Haunt O'Ween Debuts in New Jersey

Haunt O'Ween is spooky but not overly frightening.

A fun and frightful immersive Halloween adventure has made its East Coast debut in Holmdel, New Jersey: Haunt O'Ween 2022. This spooky, but whimsical, haunted carnival has everything a family could want in an outdoor Halloween experience: amazing decor, costumes, trick-or-treating, inflatables, games, and pumpkins galore!

Haunt O'Ween hits the perfect sweet spot of being spooky, but not overly frightening—and definitely not gory. It's just plain thrilling, chilling fun that's perfect for kids ages 3-12. But don't wait to buy tickets. The event runs only on select dates through Monday, October 31. Here's what to expect on your trip through this ghost-filled city.

You can find even more seasonal events in our Guide to New Jersey Fall Fun and Guide to Halloween Events in New Jersey.

100 Sports and Hobbies for Kids to Try

Cricket is gaining popularity in the US. Photo by Patrick Case

Childhood is a great time to experiment and try new things. Hobbies for kids can help them discover and hone their passions, build confidence, express themselves, and so much more. Sports for kids can help them learn teamwork, make friends, get exercise, and set and achieve goals. There are so many sports and hobbies for kids to try that if they don't like one, they can start another until they find the one they love. In fact, here are 100 hobbies and sports for kids to work their way through!

This list of sports and hobbies for kids includes team and individual sports, arts and crafts, collecting, science and STEM hobbies, and so much more. With so many options for everyone from toddlers to teens, your child is bound to find the perfect fit for them. To help your kiddo develop their new sport or hobby, check out your local guide to classes for kids.

Museum Birthday Party Places in NYC: 10 Celebration-Worthy Culture Spots

Host a creative, fun-filled birthday party celebration for your child’s special day at the Museum of Arts and Design. Photo by Jody Mercier

Living in New York City means access to some of the world’s greatest museums, and these world-class institutions are also completely underrated birthday party places in NYC. Next time you're faced with planning the perfect birthday party, consider hosting a birthday party at one of these NYC museums and culture spots, which offer unique themes you can’t often DIY. Fully interactive fun, animal encounters, giant ball pits, VR gaming, sleeping among exhibits, and a slime waterfall feature make these some of the best birthday party places in NYC.

So, escape the clean-up and hand over the organization and entertainment of your child’s birthday to someone else, and enjoy one of our amazing cultural institutions from a completely different perspective. We've got tons more suggestions for places to host your next NYC birthday party in our Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in New York City.

Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns Opens on Long Island

Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns is back and bigger than ever on Long Island.

Woosh went the wind, out went the lights, and Rise of the Jack O'Laterns returned to our sights. After a 2-year hiatus, the must-see Halloween event is back. With the world's largest pumpkin trail and more than 5,000 hand-carved pumpkins, our family couldn't wait to experience the spooktacular event again. Here is everything you need to know about Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns and some pro tips for your visit. 

Our Long Island Halloween Guide has tons more ideas for Halloween activities, and you can find more seasonal events in our Fall Fun Guide for Long Island

Musical Theater Classes in NYC Where Kids Can Sing, Dance, and Act

Harlem School of the Arts has been providing musical theater classes and more arts education in the storied neighborhood since 1964. Photo courtesy of Harlem School of the Arts

Many of our New York City kids grow up on musical theater. It is, after all, right here in our backyard. Inevitably once they're introduced to the magic of seeing a Broadway show, some of them are going to want to move out of the audience and onto the stage, which is where these musical theater classes in NYC come in handy. Luckily, we live in a place where there are as many ways to be in a show as there are to see a show.

The camaraderie of a troupe of performers can equal the team experience of sports—and then, of course, there are those kids who were just born to be center stage. They gotta sing. They gotta dance. They gotta emote. Help them hone their craft with one of our favorite musical theater classes in NYC.

For more great classes for kids, including everything from dance classes in NYC to music classes for babies, check out our New York City Classes for Kids Guide and Classes Directory.

Haunted Houses, Horror Nights, and Scary Farms for Los Angeles Teens Who Like a Good Scare

The entrance to Midnight Falls at the world-famous Los Angeles Haunted Hayride. Photo courtesy of the Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group

Did someone say Haunted House? What goes on at theme parks in Los Angeles for Halloween is nothing like the wholesome thrill of a Tigger-clad child ringing doorbells for candy. It may seem like Los Angeles celebrates a night that's all about children with an awful lot of entertainment that is clearly not for children, but these frightful haunts, houses, and hayrides keep the Halloween fun going for older kids and teens. How to know which haunts are best for which ages? We've braved a few of them to share our reviews of just how scary is scary.

Looking for something not quite so scary, and a good deal cheaper? Check out the coolest free haunted houses and Halloween decorations in Los Angeles. And for perfectly tame Halloween activities for younger kids, we rounded up the best not-so-scary Halloween events for Los Angeles preschoolers. You'll find all this spooky fun, and more, in our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Los Angeles Kids.

Legoland Florida’s Brick-or-Treat: Building Halloween Fun Brick by Brick

Pose with a favorite Lego character or a Lego zombie cheerleader!

Legoland Florida was built for kids, so there’s no question that Legoland’s Brick-or-Treat is an ideal fall outing for families. This year’s Brick-or-Treat theme is Monster Party, and plenty of Lego monsters are on site to party with guests! I visited the theme park with my 4-year-old and 9-year-old, and we all had a great time. Guests can trick-or-treat through the park, enjoy special themed shows and activities, partake in a costume parade, and more. The best part? All activities are included with regular park admission, so no separate ticket is needed!

For more Halloween fun around Central Florida, check out our  Mommy Poppins Orlando Halloween Guide.

Fun Halloween Trunk-or-Treat Events Near Atlanta in 2022

Families unleash their creative sides at the Northbrook UMC Trunk-or-Treat event. Photo courtesy of Northbrook UMC

All October long, kids look foward to trick-or-treating on Halloween. But why wait until the last day of October? Families can visit several trunk-or-treat events happening all over Atlanta, starting mid-October and lasting through Halloween night. These Atlanta Halloween events offer a controlled environment where participating families and businesses decorate car trunks with a festive Halloween theme, then allow young kids to safely trick-or-treat at each car trunk and fill up their candy bags. Get it now? TRUNK-or-treat! 

While searching for the best trunk-or-treats near Atlanta, we found many are hosted by local municipalities and churches, where everyone is invited. A trunk-or-treat also gives parents more bang for their buck so they get more wears out of Halloween costumes. Speaking of bang for your buck, most of these events are free to attend!

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