Whether you enjoy a good fright or you prefer your Halloween haunt-free, we've got you covered. There are plenty of night-time haunts to please the older kids, some creepy walking tours of (possibly) haunted towns, a scaredy-cat amusement park, and even a few scare-free zones where younger kids can just trick-or-treat. Several places have options for both older and younger kids. For even more choices, check out our NJ Halloween Guide. And you'll find plenty for the little ones in the Best Halloween Events for NJ Preschoolers.

See specific websites for hours and prices.

If your kids want to get up close and personal with some wild animals—but you’re a bit tired of the zoo—consider bringing them to the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem. This non-profit environmental education group, which was founded in Westchester in 1999, is helping some 21 endangered wolves on over 20 acres and holds educational programs year-round. 

We recently visited the WCC for its Pack Chat with Kids program and have what you need to know about attending with children. Looking for more outdoor activities? Sign up for our newsletters and follow us on Facebook! 

Run on down to the Connecticut Trolley Museum for their annual Rails to the Darkside event, and you might end up running away in fright! As mentioned in Mommy Poppin's Scariest Haunted Houses and Attractions, this event is not for kids nor for the faint of heart. For lots more Halloween Fun, spooky and non spooky, check out our Halloween Guide.

What’s better than gliding across a sheet of ice on a lovely winter day? How about doing it outdoors, where all of the season’s pageantry is on display?

Pop-up-ice rinks are popping up all over the East End of Long Island these days, from low-cost, low-frills facilities to high-end clubs that cater to every perk a skater could imagine.

We’ve got your winter entertainment covered here, with five seasonal rinks from Riverhead to East Hampton and Greenport. All are open to the public without residency restrictions but costs can be higher for nonresidents. For good measure, we’ve also included a pair of up-Island pop-up rinks just in case your seasonal shopping takes you off the East End.

As always, be advised these facilities are weather-dependent and opening and closing dates vary based on temperature, rainfall and patron interest. Prices are as of October 2016.

Cirque du Soleil returned to Randall’s Island for the first time in six years this fall, bringing with it a brand-new steampunk-themed show, Kurios, that’s brimming with the physics-defying performances that first catapulted the troupe to fame.

While the Canadian troupe's last show on the isle, Ovo, was fantastic, Cirque has certainly had plenty of misses over the years, especially with its attempts to branch into new terrain (see Broadway's Paramour), but also because after 35 shows–and plenty of imitators—it all started to feel a bit redundant for avid fans.

I couldn’t help wondering as I made the trek over to Randall’s with my tween-age daughter, would this new spectacle recapture some of that old magic? Read on for the scoop on this new kooky show in town, and how to save money on tickets.

Once a year, Chestnut Hill and all its local businesses transform into a magical place for the Harry Potter Festival. From Butter Beer, to sorting hats and quidditch, if you're a Harry Potter fan this event cannot be missed. You can even meet Harry and his friends! Here's everything you need to know before you go on October 22.

Halloween is just around the corner! In addition to our list of top outings for this month, there are seasonal celebrations all over town, including a plethora of ragamuffin parades. (Did you know these actually started out as a Thanksgiving Day tradition?) 

In addition to traditional marches, some towns go a step further with carnivals, entertainment, live music and more. Read on to find out where to join the ragamuffin tradition in Westchester!

Looking for more seasonal fun? Check out our Event Calendar and follow us on Facebook! 

Despite bearing the job title of "Stay At Home Mom," I am not one of those crafty moms (much to my chagrin). I've tried to be, multiple times, but my attempts at being creative and crafty usually end up falling short of the high standards I see on social media. To top it off, I also have a bad habit of procrastinating (one of the many reasons I am a proud and frequent Amazon Prime user; two-day shipping for life!). All that to say, when it comes to holidays like Halloween, it's not unusual for me to be scraping together ideas that are cheap and easy at the last minute so my kid can trick or treat - or trunk or treat - in costume. Find yourself in the same situation? Check out these costume ideas for some last-minute inspiration: