October 18-19, 25-26; 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Akron Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo – Dress your little ghosts and goblins in their costumes for everyone’s favorite non-scary Halloween event. Use your candy passport to find 12 treat stations through the zoo. Enjoy more than 700 animals from around the world and Halloween decorations throughout the entire zoo. Take a spin on the carousel, ride the train and much more. Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave., Akron, 330-375-2550, akronzoo.org
October 10-25
Halloween Hayrides, Fridays and Saturdays, ride times: 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, 8:30 p.m. Halloween Hayrides feature a narrated hayride along a trail filled with family-oriented thrills, chills and adventures. After riding on the wagon, visitors continue their journey with a walk along a haunted trail through Festival Field. Rain, snow or shine. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland, 440-256-2122, lakemetroparks.com
October 16-19 and 23-26
Boo At The Zoo Weekends, designed for a younger audience, Boo offers eight nights of scare-free fun. Features a spooky delight on every corner including animals on exhibit each evening. Happy haunts include: The Creepy Crawly Critter Animal Show, the Monster Mash Dance Party, the Not-So-Haunted Greenhouse, the Pirates of the Scaribbean Train Ride, the Halloween Hay Maze, magic shows, jugglers, stiltwalkers, musical entertainment and much more. Each child receives a complimentary treat bag. Kids and adults are encouraged to wear fun (not scary) costumes. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, 216-661-6500, clevelandmetroparks.com
October 17
Halloween Decoration Craft – Kids can enjoy their day off from school, and come to the Lake Branch to make a neat Halloween decoration. Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch Library, 5642 Andrews Road, Mentor-on-the-Lake, 440-257-2512, mentorpl.org
Cider & Spiders, noon-4 p.m. Stop by for a cup of cider and make an edible spider craft. Mentor Headlands Branch Library, 4669 Corduroy Road, Mentor Headlands, 440-257-2000, mentorpl.org
Spooky Kooky Halloween Show, 1:30 p.m. Spend your school-free day with a spooktacular family magic show featuring Mr. Zap and friends. All ages are invited to this fun Halloween magic show. Mentor Public Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., Mentor, 440-255-8811, mentorpl.org
Howl-O-Ween Party for Dogs, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Yep, this party’s gone to the dogs … complete with costume contest, games and more. Free admission. Mentor Dog Park, 6647 Hopkins Road, Mentor
October 17-18
Magical Whooloween, 5:30-10:30 p.m. This is a non-scary Halloween alternative for families with children ages 2-11, featuring storytelling, crafts, games, night hike, nature facts, snack and miniature steam train ride. Pre-registration required; fee applies. Visit lakemetroparks.com or call 440-358-7275 or 800-669-9226 to register. Lake Metroparks, Penitentiary Glen Reservation, 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road, Kirtland
October 17 through November 1
Lorain County Metro Parks’ Halloween Fair, Fridays and Saturdays, 5-10 p.m. The Halloween Fair trail (Carlisle Reservation’s Short Loop Trail) is designated as “Family-Friendly” during the hours of 5-7 p.m. The trail turns “Scary” from 7 to 10 p.m. Little Green Choo and Tractor-pulled Wagon rides are free to the public. Riders experience the Children’s Nature Discovery Trail with inflatable Halloween characters and other family-friendly displays. Also, free entertainment, midway games and more. Visit metroparks.cc/halloween.php for details. Lake County Metro Parks, Carlisle Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Road, LaGrange
October 18
Halloween Town, 10 a.m. PlayhouseSquare’s first Halloween party for families. Come dressed in costume and enjoy: Halloween crafts, festive photo-op, apple cider, cookie decorating, raffle prizes and more. All proceeds benefit community engagement and education programs at PlayhouseSquare. Connor Palace (formerly Palace Theatre), 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org
Halloween All Aboard, 2-4 p.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Bring your family and friends out to Lester Rail Trail for this “spooktacular” event. Members of the N.E.O.L.S. miniature railroad group will offer free train rides during this special park program. Children are encouraged to wear their costumes, but, for safety, please avoid long, flowing garments. Gates will close promptly at 4 p.m. for the Saturday afternoon session and 8:30 p.m. for the Saturday evening session or when the parking lot is full, whichever comes first. All ages welcome. No registration required. Free. Medina County Park District, Lester Rail Trail, 3654 Lester Road, Medina, 330-722-9364, medinacountyparks.com
Halloween Night Hike, 7:30 p.m. Try something new this Halloween — hike with a naturalist in the park at night. Experience the nighttime sights and sounds and learn about Halloween animal myths. Dress for the trail and weather, and costumes are welcome. The trail is not stroller accessible. All ages welcome. No registration required. Free. Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road, Sharon Center, 330-722-9364, medinacountyparks.com
October 18-19, 25-26
I-X Trick or Treat Street – Come in costume and trick-or-treat your way through 12 spooktacular-themed candy stations, all indoors. Rides and attractions include a Bounce House, Looney Bell, Merry Go Round, Spider Mania, Bear affair and more. Find your way through the 3D Mystery Manor, a not-so-scary 3D maze. I-X Center, 1 I-X Center Drive, Cleveland, 216-676-6000, ixtrickortreatstreet.com
October 21
Ghost Town, 4 p.m. – Kids 5-12 can make a spooky town and take it home with them. Mentor Public Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., Mentor, 440-255-8811, mentorpl.org
October 22
Halloween Roller Skating Party, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Wear your costume and join for games, raffles and prizes. Fun for the whole family. Skater’s admission is $5 and skate rental is available for $2. Mentor Skateland Roller Rink, 5615 Andrews Road, Mentor on the Lake, 440-257-3387, mentorskateland.com
October 23
Family Day: Trick or Treat on South High Street, 6-8 pm. Break out your costume early and trek to the museum for a night of art-making fun and surprises. Trick-or-treat in the galleries, create “monsterpieces” and perk up your ears for a spooky musical performance. Cost is $5/participating child. For children and their grown-ups; registration is required. Musical performances curated by Tuesday Musical Association. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron, 330-376-9185, akronartmuseum.org
October 24
Boo Bash, 4 p.m. Read some scary stories, riddles and activities. See what team can make the fastest mummy in a human toilet paper mummy race, make a spooky treat, and hear some great Halloween music. Costumes are encouraged. Register in advance. Nordonia Hills Branch Library, 9458 Olde Eight Road, Northfield, 330-467-8595, nordoniahillsbranch.akronlibrary.org
Spooky Hike and Fire, 6:30-8 p.m. Enjoy a short night hike to see what might be lurking in the woods, then relax and enjoy marshmallows while listening to campfire tales. Bring your own stick and we’ll provide the marshmallows. Halloween costumes welcome. Summit County Metro Parks, Nature Realm, Campfire Area, 1828 Smith Road, Akron, summitmetroparks.org
October 25
Trick and Treats noon-8pm Celebrate Halloween with a day of Fall fun at Crocker Park! Highlights include a pet costume contest benefiting the Cleveland APL as well as trick-or-treating for kids, rides on the Halloween Express, performance by Monica Robins and the Ninja Cowboys and Cleveland’s favorite food trucks. For more information, visit CrockerPark.com.
Spooky Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Spooky face painting and crafts; decorate pumpkins (BYOP), spooky storytime, spooky costume parade; trick or treat at the library. Brunswick Branch Library, 3649 Center Road, Brunswick, 330-273-4150, mcdl.info
Halloween Spooktacular, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Ages birth-8 years. Black cats. Pumpkins. Ghosts. Oh my. Miss JoAnna will use a variety of songs, stories and movement to celebrate Halloween and the fall. A Halloween parade, trick or treating and craft will conclude this event. Costumes and siblings are welcome. Highland Square Branch Library, 807 W. Market St., Akron, 330-376-2927, highlandsquarebranch.akronlibrary.org
Haunted Gingerbread Houses, 11 a.m.-noon and noon-1 p.m. Families are invited to assemble and decorate a Haunted Gingerbread House together. A donation of one bag of candy would be appreciated. There is a limit of one house per family. For families with children in grades 5 and under. Registration is required and begins one week in advance. Space is limited to 15 families per session. Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St., Kent, 330-673-4414, kentfreelibrary.org
Family Build-a-Scarecrow Day, noon-1 p.m. Build a scarecrow, take a hayride and roast marshmallows at this fun, fall event. Preregistration required. Call 440-974-5720. Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve, 8365 Harbor Drive, Mentor
Halloween Spooktacular, 2 p.m. Join Mentor Library for an afternoon of ghost stories and a scavenger hunt with tricks and treats. Kids can make their own spooky Halloween lantern. Costumes are not required, but they are encouraged. Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch Library, 5642 Andrews Road, Mentor-on-the-Lake, 440-257-2512, mentorpl.org
Boo-tanical Bash, 5:30-8 p.m. The Garden’s most popular family event is so fun, it’s scary. And it’s the last hurrah in Hershey Children’s Garden before it closes for the season on Oct. 31. Your little ghosts, witches, goblins and superheroes get to play in Hershey Children’s Garden during the evening hours, go trick-or-treating on spooky garden paths, and engage in a variety of fun activities. There will be entertainment including plenty of music, dancing, giggles and smiles. Register in advance online or by calling 216-721-1600 x100. Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland, cbgarden.org
October 28
Jan Campbell Author Visit, 7-8 p.m. Join Jan Campbell as she reads her picture book, “The Witch Who Loved Small Children.” Jan will have books for sale and will sign your copy. While you’re here, do a Halloween craft. Wear your Halloween costume to join in the Library parade. Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd., Avon Lake, 440-933-8128, alpl.org
October 29
Pumpkin Decorating, 4 p.m. The library will entertain with spooky stories. Kids in grades K-5 can decorate a small pumpkin to take home. Mentor Headlands Branch Library, 4669 Corduroy Road, Mentor Headlands, 440-257-2000, mentorpl.org
Next Top Monster, 4 p.m. Come dressed in monster clothing and you’ll have 15 minutes to uglify yourself before you strut your stuff down the monster runway. Prizes will be given for best costumes. Refreshments will be served. For grades 5 and up. Registration is required. Sign up at the information desk or call 440-516-READ to register by phone. Wickliffe Public Library, 1713 Lincoln Road, Wickliffe, 440-944-6010, wickliffe.lib.oh.us
October 30
BOOtique Trick-or-Treat Halloween starts early at Eton Chagrin Boulevard with an indoor trick-or-treat event on Thursday, October 30, from 5-7 p.m. Kids will also enjoy games and entertainment inside the mall. For more information and store hours, visit EtonChagrinBlvd.com.
Trick-or-Treat Tracks, 6-7:30 p.m. 400 Chocolate trains will be given to the first kids (12 and under) in costume. Balloon animals with Fingerprint the Clown. Bring your creatively carved pumpkins for the Jack-O-Lantern Contest at 7 p.m. Lodi Station Outlets, 9911 Avon Lake Road, Lodi, 330-948-1239, lodistation.com
Halloween Magic Show and Treat Walk, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Come dressed in costume for Magician Dennis Regling’s Wonder Show and the spooky Halloween walk for treats and books. Program ideal for families with young children. Register in advance. Norton Branch Library, 3930 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, 330-825-7800, nortonbranch.akronlibrary.org
October 31
Bones, Bugs & Dead Animals Adult Halloween Party, 8 pm-midnight – Join for a night of terrifying fun. Dance the night away to Abby Normal while enjoying one of Cleveland’s best costume parties. Participate in the annual costume contest for a chance to win a great cash prize. Tickets include light snacks and one drink ticket. Additional food will be available for purchase. Ages 21 and over. $35 in advance, $40 at the door. Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland, 216-231-4600, cmnh.org
Through October 30
Szalay’s Farm Fall Corn Maze, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Corn maze is theme designed from ghosts and goblins to dinosaurs and pirates. $5; kids 3 and younger free. Szalay’s Farm, 4563 Riverview Road, Peninsula, szalaysfarm.com
Pumpkin Patch Train Ride Field Trips, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Bring your class or group to the Lodi Station Outlets Pumpkin Patch Train Ride this October. Cost for groups of 10 or more: $3.50; includes one pumpkin and train ride. To register, visit tinyurl.com/lodistationevents. Or go to lodistation.com for more details. Free for children 6 months and under. Parents ride free when participating in field trip with children. All passengers must have a reservation with a group in advance in order to qualify. Lodi Station Outlets, 9911 Avon Lake Road, Lodi, 330-948-1239, lodistation.com
Through November 1
HalloWeekends at Cedar Point – The 18th season of thrills and chills kicks off and is bigger and better than ever, with even more family-friendly fun during the day and frightfully haunting experiences after the sun goes down, including a new witch-themed haunted house, Frontiertown will transform into a ghost town after dark and much more. Cedar Point Amusement Park, 1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky, 419-627-2350, cedarpoint.com
Also some ongoing fall fun events:
Now through Early November
Simply A Maizing Fall Festival – 12-acre corn maze, tractor-pulled hayrides, pumpkin patch, children’s play area and petting zoo. Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Admission costs apply. Simply A Maizing Corn Maze, 4700 US Hwy 6, Andover, 440-858-5446, simplyamaizing.com
Now through Oct. 19
Lake Metroparks Farmpark Three-Acre Corn Maze – 11 a.m.-4 p.m. “Walk the stalks” through a multitude of twists and turns. Trivia questions help guide you along the way. Outside the maze is a kids play area. Included in regular Farmpark admission. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland, 440-256-2122, lakemetroparks.com
Now through Oct. 26
Honey Haven Farm Fall Festival – Horse-drawn wagon rides, pick your own pumpkins, pumpkin slingshots, corn cannons, corn maze, indoor straw maze, barnyard animals. Honey Haven Farm, 1327 CR 1475, Ashland, 419-289-3384, honeyhavenfarm.com
Now through Oct. 27
Red Wagon Farm Pumpkin Festival – Hay maze, straw jumping area, five-acre corn maze, wagon rides and pick-your-own pumpkins. The festival is open every Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free but events or activities may have ticket price. Red Wagon Farm, 16801 E. River Road, Columbia Station, 440-236-3007, redwagonfarm.com
Now through Oct. 27
Horsetail Run Fall Festival – Families can have fun with an eight-acre corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin patch with pick your own pumpkin, petting zoo, crafts, fall decorations and more. Horsetail Run, 829 State Route 97, Perrysville, 419-994-4696, horsetailrun.com
Now through Oct. 28
Detwiler Farm Fall Festival – Enjoy hayrides to the pick-your-own pumpkin patch, petting zoo, straw and cornfield mazes every Saturday and Sunday. Detwiler Farm, 4520 Renkenberger Road, Columbiana, 330-482-2276, detwilerfarm.com
Now through Oct. 30
Patterson Fruit Farm Fall Fest – Designed for families with preschool and elementary age children. Outdoor play area includes wooden tractor playground and farm-themed fun for children, corn maze, paint your own pumpkin, horse-drawn wagon rides. See website for specific ride hours. Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Fri., Sat., Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost is $4, Mon.-Fri., and $8 on Sat. and Sun. Patterson Fruit Farm, 8765 Mulberry Road, Chesterland, 440-729-9809, pattersonfarm.com
Now through Oct. 31
Hillcrest Orchards Corn Maze and Fall Fest – Spend Saturdays and Sundays at Hillcrest Orchards with a four-acre corn maze, hayrides to the apple orchard or pumpkin patch, and an activity barn with straw tunnel and crate maze. Hillcrest Orchards, 50336 Telegraph Road, Amherst, 440-965-8884, hillcrestfunfarm.com
Now through Oct. 31
Nickajack Farms Fall Festival – A great selection of pumpkins. Enjoy fall decorations, including gourds, Indian corn, corn stalks, and straw bales. Kids and families can participate in pony rides, pumpkin bowling, rope maze, corn cannons, hay rides, barnyard animals and more, 11 a.m. until dark. Nickajack Farms, 2955 Manchester Ave. N.W., North Lawrence, 330-323-9714, nickajackfarms.com
Now through Oct. 31
Dussel Farms Fall Pumpkin Festival – Enjoy six acres of corn maze, “Haunted Bus” and a free tent-maze for children. On the weekends, families can enjoy face painting, caramel apples and kettle corn. Dussel Farms, 1109 Old Forge Road, Brimfield, 330-673-5957, dusselfarms.com
Oct. 4-26
Luther’s Farm Fall Fest – Hay rides, corn maze, petting farm, pumpkin cannon, children’s activities, hay maze, face painting, games, crafts and more. Open Saturdays and Sundays. Admission costs apply. Luther’s Farm, 5150 Alger Road, Richfield, 330-659-2526, lutherfarms.com
Pickering Hill Farms Fall Festival – Wagon rides to the two-acre pumpkin patch or one-acre corn maze. Open Saturdays and Sundays in October, 2-5 p.m. Admission is free with a charge of $1 for the corn maze. Pickering Hill Farms, 35669 Detroit Road, Avon, 440-937-5155, pickeringhillfarms.com
Rockin’-R-Ranch Old West Pumpkin Fest – Experience fall fun in an old western setting with pony rides, hayrides, pumpkin patch, kids activity area, animal petting farm, costume characters and more. Open Saturdays and Sundays. Rockin’-R-Ranch, 19066 E. River Road (SR 252), Columbia Station, 440-236-5454, clevelandhayride.com
Sunrise Farms Fall Festival – Enjoy freshly made hot apple fritters, caramel apples and pure apple cider from our farm kitchen. Select from over 10 varieties of crisp fall apples in our farm store. Pick-your-own pumpkins right from the patch. Glasshouse Pavilion. Open Saturdays and Sundays. 13115 Kinsman Road, Burton, 440-834-1298, sunrisefarmgifts.com
