Top (Safe) Trick-Or-Treating Events
If the idea of letting the little ones trick-or-treat around the neighborhood this year sounds more scary than spook-tacular, check out some of these alternative Halloween events.
Free Scary Face Pancake for Kids
All IHOP locations nationwide
www.ihop.com
Friday, Oct. 28
7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
FREE
Stop by any IHOP for a free Scary Face Pancake on the Friday before Halloween. There's no purchase necessary, and the little ones will get a buttermilk pancake with whipped topping, a strawberry nose and mini Oreos and candy corn on the side for decorating. The restaurant created the event to provide a fun, safe trick-or-treating alternative for kids.
Halloween Spooktacular
Philadelphia Premium Outlets
18 W. Lightcap Rd.
Limerick, Pa.
www.premiumoutlets.com/philadelphia
Friday, Oct. 28
5 – 7 p.m.
FREE
Kids of all ages can trick-or-treat at the stores and participate in a costume contest. Registration for the contest will be held in the Food Court from 5 – 6:30 p.m. and the winners will be announced at 7 p.m.
Harvest Happenings Weekends at the Crayola Factory
30 Centre Square
Easton, Pa.
www.crayola.com/factory
Saturday, Oct. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 30
9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
FREE with admission
Take the kids trick-or-treating through the building at the Crayola Factory, where there are also not-so-scary activities planned each weekend in October. Kids who wear a costume get $1 off the price of admission.
Happy Hauntings
Dutch Wonderland
2249 Lincoln Hwy E.
Lancaster, Pa.
www.dutchwonderland.com
Saturday, Oct. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 30
3 – 9 p.m.
$21 for ages 3 and up, FREE for 2 and under
Dutch Wonderland is offering a family-friendly Halloween celebration, including trick-or-treating, magic shows, games, storytelling and of course, rides and attractions.
Boo at the Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
3400 Girard Ave.
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.philadelphiazoo.org
Saturday, Oct. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 30
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
FREE with zoo admission
Celebrate Halloween at the Philadelphia Zoo. Don your costume for a masquerade party, concerts, live entertainment, activities, spooky story-telling and zoo-wide trick-or-treating. And of course, the animals will be in on the Halloween festivities, too.
Pumpkinland
South Street Headhouse District
200 Pine St.
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.southstreet.com
Saturday, Oct. 29
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
This family-friendly Center City event features pony rides, a petting zoo, arts and crafts, pumpkin-decorating, a costume parade for kids, a dog costume parade and even a kid-friendly rock concert.
Malloween at King of Prussia Mall
160 N. Gulph Rd.
King of Prussia, Pa.
www.kingofprussiamall.com
Saturday, Oct. 29
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
FREE
Take the kids trick-or-treating at massive King of Prussia. Bags will be available in the JC Penny court.
Halloween at the Bellevue
200 S. Broad St.
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.bellevuephiladelphia.com
Saturday, Oct. 29
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
FREE
Kids can dress up and head to The Bellevue on Saturday for a trick-or-treat bag decorating event, followed by trick-or-treating at The Shops at The Bellevue.
PumpkinFest
Franklin Square
200 N. 6th St.
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square
Saturday, Oct. 29
3 – 6 p.m.
$35 in advance, $40 at the gate
Cram enough Halloween fun to last a year into just three hours at this spook-tacular Philly event. In addition to a costume contest, pumpkin and cupcake decorating, face painting, a costume parade, carnival games, a meet-and-greet with characters, food from STARR catering and a balloon artist (phew!), there will also be unlimited carousel rides, Spooky Mini Golf, games and prizes.
Rittenhouse Row Family Halloween Celebration
Starting at DiBruno Bros.
1731 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.rittenhouserow.org
Saturday, Oct. 29
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Pick up a trick-or-treating map and take the kids to all of the square's stores and businesses all day for safe trick-or-treating. A costume contest and Halloween activities will also take place.
Cumberland Mall Trick-or-Treating
Routes 47 and 55
Vineland, NJ
http://cumberlandmallnj.com
Saturday, Oct. 29
10 a.m. – close
FREE
Children 12 and under should put on their costume and go to the Cumberland Mall for safe trick-or-treating. Participating mall shops will offer candy and sweet treat stations.
Memorial Hall-O-ween
Please Touch Museum
4231 Avenue of the Republic
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.pleasetouchmuseum.org
Sunday, Oct. 30 and Monday, Oct. 31
Sat: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sun: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
FREE with admission
Kids and grown-ups alike should dress in costume and prepare for hands-on fun at Philly's Please Touch Museum. Check out the museum's many exhibits—including the limited-time Boo Boulevard—and trick-or-treat for healthy snacks inside.
Safe Trick-or-Treating in the BOOtiful Camden Children's Garden
3 Riverside Dr.
Camden, NJ
www.camdenchildrensgarden.org
Sunday, Oct. 30
Noon – 4 p.m.
Pay as you go
Treat the kids to some trick-or-treating in the Camden Children's Garden. There will be a parade at 2 p.m., plus activities and a concession stand for Halloween snacks. All kids must be accompanied by an adult.
Halloween Pet Parade & Costume Contest
East Lake Park
W. Ridley & Constitution Aves
Ridley Park, Pa.
Sunday, Oct. 30
12 – 3 p.m.
$5 in adv, $6 day of
Celebrate Halloween with face painting, food, a pet costume parade and contest, vendors, a live band and a photographer to take your pet's picture. There will also be pets up for adoption at the event, and funds raised go towards animals in need. Bonus: CBS3's Dray Clark will be a guest judge in the pet costume contest!
Manayunk Trick-or-Treat and Costume Parade
Shops and restaurants in Manayunk
Main Street
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.manayunk.com
Sunday, Oct. 30
Noon – 4 p.m.
Enjoy pumpkin painting in Canal View Park, followed by a costume parade at 2 p.m. Plus, all of the stores and restaurants along Main Street will be handing out candy to the kids!
The Count's Halloween Spooktacular
Sesame Place
100 Sesame Rd.
Langhorne, Pa.
www.sesameplace.com
Sunday, Oct. 30
Noon
$30 +
Wear your costume and participate in the annual Sesame Place Halloween costume contest. There will be competitions for boys, girls and families all day, and the winners will be invited to walk in the Neighborhood Street Party parade at 4 p.m.
Avenue of Treats
Cecil B. Moore Ave.
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.avenueofthearts.org
Monday, Oct. 31
4 – 7 p.m.
This annual fall event was designed as a safe way for the children of North Philly to go trick-or-treating, and includes entertainment and candy.
Trick or Treating on the Avenue in Chestnut Hill
Germantown Ave.
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.chestnuthillpa.com
Monday, Oct. 31
2 – 4 p.m.
FREE
Come out in your costume and trick-or-treat along Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill.
Cheltenham Square Mall-O-ween
2385 W. Cheltenham Ave.
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.cheltenhamsquare.com
Monday, Oct. 31
6 – 8 p.m.
FREE
Grab your mini-monsters and head to the Cheltenham Mall, where there will be mall-wide trick-or-treating.
