New England is brimming with fall festivals, but kids are particularly enamored with events celebrating the humble pumpkin: the symbol of autumn and Halloween. Whether you stick close to home or make a day or weekend trip out of it, going to a pumpkin festival or visiting a glowing jack-o'-lantern display is a fun, family-friendly way to get into the spirit of the season. Here's a sampling of pumpkin fun in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine over the next month. Get inspired for a trip to the pumpkin patch for a jack-o'-lantern display on your own front porch!

There's no way to sugar coat this: the Griffith Park Ghost Train and Boney Island—two of the most family-friendly haunts of the LA Halloween season—are both taking a hiatus this year. The two spooky-not-scary experiences seemed perfectly paired last year, when they first became neighbors in one festive corner of Griffith Park. We had been looking forward to seeing how the partnership would grow this season, but alas the skeletons are staying in the closet.

Finding a full-day preschool on Long Island can be stressful. Whether you need a preschool program that accommodates your work schedule or simply prefer a longer day to give your child a leg up on the skills he or she needs for kindergarten and beyond, finding the right preschool program for your family is important.

These 10 Long Island preschools give you the option of sending your child full-time and/or taking advantage of extended-hours programs. Check out our Guide to Long Island Summer Camps for Preschoolers and our full Preschool Guide and Directory of Schools for more ideas on keeping your preschooler active and engaged.

Halloween isn't all pumpkins and hayrides. There are also thrills and chills to be had right here in Connecticut at some of the scariest haunted houses you'll ever find! These frightful attractions are geared towards older children, teens, and adults and not recommended for very young children. If you're looking for the real deal, check out our post on the Real Haunted Houses of Connecticut. For those who just want to have a spooky-good time, then a haunted house attraction is just the thing. From amusement parks filled with zombies to empty summer camps and abandoned school buildings, there is something to scare the pants off of everyone. We've rounded up the scariest haunted houses across the state, and a couple that are right over the border, for all of your frightful fun this Halloween season. Check it out...if you dare!