Guide to Halloween - Not So Scary Halloween Events for Kids

Halloween Things to Do in & around New Jersey 2022

Looking for New Jersey's Halloween events for kids? We all love to celebrate Halloween as it's probably one of your child's favorite times of the year. There are so many fun things to do for Halloween! Check out these non-scary events for kids from costume parades, pumpkin festivals, and haunted fun scenes. Please confirm time and schedule before you go. Many may require online ticket purchases. If you have tweens and teens and looking for scary Halloween events, see scary halloween events, or visit our NJ Kids calendar for more Halloween events.

BOO AT THE ZOO @ THE BRONX ZOO

Oct1-30, 2022, Saturdays & Sundays. Family friendly Boo at the Zoo Halloween event at the Bronx Zoo. Halloween crafts, candy trail, costume parade, pumpkin carving demos, pumpkin trail, animal graveyard, and plenty of animal fun. Check website for any Sensory Sensitive Spooktacular Mornings offered.

STORYBOOK LAND HALLOWEEN FUN

Fall season in October. Haystacks, cornstalks, and non-scary fun take over at Storybook Land! Kid-friendly events with no fright! Climb aboard their Happy Hayride for a tour of park, find your way out of Elmer's Hay-Mazin' Maze and complete a fun puzzle while you do. Decorate a pumpkin and enjoy all our fun family rides and attractions. Grab a festive cookie or coffee from the snack bars as you wander around the park decorated beautifully with mums and pumpkins. If you want to have even MORE fun, join for Trick-or-Treat Weekend on October 22, 23, 29, and 30. 6415 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township, 609.646.0103. Buy your tickets at the door or special online pricing at storybookland.com

DINOSAURS AFTER DARK AT FIELD STATION DINOSAURS

Fri & Sat, Sept 28-Oct 27, 2022, starting at 7PM. Experience Dinosaurs After Dark, a spooky, funny and thrilling adventure for the whole family featuring a lantern lit tour of the park, the Mesozoic Midway where everyone is a winner and more! But watch out, the trails are dark and there’s a vicious T-Rex lurking in the shadows. A fearless Dinosaur Wrangler will lead a Tyrannosaurus Hunt along the Field Station’s darkened trails with a stop at every dinosaur and a few surprises along the way. Also 2 new live show, including “Dinosaurs Din-o-mite!” At the end of the night, everyone will gather around the campfire for a dinosaur sing-a-long, games, and s’mores! Buy your adventure tickets in advance online. 3 Overpeck Park Driveway, Leonia, NJ, 855.999.9010

SCREAMIN’ GREEN HAUNTOWEEN @ CRAYOLA EXPERIENCE

Sept 25-Oct 31, 2022. Spooky family fun - a themed scavenger hunt, spook-tastic crafts, character photo ops, and more! Have a Screamin' Green good time while exploring 28 creative attractions at our Crayola Experience. ALL included with admission.

HAUNTED WILD WEST FEST @ WILD WEST CITY

Starts Oct 1, 2022, Sat & Sun. Spooky Day Time Fest - hit the trail to their ghost town, enjoy nonstop western entertainment all day. Take part in a fun and spooky interactive western experience like none other for kids of all ages. Ride in style aboard the Wild West City Stage Coach or Train and younger kids can hop on a Pony! Kids can Participate in the Wild West Fest costume contest and win fun prizes. Night Time Wild West Fest is a Halloween attraction with scare factors along the Train Ride and Frontiersman trail. Book your tickets online. Stanhope, NJ.

THE GIANT PUMPKIN CARVE

Sat, Oct 1, 2022, 3PM-9PM. Join Meals on Wheels of Salem County for a fun-filled fall evening at the Salem County Fairgrounds. 60+ giant pumpkins carved by local artists. The event includes beautifully carved pumpkins, pumpkin carving contests, hayrides, costume contests, children’s activities, games, food, vendors and more! 735 Harding Hwy, Woodston, NJ.

FALL-0-WEEN @ NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDENS

Through Oct 31, 2022. Plenty of family fun at NYBG! Walk through eye-popping pumpkins, gourds, fright & foliage, and spooky scarecrows. Special weekends of pumpkin parades and pumpkin carving. 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY.

HALLOWEEN LIGHT SHOW @ DEMAREST FARMS

Through Oct 31, 2022, 7PM-9:30PM. A family friendly Halloween event featuring the spooktacular Halloween Light Show! Take your vehicle on a guided tour and enjoy 32 acres of Halloween light displays and farm fresh goodies from the retail farm market. Warm-up by the fire pits and make your own S’mores and hot cocoa. 244 Werimus Rd, Hillsdale, NJ.

PUMPKIN PATCH TRAINS @ WHIPPANY RAILROAD MUSEUM

Sun, Oct 2, 9 & 16th, 2022; 1PM,2PM,3PM, & 4PM. Hop onboard "The Pumpkin Patch Train"! The 10-mile, 45-minute round trip from Whippany to Roseland and return. After the ride, children with valid train tickets can go to the Pumpkin Patch and pick out a free kid-sized pumpkin and receive a pumpkin decorating kit. Buy your tickets online. 1 Railroad Plaza, Whippany, NJ.

TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIN @ DIDONATO FAMILY FUN CENTER

Sat & Sun, Select dates Sept & Oct. Little goblin-friendly Halloween outdoor train ride. Tricks, treats, and surprises are included for kids and grownups! Admission includes Halloween hay maze, train ride, endless fun on the giant slide, treats, toy market, bowling, photo op with the local witch, and more! 1151 S White Horse Pike Hammonton, NJ, didonatofuncenter.com

THE CORN MAZE TRAIN @ DELAWARE RIVER RAILROAD EXCURSIONS

Trips run through Oct 31, 2022. Enjoy a 1.5 hour train ride, then as an add-on experience, you can explore the corn maze trail on the old Snyder Farm, where getting lost is half the fun. There are 2 mazes to explore and miles of trails. Also visit the Ol' Susquehanna Mine onsite. 99 Elizabeth St Phillipsburg, NJ, 877trainride.com

THE GREAT PUMPKIN TRAIN @ DELAWARE RIVER RAILROAD EXCURSIONS

Sat-Sun, Oct 2-31, 2022, select trains. Take a ride on the Halloween pumpkin train. Pick your own pumpkin and enjoy fun maze games! 99 Elizabeth St Phillipsburg, NJ.

SOUTH JERSEY PUMPKIN SHOW

Sat & Sun, Oct 8th-9th, 2022. FREE Admission. This 2-day Pumpkin Festival is packed full of family fun. Enjoy over 100 crafters, food festival, wineries, free hayrides, pumpkin patch for children, pony rides, amusement rides and scarecrows galore. Salem County Fairgrounds, 735 Harding Highway, Salem County, NJ.

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL @ HISTORIC COLD SPRING VILLAGE

Sat, Oct 22, 2022, 10AM-4PM. FREE event. Families can enjoy pumpkin painting and games at Historic Cold Spring Village. Children’s Halloween Parade at 11am. Visit a haunted barn. Crafters, food vendors, and more! Donate non-perishable goods to the Share the Harvest Food Drive. Route 9 in Cape May, NJ.

NIGHT OF FRIGHTS @ THE HISTORIC VILLAGE AT ALLAIRE

Oct 14 &15, 21 & 22, 9:30PM. Enjoy the village grounds and historic buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, visit with ghosts, ghouls, and monsters. Treats at the bakery plus a haunted food truck. Costumed ghouls, Glow In The Dark Bubble Witch Show, & Fire Juggler. Suitable for all ages. $ Admission. 4263 Atlantic Avenue Wall Township, NJ.

GHOUL SPRING VILLAGE AT HISTORIC COLD SPRING VILLAGE

Fri & Sat, Oct 21 & 22, 2022, 5:30PM-8PM. Join in a family friendly walk-thru of the village. Route 9 in Cape May, NJ, hcsv.org

SPOOKY PUMPKIN GARDEN NIGHTS @ NYBG

Sat, Oct 22th & 29th, 2022, 6PM-9PM. After-dark adventures for children of all ages at the NYBG. Explore the twisting trails at the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden by flashlight. Meet giant skeletons on parade, discover the secret lives of scarecrows, groove to live music, and more! 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY.

HISTORIC SMITHVILLE’S WITCHES DAY OUT

Sun, Oct 23, 2022, 12PM-5PM. Fun family outing with your fellow witches. Wear your witch’s hat & stroll around sweet shoppes. Scavenger hunt throughout village. Contests for best junior witch costume, witch hat, witch shoes and more. 1 North New York Rd, Smithville, NJ, historicsmithville.com

1830’S ALL HALLOW’S EVE CELEBRATION

Sat, Oct 29, 2022, 11AM-4PM. At The Historic Village at Allaire, learn about Halloween’s rich history and traditions, Spooky Story Telling, Soul Cake Baking, Turnip Carving, Fortune Telling, Carved Pumpkin Contest and more! $ Admission. 4263 Atlantic Avenue Wall Township, NJ.

THE COUNT’S HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR @ SESAME PLACE

Through Nov 6, 2022. Sesame Place in Langhorne PA is transformed into a family friendly haven. Trick-or-treat around the park. Come in costume, hop on rides, see special Halloween shows, and check out the Neighborhood Street Party Halloween Parade.

HALLOWEEN HAUNT @ DORNEY PARK in PA

Through Oct 29, 2022. Haunted scare mazes, scare zones and live entertainment. Hordes of hungry zombies and blood-thirsty vampires eagerly await you. World-class thrill rides that instill a brand of fear all their own and you’ve got an extreme, supreme Halloween event. dorneypark.com

HERSHEY PARK HALLOWEEN

Through Oct 30, 2022, select dates. Enjoy family fun and sweet treats while you stroll through Treatville, have fun dancing at the Character Glow Dance Parties, experience lights out rollercoasters, and tour ZooAmerica with your flashlight. New this year, experience thrilling Dark Nights Scare Zones, included in every Hersheypark ticket.

TRICK OR TREAT TRAIN & HALLOWEEN EVENT TRAIN RIDE @ NEW HOPE RAILROAD

Oct 1-30, 2022, select dates. Hop aboard a child friendly Trick or Treat Train ride. Official railroad trick or treat bags, assorted trinkets, and candy will be handed out both onboard the train as well as at the station! All ages are welcome. The Fun and spooky Halloween Event Train Ride tests the nerve of all onboard. 32 W Bridge St, New Hope, PA.