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.
Beyond these organized local events, extending the festive fun right into your home is easy with not-so-scary DIY Halloween crafts. Spend an afternoon making personalized paper lanterns, decorating mini gourds with glitter and paint, or assembling simple spider webs from cotton balls and string for easy decorations. One of the most engaging and personalized activities is transforming your little one into their favorite character with face painting. This activity provides endless hours of creative bonding, allowing parents and children to design friendly monsters, colorful animals, or heroic masks together, offering a safe, imaginative, and temporary alternative to traditional masks.
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. Through 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. Through 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. Through 10/26. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 505 Euclid Ave., Akron, akronzoo.org
DAY-BY-DAY
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
Mall-O-Ween. Belden Village’s beloved Mall-O-Ween event is back! Kids 10 and under are welcome to dress in their favorite costumes (no full facial masks or toy weapons, please) and visit each participating store (while supplies last!) from 4-6 p.m. for a trick-or-treating adventure! Kids can pick up a trick-or-treat bag at the Belden Village table located between Zales and Kay Jewelers. Plus, enjoy a special spooky character meet & greet!
October 24 & 25
Pumpkins & Piranhas. Explore Lake “Eerie” and the deep “BOO” sea during our afterhours celebration. Full Aquarium access, a four-page activity booklet, underwater jack-o’-lanterns, scuba diver interactions, Halloween-themed décor and music, appearances by the friendly landshark Finn and a pumpkin craft are all part of the warm and dry afterhours fall fun. 6-8 p.m. Greater Cleveland Aquarium.
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
Fall Fest. A family fun event with characters, trick or treating, face painting, and more! Wear your costume, bring your pup in their costume, and join in on all the fun. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Pinecrest in Orange Village.
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
