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Best Things To Do in Westchester in October With Kids: Halloween, Farm Fests, and More

The Great Jack-o-Lantern Blaze is a bucket list item for area families. Photo courtesy of Historic Hudson Valley
The Great Jack-o-Lantern Blaze is a bucket list item for area families. Photo courtesy of Historic Hudson Valley
9/30/20 - By Susan Miele

October is upon us, bringing with it the excitement of Halloween. Fall fun is typically in strong supply, and despite the pandemic, and all its precautions, there's still plenty of excitement on tap. Afterall, The Great Jack-O'-Lantern Blaze is already lighting the night sky.

For those who want to keep the fun close to home, consider planning a Halloween celebration with these fun at-home party games. If you're itching to get out, the majority of autumn's traditions are held outdoors. October is the peak season for apple picking, navigating corn mazes, and sourcing the perfect pumpkin. Several fall festivals are returning, and nature centers are busy planning programming along their trails. Pop-up drive-ins are going strong, and scenic fall-foliage drives are a short jaunt away.

Read on for our roundup of all the best things to do with kids in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this October. If you're looking for more action, turn to our Fall Fun and Halloween Guides, and bookmark our Event Calendar for both in-person and virtual family offerings!

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There's fun to be had for all ages at the Soukup Farms Harvest Festival. Photo courtesy of the farm
There's fun to be had for all ages at the Soukup Farms Harvest Festival. Photo courtesy of the farm

Best Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley in October

Walktoberfest at Walkway over the Hudson

Poughkeepsie
Saturday, October 3-Sunday, October 4
More than 100 vendors await offering shopping, dining, and children's activities at this two-day event. Expect pumpkin painting, art projects, sand art, karate demos, princess character appearances, a dance performance, Home Depot construction kits, and more. Enjoy the view! READ MORE

Fall Family Fun Days at the Farm

Kingston
Saturdays and Sundays through October 31
Celebrate fall at the farm with family activities every weekend in October. Pick your own pumpkins and enjoy live music, hayrides, flower picking, meeting farm animals, a kids' crop maze, food & drinks, and more. READ MORE

Soukup Farms Harvest Festival

Dover Plains
Saturdays and Sundays, October 3-25 plus Columbus Day
Hit the pumpkin patch, hitch a hayride, and visit the exotic animals of the Two-by-Two traveling animal exhibit (on select dates) at the Soukup Farms Harvest Festival. There's also a climbable hay dragon, tractor exhibits, and a corn maze. Re-energize with a farm-to-table lunch. READ MORE

Doc Harmon Deconstruction Workshop

Rye
Saturday, October 3
Don't worry about your kids breaking anything at this workshop—they're supposed to! Doc Harmon teaches young tinkerers the inner workings of everyday objects in a hands-on STEM class at the Westchester Children's Museum. READ MORE

Drive-Up Movies at the Palisades Center

West Nyack
Saturday, October 3
Pull up in your vehicle for a cinema under the stars, as Finding Nemo is shown at the Palisades. Admission includes two snacks and two drinks in addition to the movie screening. READ MORE

Harvest Festival at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Bethel
Sundays, October 4 and 11
Highlighting local farms, artisans, and flavors, this annual farmers market features live music, food trucks, crafts, special offerings, and more. Special attractions for this day include hayrides, a corn maze, henna tattoo artist, pet adoptions, and visitors from Rosehaven Alpacas.  READ MORE

The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor

Croton-on-Hudson
Multiple dates through October and November
This renowned walk-through Halloween experience features more than 7,000 hand-carved, illuminated jack-o'-lanterns forming assorted impressive displays, with lighting and music enhancements. New for 2024, celebrate the Blaze's 20th year with a giant birthday cake and Celebration Arch, check out the Gourd & Goblet Tavern, a new VIP experience on the pumpkin trail, and spot the giant Kraken rising from the Croton River. READ MORE

Headless Horseman Children's Days

Ulster Park
Saturday, October 10, and Saturday, October 24
On Children's Days, this seasonal attraction tones down its scare level. Enjoy a hayride, meet friendly characters, walk through the Magic Moon Maze, Haunted Gardens, Dinosaur Trail, and Witch Hazel's Halloween House. Music and other surprises add to the festivity. READ MORE

Greenburgh Nature Center's 45th Birthday Party

Scarsdale
Saturday, October 17
Celebrate the Greenburgh Nature Center’s 45th birthday with an in-person event featuring music, crafts, apple cidering, animal programs, socially distanced activity stations, cupcakes, and goodie bags.   READ MORE

Open House on the Farm

Brewster–FREE
Saturday, October 17
Bring the family for a day at the Tilly Foster Farm, featuring antique tractors, a scavenger hunt, a pumpkin patch, animals, apple cider, donuts, and more. Enjoy the hiking trails while you're there. READ MORE

Celebrate Autumn at the Lewisboro Library

South Salem–FREE
Saturday, October 17
Gather your family on the library lawn for autumnal fun in the form of stories, crafts, and refreshments. READ MORE

Things To Do Halloween Weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Pumpkins and Potions with Doc Harmon

Rye
Saturday, October 31
Before trick-or-treating, head to the Westchester Children's Museum for STEM-inspired fun, as you carve a jack-o'-lantern and experiment with a magic potion you create inside of it! Costumes are encouraged. READ MORE
Take a leisurely hayride at Fishkill Farms. Photo courtesy of the farm
Take a leisurely hayride at Fishkill Farms. Photo courtesy of the farm

More Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley This Season

Hayrides and Fall Farm Fun for Kids in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Here are some of our favorite farms for family entertainment in the fall. READ MORE

Best Pumpkin Patches in the Hudson Valley for Families

Head to these nearby farms to pick the perfect pumpkin. READ MORE

Corn Mazes in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for Families

Check out corn mazes and more fall fun at these family-friendly farms. READ MORE

Apple Picking in the Hudson Valley: Best Apple Farms and Apple Festivals

Check out our favorite destinations for apple picking in the region. READ MORE

15 Fall Day Trips from Boston: Fun Autumn Getaways

Explore fall day trips and autumn weekend escapes for Boston families. READ MORE

10 Great Fall Hikes Near Westchester for Families

These are our favorite places to hike with the kids and see beautiful autumn views. READ MORE

Fun Virtual Events For Kids in October

South Dakota Festival of Books

Daily Thursday, October 1-Friday, October 23
Each year, the South Dakota Festival of Books features more than 50 presenters who speak about their work during solo presentations and panels. The lineup includes writers from various genres, including fiction, non-fiction, history/tribal, poetry, children’s/YA, and writers’ support. READ MORE

Amazing Virtual Archaeology Fair at Harvard

Saturday, October 3
This "amazing" virtual fair celebrates the glamour, labor, humor, and discoveries of archaeology at Harvard. Student archaeologists share their experience with an Irish castle, a shaft tomb in western Mexico, and more. READ MORE

Mexican Day of the Dead Festival at Bowers Museum

Sunday, October 25
The Bowers Museum celebrates Dia de los Muertos (Mexican Day of the Dead) live this year in the Bowers courtyard. The festival includes live performances, art making, face painting, and more. READ MORE

Laurie Berkner Virtual Family Concert: Halloween Party

Saturday, October 31
Here's a Halloween treat: Legendary children's musician Laurie Berkner invites families to a special Halloween virtual family concert. Guests should wear costumes, dancing slippers, and have a stuffed animal handy as Laurie plays a mix of greatest hits and Halloween favorites. READ MORE

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