Now that Halloween is nigh, you can count on some fun & spooky seasonal events such as the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival, the Children's SPOOKtacular Magic Show and the Last Fling Pumpkin Sling. If you need a break from all things pumpkin, there are other entertaining events including The Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey and the Rock, Mineral and Gem Show. Read on for our top picks and remember you can find a listing of all NJ activities for kids in our Event Calendar.

One of the main reasons I love the New Victory is that the theater continually surprises me with its amazing lineup of multicultural dance, music,circus and dramatic performances for families. And the theater's searing season opener, Urban, is all of those genres rolled into one.

Conceived and performed by Circolombia, Urban features ridiculously fit youths doing incredible circus feats to a pounding reggaeton beat. But unlike other shows of its ilk, this one has dark references to the lives of the performers, most of whom were raised on the tough streets of Cali, Colombia. Their strength and daring is mixed with swagger and honesty and it's totally thrilling.

We love "green" and we love rhyming, so you bet we’re loving Green Halloween! Mommy Poppins NJ is excited to be participating in the Healthy and Green Halloween Bash with our pals, the Metro Moms. Dress the kids in costume for a weekend afternoon of healthy trick-or-treating, dancing, playing, games, natural organic products and treats, facepainting, arts & crafts and a super special secret GIVEAWAY just for MP NJ fans (read on for the super special secret details)!

Two scream-worthy exhibits are coming to town: A revival of the popular Harry Potter display at Discover Times Square, and Edvard Munch's signature painting, which is making its U.S. debut!

In other culture news, the Brooklyn Museum is making a big change to its free monthly First Saturdays parties. Plus we've got details about major G&T test changes, youth circus auditions and the return of the Boys Choir of Harlem.

Most families host at-home holiday parties in December. But in my house (make that jam-packed two-bedroom apartment), Halloween is when we throw our big annual shindig. Although my Halloween parties have changed over the years from adults-only spooky suppers with deadly cocktails to more family-friendly affairs, the haunted holiday still gets my creative juices flowing. We host a kids' party every year, and my son and his friends always look forward to it—in fact they usually start asking me about it on the first day of school!

While some aspects of our party remain the same from year to year—revelers come in costume (yes even the parents) and candy is handed out—I try to switch up activities so it's never the same celebration twice. In a few weeks, we'll be hosting our seventh annual party, so I have a lot of tips and ideas for families who want to throw their own Halloween party—yes, even in a tiny New York City apartment.

This week promises to be a grand time for fans (or fans-to-be) of The Boxcar Children, with a festival this weekend in Connecticut and a book giveaway right here on Mommy Poppins Boston! Read on for more about the festival and how to enter the contest.

Chug – a –Chug – a…BOO?  This Halloween train concept is a new one for me, and I can’t tell you how excited I am to check these out with my kids.  Last year my 4 year old and I took a Metro North train from Stamford to Greenwich (a ten minute ride) and she thought it was the greatest outing ever.  Wonder what she’ll think about some of these Halloween train adventures?