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Best of October: 29 Top Things To Do in Philly with Kids

Have you ever visited a witch's house? Families can take a hayride to see Linvilla Orchard's friendly witch. Photo courtesy of Linvilla Orchard's
Have you ever visited a witch's house? Families can take a hayride to see Linvilla Orchard's friendly witch. Photo courtesy of Linvilla Orchard's
9/29/24 - By Liz Baill

October in Philly means fall festivals, sweater weather, pumpkin patches, and lots of Halloween anticipation. 

There's a full month of Halloween festivities ahead this October, with tons of opportunities to get some extra mileage out of those costumes. Staples like Boo at the Zoo and Spooky Mini Golf are back, plus check out the new haunts on the block like Brick or Treat Monster Bash at LEGOLAND Discovery Center. Check out Brick Fest Live this month in Oaks, and keep an eye on our calendar for neighborhood festivals like Roxtoberfest. 

For all the best Halloween happenings, check out our Guide to Halloween in Philly, where you'll find our top 41 event picks for Halloween. 

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently. Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.
 

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Fun Things to Do with Kids in Philly, October 2024

Hayrides to the Witch's House

Media - Now through Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Have you ever visited a witch's house? Families can take a hayride to see Linvilla Orchard's friendly witch. This witch tells stories, jokes, and even gives the kids a treat. READ MORE

FallFest at Shady Brook Farms

Yardley - Now through Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Fall fun is now in season! Bring the family for a day or night down on the farm. There's endless fun including apple picking and sunflower strolls (while supplies last), pumpkin picking, wagon rides, a 5 acre corn maze, Eerie Illuminations Halloween light show, live music every weekend, campfires, 25+ activities for the kiddos, tasty food, and spirited drinks. READ MORE

Screamin' Green Hauntoween

Easton - Now through Thursday, October 31, 2024
Visitors to Crayola Experience Easton can participate in the colorful and festive Screamin' Green Hauntoween. Kids can enjoy crafts, photo ops, pumpkin decorating, and a themed scavenger hunt.  READ MORE

Fall Picking & Hayrides at Johnson's Corner Farm

Medford - Now through Thursday, October 31, 2024
Enjoy fall festivities at Johnson's Corner Farm every day from mid-September through October. Get in the seasonal spirit with apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, live music, animals, a corn maze, and a food tent. READ MORE

Adventure Aquarium Fintastic Pumpkin Glow

Camden - Now through Sunday, November 3, 2024
Get ready to explore the glow deep below this fall during Adventure Aquarium’s Fintastic Pumpkin Glow festival. Guests can discover a mesmerizing collection of glowing gourds in every shape, size, and species shining above the surface or illuminating the depths among sharks, stingrays, and other unique aquatic life. READ MORE

Lincoln Mill Haunted House

Manayunk - Thursday - Saturday, September 28 to November 2, 2024, 2024
Philly's newest haunted attraction is Lincoln Mill Haunted House, featuring more than 40 live actors, animatronics, special effects and more, for a highly scary experience. For those looking for less of a scare, the house offers Saturday day time scavenger hunts without scare actors. READ MORE

Brick-or-Treat presents Monster Party!

Plymouth Meeting - Saturday, September 28 to Thursday, October 31, 2024
Join the monsters as they takeover LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Philadelphia with non-stop Halloween party fun! Join in the pumpkin LEGO® build in the Monsters’ Garden, find the LEGO® Monster bandmates in MINILAND® and win special prizes in magnificent Monster Party games! There will even be meet and greets with Bonesy, the Halloween skeleton! READ MORE

Spooky Mini Golf

Old City - Tuesday, October 1 to Thursday, 31, 2024
Franklin Square's mini golf gets a spooky makeover. Kids can putt along to eerie music, creepy lights, and fog on this Halloween-inspired course. READ MORE

Trick-or-Treat Train

New Hope - Friday, October 4 to Thursday, October 31, 2024
All aboard the train at New Hope Railroad for a 45-minute trick-or-treat train ride. Kids can dress up in their Halloween costumes and ride the rails, with stops for for candy and assorted toys. READ MORE

Roxtoberfest

Roxborough - Saturday, October 5, 2024
Ridge Avenue goes full fall at the 10th annual Roxtoberfest, featuring food trucks, craft brews, live music, German folk dancing, and kids' activities. READ MORE

Shiverfest 2024

Gladwyne - Saturday, October 5, 2024
Have a frighteningly fun, family-friendly day at Shiverfest! It is Riverbend’s largest community based-event packed with fun fall activities for the whole family. Kids can enjoy pony rides, arts and crafts, a trick-or-treat-trail, and insect and circus shows. READ MORE

Franklin Fright

Center City - Saturdays & Sundays, October 5 to October 27, 2024
Put on a costume to trick-or-treat indoors at The Franklin Institute. Knock on decorated doors throughout the museum, enjoy spooky science experiments, and more every weekend in October. READ MORE

Elmwood Park Zoo's Boo at the Zoo

Norristown - Saturdays & Sundays, October 5 to 27, 2024
Collect candy while admiring the animals throughout the Elmwood Park Zoo. A costume parade, treats, animal meet-and-greets, and much more are in store for trick-or-treaters. As an added perk, various drink specials are on tap for the grown ups. READ MORE

Fall Harvest & Great Pumpkin Patch

Villanova - Sunday, October 6, 2024
Come out to The Willows Park in Radnor for The Fall Harvest & Great Pumpkin Patch, where tractor rides, gem mining, arts and crafts, live music, a mechanical bull, and more are waiting for families. Pick a pumpkin to decorate and enjoy yummy treats at this award-winning event, recognized statewide. READ MORE

Fall Fun Day

Philadelphia - Sunday, October 6, 2024
Children of all ages and caregivers are invited to a family-friendly day of outdoor autumn festivities. Enjoy fall crafts, live children’s music performances, games, prizes, story times, mini cemetery tours, and more. READ MORE

Fort Mifflin Candlelight Ghost Tours

Philadelphia - Fridays & Saturdays, October 11 to 27, 2024
Fort Mifflin is known as one of the most haunted sites in the country. Guests can learn of the true stories of paranormal activity experienced by decades of visitors and staff. There are no decorations, no blood, just real ghosts. READ MORE

Brick Fest Live

Oaks - Saturday & Sunday, October 12 & 13, 2024
Families are amazed by life-sized LEGO models and cities (including local landmarks!) built entirely of this timeless toy, as they play with mind-blowing attractions that set the imagination free, and build with millions of LEGO bricks at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. READ MORE

Philadelphia Zoo's Boo at the Zoo

Fairmount Park - Saturdays & Sundays October 12 to October 27, 2024
Trick-or-treat your way through the animal exhibits, where you'll see creepy creatures munching on pumpkins. Don't forget to dress up in your favorite costume and bring a bag for treats along the way. Best of all, Boo at the Zoo is included in your general admission ticket. Don't miss out on this frightfully fun experience! READ MORE

The Great Pumpkin Carve of Chadds Ford

Chadds Ford - Thursday, October 17 - Saturday, October 19, 2024
This three day festival features over 60 artisans as they turn ordinary pumpkins into extraordinary works of art. In addition to seeing the carved pumpkins, kids can walk a haunted trail, win raffle prizes, and hear live music. READ MORE

Brandywine Zoo's Boo at the Zoo

Wilmington, DE - Friday to Sunday, October 18 to 20, 2024
In the spirit of the Halloween season, children are invited to dress up in costume to see the animals at the Brandywine Zoo. Guests can expect not-so-spooky activities, Halloween decorations, and more. READ MORE

Autumn Alive! Fall Festival

Quakertown - Saturday, October 19, 2024
The Autumn Alive! fall festival kicks off with the Broad Street Pet Parade, where you can dress your pet in their Halloween costume. Children’s activities, live music, cupcake contests, an Authors' Corner, and more are held throughout the day. READ MORE

Halloween Ghost Ship

Wilmington, DE - Saturday, October 19, 2024
Got a pirate costume? Put it to good use aboard the Kalmar Nyckel at the Wilmington Riverfront, where the boat's captain and mates will regale young visitors with stories of life at sea. A spookily decorated indoor ship will be on display, and kids can partake in Halloween crafts. READ MORE

Trick-or-Trolley

Manayunk - Friday, October 25 to Saturday, October 26, 2024
Hop on the free Trick-or-Trolley to get around Main Street Manayunk. The trolley stops at several Manayunk restaurants and shops, and at Philadelphia’s newest haunted attraction, Lincoln Mill Haunted House.  READ MORE

CultureFest!: Día de los Muertos at Penn Museum

University City - Saturday, October 26, 2024
This full-day festival offers fun for the whole family, including an arts activity, altar competition, artisan market, dance and music performances, and an enormous traditional ofrenda (altar) installation by the Mexican Cultural Center. READ MORE

Trick-or-Treat Street in Franklin Square

Old City - Saturday, October 26, 2024
Recommended for children 10 and younger, kids visiting Franklin Square can follow the map to collect goodies on Trick-or-Treat Street. READ MORE

Tram and Treat at Winterthur

Winterthur, DE - Saturday, October 26, 2024
Ride a tram car throughout Winterthur's scenic grounds, stopping along the way to collect treats and enjoy crafts. Reservations are strongly suggested as capacity is limited. Treats are available while supplies last. Bring your own treat bag. READ MORE

Halloween at Hagley

Wilmington, DE - Saturday, October 26, 2024
Spend the day at Hagley Museum and Library and celebrate Halloween. Kids can dress up in costumes and visit treat stations throughout the property. In addition to treats, children can expect Halloween-themed activities such as making a jack-o-lantern pouch and playing spider slingshot. READ MORE

Trick Or Treat at the Please Touch Museum

Fairmount Park - Saturday, October 26, 2024
Wear your costume to Please Touch during the Trick-or-Treat event, featuring slime-making, Halloween puppet story times, and more. READ MORE

Mini Mug Spooktacular Family Halloween Bash

Philadelphia - Sunday, October 27, 2024
Get ready for a frightfully fun day filled with excitement for the whole family! Enjoy a dazzling performance and magical stories by the one and only Sandy Straction, guaranteed to enchant and entertain. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Riverbend Environmental Education Center
Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
Chadds Ford Historical Society
Wilmington Riverfront/Fort Christina Park/Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library