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Dilworth Park transforms into its own fall festival with Harvest Weekend. Photo courtesy of Center City District
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9/29/23 - 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 Dinosaur Train: The Traveling Exhibit at the Please Touch Museum. Check out American Girl Doll Live! In Concert at the Keswick Theatre this month, 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. Our Fall in Philly Guide, featuring our fall bucket list, will have you ready for sweater weather in no time.

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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Franklin Square hosts family-friendly Halloween events including Spooky Mini Golf, a pumpkin patch and trick-or-treating. Photo courtesy of Historic Philadelphia
Franklin Square hosts family-friendly Halloween events including Spooky Mini Golf, a pumpkin patch and trick-or-treating. Photo courtesy of Historic Philadelphia

Fun Things to Do with Kids in Philly, October 2023

Lincoln Mill Haunted House

Manayunk - Thursday - Saturday, September 23 - November 4, 2023
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 - September 29 - October 31, 2023
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

Bounce the City

King of Prussia - Saturdays & Sundays, September 30 - October 22, 2023
Bounce, slide, and dance your way through a surreal, candy-colored wonderland featuring the largest ball pit on the planet, a 600ft long obstacle course, a huge birthday cake bouncer, silent disco dome, inflatable sports arena & more. Mommy Poppins readers get 15% off with coupon code POPPINS15 (case sensitive).  READ MORE

Franklin Fright

Center City - Saturdays & Sundays, September 30 - October 29, 2023
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

Trick-or-Treat Train

New Hope- September 30 - October 31, 2023
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

Fall Harvest & Great Pumpkin Patch

Villanova - October 1, 2023
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

Spooky Mini Golf

Old City - October 1-31, 2023
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

Mean Girls at the Kimmel

Philadelphia - October 3-8, 2023
Experience the hilarious hit musical, MEAN GIRLS, straight from the dazzling lights of Broadway! Join Cady Heron on her extraordinary journey from the African savanna to the treacherous world of suburban Illinois. READ MORE

Harvest Weekend at Dilworth Park

Center City - October 6-8, 2023
Right next to City Hall, Dilworth Park transforms into its own fall festival with Harvest Weekend. A full programming lineup includes pumpkin painting, live music, and circus arts,  as well as the hay maze that debuts earlier in the month. READ MORE

Trick-or-Trolley

Manayunk - Fridays & Saturdays October 6-28, 2023
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

Pumpkin Playground at Longwood

Kennett Square - October 6 - 30, 2023
Longwood's Pumpkin Playground is back this year! Children can see and touch the pumpkins, while grown-ups can take plenty of fall photos in the pumpkin patch. This experience is free with admission and is located in the Children's Corner of the Idea Garden. READ MORE

Legacy of Sleepy Hollow Train

Ronks - Friday - Sunday, October 6 - November 5, 2023
Discover the true Legacy of Sleepy Hollow, only at the Strasburg Rail Road! The greatest ghost story ever told did not tell us the whole story. Join Isabel Crane, the great-great-granddaughter of the legendary Ichabod Crane, as she takes you on a frightful journey filled with sword fights, ghosts, and a centuries-old curse surrounding her family. Recommended for ages 8 and up. READ MORE

Slide-A-Thon at Smith Memorial Playground

Fairmount Park - October 7, 2023
The Slide-A-Thon is an annual fundraiser to support the maintenance of the Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide at Smith Memorial Playground. Kids will participate in other arts/crafts activities in addition to racing on the Slide. Admission is free, but there is a nominal fee to participate in races. Winners of each category will receive medals and of course, bragging rights. READ MORE

Roxtoberfest

Roxborough - October 7, 2023
Ridge Avenue goes full fall at the 10th annual Roxtoberfest, featuring food trucks, craft brews, live music, German folk dancing, kids' activities. READ MORE

Fall Harvest Festival at Newlin Grist Mill

October 7, 2023
The festival will feature a variety of historic skills and trades demonstrations, as well as fun activities for kids of all ages. Visitors can learn colonial dancing with the Heritage Dancers, enjoy performances by Tuckers’ Tales Puppet Theatre, and play 18th-century games! Many favorite activities from years past will be returning, including pumpkin painting and hayrides. READ MORE

Fort Mifflin Candlelight Ghost Tours

Philadelphia - October 7-29, 2023
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

Elmwood Park Zoo's Boo at the Zoo

Norristown - Saturdays & Sundays, October 7-29, 2023
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

The Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festival

Philadelphia - October 8, 2023
Germantown Avenue transforms into an outdoor arts and crafts marketplace between Willow Grove and Rex Avenues. Fall for the Arts will feature 100 distinctive vendors, including over 50 new local artists, many featuring live demonstrations in The Makers Village. Children will love the Children’s Amusement Zone, including face painting and fun art activities. READ MORE

Old City Fest

Old City - October 8, 2023
Old City Fest returns to celebrate art and design, fashion and food, creativity and culture, music, and family fun in the streets of America’s most historic square mile. Guests can expect a family fun zone, music, shopping, and food. READ MORE

Shiverfest 2023

Gladwyne - October 14, 2023
Have a frighteningly fun, family-friendly day at the event Shiverfest! It is Riverbend’s largest community based-event packed with fun fall activities for the whole family.        READ MORE

Brick Fest Live

Oaks - October 14-15, 2023
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 14 - 29, 2023
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

Brandywine Zoo's Boo at the Zoo

Wilmington, DE - October 20-22, 2023
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

CultureFest!: Día de los Muertos at Penn Museum

University City - October 21, 2023
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

Autumn Alive! Fall Festival

Quakertown - October 21, 2023
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 - October 21, 2023
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

Fall Fun Day

Philadelphia - October 21, 2023
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

East Passyunk Ave. Fall Fest

Philadelphia - October 28, 2023
Bring your family and friends for a full day of with live music, square dancing, arts and craft vendors, a pumpkin patch, hay bales, and a kids’ costume parade! Businesses along Passyunk Avenue are opening their doors to the community to make the day a family-oriented must-do. READ MORE

Trick-or-Treat Street in Franklin Square

Old City - October 28, 2023
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 - October 28, 2023
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 - October 28, 2023
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 Trail at Morris Arboretum

Philadelphia - October 28, 2023
Wear your costume to the Morris Arboretum and explore the Spooky Scarecrow loop while trick-or-treating. Volunteer guides will be dressed for the holiday as well and giving out candy through the gardens. READ MORE

Fitler Square Halloween Fest

Philadelphia - October 28, 2023
Come in costume to this family-friendly Halloween Fest in Fitler Square, complete with crafts, games, treats, and a costume parade, plus a raffle full of treasures from lots of local businesses. READ MORE

Haunted Helicopters at American Helicopter Museum

West Chester - October 28, 2023
American Helicopter Museum welcomes families to its Haunted Helicopter event featuring two hours of spooky Halloween fun. Guests can expect activities and treats while visiting the Museum. READ MORE

PumpkinFest in Headhouse

Philadelphia - October 28, 2023
Celebrate the fall season at the South Street Headhouse District’s PumpkinFest. Guests can expect crafts, candy, pumpkin-decorating, trick or treating at local businesses, live music, a pumpkin carving contest, and circus performances. READ MORE

Trick Or Treat at the Please Touch Museum

Fairmount Park - October 29, 2023
Wear your costume to Please Touch during the Trick-or-Treat event, featuring slime-making, Halloween puppet story times, and more. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Strasburg Rail Road
Riverbend Environmental Education Center
Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
Wilmington Riverfront/Fort Christina Park/Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard
East Passyunk Avenue Business District
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
American Helicopter Museum & Education Center
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