With Kids: 20 Family-Friendly Spooky Season Events on the North Fork
Photo credit: Long Island Aquarium
Unlike most holidays where adults do the work, buy the gifts, and plan the meals, Halloween hits differently with simple fun for everyone. Celebrate spooky season with each member of your crew this year with our curated list of 20 local events. From sweet thrills to creepy chills, don’t miss these North Fork Halloween happenings.
Party with the fish at Long Island Aquarium’s two not-too-spooky experiences
The Long Island Aquarium is featuring non-stop Halloween excitement with its Haunted Tree House experience and Annual Bats, Barnacles & Broomsticks Halloween Party. The Haunted Tree House, offered every Friday and Saturday in October from 7 to 9 p.m., is an after-dark immersive experience where kids ages 3 to 11 are invited to climb five levels of spooky fun followed by pumpkin decorating, animal interactions, crafts, arcade games, and more. The cost is $25/person, with one parent free with a paid child. Then, save the date for the Aquarium’s Annual Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. While seeing all the aquarium has to offer, children can trick-or-treat and visit vendor tables enjoying giveaways and prizes. All kids (ages 12 and under) in costume will receive 50% off aquarium admission with a paying adult. The party is free to attend with aquarium admission. More details here.
Rock out at this Halloween Spooktacular Concert by School of Rock
This annual Halloween Party, scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 27 at 4 p.m. at Scott’s Pointe in Calverton, is sure to rock! Enjoy a musical showcase by the students of School of Rock Riverhead and Port Jefferson as they jam to classic R&B, pop punk, rock, and more all from their fall performance shows. And be sure to dress up, winners for best costume will receive a week of summer camp at School of Rock. While this Halloween party is free of charge and open to the public, tickets are available for purchase to Scott’s Pointe hayrides, including zombie hunt hayrides and a kid-friendly version. More details here.
Party like an athlete at North Fork Cheer’s Halloween Party
Attention all North Fork Cheer athletes and their friends (ages 6+) for an evening of Halloween fun including spooky karaoke, dance parties, games, crafts, snacks, and more! The party is on Friday, Oct., 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. Free for competitive cheer team athletes, $20/person for all other gym members and friends. RSVP here. Costumes are optional but suggested! Payment is due day of the party in cash.
Attend Spooky Saturday at Hallockville Museum Farm
On Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10:30 a.m. to noon, visit Hallockville Museum Farm in Riverhead with the kids in tow for a morning of stories, sweets, and crafts in the spooky Homestead Barn. Costumes welcome! The cost to attend this kid-friendly event is $10/child. Register here.
Watch Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire at a Drive-in Movie Night
On Saturday, October 19 at 6:30 p.m. head to Strawberry Fields in Mattituck for a drive-in movie night showing Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, rated PG13. People of all ages are welcome to attend this free showing hosted by the Town of Southold. No registration required. Get there early to snag an ideal spot and a trick-or-treat goodie bag given to the first 50 guests.
Enjoy the day at Greenport’s 5th Annual Halloween Village
Head to Greenport Village on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a full day of Halloween spirit. Kicking off the day is the 12th Annual Halloween Parade, followed by a Village-wide Trick-or-Treat and Skeletons in our Closet scavenger hunt, then at 1:30 p.m. a story time will be hosted in the Blue Duck Bakery Courtyard, close out the day at 4 p.m. with a family-friendly film screening at North Fork Arts Center. Enjoy rides throughout the day on the Spooky Greenport Express at Moore’s Lane.
Stroll the Harbes Orchard Spooky Night Maze if you dare
Open select evenings in October (10/12, 10/13, 10/19, and 10/26), Harbes Orchard on Sound Avenue in Riverhead is hosting a spooky night maze. Open from 7 to 10 p.m. with last admission at 9:30 p.m., this family-friendly maze is a friendly fright for daring people of all ages. The cost is $24/person, no advance reservations or ticketing. Bring your own flashlight or purchase one on-site. More details here.
Make a mini Halloween album at Crafts on the Move
Join Crafts on the Move in Aquebogue for a morning of crafting and creating with your kids! The Halloween mini album workshop features a customized photo album with Halloween-themed embellishments. This workshop is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12 at 9:30 a.m. and is best suited for people ages 9+. The cost is $44.99/person. Register here.
Attend Halloween Fest in Downtown Riverhead
Halloweentown comes to Downtown Riverhead on Saturday, Oct. 19 with a day of festivities for the whole family including coffin races at 2 p.m. down Main Street, a trick-or-treat from 3 to 5 p.m., and the Halloween parade at 6 p.m. More info here.
Explore sensory fun with Halloween Howl at Peconic Dunes
Peconic Dunes presents Halloween Howl, a toddler program where kids ages 1 to 5 can engage in potion making, pumpkin painting, and themed sensory bins. The program may also include outside exploration, weather-dependent. This toddler session is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 to 11 a.m., $20/child. Register here.
Get moving at Inspire Dance Centre’s Halloween bashes
From young movers to seasoned dancers, Inspire Dance Centre in Southold has a Halloween bash option for everyone. On Wednesday, Oct. 16, and Sunday, Oct. 20 from 10 to 11 a.m., Inspire will partner with Little Moments Little Fam for a Halloween-themed sensory sing, sway, and sensory session. Then, on Friday, Oct. 25 from 6:30 to 8:30, dancers and their guests are invited to a Halloween Bash including music, food, games, activities, a costume contest, and more. This event is for children in grades K through 6. $20/dancer, $15/guest. More info here.
Skate at this Costume Bash
GDC Roller Skate Rink is hosting a Roller Skating Halloween Costume Bash on Sunday, Oct. 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission costs $10/person and includes skates. Every child will receive a themed goodie bag. No registration required.
Nosh on a special kids’ menu at Lucharitos
On Saturday, Oct. 27 from noon to 3 p.m., head to your favorite Lucharitos location for a Halloween Kids’ and Family Party where you’ll enjoy circus tricks and treats and a special menu. Dress in your Halloween best!
Feel the frights at Haunted Hollow
For those who like a good scare, Baiting Hollow Scout Camp’s Haunted Hollow haunted trail and haunted house walk are for you! The spooky event will take place on Friday, Oct. 18 and 25 and Saturday, Oct. 19 and 26 from 7 to 11 p.m. Admission costs $20/person. While this frightfully fun experience is family-friendly it is geared towards older children. More info here.
Catch a family-friendly Halloween flick at The Suffolk
Head to The Suffolk in Riverhead for two nights of family-friendly Halloween movies. On Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m., The Suffolk will be screening Hotel Translyvania and on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 5 p.m. catch Halloweentown. The Family Film Series at The Suffolk features a kid-friendly food and drink menu. Tickets cost $15 per person. Purchase tickets here.
Spend spooky season with the Stroller Strong Mamas crew
From a sensory and art session with partner Little Moments Little Fam (10/14 at 10:15 a.m.) to a Halloween-themed parent-and-me playgroup (10/28 at 11 a.m.) to a tiny talkers Halloween adventure (10/21 at 11 a.m.), Stroller Strong Mamas has the Halloween lineup done right this spooky season. Learn all about the upcoming offerings here.
Celebrate the season of the witch with Wading River’s Witching Hours
Partake in festive fun as the Wading River Duck Pond shops get spooky on Friday, Oct. 25 from 5 to 8 p.m. Wear your costumes and enjoy special treats for the kids.
Get festive at Bella Anima’s Halloween Costume Parties
On Friday, Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 19 at 12:30 p.m., kids of all ages are invited to Bella Anima Parties in The Shoppes at East Wind in Wading River for games, treats, festive drinks, crafts, music, and more. The cost is $20/child, $15/additional sibling. Don’t forget to dress up! Text 631-603-7722 to book.
Take a spooky cruise with East End Seaport Museum
On Saturday, Oct. 12 and 26, from 5 to 7 p.m., take the kids on a family-friendly spooky cruise to tour Bug Lighthouse. This tour by East End Seaport Museum is appropriate for kids of all ages. More details and book here before this special event is sold out.
Trunk-or-Treat in an inclusive space (and dine on a pancake breakfast, too!)
Presented by The North Fork Country Kids & The Rescue Vixens, this inclusive trunk-or-treat and pancake breakfast party on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. will feature a pancake breakfast, live music, candy, family-friendly fun, and more. The cost per person is $15/adult, $10/senior and Veterans, and $8/child. This Halloween event will be held at the Riverhead Elks Lodge. Email northforkcountrykidsrpp@gmail.com to register.