Trunk or treats offer Long Island kids a safer alternative to trick-or-treating. Instead of wandering door to door, young trick-or-treaters can load up their Halloween bags with candy from decorated cars.

These trunk or treats—many of which are FREE—take place in parking lots or parks. They sometimes include parades, costume contests, and other Halloween activities. Another bonus for sugar-crazed kids: Many take place before Halloween. That means double the loot if you plan right!

For more boo-tiful Halloween fun, check out our Halloween Guide for Long Island Families. 

Día de los Muertos is a vibrant Mexican holiday, and we've rounded up 15 Day of the Dead events in NYC where kids and families can celebrate the holiday and honor the memories of loved ones. Head to the Children's Museum of Manhattan for performances, crafts, and storytimes, create Nicho boxes at Wave Hill, or make a day of it in Green-Wood Cemetery!

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley over the long Columbus Day weekend? We've got tons of family-friendly events to add to your list.

Whether you call the holiday Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day, we're celebrating the day off on Monday, October 14, 2024, with tons of fun things to do. Special events held only on Monday include Kids' Day at Kevin McCurdy's Haunted Mansion and Pine Island's Pumpkinfest. 

Families can enjoy the festivities all weekend, including Monday, at Wappingers' Carni "Fall" and Legoland New York's Monster Party. In honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day, learn about some of the original inhabitants of the Westchester area at a Lenape Indigenous Peoples' Day presentation at the historic St. Paul's Church.  

There's a reason there are plenty of indoor trick-or-treating spots in Chicago: The weather doesn't always cooperate, and that's just an accepted fact of life in our fair city. So when snow, slush, thunderstorms, or even worse weather threaten Halloween, trick-or-treaters will always have lots of indoor trick-or-treating options to turn to. (Hey, this isn't our first rodeo.) Those of us who fondly remember walking through snowy neighborhoods with our Halloween costumes stuffed inside our winter coats are welcome to brave the elements on Halloween night. But when the weather turns really nasty, it can be safer—and more enjoyable—to take the fun inside.

The Chicago Park District hosts Halloween events indoors at community centers around the city. Plus, many malls throughout the Chicago area host indoor trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Check your local mall's website or social media pages to find out if yours hosts Halloween trick-or-treating, and in the meantime, watch this space for a growing list of options for rainy, snowy, or otherwise monstrous Halloween nights in Chicago.