ML Interest Tag: hocus-pocus

Scare Up Fun! 15 Halloween Happenings around Atlanta

by Shelley Massey

Get out and about in the city for Atlanta Halloween events that will surely create chills, thrills, and smiles for everyone in your family

Halloween is on the horizon, parents, and while we’re sure your kids are busy mapping out their trick-or-treat route around the city, we know you’re looking to take advantage of everything this season has to offer families. That’s why we’ve scoped out 15 Atlanta Halloween events you and your little goblins can enjoy before the big day. So after you’ve picked out your pumpkin, grab your costumes and head out to these frightfully fun events.

Grab your costumes for these Halloween parties

kids in costumes during a halloween event in Atlanta at the zoo watch an elephant
courtesy Zoo Atlanta

Boo at the Zoo
Guests will enjoy a fun family Halloween festival in Atlanta with treats throughout the zoo and more than 1,000 animals from around the world. Don’t forget your costume! This Halloween event is free for zoo members, children under 3, and with general admission timed tickets.

Dates: Oct. 22 & 23, 29 & 30
Event details

Scarecrows in the Garden at Atlanta Botanical Garden
Scarecrows in the Garden brings dozens of scarecrow creations by local artists, crafters, youth groups, and more. Entrants and visitors will delight in discovering their own personal favorites at this Halloween event in Atlanta.

Dates: Oct. 1-31, closed on Mon.
Event details

The Monster Mash, It’s a Puppetry Smash at The Center for Puppetry Arts
The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta will present its third annual family Halloween event The Monster Mash, It’s a Puppetry Smash. Enjoy Trick-or-Treating at 12 stations set up throughout the Worlds of Puppetry Museum, jam to an outdoor Halloween Dance Party with DJ Willy Wow, have a meet and greet with walk-around puppeteers, and snap Insta-perfect photos at the Halloween-inspired backdrop stations. Tickets are limited.

Date: Sat., Oct. 29
Event details

a little girl in a bunny costume trick or treats at childrens museum atlanta during a halloween event in atlanta
courtesy Children's Museum of Atlanta

Halloween Programming at Children's Museum of Atlanta
It’s spooky season at CMA and they're celebrating with fang-tastic hands-on fun in Jane’s Innovation Station, and at the Science Bar, Art Studio, and CMA Stage. On-stage programs include a special storytime, Halloween dance parties, and spooky science, while drop-in activities will include vanishing ghosts, haunted houses, pumpkin bowling, skeleton puzzles, and more, depending on when you visit. 

Good to Know: Beyond these daily activities, families can bring the kids to the annual trick-or-treat event on Oct. 29 for some extra special fun.

Dates: Oct. 1-31, closed on Wed.
Event details

Train or Treat at Southeastern Railway Museum
The Southeastern Railway Museum near Atlanta will host its popular Train or Treat Halloween event featuring trick-or-treating at decorated stations, a costume contest for attendees 12 years and younger, live music, and visiting vendors from local businesses.

Date: Sat., Oct. 22
Event details

Candymania Maze & Movie
Join the City of Riverdale for a spooky maze through the Town Center (collecting candy!) and then stay for the party where you’ll find face painting, 360 spin, a Halloween-themed movie, more candy, and more.

Dates: Sat., Oct. 29
Event details

Related: Atlanta's 10 Best Trick-or-Treat Neighborhoods

See local “haunts” on a tour

Ghosts of Marietta
Meet the ghosts of Marietta as you tour the historic streets of this gem of the south with a past that is deep in tradition, history, and quality of life. As with any community harboring these traits, some residents choose to never leave.

Dates: Fri.-Sun., Sept. 30-Oct. 31
Event details

Decatur
In historic downtown Decatur and led by professional psychic medium and paranormal investigator, Boo Newell, this tour begins in the historic Town Square, traveling next down small streets where late at night you might just have an encounter with Decatur's spirit world.

Dates: Sat., Oct. 1-31
Event details

Lawrenceville
Learn about the night that the dead walked down the main street of Lawrenceville, hear about bizarre paranormal events that have happened recently in the businesses that line the square, and step inside the Old Jail and perhaps experience paranormal activity for yourself!

Dates: Fri. & Sat., Oct. 14-31
Event details

Related: Scared Silly! Not-Too-Spooky Halloween Thrills for Atlanta Kids

Enjoy the outdoors at these Halloween events you won’t want to miss

Pumpkins at Callaway
By day, explore 2,500 acres of family fun packed with pumpkins, sunflowers, and festive fall topiaries. Stay after sundown to watch the grounds come alive with illuminating experiences, including a towering Pumpkin Tree and an Enchanted Pumpkin Forest filled with glimmering, glowing garden critters.

Dates: Fri.-Sun., Sep. 30-Oct. 30
Event details

Take a Self-Guided Oakland Cemetery Tour
If you want to explore Oakland Cemetery on your own, purchase a digital version of the Self-Guided Tour Map that you can print at home or order a paper copy from the online museum store. This guide, priced at $5, has more than 55 marked stops, and enough Oakland Cemetery history to keep you engaged for hours! View the monuments at your own pace and enjoy a walk through the history of Oakland.

Woodland Spirits at Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Take a walk on the supernatural side with Fernbank’s annual Halloween exhibit. From ghostly figures peeking from the shadows to monstrously kooky sculptures, Halloween fans of all ages will find something to scream (in delight) about. Encounter a variety of “spirits,” a haunted outpost, monster garden and more throughout 10 acres of trees, trails and shadows in Fernbank's WildWoods.

Dates: Daily, through Nov. 6
Event details

Halloween Hikes at Chattahoochee Nature Center
Experience the mystery of a guided night hike. The 37th annual Halloween Hike takes you through the forest to meet woodland creatures and hear about how they live. Take part in world music, crafts, campfire, and other festival fun. It’s the perfect non-scary alternative to traditional Halloween events for kids.

Dates: Oct. 21 & 22, 28 & 29
Event details

Pumpkin Festival at Stone Mountain Park
Play by day as you enjoy family-friendly park attractions and special fall entertainment featuring some of your favorite classic storybook characters. Then, after the sun goes down, you'll glow by night in a whole new light with a nighttime parade and plenty of other not-so-spooky glowing experiences.

Dates: Sat. & Sun., through Oct. 31
Event details

Additional reporting by Dhyana Levey

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A ‘Hocus Pocus’ Broadway Musical Is in the Works

by Julie Scagell

‘Hocus Pocus’ on Broadway—yes, please!

There is lawn decor, and there are Airbnb cottages, but we have something even better in our future—Hocus Pocus may be coming to Broadway!

You read that right. On an upcoming episode of Broadway Podcast Network’s The Art of Kindness podcast, Hocus Pocus film producer David Kirschner revealed that a stage adaptation of everyone’s favorite Halloween movie is on the way. “This started before COVID, but now it seems to be back on—and that is that they are building a Broadway version of Hocus Pocus,” Kirschner said.

If we can believe anyone, it should be Kirschner. He was responsible for creating and producing the beloved original film in 1993 and is also producing its upcoming sequel.

“I just want to pinch myself,” he continued. “And I’m just afraid that I’m going to be nine years old and on a little league field again… But it’s just so wonderful just to stand back and watch all of this.”

“It’s not just me. It’s so many people that brought Hocus Pocus [to life]—from [director] Kenny Ortega and Mick Garris’ script and John Debney’s score and Bill Sandell’s production design, and now a whole new generation are working on it,” Kirschner said.

https://twitter.com/emilykranking/status/1575495420700020739?s=20&t=eB2wNiPyLO2YWcUwY_tPog

The 1993 original starred Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker as the now-iconic Sanderson Sisters, who resurface on Halloween night after being summoned from beyond (albeit accidentally) when Max Dennison (Omri Katz) lights the Black Flame Candle in Salem, Massachusetts. We watch as they wreak havoc on the town, and try as they might to become immortal. Luckily, there are kids in town who make it their mission to steal the sisters’ book of spells to stop them in their tracks. The sequel, out tomorrow, will be our first look at the sisters in decades.

No theater, cast, or timeline for the Broadway production of Hocus Pocus has been officially announced, but Kirschner said to the podcast audience: “I think you’re going to be very pleased.”

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Book a Night at the Creepy ‘Hocus Pocus’ Cottage on Airbnb

by Kate Loweth

You’ll be able to try your hand at enchantments enshrined in the ancient spellbook that guided the Sanderson sisters in all their mischief

Airbnb wants you to get into the spooky spirit with their latest family-friendly vacation rental, and we know you are going to want all the details. Just in time for the release of Disney’s Hocus Pocus 2 on September 30, you can book an overnight stay at the Sanderson Sisters’ cottage in Salem, MA.

Set an alarm for Wed., October 12 at 1 p.m. ET for your chance to snag the one-night reservation for Thursday, October 20. You and your bestie can run amok and dig into cupboards filled with blood of owl and herb that’s red (and even a hair from Winifred’s head) during the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Helynn Ospina/Airbnb

Take your time to explore the property’s creeky-floored rooms and then try your hand at enchantments enshrined in the ancient spellbook that guided the sisters in all their mischief.

Helynn Ospina/Airbnb

While you are in town, explore Salem and all its haunted properties that really come to life (or death) during the Halloween season.

Helynn Ospina/Airbnb

Before you lay down your head for the night, enjoy a screening of Hocus Pocus 2 which is available for Disney+ subscribers starting on September 30. Fans of the original Hocus Pocus have been eagerly awaiting this reboot as the trailers have promised to shed light on the sisters’ origin story with glimpses of them as teenagers.

Helynn Ospina/Airbnb

The best part: this can all be yours for just $31 if you are lucky enough to book it. Set your reminder and have this page all loaded up for when the site goes live.

If you don’t get the opportunity to claim this awesome vacation rental, Airbnb has loads of other family-friendly rentals that you can book, like treehouses, train cars, and even a pirate ship!

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Put These Frightfully Fun Halloween Events on Your Family Calendar

by Allison Sutcliffe

Check out these wicked-fun Halloween events Boston kids can’t get enough of

Halloween is just around the corner, parents, and you know what that means. Busting out those Halloween costumes and wearing them as many times as you can before October comes to an end. So in the spirit of the season, we’ve found kid-friendly Boston Halloween events families can enjoy to help you out. From haunted trails and ghostly gardens to slimy science and spooky art, here’s where to scare up family fun around Boston in October.

Halloween events in Boston you won’t want to miss

jack-o-lantern pumpkin in front of Manhattan skyline at night
iStock

Pumpkins in the Park
One of our favorite Boston Halloween events, families can enjoy Halloween-themed games and activities, a costume parade, spooky music by Nate the DJ, and more. Then hit the pumpkin-lit Animal Nocturnal Trail, a short walk through the woods dotted with fun facts about the nocturnal animals found at Bird Park. Along the trail, four “nocturnal animals” hand out candy to tick-or-treaters, so remember to wear your costume and bring a trick-or-treat bag and flashlight. Oct. 22, 2022. Event details.

Zoo Howl
Animals and Halloween adventures await families at Franklin Park Zoo's Zoo Howl, where kids are invited to trick-or-treat among the animals. Expect mystery animal encounters, costume contests and education stations where kids can meet with Zoo educators to learn about creepy crawly critters. Take a stroll along the trick-or-treat trail and complete the scavenger hunt to win prizes, too. You'll need advance tickets for this one. Oct. 29 & 30, 2022. Event details.

Hillside Halloween
Get dressed up in your costumes and bring the family out to the Fruitlands Hillside for a trick-or-treating walk on the museum campus. Timed ticketing will control the flow of guests through the site, allowing you plenty of space for safe Halloween fun. Oct. 28, 2022. Event details.

October Play Date at ICA
It’s almost Halloween! The perfect time to bring the kids to ICA to get inspired and enjoy free admission for families. Plans are still in the works, but if things run like last year, you can expect a special Halloween activity in the galleries and Visitor Assistants will be passing out treats. Costumes are encouraged! Tickets required. Oct. 29, 2022. Event details.

Spooky Shrinky Dinks
When it comes to Halloween events for kids in Boston it doesn't get better than this free experience where kids can join a spooky STEM Shrinky Dink Workshop to make ghosts, pumpkins, and monsters from fun shrinkable plastic. Oct. 19, 2022. Event details.

Related: Where Boston Families Can Pick the Perfect Pumpkin

kids in costumes run in a group after trick or treating with a house behind them
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Halloween Spooktacular
The Boston Children's Museum is where you'll find this spooktacular celebration that's fun and safe for little ghouls and goblins of all ages. This after-hours experience includes a pumpkin patch especially for little ones, pumpkin putt-putt, and a potion mixing activity for budding scientists. Don't forget the treats you'll get to leave with too. Tickets are required. Oct. 29, 2022. Event details.

Halloween at deCordova
Watch the harvest moon travel across the sky as you and your family complete a series of ghoulish activities, all inspired by mysterious artworks. Explore different disguises, create monstrous shadows and solve tantalizing mysteries! Make sure to pick up your treats after the tricks are completed. Oct. 21 & 28, 2022. Event details.

Frightful Fridays at the Gore Mansion
The Gore’s popular Halloween program returns this October! Enjoy spooky tales—but nothing too scary. The 45-minute program features five stories and occurs twice per evening at 6:30 p.m. and again at 7:45 p.m. Best for kids 6 & up. Oct. 14, 21 & 28, 2022. Event details.

Spooky Bones & Creepy Crawlers
Celebrate the scariest time of year with this show-and-tell-and-touch style event full of real animal skeletons and the creepiest of crawlies. Kids will learn about adaptations, and how the bodies of vertebrates and invertebrates accomplish the same tasks in different ways. Oct. 23, 2022. Event details.

Related: Where to Find Fall's Fabulous Colors around Boston

mother and son doing a craft at a table
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Fall-O-Ween Children's Festival
Come dance and party during the afternoon at the Fall-o-Ween Bash. This free, family-friendly event, hosted by the City, will also include lots of spooky activities and giveaways for all ages. Halloween costumes are encouraged. Oct. 22, 2022. Event details.

Halloween Hullabaloo
It’s Halloween weekend at the Discovery Museum. Challenge yourself to a few holes of Pumpkin Putt Putt and other outdoor games with a frightfully fun twist. Use your powers of observation on a Spooktacular Scavenger Hunt, and expect other ghostly surprises to pop up around the Museum. Costumes are encouraged. Psst...don't forget this sense-ational scavenger hunt also at the museum in October. Oct. 29 & 30, 2022. Event details.

Ghostly Garden Scavenger Hunt
Join in on this spooky outdoor scavenger hunt where you decipher a series of hints to find hidden Halloween-themed destinations tucked away throughout the thickly-settled plots and trellises of the Berkeley Community Garden. Costumed characters will be handing out treats (no tricks), so wear your costume and bring a trick-or-treat bag and flashlight. Oct. 22, 2022. Event details.

Minni Workshop: Slime Science
Slime scientists ages 4-10 will be lining up for Minni’s spookiest and gooiest workshop yet. Grab your cauldrons and create creepy concoctions in Minni's Halloween Slime workshop. Kids will make the most of three different slimy interpretations of everything Halloween, beginning with fluffy pumpkin slime, and concluding with a bubbly witches brew. Oct. 30, 2022. Event details.

Minni Workshop: Spooky Houses
Another chance to join a Minni workshop, kids will love this spooky take on architecture. Kids ages 4-10 will use an exciting medley of recycled and craft materials to design their own facades complete with towering turrets and ghastly gargoyles. Perfect for spooky season. Oct. 29, 2022. Event details.

Related: Mark Your Calendars! Boston's Best Fall Festivals for Families

kids sit on hay bales in the fall with pumpkins for halloween events
iStock

Costume Parade
Put on your costume and meet others in the Children’s Library on Halloween to get the day started. There will be a storytime and then kids can parade around the library. Oct. 31, 2022. Event details.

Boo in the Barnyard
It’s almost Halloween—time to show off your costumes! The animals at Weir River Farm love to see kids dressed up for Halloween. Wear your costume and meet Nutmeg the pony, Ruby the llama, Poppy the goat, and Dixie the potbellied pig, as well as other farm animals. Kids will love the scavenger hunt, craft, and the taste of a sweet treat.Registration is required. Oct. 8, 15, 21 & 29, 2022. Event details.

Halloween Puppet Show
In this special Halloween show, Tom helps Freddy the Troll see that he doesn’t have to be scared of children. The vibrant and amusing visual elements will appeal to children as young as 2, while fun lyrics will engage children up to twelve, and adults, too. It’s a great way to celebrate Halloween with the family. Oct. 26, 2022. Event details.

Halloween on the Hill
The folks at Long Hill are excited to bring back Halloween on the Hill. Come explore the beautiful property as it's transformed into a celebration of autumn and the Halloween season. Expect a few new surprises this year as you follow the trail that features over 1,000 jack-o'-lanterns, hundreds of mums and pumpkins, elaborate Halloween sets, light displays, music, and more. Wed.-Sun., Sep. 30-Oct. 31, 2022. Event details.

Boo at the Zoo
Thrills, chills, and animals await you at Stone Zoo's Boo at the Zoo, where children throughout New England are invited to trick-or-treat among the animals. You never know what lurks around every corner on the trick-or-treat trail. Kids will also enjoy ghoulish games and a costume contest in addition to watching animals enjoy their pumpkin enrichments. Oct. 22 & 23, 2022. Event details.

Related: 9 Magical Treehouses Families Can Actually Rent in New England

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Scare Up Some Fun! Portland’s Best Halloween Happenings

by Allison Sutcliffe

Here are all the scary-fun Halloween events Portland families need to check out this year

If there’s one holiday Portland families totally love, it’s got to be Halloween. We love to get weird with the kids (aren’t family costumes the best?) and head out into the city in search of goodies and the coolest carved pumpkins around. Lucky for us, Halloween events Portland kids love happen pretty much all month long. So plan to take that costume out for a spin at the zoo, OMSI, and even the symphony before your little pumpkin dons it for the main event on Halloween.

parents dress up for halloween pose with a costumed baby during howloween a halloween event in portland oregon
Michael Durham/Oregon Zoo

Howloween at the Zoo
You don't want to miss this Halloween event Portland families come back for year after year. The zoo provides a fun and safe setting for this local tradition, where costumed trick-or-treaters learn about healthy habitats for wildlife in a fun scavenger hunt throughout the zoo. Your little animal lovers will enjoy seeing the animals and learning all about conservation while filling their buckets, too. This event is included with your zoo admission, and you can grab a treat bag for an additional fee (or bring your own from home). The best part? All goodies handed out are made by companies that have committed to using deforestation-free palm oil.

Dates: Oct. 22, 23, 28-31, 2022

Oregon Zoo
4001 S.W. Canyon Rd.
Portland
Event details

See Hocus Pocus in Concert
See the Halloween favorite Hocus Pocus on the big screen with the Oregon Symphony performing the soundtracks live. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy star as three wild witches who return from seventeenth-century Salem for a night of zany fun and comic chaos. Filled with bewitching laughs and magic, this hilarious film is perfect for the entire family.

Dates: Oct. 29-31, 2022

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
1037 S.W. Broadway
Portland
Event details

Do the Monster Mash
This Portland Halloween event starts at the Sellwood Middle School for the Monster March parade and ends with a party where kids can enjoy games, music, food, a photo booth, and face painting for Halloween. Wear your costumes, and register in advance for food and admission to this family event.

Dates: Oct. 29, 2022

Sellwood Community House
1436 S.E. Spokane St.
Portland
Event details 

Spirit of Halloween
The sleepy community of St Helens comes alive every October as it re-imagines Halloweentown, the spooky movie filmed there in the 1990s. You can find a celebration all month long, and they mean business—tickets are required for entry every weekend. You’ll be able to go on a self-guided haunted tour, check out the vendor village, and admire the storefronts in the historic downtown—look for special effects and great displays! You’ll find world class street performers, dance lessons, an alien exhibit, a costume contest, and a myriad of photo ops.

Good to Know: You'll find weekend Parking at 471 Plymouth Street.

Dates: Sep. 17-Oct. 31, 2022

Courthouse Plaza at The Historical Riverfront District
275 Strand St.
St. Helens, OR
Event details

Ride the Pumpkin Train
Kids of all ages will love this festive train ride around Flower Farm. Why? Because it's led by a pumpkin engine. A trip around the farm is worth the visit, but the kids will love meeting farm animals and checking out the farm store too. Just beware, this ride runs rain or shine. Psst...looking for a frightfully fun ride? Check out the Flower Farm Boo Train (not recommended for kids under 6) that rides after dark.

Dates: Oct. 8-31, 2022

2512 N. Holly St.
Canby, OR
Event details

Related: This Pumpkin Train Ride Is Worth the Drive from PDX

carved pumpkins glow from within during Halloween, fall festivals
Boophotography via iStock

Make a Witch Hat
Bring your little witch or wizard to this parent/child crafting event. Registration includes all the materials you need to make your own custom witch hats, plus two hats you don't have to craft. It's a great event to get you in the spirit of things.

Date: Oct. 29, 2022

Venino Art Studio
13329 S.E. Misty Dr.
Happy Valley, OR
Event details

 

Trick or Treat at Gresham Station
Bring your costumed kiddos to Gresham Station for a fun Halloween event the whole family will love. Grab tricks or treats from the Gresham Station retailers, make crafts, and even get a chance to meet and greet some of Mountain Peaks Therapy alpacas when you visit.

Date: Oct. 29, 2022

Gresham Station
649 N.W. 12th St.
Gresham, OR
Event details

 

Get Halloween Goodies at the Farmers Market
Hey, ghosts and goblins, superheroes and princesses! Come celebrate Halloween with a trick or treating opportunity at the Market a day before the main event. Dress up in your costume and trick or treat at the vendors booths.

Date: Oct. 30, 2022

Rotary Plaza
12345 S.W. Tigard St.
Tigard, OR
Event details 

 

See Cool Carved Pumpkins
West Linn's annual pumpkin display will be back this year with 200 intricately carved, mind-blowing pumpkins, a kid-friendly laser light display, glow pumpkins, and a flaming jack o' lantern. Another fun option in West Linn? The Boo Pumpkin Patch (Oct. 21-22) at Mary S. Young Park where you'll see more pumpkins on display and the Portland Ghostbusters too. Both are fun alternatives to scary haunts that not all kids can handle, and an easy win for parent with tots and babies.

Dates: Oct. 15 & 16, 22 & 23, 28-31, 2022

2885 White Salmon Ct.
West Linn, OR
Event details

 

Experience a Junior Haunt
Halloween thrills that aren’t too scary wait for families at the Canby fairgrounds this year. Harken back to Halloween’s past as you survive ‘80s horror films, 1950’s atomic Cold War bunkers, clanking damp castles, raven-haunted graveyards, and more. This Junior haunt is aimed at guests 12 and under and their families. It’s a more brightly lit, quieter, and friendly attraction to provide only laughter and delight. Tickets required.

Dates: Oct. 8-29, 2022

Clackamas County Event Center
694 N.E. 4th Ave.
Canby, OR
Event details

 

Attend the Kids Monster Fest
The Kids Monster Fest is a special matinee haunted house experience for children 12 and under and scaredy cats of all ages. Guests will be allowed into the largest Underhill Haunted House nighttime haunts: Underhill Manor. Upon entering young guests will receive a magic wand that will frighten any ghouls, monsters, or creeps away. Also, guests should try and find Harry, the very cute resident bat. If you do prizes await. Join us for Kids Monster Fest for a fun, scary-but-not-too-scary time.

Dates: Oct. 22 & 23, 2022

Veterans Memorial Coliseum
300 N. Ramsay Way
Portland
Event details

Related: Our Favorite Places to Take Kids Trick or Treating in the City, Day or Night

a baby sits open-mouthed in a pumpkin patch field wearing a witch hat
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Experience Laser Halloween
Spooky lasers, eerie scenes, and ghoulish dances are what this party is all about. Get into the Halloween spirit with frighteningly good tunes provided by OMSI. All you need to bring is your best dance moves for this chilling good time.

Dates: Oct. 1-30, 2022

OMSI
1945 S.E. Water Ave.
Portland
Event details

Trick-or-Treat on the Trail
Pack up the car and bring the kids for tons of cute photo ops around the Dolan Creek Farm. Dress in your costumes and plan to enjoying trick or treating on the farm’s nature trail, too.

Date: Oct. 30, 2022

Dolan Creek Farm
13490 S.E. Orient Dr.
Boring, OR
Event details

Go to a Spooky Storytime
Come celebrate Dia de los Muertos and Halloween with North Portland Library. Join with friends for a very special, very spooky storytime, a costume parade, crafts, snacks, and giveaway books.

Date: Oct. 30, 2022

North Portland Library
512 N. Killingsworth St.
Portland, OR
Event details 

Oaks Park Scare Grounds
Portland's only Scream Park returns to one of the oldest amusement parks in the country, the historic Oaks Amusement Park. The Event features three horrifying haunted walkthrough attractions: House of Horrors Scarezone, Graveyard Pumpkin Patch, Last ‘Scream’ Photo Op. There are also Oaks Park thrill rides, games, and concessions. But we know you want to know about the not-so-scary option for little kids. Little ghosts and goblins are invited to join for Midway Trick-or-Treating during select hours. Get a trick-or-treat bag from any game booth, then stop by the carousel, train, mini golf course, and each Midway game for goodies.

Dates: Sep. 30-Oct. 31, 2022

7805 S.E. Oaks Park Way
Portland
Event details

Bella Organics Haunted Corn Maze
Open every Friday and Saturday night through October, this Halloween activity starts at dark. Get lost in acres of corn with the kids. Creatures stalk you as you make your way through the Haunted Corn Maze. This year the Sauvie Island Haunted Corn Maze will be inspired by suicide prevention, a theme we can all get on board with. If you're wondering which option to take with kids, try the earliest time available.

If you kiddos are too young for such a scare, Bella Organics has a far less scary corn maze to be enjoyed earlier in the day. It's open on Halloween and includes access to hay rides a cow train and even a petting zoo with lots of animals your little ghosts will love getting their hands on.

Dates: Sep. 15-Oct. 31, 2022

16205 N.W. Gillihan Rd.
Portland
Event details

Related: Get Lost! Corn Mazes to Visit This Fall

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The Kids Will Have to Fight You for These Hocus Pocus Squishmallows

by Karly Wood

We smell Squishmallows!

Calling all Squishmallow collectors! It’s spooky season so now is the perfect time to expand your collection with a few perfect plushes: a trio of the Hocus Pocus Sanderson Sisters.

The eight-inch Squishmallows perfectly embody the trio of witches that have weaseled their way into our hearts for decades. Thankfully, these are much more lovable and squishable then their real-life counterparts.

Related: The Sold-Out Hocus Pocus Crocs Are Back, Witches!

Amazon

No detail was left unnoticed when it came to creating the Sanderson Sisters. You’ll easily spot Winnie with her standout red hair and green and purple outfit. Then there’s Sarah with her blond hair and signature purple and red outfit. And let’s not forget Mary’s purple hair and red and orange dress.

Each sis stands eight inches tall and is built to squish all through the Halloween season! Better yet, they’re the perfect item to hold on to tight as you watch Hocus Pocus 2 which debuts on Sept. 30 on Disney+.

 Related: Behold the Epic Sanderson Sisters in the 1st Full Trailer for ‘Hocus Pocus 2’

Amazon

Clearly, anything Hocus Pocus related is popular with collectors and fans, and these Squishmallows are no different. Right now, you can find them on Amazon for about $100 (depending on the seller) for the trio, or Walmart for $90.

Related: The Home Depot Is Selling ‘Hocus Pocus’ Themed Lawn Inflatables

The trio debuted in 2021 and was immediately met with rave reviews, and made them even harder to find. From what we can tell, they also come in a smaller five-inch version which will only set you back $12.99 each. You can find those now at Claire’s (in-store only as delivery is not available right now) and oddly enough at Kroger!

No matter which size you end up with, you can’t go wrong snagging all three to squish all season long.

 

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These Chicago Halloween Events Are So Much Fun, It’s Scary!

by Debra Flanagan

From scary to sweet, Chicago has it all this October. Bonus: many of the family-friendly Halloween events around the city are free!

Here in Chicago, Halloween seems to last the entire month of October, and for many that makes it the most wonderful time of the year. And considering how questionable fall weather can be, it gives everyone the chance to get in on the fun. If one parade or trick-or-treating event gets cancelled due to weather, you have several more to choose from.

So, take a break from getting lost and found in corn mazes and working your way around all the harvest festivals Chicago has to offer to focus on more faboolous fun. There are Halloween events for all ages throughout the city (and nearby suburbs), from the scary to the sweet, and we’ve rounded up some of the best. Go to one or go to all—we dare you!

Free Halloween Events in Chicago

Chicago Pumpkin Patches & Halloween Parties

Halloween in the Parks
The Chicago Park District will host pumpkin patches with decorating stations, Halloween-themed carnival games, inflatables, and some surprise visitors. Pumpkins cost $5. They will also host numerous Halloween celebrations in the parks. Events vary by location but many include costumes, treats, and games.

Oct. 1-31
Various city park locations
Online: chicagoparkdistrict.com

Pier Pumpkin Lights
Navy Pier will once again transform into an experiential fall spectacle with nearly 1,000 pumpkins for the month of October. Guests will explore a variety of pumpkin pop-up installations and enjoy Pier-wide deals and other Halloween festivities throughout the month.

Oct. 1-31
600 E. Grand Ave.
River North
Online: navypier.org

Gallagher Way Annual Pumpkin Party
Trick or treat among the various candy stations, dance and sing along to music by the Old Town School of Folk Music, and/or make a kid craft. Be on the look-out for wandering performers such as stilt walkers, magicians, caricature artists and balloon artists. There will be lots of lawn games and every kid can leave with a free junior pumpkin. 1pm-5pm

Oct. 22
3635 N. Clark St.
Lakeview
Online: gallagherway.com

Related: Our Ultimate Guide to Chicago-Area Pumpkin Patches

Chicago Halloween-Themed Movies & More

Movies at Gallagher Way
Pack a picnic and lay down a blanket at Gallagher Way for some Halloween themed movies, starting with Coco, followed by Gremlins and Hocus Pocus. Gates open at 6 p.m. Movies start at 7 p.m. Alcoholic drinks and snacks are available for sale at the park.

Oct. 6, 12, 19
3635 N. Clark St.
Lakeview
Online: gallagherway.com

Wednesday Night Live – Halloween Edition
Decorate a pumpkin, dress up for a costume contest, and stay for a free outdoor screening of Hocus Pocus in the Ainslie Art Plaza. Gates will open at 5 p.m. with the movie starting around 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 19
4844 N. Lincoln Avenue
Lincoln Square
Online: lincolnsquare.org

Chicago Neighborhood Trick-or-Treating Events

Pup-O-Ween
Take your pup trick-or-treating around Ainslie Arts Plaza. Vendors will be passing out various treats and promotions to pets and owners alike.

Oct. 22
4844 N. Lincoln Ave.
Lincoln Square
Online: lincolnsquare.org

Spooky Zoo
Kids can trick-or-treat around the Lincoln Park Zoo grounds from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. or while supplies last. Families can stick around to enjoy the fall fest, seasonal food and drink, or other family-friendly entertainment.

Oct. 22
2001 N. Clark St.
Lincoln Park
Online: lpzoo.org

Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party
Roscoe Street will be shut down from Damen to Hoyne. Wear your costume and at 12 p.m. join or watch the parade. The parade ends at Damen where the marching band will give a final performance before the kids are let loose to trick-or-treat at all the local businesses. Families can also congregate in the center for Halloween themed activities and a live DJ. The party will wrap up at 4 p.m.

Oct. 23
Roscoe St. between Damen and Hoyne
Roscoe Village
Online: roscoevillage.org

Trick or Treat Southport
Trick or Treat on Southport is a free annual community event featuring family-friendly activities, a pumpkin patch, pet parade and trick or treating at local businesses. Enjoy food trucks and a beer tent. 4pm-8pm

Oct. 24
Southport Ave. from Roscoe to Grace
Lakeview
Online: southportcorridorchicago.com

Halloween on Catalpa
Trick or treat among the many Andersonville businesses for a fun and safe Halloween experience.

Oct. 29
Catalpa St.
Andersonville
Online: andersonville.org

Lincoln Scared Ravenswoooood
For one day, Lincoln Square and Ravenswood will transform into Lincoln Scared and RAVENSWoooooD as children trick-or-treat between participating businesses from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Maps of participating businesses are available online.

Oct. 30
Lincoln Square and Ravenswood neighborhoods
Online: lincolnsquare.org

NorthCenter Trick-or-Treat
NorthCenter will host a morning of trick-or-treating around local business, as well as free crafts and entertainment in the Town Square

Oct. 29
4100 N. Damen Ave.
NorthCenter
Online: northcenterchamber.com

Wicked West Trick or Treat
Commercial Park will host a Halloween Parade & After Party from 2 p.m.-3:15 p.m. immediately followed by safe and family-friendly trick-or-treating around the local retail business and restaurants.

Oct. 31
1845 W. Rice St.
West Town
Online: westtownchamber.org

Chicago Halloween Parades

Upside Down Halloween Parade
The 2022 Upside Down Halloween Parade, presented by LUMA8 and the City of Chicago, is a bit off-kilter. Instead of a parade passing its audience as it marches down the street, dance troupes, circus acrobats, musical groups, and more will occupy a stationary space and parade goers will walk past them, giving ample time to enjoy each performance. Halloween costumes are encouraged, and complimentary goody bags sponsored by Blommer Chocolate Company, Mars Wrigley, and others will be handed out.

Oct. 22
5531 S. King Dr.
Washington Park
Online: artsinthedark.com

Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade
The Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade is the most fun and unique parade. Parade participants represent the many art institutions including performing arts theaters around the city, each accompanying an imaginative float or staging creative performances along the parade route. Costumes are made to glow-in-the-dark for added spectacle. 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

Oct. 29
State St. from Lake to Van Buren
The Loop
Online: artsinthedark.com

Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade
If anyone has any energy left after trick-or-treating, stop by the Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade. Participants pull out all the stops for their costumes. See dancers and fire-eaters, and the most elaborate costumes.

Oct. 31
Halsted St. from Belmont to Brompton
Lakeview
Online: northalsted.com

Related: Walk This Way! Colorful Spots for Fall Family Strolls

Chicago Halloween Carnivals

Highwood Pumpkin Fest Carnival
Highwood’s annual pumpkin fest features carnival rides, games, food, live music, and plenty of pumpkins! There’s also a Super Hero 5K fun run, walk, & stroll. Admission is free. Games and rides are additional fees.

Oct. 7-9
Downtown Highwood
Highwood, IL
Online: highwoodpumpkinfest.com

Ticketed Halloween Events in Chicago

Chicago Haunted Attractions

The 13th Floor Chicago
Get ready for the most fun you’ve ever had getting scared at the world-famous 13th Floor Haunted House in Chicago! New this year, they also have mini escape rooms for only $5 per game. The 13th Floor is not recommended for kids under 13.

Now through Nov. 5
5050 River Rd.
Schiller Park
Online: 13thfloorchicago.com

Nightmare on Clark Street
For a few weeks of fall, Deuce’s Major League Bar in Wrigleyville transforms into Nightmare on Clark Street. The Halloween Pop-up includes an over-the-top immersive haunted house experience for those who dare. Tickets are required. Kids must be 15 or older and must be accompanied by an adult. If the haunted house is too terrifying, you can just enjoy the ghoulish decor, themed cocktails, and festive snacks by reserving a table online. Kids are welcome before 5pm on weekdays or before noon on the weekends.

Oct. 1-31
3505 N. Clark St.
Lakeview
Online: deucesmlb.com

TILT Terror Nights
After 6 p.m., 360 Chicago Observation Deck at the top of the John Hancock Building will host TILT Terror Nights where you can experience a longer, more intense experience on Chicago’s highest thrill ride. Note: you must be 42 inches or taller to take part.

Oct. 1-31
875 N. Michigan Ave.
Magnificent Mile
Online: 360chicago.com

Six Flags Great America Fright Fest
Go early to admire the Halloween decorations and seasonal menu items. Stay for the rides, live shows, the Monster Bash (an interactive Halloween party for tiny goblins), and the trick-or-treating on Saturdays and Sundays. But make your way to the exit at 5:45pm when The Uprising Parade: Nightly Call of the Dead begins. This is the cue for kids 13 and under to make their way to the park exit or dare to be scared. Fright Fest includes four different haunted houses and four different scare zones, where you can expect to be terrorized by jump scares.

Sep. 17-Oct. 31
1 Great America Pkwy
Gurnee, IL
Online: sixflags.com

Related: Field Day! Local Chicago Corn Mazes to Get Lost In

Chicago Zoos

Boo! at the Zoo
If the zoo was photo worthy already, several Halloween themed photo spots have been created to fulfill all your Instagram needs. There are giant inflatables, a “Crazed Maize,” a Creepy Carousel, and Zoo Chats each day. Pumpkins are given to different animals on different days (check the online schedule), and everyone gets a treat as you leave. Guests age 13 or older are not permitted in the zoo wearing full-body costumes with their head covered.

Oct. 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23
3300 Golf Rd.
Brookfield, IL
Online: czs.org

Chicago Halloween-Themed Movies & More

Drive-In Movies
Fill up your car with snacks and kids, and head over to Little Beans Cafe for a special screening of The Adams Family 2 from 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m. There will be 15 car spots ($30/car) and 10 blanket and chair spots ($20/spot) in the parking lot. Tune into the sound on your radio.

Oct. 28
430 Ashbury St.
Evanston, IL
Online: littlebeanscafe.com

The Forge Celebrates Halloween
All ages can enjoy hayrides through the Quarries, ghost stories in the forest, scavenger hunts, a costume contest, dance party, and family movie beginning at 2pm.

Oct. 15, 16, 29, 30
1001 Main St.
Lemont, IL
Online: forgeparks.com

Chicago Ride-Thru Halloween Attractions

Santa’s Village Spooktacular Drive-Thru
Visit Santa’s Village Spooktacular Drive-Thru this October for a Not-Too-Spooky Halloween Experience. The park will be transformed into a Halloween Haven with family-friendly scenes, featuring The Witches Broom Lot, Mad Scientist, Alien Landing, Monster Mash Bash, and more. At the end of the route, enjoy tasty treats, including funnel cakes and hot chocolate, photo opportunities, and fun activities.

Oct. 1, 2, 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 27-31
601 Dundee Ave.
East Dundee, IL
Online: santasvillagedundee.com

Pumpkin Train
Take a ride on a Halloween-themed electric interurban trains to the Illinois Railway Museum’s own pumpkin patch. Plenty of pumpkins and picture opps await!

Oct. 22, 23, 29, 30
7000 Olson Rd.
Union, IL
Online: irm.org

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The Sold-Out Hocus Pocus Crocs Are Back, Witches!

by Karly Wood

The cult-classic Croc is back again this year

Gather round sisters, it’s time to do some Croc shopping. After selling out last year, Hocus Pocus Crocs are back, along with coordinating Jibbitz that are perfect for the spooky season.

The purple and orange glitter-treated shoe is unlike any other and a must for fans. It’s made with the same lightweight and comfy construction you love from Crocs, but with the perfect Sanderson Sister vibe.

That’s because the shows come with molded charms already attached! You’ll noticed each pair has Winifred, Sarah, and Mary on one charm with the words “Gather Round Sisters,” in addition to moon, cauldron, skull and eye charms.

Related: Behold the Epic Sanderson Sisters in the 1st Full Trailer for ‘Hocus Pocus 2’

Hocus Pocus Crocs
Crocs

The Crocs come in women’s sizes six through 11 and men’s sizes four through nine. You can snag a pair for $59.99 and get free shipping, too!

What’s a pair of Crocs without the matching Jibbitz? While the shoes come with three attached, molded charms you can still pick up your own set to amp up your style.This year’s coordinating set is a five-pack for $20 and includes varying shapes and sayings straight from the film.

Related: The Home Depot Is Selling ‘Hocus Pocus’ Themed Lawn Inflatables

Crocs

If you prefer a more subdued pair of Crocs for the season, you can still snag a pair of simple black or orange clogs and then dress them up with Jibbitz. So far, we’ve seen Nightmare Before Christmas charms, a five-piece witch pack, a black cat and a fun Hershey candy five-pack.

With the signature slip-resistant design, we’d venture to say these will heartily carry you through the Halloween season. Whether it’s a hayride or a long night of trick-or-treating, you’ll be looking stylish as you run amok, amok, amok.

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Behold the Epic Sanderson Sisters in the 1st Full Trailer for ‘Hocus Pocus 2’

by Karly Wood

We finally learn their origin story

It’s been almost of year of anticipation as we wait for the Hocus Pocus 2 trailer, but it’s finally here and we can already smell children. Disney+ has released the first actual glimpse of the Sanderson sisters, 29 years in the making.

In an Instagram post back in January, Executive Producer Adam Shankman revealed that the sequel would debut on Disney+ during the Halloween season.

“Now more than ever, people need to laugh. We should be laughing every day, and there is so much fun to be had with these three unbelievable women playing delicious characters from such a beloved film,” says director Anne Fletcher. “I am so grateful to be able to play a part in bringing these witches back to life, and to be working with my friends at Disney again makes it all the more special. This is a movie for everyone, from the fans who grew up with the first film to the next generation of viewers, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Related: The Home Depot Is Selling ‘Hocus Pocus’ Themed Lawn Inflatables

Hocus Pocus 2 Trailer

Hocus Pocus 2 Teaser Trailer

Hocus Pocus 2 Plot

The trio returns when someone lights the Black Flame Candle and resurrects the sisters, who will, of course, be played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. They’re out for revenge and it’s now up to three high school students to stop the rampaging witches in Salem.

In the newest trailer, we also finally get a glimpse into the Sanderson Sisters as teenagers and we’re hoping that means we’ll get the entire origin story. It also revealed the first glimpse at Billy Butcherson, a “good zombie.”

Hocus Pocus 2 Cast

Disney

Doug Jones, who played Billy Butcherson in the original, will return to reprise his role. He is the only male actor to return for the second film. Keep an eye out for Hannah Waddingham, Tony Hale, and Sam Richardson, who are joining in on the sequel fun. Anne Fletcher takes over for the OG director Adam Shankman, who has a scheduling conflict.

Missing from the cast will be Omri Katz and Vinessa Shaw who played Max and Allison in the initial film. Fletcher tells Entertainment Weekly that “It was very difficult to try to have them be a part of it because we did talk about it—painstakingly. You’re trying to stay on track with the story, even if they came in as a cameo. People would say, ‘They could be in the background!’ and I’m like, really? You’re going to put the leads of the first movie in the background and be satisfied? You’re not going to be satisfied, you’re going to be angry.”

Hocus Pocus 2 Release Date

Hocus Pocus 2 will debut exclusively on Disney+ on Sept. 30, 2022.

 

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