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Free in October: 25 Things To Do in Long Island with Kids

Join the fun at the Long Beach Fall Festival and Costume Parade. Photo courtesy of the City of Long Beach
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10/2/22 - By Jaime Sumersille

Looking for FREE things to do with kids on Long Island in October? Read on for dozens of great options. 

With the school year underway, requests for money are seemingly at every corner, from photos to uniforms to fundraisers. Don't get spooked by overspending this month. Fall into savings and get pumped with our hand-picked list of fab, fun, and FREE events on Long Island for families.

From nature hikes and family-friendly flicks to Halloween costume parades and creepy crafts, October packs it all in. Some of the fantastic options include the Sea Shanty Maritime Music Festival in Port Jefferson, the Bicycle Rodeo at Safety Town in Holtsville, and the Halloween Read Aloud at the Locust Valley Library. 

For more FREE and low-cost fun, check out our Family Activity Calendar, as well as our Fall Fun Guide for Long Island Kids and Halloween Events and Guide for Long Island Kids.

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OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Head to the Fall Festival at Hicks Nursery for some not-too-scary seasonal entertainment. Photo courtesy of the nursery
Head to the Fall Festival at Hicks Nursery for some not-too-scary seasonal entertainment. Photo courtesy of the nursery

Ongoing Free Things to Do in Long Island in October

Fall Festival at Hicks Nurseries

Westbury
At Hicks Nurseries' Fall Festival, fill your shopping cart with fall decor favorites while kids enjoy fun festival activities. Plus, Otto the Ghost stars in a free walk-through adventure, Otto’s Animated Halloween Story, all month long. READ MORE

Scarecrow Competition at the Ward Melville Heritage Organization

Stony Brook
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

Free Things To Do in Long Island from Saturday, October 1-Saturday, October 8

Town of Babylon 150th Anniversary Parade

Copiague
Sunday, October 2, 2022
The Town of Babylon is celebrating its 150th Anniversary on October 2 with a town-wide parade. READ MORE

Free Teen Art Classes

Huntington
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Cinema Arts Centre and Heckscher Museum of Art are hosting a free art class series for future storyboarders, actors, animators, editors, set-designers, and more. READ MORE

Dissecting Owl Pellets for Children at Down's Farm Preserve

Cutchogue
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Join the Group for the East End at Down’s Farm Preserve for an owl pellet dissection. This is a great way for children to learn of the eating habits and behaviors of these mysterious flighted friends. READ MORE

Long Pond Greenbelt Celebration

Birdgehampton
Saturday, October 8-Sunday, October 9, 2022
Bring the children for a nature exploration of the Long Pond Greenbelt! Enjoy guided trail walks, games, crafts, and other activities provided by local environmental and community organizations. READ MORE

Free Things To Do in Long Island from Sunday, October 9-Saturday, October 15

Old Time Baseball at Smithtown Historical Society

Smithtown
Sunday, October 9, 2022
Home games for the Atlantic Base Ball Club are played on the grounds of the Smithtown Historical Society and represent a historically accurate interpretation of the 19th-century game of "base ball." READ MORE

Coming Out Day at the Suffolk County Farm

Yaphank
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Stony Brook Medicine and the Suffolk County Farm celebrate Coming Out Day by offering free admission and activities during. READ MORE

Bicycle Rodeo at Safety Town

Holtsville
Saturday, October 15, 2022
Bring your bikes to Safety Town in Holtsville, where children can learn bike riding safety in a mock-roadway, kid-sized setting.  READ MORE

Long Island Oyster Festival

Oyster Bay
Saturday, October 15-Sunday, October 16, 2022
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
Down some fresh chowder, decorate pumpkins, and more in Montauk. Photo courtesy of the Montauk Family Fall Festival & Chowder Contest
Down some fresh chowder, decorate pumpkins, and more in Montauk. Photo courtesy of the Montauk Family Fall Festival & Chowder Contest

Free Things To Do on Long Island: Sunday October 16-Saturday, October 22

Story Time with the Author at The Dolphin Bookshop

Port Washington
Sunday, October 16, 2022
Get into the holiday spirit and come visit children's author Jessica DeGorter as she reads from her book "My Favorite Day of the Year." READ MORE

Super Scientists at the Riverhead Library

Riverhead
Explore the discoveries of scientists throughout the ages with a story and craft at the Riverhead Library. READ MORE

Southampton Town Youth Court

Westhampton
Monday, October 17, 2022
Southampton Town’s Youth Court is a great way to earn community service credits and build students' college resumes. READ MORE

Halloween Read Aloud at the Locust Valley Library

Locust Valley
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Join the Locust Valley Library for an afternoon of spooky stories outside by the scout hut!  READ MORE

Howl-O-Ween Dog Festival and Pet Costume Contest

New Hyde Park
Saturday, October 22, 2022
It's almost Howl-O-Ween! Your four-legged friends can dress up for this doggie Halloween festival and pet costume contest at the Michael J. Tully Dog Park. READ MORE

Halloween Fest in Riverhead

Riverhead
Saturday, October 22, 2022
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. Rain Date: October 26. READ MORE

Brown Bag Charity Trunk or Treat in Uniondale

Uniondale
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Head to Smith Street School for this Halloween event full of crafts, candy, decorated cars and more. READ MORE

Halloween on Plandome

Manhasset
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Enjoy a fun, free afternoon as the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce hosts Halloween on Plandome. READ MORE

Bellmore's Halloween Trunk-or-Treat Parade

Bellmore
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Dress in costume for the annual Halloween parade along Bedford Avenue in Bellmore.  READ MORE

Rock Hall Country Fair

Lawrence
Saturday, October 22-Sunday, October 23, 2022
Rock Hall welcomes visitors for a weekend of country fun. Featured entertainment includes Stephen Christopher’s Time Traveling Magical Medicine Show. READ MORE

Free Things To Do in Long Island from Sunday, October 23-Saturday, October 29

Halloween Village Luminaries at the Riverhead Library

Riverhead
Monday, October 24, 2022
Celebrate the spooky season by decorating festive Halloween village luminaries at the Riverhead Library. READ MORE

Free Friday Family Flicks

Cutchogue
Friday, October 28, 2022
The Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library is hosting a Friday Family Flicks series this fall. Settle in for some cinematic entertainment. READ MORE

The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Sail at Belmont Lake State Park

North Babylon
Saturday, October 29, 2022
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

Farmingdale Village Halloween Parade

Farmingdale
Saturday, October 29, 2022
Watch the Halloween parade along Main Street in Farmingdale Village. Marchers and groups assemble at 12:30pm. Floats, jeeps, and classic cars are also welcome.  READ MORE
Trick-or-treat around the shops and join in the Monster Merlin parade at the Stony Brook Village Center. Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Village Center
Trick-or-treat around the shops and join in the Monster Merlin parade at the Stony Brook Village Center. Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Village Center

Free Things To Do in Long Island from Sunday, October 30-Monday, October 31

Long Island Live Steamers

Brookhaven
Sunday, October 30, 2022
Chug on down to Long Island Live Steamers' twice-monthly Sunday public run days. Ride steam, diesel, and electric trains operating on eight acres of scale tracks.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Great Neck Road & Dixon
Suffolk County Farm & Education Center
Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library