long Island kids at the free play space at the Broadway Mall. Photo courtesy the mall
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The beaches in Montauk are among the nation's best. Photo by Joe Shlabotnik via Flickr
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Explore the playground before hitting the beach at Jones Beach State Park. Photo courtesy of Jones Beach
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Learn to surf at Montauk's SurfLuca or another surf school. Photo courtesy of the school.
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A day at Sunken Meadow State Park can feature playground games, a walk on the beach, and more. Photo by Kimberly Chacon
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Dig in to a delicious pie at Salvatore's Coal Oven Pizzeria.
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Host an affordable birthday party at Whimsical Vine Party Hall. Photo by Chofit the Man to Call via Pexels
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Enjoy the engaging exhibits at the Long Island Children's Museum. Photo courtesy of LICM
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Photo by Dora Somosi via Instagram
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Keep the kids busy at Applebee's with games on a tableside tablet. Photo by Anne Caminiti - Momee Friends of Long Island www.momeefriendsli.com
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The Ausable Chasm has been described as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks and it's one of our top 100 things to do in New York State with kids. Photo by Anna Fader
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A day at Sunken Meadow State Park can feature playground games, a walk on the beach, and more. Photo by Kimberly Chacon
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Photo of Liddle Bites play space in Long Beach by Lisa Fogarty for Mommy Poppins
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The Vanderbilt is a great place to explore on a rainy day. Photo by Kristen Markel
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Grab the brass ring and get a free ride at Greenport's carousel. Photo by Jaime Sumersille
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29 Best Things To Do on Long Island October 2023 with Kids

Experience Monet's masterpieces in a whole new way at Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience. Photo courtesy of the event
Experience Monet's masterpieces in a whole new way at Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience. Photo courtesy of the event
9/29/23 - By Jaime Sumersille

Halloween is the name of the game in October, which means Long Island is alive with pumpkin patches, haunted houses, fall festivals, and of course trick-or-treating—there are so many opportunities to wear Halloween costumes!

Some of this month's standout options include Spooky Fest at The Center for Science Teaching and Learning, Babylon's fall festival, and Oyster Bay's annual oyster festival. 

We've got plenty more things to do in our Fall Fun Guide, which is jam-packed with our picks for the best places to go apple picking on Long Island with kids and other must-do fall outings. Our Family Activity Calendar is growing by the day, and below, we've rounded up our curated list of the best things to do this September with kids. Read on for these can't-miss activities.

Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletter.

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Celebrate Autumn with fun family activities on the beautiful grounds of Sands Point Preserve. Photo courtesy of the preserve
Celebrate Autumn with fun family activities on the beautiful grounds of Sands Point Preserve. Photo courtesy of the preserve

Top Things to Do in October for Long Island Families

Circus Vazquez

Huntington & Bay Shore
Through October 23, 2023
This brand-new, high-energy production by Circus Vasquez boasts big talent under the big top tent; with exquisite dancers, daring trapeze artists, silly clowns and more. READ MORE

Fall Fun Fest at Sands Point Preserve

Port Washington
Sunday, October 1, 2023
The Sands Point Preserve welcomes autumn on the Great Lawn with a slate of family-friendly activities, arts and crafts, animals, live music, and more.  READ MORE

Cirque Italia - Gold Unit at the Smith Haven Mall

Lake Grove
Thursday, October 5-Sunday, October 15, 2023
Cirque Italia, a two-hour aquatic circus, heads to the Smith Haven Mall this October, featuring world-class performers, aerialists, acrobats, and more under a bright blue circus tent. READ MORE

Spooky Fest at The Center for Science Teaching and Learning

Rockville Centre
Weekends from Friday, October 6-Sunday, October 29, 2023
Spooky Fest celebrates the Halloween season with scary and non-scary attractions for all ages. There are wooded paths, exhibits, and spooky characters that greet visitors, as well as a zombie dinosaur attraction. READ MORE

Montauk Chamber of Commerce Fall Family Festival

Montauk-FREE
Saturday, October 7-Sunday, October 8, 2023
Visit "The End" of Long Island for the Montauk Chamber of Commerce Fall Family Festival, featuring music, local brews, Oktoberfest foods, a free, 30-horse carousel, a farmers market, and more. READ MORE

Sound & Skate Festival at Greenport Skate Park - CANCELED

Riverhead-FREE
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Note: This event has been canceled due to the weather. A skatepark mega-festival takes over the Greenport Skate Park in October. Peruse the works of more than 100 artists, clothing, and craft vendors, and see demonstrators of the skateboarding lifestyle. READ MORE

Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience

Westbury
Opens Saturday, October 7, 2023
Step into Monet's garden and experience his water lilies and other works by this impressionist master in a whole new way at the Samanea Mall. READ MORE

Town of Babylon Fall Festival

Babylon-FREE
Friday, October 13, 2023
Hayrides, live music, a giant maze, inflatables, crafts, and food trucks highlight the Town of Babylon's free fall festival at Tanner Park.  READ MORE

Family Fun Day at Spirit's Promise - CANCELED

Greenvale
Saturday, October 14, 2023
Note: this event has been canceled due to the weather. Join Spirit's Promise at the farm for a day filled with fun activities for the whole family. Enjoy hourly farm tour where visitors can meet horses, cows, pigs, goats, chickens, and ducks.  READ MORE

Long Island Oyster Festival

Oyster Bay
Saturday, October 14-Sunday, October 15, 2023
Have a shucking good time at the Oyster Festival, one of the East Coast's largest waterfront celebrations. Offering a mix of new activities and old favorites, this weekend-long festival is sure to entertain the entire family. READ MORE

Gateway Playhouse Not-So-Scary Halloween Adventure

Bellport
Saturday, October 14-Sunday, October 29, 2023
In daylight on weekends, the Gateway's Haunted Playhouse maze is transformed into a not-so-scary Halloween adventure for little kids, featuring mini witches and warlocks, pumpkins and cats, monsters and fairies, superheroes and bats. READ MORE

Halloween Spooktacular at the Sweetbriar Nature Center

Smithtown
Friday, October 20-Saturday, October 21, 2023
All ghoulies, ghosties, and other Halloween creepies are invited to the Sweetbriar Nature Center for an evening of fun and excitement. Enjoy eerie animal presentations, a ghostly graveyard, creepy games, scary music, and spooky night trails. READ MORE

Howl-O-Ween Dog Festival and Pet Costume Contest - CANCELED

New Hyde Park-FREE
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Note: This event has been canceled. It's almost Howl-O-Ween! Your four-legged friends can dress up for this doggie Halloween festival and pet costume contest at the New Hyde Park Dog Park. READ MORE

Halloween Fest in Riverhead

Riverhead-FREE
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Halloween Fest in downtown Riverhead transforms Main Street into a spooky and enchanting land in honor of All Hallows Eve. A ghoulish day is planned for witches and warlocks of all ages. READ MORE

Ghostly Gala at the Long Island Children's Museum

Garden City
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Show off your costumes during this fun evening at the LI Children's Museum as it hosts a hauntingly good Halloween party. READ MORE

Circus Vazquez

Huntington & Bay Shore
Through October 23, 2023
This brand-new, high-energy production by Circus Vasquez boasts big talent under the big top tent; with exquisite dancers, daring trapeze artists, silly clowns and more. READ MORE

Trick or Treat with Stew Leonard's Characters

East Meadow-FREE
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Children ages 8 and younger are invited to dress in their costumes and head to Stew Leonard's in East Meadow to go trick-or-treating.  READ MORE

Scarecrow Competition at the Ward Melville Heritage Organization

Stony Brook-FREE
Through Wednesday, October 25, 2023
This October, scarecrows will once again line the walkways throughout Stony Brook Village in the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s 33rd Annual Scarecrow Competition.  READ MORE

Mr. Vanderbilt's Spooky Science Lab

Centerport
Friday, October 27, 2023
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum is hosting creepy fun. Turn off the lights for a scavenger hunt in the collections and create jars that can be used in any spooky Halloween display. READ MORE

Halloween at the Heckscher Museum of Art

Huntington-FREE
Friday, October 27, 2023
Kids and families are invited to celebrate Halloween at the Heckscher Museum of Art October 27-28. The museum offers a slate of free, engaging events and activities. READ MORE

Halloween Boat Burning at the Long Island Maritime Museum

Sayville
Friday, October 27, 2023
Each year someone donates an old boat and the Long Island Maritime Museum facilitates a safe burning in the harbor. This intriguing Halloween weekend tradition is quite the sight. READ MORE

1800s Haunted Halloween at Old Bethpage Village

Old Bethpage
Saturday, October 28-Sunday, October 29, 2023
Step back in spooky time to this 1880s Halloween at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. Enjoy safe trick-or-treating, witch's broom making, a children's costume parade, meet the Grim Reaper, pumpkin painting, a monster scavenger hunt, and a reading of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. READ MORE

Truck or Treat at Suffolk County Farm & Education Center

Yaphank
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Head on down to the Suffolk County Farm in your Halloween costumes for this Truck or Treat Food Truck Derby. READ MORE

The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Sail

North Babylon-FREE
Saturday, October 28, 2023
The Great Jack-O’-Lantern Spectacular Sail returns to Belmont Lake State Park. The first 100 carved pumpkins are placed on flotation devices with candles inserted inside and sailed around the lake behind kayaks.  READ MORE

Haunted Hatchery at the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery

Cold Spring Harbor
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Calling all ghosts and goblins, spiders, and bones: Families are welcome to join in this not-so-scary haunted hatchery visit.  READ MORE

Not-So-Spooky Walk at Clark Botanic Garden

Albertson
Sunday, October 29, 2023
Younger children (and those easily spooked) can enjoy the Not-So-Spooky Walk during the daylight at Clark Botanic Garden on October 29. READ MORE

Scarecrows in the Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury
Through Monday, October 30, 2023
Individuals, scout groups and other organizations are welcome to submit a scarecrow for display in the Scarecrow Garden at Old Westbury Gardens. From September 30-October 30, a garden featuring scarecrows created by individuals and organizations will be on display on the east side of the gardens, near the Lake Trail. READ MORE

The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze: Long Island

Old Bethpage
Through Sunday, November 5, 2023
The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze: Long Island features illuminated, individually hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns in elaborate displays professionally lit throughout the landscape of Old Bethpage Village Restoration. READ MORE

Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns

Wheatley Heights
Through Sunday, November 5, 2023
View thousands of hand-carved, illuminated jack-o'-lanterns creatively arranged along a scenic walking path within the Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts at the Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns event this fall.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Center For Science Teaching And Learning CSTL
Gateway's Not-So-Scary Halloween Adventure
East Meadow Stew Leonard's
Suffolk County Farm & Education Center
Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium