I often joke that Halloween is the never-ending holiday. By the time October 31st rolls around, most parents have already gotten their little ghosts and goblins in and out of their costumes no less than 13 times. Although it can make you feel a bit batty at times, it truly is one of the most spooktacular times of the year! And best of all, the bootiful festivities don’t need to be too frightful to be fun. The last thing mummy needs is her little pumpkins throwing a tantrum at the neighborhood Halloween party because they’re too scared! Here are 6 Not-So-Spooky Halloween Events You Won’t Want to Miss in Fairfield County.
Halloween Weekend at Greenwich Audubon Center, Greenwich, CT
Halloween and nature come together at the Greenwich Audubon Center’s Halloween Weekend celebration on Friday & Saturday, October 25th and 26th. You’ll have a howling good time (both spooky and friendly!) exploring the trails of the center’s nature preserve, which have been transformed into a Halloween haven. There will be plenty for all to enjoy: a Creepy Crawly Critter Show with slithery, crawly, scaly, and hairy critters, a Haunted Forest Walk where you’ll watch the woods come alive with creatures of the night (note: this is VERY SCARY), and a fright-free Costume Parade (Saturday only!). There will also be a bonfire with s’mores. Come enjoy the Audubon’s frightful forest and scare-free enchanted meadow!
Tickets: Each program is $15 per person at the door or $13 per person when purchased in advance here.
Halloween on the Green, Fairfield, CT
This free day of fantastic fun is not to be missed! Fairfield’s most spirited annual family event, Halloween on the Green, will take place on Sunday, October 27th. The entire area behind the Fairfield Museum & History Center will be transformed into an enchanting Halloween village with elaborate Halloween displays. The entire family is invited to come in costume (that includes you!) for an afternoon full of spooktacular celebration. Attractions include trick-or-treating, bounce houses, games, hayrides, crafts, music, performances, giveaways, and food trucks. Be sure to arrive before the beloved costume parade begins at 1pm!
Shivers at Sherwood, Westport, CT
For a ghoulish good time, be sure to make your way to Sherwood Island State Park on Saturday & Sunday, October 19th and 20th for Shivers at Sherwood! Favorite activities at this family-friendly event include bobbing for apples (such a classic!), face painting, seasonal crafts and games, pumpkin decorating, and lawn bowling. The best feature of all is the Haunted Nature Center! The Nature Center has been transformed into a haunted house where creatures of the night have taken over. Take a journey through a series of rooms where nature has run amok! Brave the bats, spiders, and ghosts, if you dare! If you make it out in one piece, you’ll need to warm the chills running down your spine. Head over to the bonfire and enjoy some live music!
Tickets: $5 per car
Monster Mash, Norwalk, CT
The main attraction at October 25th’s Monster Mash at Stepping Stones Museum for Children is the wickedly-cool performance by the kookiest and spookiest of all mad scientists, Dr. Diabolical. The tricks and treats don’t end on the stage, however! There is an endless list of science-themed spooky activities for the whole family to enjoy. Visit the trick-or-treat chemistry lab to design a bag to hold all of your science treats! Get messy making bubble brew, fairy potion (which sparkles under a black light), or a fizzy tizzy bath bomb. You’ll even be able to reach your hand into a container and feel “body parts”! Use the knowledge you gain from that activity to head over and build a monster using body parts provided by the museum. Lastly, you won’t want to miss the chance to experiment with a plasma ball, screaming orb, and circuits. If all that isn’t enough, Monster Mash kicks off Stepping Stones’ “Tricks and Treats Week” from 10/25-10/31. There’s fun to be had all week long leading up to Halloween!
Tickets: Members: $10 per person (after 10/18, $12 per person; Non-Members: $15 per person (after 10/18, $17 per person). Registration is required. If the event is not sold out, tickets will be available at the door. Click here to purchase tickets.
Halloween Hoot and Howl, Darien, CT
There’s a reason the annual Hoot and Howl at Darien Nature Center has been around for 17 years! This much-loved family event will take place this year on Sunday, October 27th. There will, of course, be creepy-crawly animal encounters, along with a bunch of other not-so-spooky fun! The littlest of monsters will enjoy a magic show, face painting, and crafts. Take a fall hike and indulge in some of the yummy refreshments that will be served. And don’t miss my personal favorite part of this event: s’mores and storytelling around the campfire! Insider tip: if your child attends an afternoon of Pumpkin Decorating ahead of Hoot and Howl, and lets the Nature Center keep their creation, they’ll receive free admission to Hoot and Howl!
Tickets: $5 per person (kids under 1 are free). Click here to purchase tickets.
Halloween Art Party, New Canaan, CT
You’ll have a howling good time at Silvermine Arts Center’s Halloween party! The Center’s biggest children’s event of the year will take place on Sunday, October 20th. There will be sweet treats, a costume parade, a spooky movie, and goody bags (what kid doesn’t love a goody bag?). But what makes this event so unique is the ART! The talented teachers of Silvermine Arts Center have planned special (and spooky!) creations in every room. Little ones are sure to have a ghoulishly good time getting creative with their friends and family at this annual event!
Tickets: $20 per child
To see my complete roundup of Halloween events, head to my website: Busy Little Bee.
About Lauren Haley
Lauren Haley was born and raised in Darien, CT. Lauren is the founder of Busy Little Bee. As a busy mom looking for activities for her girls, Lauren always found herself spending hours on various websites comparing schedules, costs, and class descriptions. And when it came time to start the daunting task of finding a preschool, it was impossible for her to locate a quick overview of each school’s approach to learning or identify open house and registration dates. Lauren quickly realized that navigating the logistics of activity registration and preschool enrollment didn’t need to be so difficult, so Busy Little Bee was born! Lauren lives in Darien, CT with her husband, Chris, and three children, Parker, Madison, and Hudson. Website: www.busylittlebee.com
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