Halloween doesn’t have to be super-scary, here are some fun happenings just right for the younger set.
Throughout October …
JACK O’LANTERN JUNCTION
It’s Halloween fun for the whole family! Walk through the trick-or-treat maze and see kid-friendly ghosts, skeletons and more. Stop and color, or visit the Halloweenville miniature animated display. Enjoy the area’s only indoor pumpkin patch (where kids get a free mini-pumpkin!), and take a spin on the two outdoor kids’ train rides. Jack O’Lantern Junction is open through Nov. 1. EnterTRAINment Junction, 7379 Squire Court, West Chester; 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Mon – Sat, 12 – 6 p.m. Sun; tickets start at $9.95 for ages 3 – 12, $11.95 for seniors, and $13.95 for adults; 513-898-8000 or entertrainmentjunction.com.
TOTTER’S PUMPKIN PATCH
Kids can ride the trolley (weather permitting) to Totter’s pumpkin patch and select their very own pumpkin! Through Oct. 23, please call for times. Totter’s Otterville, 4314 Boron Drive, Covington; $2 per pumpkin, per child; 859-491-1441 or tottersotterville.com.
Weekends in October
FALL HARVEST FLYER
The LM&M Railroad has partnered with The Black Barn for some fun and family-friendly activities! Families will enjoy a farmer’s market, pumpkin painting, short hayrides, a hay maze for kids, and plenty of arts and crafts. Passengers can select a small pie pumpkin (included in price of ticket), or purchase a larger carving pumpkin from The Black Barn. Be sure to bring your camera for plenty of great photo opportunities and purchase your tickets early, as these rides will sell out! Trains depart at 9:45 a.m., 12:20, 2:55 and 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25. LM&M Railroad, 127 South Mechanic Street, Lebanon; $19 adults, $16 seniors and ages 5 – 16, $10 ages 2 – 4, free ages 1 and younger; 513-933-8022 or lebanonrr.com.
HALLZOOWEEN
Always hairy, but never scary! HallZOOWeen makes its return with loads of Fall fun. Come dressed in your Halloween best for trick-or-treat stations (please bring your own treat bag), special animal encounters, Phil Dalton’s Theater of Illusion Show, the Hogwarts Express Train Ride (additional charge applies), and the Scare-ousel (additional charge applies)! Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine Street; 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Oct. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25; free with Zoo admission (general admission at the gate $18 adults, $12 children and seniors, $9 parking); cincinnatizoo.org.
Oct. 8 – 25
HALLOWEEN NIGHTS
Join in on the spooky, hardly-haunted fun at Parky’s Farm! This annual event features thousand of twinkling lights, festive Halloween displays, and family-friendly activities and entertainment. Open 6 – 10 p.m. Thu – Sun, through Oct. 25. Parky’s Farm in Winton Woods, 10073 Daly Road; $6 per person online, $7 at the gate, plus a valid Great Parks of Hamilton County Motor Vehicle Permit ($3 daily, $10 annual) is required to enter the park; 513-521-7275 or greatparks.org.
Oct. 9 – 24
HAUNTED VILLAGE
Time for slightly frightful fun at Heritage Village Museum! Visitors can ride a wagon through the Village after dark or take a stroll through a haunted cemetery, but watch out for zombies! Dress in your Halloween best and let the kids trick-or-treat at each building. The mad scientist and witches will take up residence, along with balloon animals, face painting and fun games for kids. Open every Friday and Saturday from 6 – 10 p.m., Oct. 9 – 24. Heritage Village Museum inside Sharon Woods, 11450 Lebanon Road; $8 ages 2 and older plus a valid Great Parks of Hamilton County motor vehicle permit ($3 daily, $10 annual) is required to enter the park; 513-563-9484 or heritagevillagecincinnati.org.
Oct. 10 – 25
CONEY ISLAND’S FALL-O-WEEN
Dress in your Halloween best and head to Coney Island for their Fall-O-Ween Festival that includes a Trick-or-Treat Trail, Coney’s Classic Rides, meetings with farmyard friends, a Fright Lights musical light show, pony rides, magic shows, hayrides, and more. Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Avenue; 1 – 7 p.m. Oct. 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25; $11 ages 2 and older, free children younger than 2 (unless child is participating in Trick or Treat Trail); parking is $5 per vehicle; coneyislandpark.com/fall-o-ween-festival.
Oct. 16
FREE 7TH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN EXTRAVAGANZA
Calling all Jedi, Storm Troopers, Chewbaccas, and visiting aliens to West Chester Family Dentistry’s Halloween Extravaganza! Pet a real alligator, join a costume contest (with prizes), enjoy free food and drink, a chili cook-off, games and music, get a children’s ID by West Chester Police Department, tour the West Chester Fire Department’s fire safe house and fire truck, and collect a goody bag. Bring food and supplies for ReachOut Lakota to receive extra door prize entries! West Chester Family Dentistry, 9000 Cincinnati Dayton Road; 5 – 7:30 p.m.; 513-755-2118 or wcfamilydentistry.com.
Oct. 17
HALLOWEEN FIRE SPOOKTACULAR
Bring the kids in costume for a fun, daytime event that lets them explore the world of fire fighting! Enjoy crafts, games, the fire safe house, stories and more. Cincinnati Fire Museum, 315 West Court Street; 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; please call for price; 513-621-5553 or cincyfiremuseum.com.
Oct. 23
FREE TREAT STREET
Come dressed in your favorite costume for a night of spooktacular fun — enjoy trick-or-treating, a petting zoo, festive music, refreshments, and a Halloween display perfect for photographing your little ghosts and goblins. For ages 12 and younger — don’t forget to bring a bag for treats! Deerfield Towne Center, 5503 Deerfield Boulevard, Mason; 6 – 8 p.m.; deerfieldtownecenter.com.
Oct. 25
THE HOWL
“Bark” your calendars for the HOWL! A Halloween costume parade and trick-or-treat trail for dogs and their human families. Children are free with paid canine. Walk the beautiful 1.4-mile paved trail around the lake for treat/prize stations. Registration starts at 12:30 p.m. Parade from 1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Trick-or-treat trail from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Wiggly Field Dog Park Fund at West Chester/Liberty Community Foundation. Voice of America MetroPark, 7850 VOA Park Drive, West Chester; 1 – 4 p.m.; a valid MetroParks of Butler County motor vehicle permit (see site for prices) is required to enter the park; 513-867-5835 or yourmetroparks.net.