He Named Me Malala opens this week, and some of our older kids are going to want to see it. Malala Yousafzai is kind of like this generation’s Anne Frank: an articulate, wise-beyond-her-years teenage girl who remains optimistic about our world’s prospects for peace despite her own encounter with unspeakable evil. Malala is a child, but her story is not necessarily for children. I wanted to check it out before taking my own kids.

Hey, remember when we were kids, and Halloween was only one night? Yeah. Good times. Of course, we also rode in cars without seat belts and ran with fire, so maybe everything wasn't better back then. Either way, the genie is out of the bottle, and Halloween is well underway in Southern California.

Starting now, you can celebrate Halloween at the zoo, at Legoland, at Underwood Farms, at Knott's Berry Farm, at Descanso Gardens, at Fillmore and Western Railway, and at Disneyland. There are mazes and haunts and rides and pumpkin patches. Spirited costume shops are popping up all over town, and Trader Joe's is selling a pumpkin version of every product.

True, you can kid yourself that October is about other things besides Halloween, like maybe books or angels or horses or stars or pie.  You might even convince yourself for a little while. But soon enough you're going to notice that everything gives you an idea for a costume, and then you realize that any adventure that ends with a full bag of candy can't be all bad.

Keep reading for our spookiest picks for this weekend....

If you're the type to swoon over sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, and crisp fall air, you're going to love what we have on the docket this weekend. Since it's not too early for pumpkins, it's not too early to start preparing for Halloween, either. One of the coolest ways to get in the spirit is the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular (pictured), opening this weekend. Some fairs and festivals around town celebrate apples and fall, and others throw a little archaeology and engineering in the mix. With so many fantastic choices, you'll surely have a great time— whatever you choose to do this weekend!

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week: Be sure to check out the October Go List for the best picks of this spooky month.

Enjoy your weekend, and don't forget to check out the full Event Calendar!

Due to the predicted rain, please check with venues directly for updated schedules for weekend events.

As the first weekend of October arrives, Philly families look forward to celebrating the season of autumn with apple picking, corn mazes and pumpkin decorating. This weekend certainly doesn't disappoint as our Events Calendar is filled with festivals, festivals and more festivals where families can find these fall activities.

In addition to traditional fall fun, embrace the outdoors by watching the birds at Tyler Arboretum or building a fairy home at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve. Or, get an up close view of trucks at Wells Fargo Center's Monster Jam or Winterthur's Truck and Tractor Day. Those looking for indoor activities can consider attending a children's theater production such as Hedgerow Theatre School's The Little Mermaid Jr. or Walnut Street Theatre's Shrek the Musical Jr.

Continue reading for the top picks for the weekend. Be sure to sign up to have our weekly newsletter sent directly to your inbox every Thursday morning. And, don't forget to check out our Halloween Activities Guide to plan out lots of seasonal fun.

UPDATE as of 10/3/15: 

Due to anticipated poor weather conditions, please check with outdoor venues ahead of visitation. Some closures have already been announced below.

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Hay rides, apple picking and all things fall are in store this weekend if you're looking for an autumn adventure. Be sure to check out our complete roundup of Fall Fairs and Festivals. This weekend, there's also a free storytime, nature walk and the chance to create your very own ship in a bottle.

And since it's October already, check out our Halloween Guide for plenty of spooky (and not so spooky) fun with the kids.

Don't see your event listed here? Add it to our events calendar. And if you don't receive this post in your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter. 

With October comes the beginning of the Halloween season, and all the associated festivals, spectacles, parades and haunted houses throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley. We’ve populated our Event Calendar with a ton of these festivities (as well as a variety of non-Halloween events for when you crave diversity), so take a peek and plan ahead. Stay tuned, because much more is coming!

The Rivertowns, strongly associated with Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” go all out for Halloween, with month-long events that start this weekend like The Great Jack O Lantern Blaze (which is already sold out for this weekend) and The Legend Behind the 'Legend', as well as haunted happenings for older kids like Scared by the Sound.

For some non-Halloween happenings, catch Warwick Applefest, the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival or the Annual Horse Show and Country Fair, to name a few. Also consult our guide for scenic autumn drives to savor the splendor of the season.

Read on for our top weekend picks, but be sure to also check our Event Calendar and October GoList for more family fun this weekend and beyond!

It’s time to get in the autumn spirit! New Jersey is welcoming the beautiful month of October in a big way with dozens of family-friendly activities to help you make the most of the season. Get your fill of all things pumpkin during Pumpkin Palooza 2015 at the Garden State Discovery Museum, the Holmdel Harvest Festival at Bayonet Farm or the 15th Annual Pumpkin Festival at Whippany Railway Museum. For more fun to round out your fall weekend, get tickets to the Harvest Moon Hayride at Alstede Farms or bring your little reader to the Morristown Festival of Books. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For even more activity options, check out our Event Calendar .