45+ not-so-scary Halloween events in Pittsburgh for kids

Photo above courtesy of the Pittsburgh Zoo.

The lineup of Halloween celebrations in Pittsburgh grows larger every year. Many are family-friendly events that welcome little kids to be entertained without fear of… well, fear. Among this year’s not-so-scary Halloween events in Pittsburgh, you’ll find outdoor activities, new festivals and repeats of favorite annual fun that will appeal to every kind of kid.

Through Oct. 27: HalloBoo!, Idlewild Park. Come in costume to trick-or-treat through Story Book Forest, hop on your favorite rides, and enjoy special seasonal entertainment. More than 30 rides will be operating during HalloBoo. New this year are the Sasquatchanna Railroad (where you might catch a glimpse of Bigfoot!), the otherworldly Laser Swamp (filled with mysterious lights and sound), and Grigsby’s Trunk of Giggles. HalloBoo! operates on Saturdays and Sundays in the daytime. At night, things get scarier for teens and grownups. Admission starts at $24.99.

Through Oct. 27: Phantom Fall Fest, Kennywood Park. Family Halloween fun is programmed during the day on Saturdays and Sundays with rides and attractions in operation. Littles can get in line for up to eight Kiddieland rides. Check out Auto Race, the Merry-Go-Round and Thomas the Tank, with features like Cranky’s Drop Tower and Flynn’s Fire Training. Older thrill seekers will head to the Kangaroo, Jack Rabbit, Turtle and Musik Express. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets start at $29.99.

Sept. 27-Oct 26: Haunted River Cruises, Gateway Clipper Fleet. These guided tours, operating on Fridays and Saturdays, point out Pittsburgh’s iconic sites and spooky legends like the Monongahela Monster and the ghost that might just inhabit the Allegheny County Jail. Cruise tickets are $32, $20 for kids ages 1-12.

Sept. 27-Oct. 31: Trick or Treat Mini Golf, Fun Fore All. Combine trick-or-treat with a Halloween-themed round of mini-golf. Kids can show off their costumes and golf skills on the creepy course and receive a trick-or-treat bag of goodies. Admission is $13 for adults and older kids, $10 for kids ages 12 and younger. Visit on Oct. 11, for Howl-O-Ween Pup Night when families bring their costumed dogs. Local vendors will join in the fun and give out treats to kids and dogs.

Sept. 29 and Oct. 13: Kids Day, Hundred Acres Manor. The normally adult-level scare house hosts two lights-on, no-scare Kids Day tours this year. These afternoon events include hands-on crafts, touch-a-truck, face painting and wagon rides. Advance admission is $15, which includes wagon rides to the Manor.

Oct. 2-Nov. 3: Laser Family Halloween, Kamin Science Center. Get into the Halloween spirit with music from the “Addams Family,” “Ghostbusters” and “Beetlejuice,” plus classics like “Thriller” and “Superstition” under the lasers. Tickets are $7.

Oct. 3-Nov. 3: Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza, Pittsburgh Zoo. This family-friendly event is the perfect combination of nighttime fun, the spirit of autumn, and artistry with thousands of intricately carved pumpkins. Tickets start at $18.

Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25: Storytime and Crafting in the Garden, Pittsburgh Botanical Garden. Kids will discover nature with a read-aloud story followed by a craft related to the story themes. Seasonal themes will include spiders, bats and Johnny Appleseed. Free with garden admission.

Oct. 5-31: Halloween Scavenger Hunt at the Miniature Railroad, Kamin Science Center. Special, spooky and mysterious features will be added to the Miniature Railroad and Village when it reopens on Oct. 5. Eagle eyes might find a werewolf, Bigfoot, a witch, zombies and the Headless Horseman among other Halloween-themed figures. The railroad display is included with general admission.

Oct. 5: “Hocus Pocus,” Kamin Science Center. Three wild witch sisters—Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), and Mary (Kathy Najimy) — return from 17th-century Salem when they’re conjured up by some unsuspecting kids. This seasonal favorite will be screened in the Rangos Giant Cinema. Rated PG. Tickets are $12.

Oct. 6: Meet the Salem Sisters, Schenley Visitor Center. Meet the three costumed witches we know from “Hocus Pocus” at this family-friendly event, which includes an assortment of devilishly delightful treats and punch. Recommended for ages 6 and older. Costumes are encouraged. Registration is $25. Warning: This event is likely to sell out quickly.

Oct. 8: Pumpkin Palooza Mural Community Painting Party, Kelly Strayhorn Theater. This mural’s first brushstrokes were started by kids at Larimer’s Back 2 School Summer Jam in August, and now it’s time to add the finishing touches. All materials will be provided, including paint and brushes —just bring your creativity and enthusiasm. Registration is pay-what-you-wish from $0-$25.

Oct. 10: Teen Night: Ghoulish Galleries, Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History. Experience a night of eerie fun with a bug-tasting booth, where you can trick or treat yourself to some creepy crawlers. Learn all about bats, insects and arachnids in an interactive setting, create your own wearable costume, and make a deconstructed stuffed animal. Enjoy a Halloween playlist curated by a live DJ, get a custom caricature and receive goody bags to take home. Registration is free for ages 13-18.

Oct. 11- 26: Creatures of the Night, Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve. The Audubon Society’s annual Halloween event, running on Fridays and Saturdays, invites families to come in costume to learn about nocturnal creatures while led along a wooded path by a costumed firefly. Along the way, you’ll meet a great horned owl, flying squirrel and little brown bat. Expect treats, too. Online registration is $12, free for those younger than 2.

Oct.12: “Monster House,” Kamin Science Center. Three kids discover their neighbor’s house is not just haunted. It is a living, breathing monster. Catch this family-friendly, PG-rated flick in the Rangos Giant Cinema. Tickets are $12.

Oct.12, 19, 20, 26, 27: Campfire Ghost Stories, Allegheny County Parks. Fall nights and spooky season set the scene for family-friendly ghost stories and songs by the glow of a roaring campfire. Halloween costumes are encouraged. No registration required.

Oct. 14-31: Booktacular Pumpkin Patch, Sewickley Public Library. Register for free here to pick up a pumpkin on Oct. 14. Take your pumpkin home to decorate as your favorite picture book character. Use paint, paper, ribbons, glitter, stickers, or other adornments. Then drop your decorated pumpkin off Oct. 18 to be included in the Booktacular pumpkin display, up through Oct. 31.

Oct. 17-27: “Boo’s Halloween House Party,” Point Park Playhouse Theater. This new theatrical performance will have kids howling along to Halloween-themed musical hits with a cast of eerie-sistible characters that will delight boys and ghouls of all ages. Combine your show with a visit to the Playhouse Fall Fest. Tickets are $20.

Oct. 17-27: Pittsburgh Playhouse Fall Fest, Downtown. This new street fair will include pumpkin mini golf, monster toss, face painting, crafts and carnival booths. Grownups will appreciate the pop-up bar, vendors and food trucks. Admission is free.

Oct. 18-20: Pumpkin Patch Trolley, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Why ride a wagon to the pumpkin patch when you can zip along on a trolley? The Trolley Museum offers round-trip rides on its historic railroad to collect pumpkins. After the Pumpkin Patch excursion, kids can decorate their pumpkins in the craft room, where complimentary refreshments will be served. Tickets are $22 for adults, $21 for seniors, $20 for ages 3-17 years, free for ages 2 and younger, which include unlimited regular trolley rides.

Oct. 18, 19, 25, 26: “Halloweentown,” Allegheny County Parks. Halloween Family Movie Month begins at dusk at four area parks. Bring your own drinks and snacks along with chairs or blankets. Rated TV-G. Admission is free. Get details at the link above.

Oct. 19: Pumpkin Party, Carnegie Library—Carrick: Stop by the library for Halloween-themed crafts, candy, spooky books, scary movies and more. Halloween costumes are encouraged. Free. Details here.

Oct. 19: “The Addams Family Values,” Kamin Science Center. Morticia (Angelica Huston) and Gomez (Raul Julia) and the gang try to rescue Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd) from a gold-digging black widow (Joan Cusack). Watch the PG-13 film in the Rangos Giant Cinema. Tickets are $12.

Oct. 19: “Coco” Cereal Cinema, Row House Lawrenceville. The whole family can enjoy a cereal bar breakfast along with the screening of this seasonal favorite film. Tickets are $17.50.

Oct. 19: Punkin Chunkin, Hartwood Acres. This annual event launches pumpkins across the field with a full-size trebuchet. Family activities include crafts and games, face painting, balloon art and Medieval sword fighting. Admission is free.

Oct. 19: Track and Treat for Kids, Bud Harris Cycling Track. This free annual Citiparks event combines family fun with a focus on a healthy lifestyle. Bring bicycles or borrow a bike on-site to pedal around the track. Track and Treat includes bike safety lessons, a bike decorating station, games and a costume contest. Keep the energy up with refreshments and great eats from food trucks.

Oct. 19: Haunted Trail at Camp Guyasuta, Sharpsburg. Gather around a bonfire, stroll the haunted trail and hop on a hayride. Advance tickets start at $15.

Oct. 19: Community Campfire, Frick Park Hollow. Celebrate the beauty of fall at a community campfire. The campfire and sticks will be provided. Families are invited to BYOR – bring your own roast-ables. Bring blankets and chairs, because seating will be limited. The evening will feature live music, lawn games and pumpkin painting for kids. Registration is free.

Oct. 19: River Academy of Excellence Trunk or Treat. River Academy, a special education school in Glenshaw, invites kids and their grownups to their Trunk or Treat event from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Hartwood Towne Centre. It’s a fun opportunity for the community to gather and a chance for families to learn about River Academy’s mission of helping children thrive.

Oct. 19-20: Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkin Festival, Strip District. Enormous pumpkins are the stars of this festival, which includes a costumed fun run, horse-drawn carriages, pumpkin-eating contests and smashing pumpkin drops. Admission is free. Find details here.

Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27: Owl-o-Ween, The National Aviary. Kids can expect to create an Owl-O-Ween craft, march in a Halloween parade and have a meet-and-greet with owls. Activities are included in Aviary general admission.

Oct. 19, 20, 26, 27: Zoo Boo, Pittsburgh Zoo. Enjoy daytime trick-or-treating throughout the zoo, work on fun crafts and meet some favorite costumed characters. Activities included in zoo admission.

Oct. 20: HOWL-o-Ween at SouthSide Works Dog Park. From noon to 4 p.m., enjoy some tricks and treats with your furry friends. Dress up Fido for the ultimate pet costume contest plus enjoy plenty of games and activities to celebrate this fun spooky paw-liday. (Pet parents can enjoy frosty refreshments at Levity Brewing.)

Oct. 20: The Great (Pink) Pumpkin Patch at SouthSide Works Town Square. This charity pumpkin patch and faBOOlous party runs from noon to 4:30 p.m. You’re invited to pick a pumpkin from the patch with Women Who Rock. Pink and traditional pumpkins will be for sale benefitting Magee-Women’s Research Institute and Foundation. Enjoy live music and the return of the Little Kids Disco, along with a kids costume contest (at 1:30 p.m.), a Halloween pop-up bar for grownups (courtesy of SouthSide’s own Kŭlcher Kitchen and Bar), plus face painting and more.

Oct. 20: Children’s Harvest Festival, Oliver Miller Homestead. Kids can celebrate the season the way they did in the 18th century at Oliver Miller Homestead. Colonist kid crafts include butter churning, writing with a quill and making dolls. Compete in a sack race, apple bobbing and other games. Admission is $2.

Oct. 24: Scarnegie’s HallowScreening, Carnegie Library—Main. Join the library for some spooky-not-scary movie fun guaranteed to get you in the Halloween spirit. Details here.

Oct. 25: Halloween Happenings, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Little ghosts and goblins can come to the conservatory in costume for a day of festive activities. Free with regular admission.

Oct. 25: Great Glass Pumpkin Make-It-Now, Pittsburgh Glass Center. Make a glass pumpkin ($45) in any color, or create a fused suncatcher ($35) or flame-worked glass candy ($30). The experience is an opportunity to try glassmaking with the assistance of a local artist.  Activities range from 20 minutes for glassblowing, flame-working and sandblasting to up to an hour for fusing.  Registration is required.

Oct. 26: Pumpkin Palooza: An East Liberty Halloween Adventure, Kelly Strayhorn Theater. Kids can come in costume for an afternoon of tricks, treats and groovy beats. They will enjoy crafts and activities. A family-friendly performance features K-Theatre Dance Complex, Alumni Theater Company, Obama High School Marching Band and the Urban Jazz Band. Admission is pay-what-you-wish from $0 to $25.

Oct. 26: Halloween Party, Carnegie Library—West End. Kids are invited to wear costumes and join the library to celebrate Halloween with spooky crafts, snacks and music. Free. Details here.

Oct. 26: Super Science Saturday: Booseum Trick or Treat, Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Costumed kids will investigate seasonal specimens, including jumping spiders, hairy tarantulas and the famous crystal skull. Follow a scavenger hunt through the museum’s haunted halls to earn a goodie bag of treats. Advance registration is free with museum admission.

Oct. 26: Halloween Fun Cruise, Gateway Clipper Fleet. This two-hour cruise includes a DJ dance party, Halloween-themed interactive characters and activities. Tickets are $35, $30 for ages 1-12 years.

Oct. 26: Monster Mash Bash: Family Halloween Party, Carnegie Library—Lawrenceville. Join the library for dancing, tricks, treats and spooky fun. Free. Details here.

Oct. 26-27: Trick or Trolley, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Costumed kids will trick-or-treat among the antique streetcars. Local businesses and organizations will hand out candy and holiday favors. Other activities include trolley rides through the autumn scenery, themed games and the chance to explore the interactive exhibits in the new Welcome & Education Center. Admission is $20, $19 for seniors, $15 for ages 3-18, free for those 2 and younger.

Oct. 26-27: Trunk-or-Treat, Allegheny County Park. Dress in costume and trick-or-treat from car cruisers, who will pass out candy and treats to kids. Trunk-or-Treat runs from 2-4 p.m. on Oct. 26 in South Park and Oct. 27 at Hartwood Acres. Admission is free.

Oct. 27: Halloween Hunt, Kamin Science Center. Go on a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt throughout the Science Center and participate in hands-on activities and games. Make ghostly boo bubbles and watch a glass candy demonstration, build a tiny, haunted house, use recycled materials to make EcoBrix and make nebula spin art. Activities are included with general admission.

Oct. 27: Classic Monster Movie Marathon, Row House Lawrenceville. This all-day marathon of retro monster movies includes “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” (1954), “Bride of Frankenstein” (1935) and “The Wolfman” (1941). Tickets are $36.

Oct. 27: Sensory-Friendly Trick or Treat, Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Kids in costume can listen to stories around a pretend campfire, meet a scaly live animal ambassador and trick or treat. The evening event will have reduced audio/visual elements, plus calming spaces with support materials. Admission is $16 for adults, $12 for students.

Oct. 31: Halloween at Main, Carnegie Library—Main. Drop in at the Children’s Department for Halloween fun. Free. Details here.

Oct. 31: CLP’s HallowZine, Carnegie Library—Main. This drop-in compilation zine-making session invites participants to create a page to be added to a collective zine project centered around horror in media, horror movies, books and games. Kids can rate a favorite horror book, sketch a video game character, write a horror movie review or a poem. The pages will be compiled to create the library’s first HallowZINE. Halloween treats will be available while supplies last. Free. Details here.

Nov. 1: Pittsburgh Halloween Festival, South Park Fairgrounds. This vegan-based festival includes all-ages activities like a Halloween costume contest for kids, adults and dogs, lawn games, haunted scenes and food trucks. Admission is free.