Looking for some spooktacular fun without the fright? Northeast Ohio is full of kid-friendly Halloween events that bring all the festive magic without the scary surprises.
PICK-A-DAY
WEDNESDAYS
Family Fun Night. 4-8 p.m. Ghostly Manor Thrill Center, 3319 Milan Road, Sandusky, ghostlymanor.com
FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS
Halloween Fair. Haunted walking trail, pumpkin lagoon, train rides. 10/10-25. Carlisle Reservation, 12882 Diagonal Road, Lagrange, loraincountymetroparks.com
Spooky Science. 10/17 opening night, 10/18 astronomy night, 10/24, costume contest, 10/25 trick-or-treat. Beech Creek Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, 11929 Beech St. NE, Alliance, beechcreekgardens.org
THURSDAY-SUNDAY
Boo at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Family-friendly after-hours Halloween. Through 10/26. Thurs-Sun. 5-9 p.m. 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, clevelandmetroparks.com
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Halloween Drive-Thru.
Experience playfully frightful sites throughout the park. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 10/10-26. Lake Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland, lakemetroparks.com
SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS
Boo at the Akron Zoo. Put on your costume, grab a candy bag. 10/11-26. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 505 Euclid Ave., Akron, akronzoo.org
DAY-BY-DAY
October 10
Trunk or Treat. Get ready for a spooktacularly fun evening. 6-8 p.m. Sweet Kiddles, 32900 Pin Oak Pkwy., Avon Lake, sweetkiddles.com/avon-lake
10/10-11
Enchanted Forest. Meet costumed volunteers such as black bear, dirt, luna moth and slug along the pumpkin-lit trails. 6:30-8:30 p.m. The Wilderness Center, 9877 Alabama Ave., SW, Wilmot, wildernesscenter.org
October 10-12
The Chillicothe Halloween Festival. A three-day festival celebrating the fun of Halloween. Yoctangee Park, 1 Annex, N. Park Dr., Chillicothe chillicothehalloweenfestival.com
October 11
Spooky Pooch Parade. A celebration of costumed canines, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Madison Park, 13201 Madison Ave., Lakewood, lakewoodalive.org
October 17
Fall Family Stroll. Treats, instrument discovery and interactive activities. 5:30-7 p.m. The Music Settlement, 11125 Magnolia Dr., Cleveland, themusicsettlement.org
October 17-18
Halloween All Aboard. Wear costumes and take a ride on the miniature railroad. 6-8 p.m. Friday, 4-8 p.m. Saturday. Lester Rail Trail, 3654 Lester Rd., Medina, medinacountyparks.com
October 17-18 & 24-25
Pumpkins & Piranhas. Not-so-spooky Halloween fun. Greater Cleveland Aquarium, 2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland, greaterclevelandaquarium.com
October 18
Trunk or Treat. Explore trucks and vehicles that keep parks beautiful while collecting treats. 5-7 p.m. Silver Creek Metro Park, 5170 S. Medina Line Road, Norton, summitmetroparks.org
Bones, Bones, Bones. Everywhere you look in these fascinating paleontological sites, you will see bones, bones, bones. 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Akron Fossils & Science Center, 2080 S. Cleveland Massillon Road, Copley, akronfossils.com
Trick or Treat Trail. Take a walk around the park, collect candy and goodies, and participate in a costume contest. 2:30 p.m. Green Central Park, 1795 Steese Road, Green, cityofgreen.org
Family Fun Fair and Exceptionalities Expo. A caring, not scary event for the whole family. Costumes, vendors, food and more. 12-3 p.m. The Church at Silver Lake, 2951 Kent Road, Silver Lake, mcbdd.org
October 19
Halloween Spooktacular. An enchanting program filled with musical tricks and treats. 1 p.m. Severance Hall, Mandel Concert Hall, 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, clevelandorchestra.com
October 23
Halloween Boo-tique. Join in your Halloween costume for a fun evening of trick-or-treating. 5-7 p.m. Eton Chagrin Boulevard, 28867 Chagrin Blvd. Woodmere, etonchagrinblvd.com
October 25
Trick & Treats. Dress up in your favorite costume and get ready to kick off the weekend with some Halloween fun. 12-3 p.m. Crocker Park, 177 Market St., Westlake, crockerpark.com
Bootanical Bash. Little wizards and witches meander their way from the seasonally decorated terrace to the Hershey Children’s Garden gathering treats. 6-9 p.m. Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd, Cleveland, holdenfg.org
Hands-On Halloween. Experience a not-so-spooky monster course thrill, parade march, spooky snacks and creative Halloween STEM adventures.10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Akron Children’s Museum, 216 S. Main St., akronkids.org
Haunted Gingerbread Houses. Families are invited to assemble and decorate a haunted gingerbread
house together. 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St., kentfreelibrary.org
October 25-26
Trick-or-Treat on the Farm. Interact with alpacas and goats, visit a fairy garden, ring the farm bell and more. Pure Passions Farm, 7679 Season Road, Kent, purepassionsfarm.com
October 31
Skulls, Bones and Skeletons.
Spooky animal forensics and a discussion and viewing of many different animal bones. 1-3 p.m. Chippewa Lake, Krabill Lodge 7597 Ballash Road, Medina, medinacountyparks.com
