35 Best Things To Do in Orlando with Kids October 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors

SeaWorld’s Spooktacular offers fun surprises, tricks, and treats during this daytime October event. Photo by author

Families are in for a treat this October in Orlando with a packed calendar of fun events to enjoy, including Halloween and fall festivals!

We've scoured the area for the best Orlando events in October for families and kids. Central Florida's theme parks are seasonally decorated, and guests can enjoy events such as SeaWorld's Halloween SpooktacularLegoland's Brick-or-Treat, and more. Set aside an October weekend to navigate your way through one (or more) of the Orlando corn mazes, snap family photos at a pumpkin patch, and make lasting memories at more events in Orlando.

Some of the best Halloween events in Orlando are included here, but be sure to check out our fully loaded Orlando Halloween Guide and Fall Fun Guide for Orlando Kids for all happenings and ideas this October. 

25 Best Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids October 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors

No tricks, just treats at Boo at the LA Zoo. Photo by Jamie Pham courtesy of the Zoo

There are tons of things to do in Los Angeles for ghouls and gals, but Halloween is the name of the game in October. Los Angeles comes alive with pumpkin patches, haunted houses, fall festivals, and, of course, trick-or-treating—so many opportunities to wear Halloween costumes!

Major treats are in store for families looking for things to do in Los Angeles this October. The sky's the limit at the Pacific Airshow as high-flyers, including the US Air Force Thunderbirds, take to the air over Huntington Beach. DTLA's major cultural institutions open their doors with free performances and interactive activities at Grand Ave Arts: All Access, and dearly departed loved ones are remembered and honored at Día de los Muertos on Olvera Street.

Favorite frightful Halloween activities include the chance to Boo at the LA Zoo, find the STEM in the pumpkin at Battleship IOWA Halloween STEMebration, and Pumpkin Palooza at Discovery Cube OC, wander through the Carved jack-o-lanterns in La Canada-Flintridge, watch wheeled gourds speed to the finish line at Manhattan Beach's Pumpkin Race Festival, and so much more.   

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in Los Angeles in October—we're adding more events to the Los Angeles Family Event Calendar daily. Keep reading for the very best things to do in Los Angeles this October, and don't forget to check back weekly for our picks for the best things to do in Los Angeles each weekend

Best Things to Do in Hot Springs, Arkansas with Kids: A National Park Family Vacation

Get up close to a variety of animals at the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo. Photo by the author

Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas is a unique family destination in several ways. It's America's only urban national park, meaning it's accessible from the city's busy downtown and free to visit. And while there are plenty of cool hiking trails, the big draw to Hot Springs is its water. Pools of the steaming geothermal spring water can be seen within the park, and families can stroll along Bathhouse Row where generations of people (including gangster Al Capone) came to soak in for medicinal purposes.  

Outside of the national park, there are plenty of kid-friendly attractions in Hot Springs, from an interactive science museum to a gorgeous botanical garden. Read on for our guide to visiting Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, including itinerary ideas, where to eat, and lodging near the park. Check out our US National Parks Family Travel Guide for more parks to visit with kids, including our top-ten list of family-friendly national parks.

Top Free Halloween Events in NYC in 2025: BAMBoo!, Great PUPkin, Labubu Fest, and More

Hit The High Line in costume to celebrate all things creepy and crawly on Saturday, October 25. Photo by Liz Ligon/courtesy of The High Line

What's the one way to make costume-and-candy-filled NYC Halloween events even sweeter? Make them free! In New York City, there are loads of no-cost Halloween celebrations in 2025, whether you're looking for preschooler Halloween events or you've got a teen who can't wait to be spooked.

There are no tricks here: We're giving parents the best treat of all with this roundup of free Halloween events in New York City for kids, including big annual favorites like downtown Brooklyn's BAMBoo!, the Pumpkin Pageant in Inwood, and much more. We'll even tell you how to score a free Halloween costume or two.

So, get dolled up and leave your wallets at home for these free Halloween events in New York City, and find everything from NYC's best trick-or-treating spots to splurge-worthy Halloween events in our New York City Kids' Guide to Halloween.

Best 2025 Oktoberfest Kid-Friendly Celebrations in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Ridge Hill's Oktoberfest event features plenty of kid-pleasing fun. Photo courtesy of Ridge Hill

It's that time of year, and Oktoberfest celebrations are popping up all over Westchester and the Hudson Valley. While family-friendly isn't what usually comes to mind when you think of Oktoberfest, there are lots of ways to celebrate this traditional Bavarian festival beyond just a pub crawl.  

We have rounded up our favorite Oktoberfest celebrations in Westchester and the Hudson Valley that also offer great activities for kids. From pumpkin painting and bounce houses to Bavarian dancing—and, of course, a great selection of beer, pretzels, and bratwurst—these Oktoberfests are fun for the whole family.

So don your best lederhosen and start the celebrations. Find more great autumn activities in our Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids Fall Guide.

Top Free Halloween Events in New Jersey 2025: Trunk-or-Treats, Parades, and More Fun

Party with the animals this month at Cape May's Boo at the Zoo. Photo courtesy of the Cape May County Zoo

There are no tricks here; instead, we've got a special treat: 25 FREE Halloween events and parades in New Jersey. The weeks leading up to Halloween are full of festivals, costume parades, and plenty more opportunities for ghosts and goblins to dress up and score some scary-good treats.

Read on for our top picks, and be sure to bookmark our Halloween Fun Guide for even more seasonal fun. Happy Halloween, New Jersey!

Top Free Halloween Events in Atlanta 2025: Candy Crawl, Trunk-or-Treats, and More

Head to the Virginia Highland shopping district for the annual Candy Crawl that's fun, free, and full of candy. Photo courtesy Virginia Highland District

Halloween is fast approaching, but before fretting about the rising costs of Halloween costumes, candy, and decorations, check out our list of FREE Halloween events in Atlanta! Atlanta hosts tons of Halloween events that are completely free to attend. Our list includes Halloween parades, trunk-or-treats, and more. Many of these free Halloween events are hosted by fun cities and neighborhoods to explore, including Duluth and Virginia-Highland. If you plan accordingly, your family can freebie hop most weekends in October! 

Need more ghoulishly good holiday fun? Check out the Atlanta Halloween Guide for great ideas to do with kids this spooky season.  

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