Best Things To Do in Westchester in October With Kids: Halloween, Farm Fests, and More

The Great Jack-o-Lantern Blaze is a bucket list item for area families. Photo courtesy of Historic Hudson Valley

October is upon us, bringing with it the excitement of Halloween. Fall fun is typically in strong supply, and despite the pandemic, and all its precautions, there's still plenty of excitement on tap. Afterall, The Great Jack-O'-Lantern Blaze is already lighting the night sky.

For those who want to keep the fun close to home, consider planning a Halloween celebration with these fun at-home party games. If you're itching to get out, the majority of autumn's traditions are held outdoors. October is the peak season for apple picking, navigating corn mazes, and sourcing the perfect pumpkin. Several fall festivals are returning, and nature centers are busy planning programming along their trails. Pop-up drive-ins are going strong, and scenic fall-foliage drives are a short jaunt away.

Read on for our roundup of all the best things to do with kids in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this October. If you're looking for more action, turn to our Fall Fun and Halloween Guides, and bookmark our Event Calendar for both in-person and virtual family offerings!

Spooky and Sweet Halloween Face Masks for Kids

A sampling of Halloween face masks from Etsy shop: MadisonJamesCo

The CDC might be warning against trick-or-treating in 2020, but there are elements of Halloween that seem ready-made for our new pandemic lifestyles. After all, it is one of the few holidays that takes place almost entirely outdoors and includes the option to wear a mask. Win.

We've rounded up 10 top spots to shop for Halloween face masks for kids. Wear them all month long or as a costume accessory on the big night.

Angry Birds-Themed Mini Golf Opens at American Dream Mall

Angry Birds Not So Mini Golf offers plenty of fun photo ops, too.

Grab your putter and get ready to launch a larger-than-life adventure: The Angry Birds have landed at American Dream with an interactive, immersive mini-golf world set to debut Thursday, October 1, when the megamall reopens.

You'll come toe-to-toe with Red, Chuck, Bomb, and the Pigs, and embark on an 18-hole quest to help save Bird Island and Pig Island at the Angry Birds Not So Mini Golf Club.

25 Fun Halloween Games for an At-Home Halloween Party

There's more to Halloween than just trick-or-treating; Halloween parties packed with Halloween games allow for fun that doesn't (necessarily) involve candy! These at-home Halloween games are a great way to celebrate all season long, up to and including Halloween night. Invite your kids' friends over to play these Halloween party games, make some spooky snacks, and watch your witches and monsters run off the extra energy dancing like zombies and limboing under a broomstick.

For bigger kids, we've got 25 Halloween Party Game Ideas for Tweens and Teens and so many more Halloween crafts, treats, and activities in our Halloween Guide.

And for Halloween activities near you, check out our Local Halloween Fun & Activities Guide!

25 Things To Do in the Berkshires with Kids

Climb Monument Mountain for panoramic views of the Berkshires. Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

The Berkshires may be associated with romantic escapes and girls' getaways, but make no mistake: This hilly, charming region of western Massachusetts is a great choice for a family getaway. With breathtaking nature trails, waterfalls, mountains, quirky museums, and welcoming farms dotting the region, the Berkshires offer something for all kids, especially ones who appreciate the outdoors and the arts. We've narrowed down our 25 favorite things to do in the Berkshires as a family.

Our New England Travel Guide has more ideas for exploring all the region has to offer, including our favorite nearby state parks and forests for outdoor adventures. 

Line-Free NYC: 20 Things To Do and Enjoy in NYC Right Now

Times Square is more quiet than normal, but still filled with lively billboards and plenty of attractions.

If you've trekked through Times Square lately, you likely saw as many pigeons as pedestrians. For the first time in decades, the city is deserted. Locals can enjoy all the usual tourist spots without waiting in line. Bollards are waiting to restrict lines of visitors for crowds who haven't shown up and social distancing markers on the sidewalk are barely scuffed. And the scene replays itself at tourist hotspots and beloved local institutions all across town. In short, it's a little slice of paradise for New Yorkers weary of dodging slow-walking tourists and selfie snappers.

The city streets are quiet when compared to pre-pandemic times. Office workers are still mainly working from home, and tourists are steering clear. This is all good news for intrepid New Yorkers, who are ready to explore again after months of making the best of stay-at-home orders. Museums are reopening, and Times Square mega shops are debuting. So, if you're ready to get out, the city is your playground. With flexible work arrangements and hybrid school schedules, now is the perfect time to play tourists in our hometown.

So, book those timed-entry tickets, skip the lines that usually run blocks long, and step out to visit a favorite museum, support a local business, and show New York City some love with these 20 things to do before the rest of the world discovers NYC is back.

CDC Issues Halloween Guidelines for 2020: Is It Safe to Trick or Treat?

Trick-or-treat?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released guidelines for Halloween safety — and it doesn't look good for trick-or-treating.

The pandemic has drastically changed how we live our daily lives, including all our favorite fall and winter holidays. With Halloween right around the corner and Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas close behind, these new guidelines from the CDC and pediatricians aim to keep kids and families safe while enjoying modified celebrations. 

Things To Do in NYC This Weekend With Kids: Intrepid Reopens, Broadway Drive-in, and More

Explore the Flight Deck at the Intrepid Sea ,Air and Space Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum

The last week of September is packing a sweet punch. We started the week with the first full-day of (remote) school and a treat at Krispy Kreme's new Times Square mega shop, and we're ending it with an Event Calendar jam-packed with things to do.

Most exciting is the return of one of our favorite kid-friendly museums, as the Intrepid lowers its gangplank once again. We've also got the news that two more of our favorite haunts, the Brooklyn Children's Museum and CMOM, have set October reopening dates.

We're also hosting an Online Back to School Fair with tons of enrichment options. Catch the last few FREE demo classes this week, including sessions from Atlantic Acting and Coucou French. If you're itching to get out, we've got intel on outdoor art trips near NYC, fall family day trips, pumpkin picking (tis the season), the best corn mazes nearby, and even some scenic, seasonal train trips.

Read on for all our top picks for things to do this week with New York City kids.

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