Halloween Events For Kids

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Halloween is a fun holiday. Unlike Christmas or Easter, which are inherently family and faith related, Halloween is just for fun. We let our imaginations run free with costumes, give out candy and throw parties just for the sake of dressing up in costume. Halloween starts long before October 31st these days, as evidenced by the Halloween stores that open up at the beginning of September. So what kind of fun things can you do for Halloween?

Trick or Treating

Trick-or-treating is fun for the youngest kids - typically up to about 12 years old. Kids get dressed up in their costumes on Halloween evening and knock on doors in the neighborhood. Neighbors give out treats, usually candy, to the trick-or-treaters. Parents almost always accompany young kids on their rounds. If you don't live in a neighborhood that's good for activities like this, you can go trick-or-treating at a local shopping center or a more family-friendly neighborhood.

Handing out Candy

For trick-or-treating to work, someone needs to be home to hand out the candy. Many people just turn the porch light on to let trick-or-treaters know that this house is participating. But some folks go so far as to decorate their house and visitors. Older trick-or-treaters love this and often visit these haunted houses multiple times on Halloween. It's a good idea to have a way to clue the ghouls in when there's a young visitor so they can go easy on the scares.

Haunted Houses

Kids, especially older kids and teenagers loved these haunted houses so much that a new business was born. Companies rent space, often in a retail center, to operate a haunted house for which they charge an entry fee. They can get very elaborate, including back stories, themes and sets and characters designed to frighten visitors. Customers usually pay a fee to go through the Haunted House. Variations include tours through historic districts and "haunted woods". Many of these haunted houses operate on Friday and Saturday evenings through October.

Pumpkin Patches

Don't forget the ever-popular Jack-O-Lantern carving. You can get your pumpkin at the local supermarket, or you can go to a pumpkin patch. Many pumpkin patches have turned their outdoor markets into entertainment centers for small children. Bring your camera to take pictures of the kids in the bounce houses, riding ponies and getting their faces painted. It's a great way to get into the Halloween spirit!