Boo at the Zoo with Scooby Doo (Toms River) 

That famous Great Dane and his gang visit the Bug Museum for Halloween and discover that the sacred gold beetle is missing. Help uncover clues as you explore spooky exhibits escorted by one of the Scooby gang. Get a prize and meet up with Scooby when you solve the case. Saturday, Oct 16, 5pm to 8pm. $7 admission, advance tickets recommended. Call 732-349-7090 for tickets and more information.

Touch a Truck Day (Trenton)

Not to be sexist, but this sounds like one for the boys/men in your life. Fire trucks, ambulances, bulldozers, garbage trucks, and mail trucks are just some of the dozens of vehicles that will be on display at the Seventh Annual “Touch-A-Truck” event presented by the Mercer County Improvement Authority outside of the Sun National Bank Center. October 16, 10am to 2pm. FREE. Call 609-656-3200 for more information.

Community-Wide Swap at Hillside School (Montclair) 

If you need to declutter or get free stuff, the 12th annual swap is the event for you. Free clothing, sports equipment, baby gear, books, DVDs, CDs, new, unopened puzzles & games. Saturday, October 16 from 9am to 11am. FREE. Call 973-509-5741 for more info.

Thrills by Day, Fright by Night at Six Flags (Jackson) 

Only kids could do an amusement park all day and stick around for more fun at night. Dubbed "The Northeast's Largest Halloween Party", Six Flags theme park will transform into a 140-acre "scream park" with additional themed shows and attractions, such as (Day) trick-or-treating, The Monster Mash Bash, and a Spooktacular Street Party. At night (not recommended for young children) the ghouls come out for Dead Man’s Party, a Frightfest Freak show, and Escape from the Asylum. I’m tired just thinking about it. The month-long celebration will run Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays Oct. 8 through Oct. 31, plus Columbus Day Oct. 11. General admission is $59.99/Adults, $34.99/Kids under 54”, plus some of the night attractions charge a nominal fee.

Deerkill Day Camp’s 4th Annual Fall Festival (Suffern, NY) 

The very popular kids’ day camp (‘Deerkill’ actually means ‘Deer Stream’ in Dutch—very grateful to know this before I send my children there) is having their 4th Annual Fall Festival with free pumpkins, arts and crafts, live music, inflatables, a train ride, face painting, and refreshments. Sunday, October 17 from 1pm to 4pm. FREE. For more information or to reserve a pumpkin, call 845-354-1466.

They Might Be Giants’ Family Show (Morristown) 

We love love love They Might Be Giants, the highly acclaimed alternative rock group who will be presenting their new family oriented educational CD/DVD Here Comes Science. Rock out to songs about photosynthesis, evolution, the solar system, and the scientific method. Sunday, Oct 17 at 1pm and 4pm at the Mayo Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets $25. Call 973-539-8008 for more information and tickets.

Scarecrows in the Village (Lawrenceville) 

Make your own scarecrow and celebrate the Autumn harvest in Lawrenceville, where they’ve been decorating the entire town with scarecrows since 1999. A scarecrow contest and an fall essay contest round out the fun. Sunday, October 17 from 10am to 12pm. FREE. Call 609-219-9300 for more information.