2012 Halloween Happenings for Little Kids

Here is a list of some local events—not about being scary and only eating candy but are all about the costumes, pumpkins, parades, friends, and fun activities. Please call to confirm all events before heading out since they are subject to change depending on attendance, weather, etc.

For more events (more seem to be added daily!) check the Events Calendar and the Fall Guide. Need a costume or crafty projects? Check the Kidoinfo Halloween Guide for some DIY ideas.

Pumpkin Palooza
Saturdays and Sundays, September 8-October 31
Play in the Hay, Magic Pumpkin Coach, Snap the Dragon, Western Town, make your own scarecrow, pumpkin painting, Charlie Brown’s pumpkin patch, ride the witch broom, and more!
WHERE: Frerich’s Farm, 43 Kinnicutt Avenue, Warren
AGES: ALL
COST: Many activities are FREE, others range from $1- $8.
PHONE: 401-245-8245
WEBSITE: http://www.frerichsfarm.com/

Swim with the Pumpkins at the Y
Friday, September 28, 6:00-8:00pm
Go pumpkin picking in the pool at the Y! The YMCA of Greater Providence branches will be hosting a family-friendly event “Swim with the Pumpkins”. This event will be open to the community and is FREE to attend! All children will receive a free inflatable or real pumpkin to take home.
WHERE: The event will be hosted by the following Y branches:

• Cranston YMCA, (401) 943-0444
• East Side/Mt Hope YMCA, (401) 521-0155
• Kent County YMCA, (401) 828-0130
• Newman YMCA, (508) 336-7103
• South County YMCA, (401) 783-3900
• West Bay Family YMCA, (401) 295-6501

COST: FREE. Registration is required, so please stop by or call your local Y Welcome Center to sign-up!
WEBSITE: http://ymcagreaterprovidence.org/

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
October 4 – November 4, 6:00 – 11:00pm (last entry at 10:00pm) and extended hours on Saturdays and Sunday, October 7:  6:00pm-midnight, last admission at 11:00pm.
Experience the glow of thousands of pumpkins, set in a magical display of artistry during this night-time Spectacular and feast your eyes on hundreds of artfully carved jack-o-lanterns depicting people, places and scenes from popular culture to old-time favorites and everything in between – all with painstaking detail and amazing intricacy! Don’t miss this unique, family friendly evening event.
WHERE: Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence
AGES: All ages
COST: Monday-Thursday nights, $12 adults, $10 seniors (62+), $9 children (3 – 12); children under 3 are free. Friday-Sunday nights, $15 adults, $13 seniors (62+), $12 children ages 3 – 12, children under 3 are free. RWP Zoo members receive a $2 discount when they show a membership card and another form of ID; no other discounts will apply.
PHONE: 401-785-3510
WEBSITE: http://www.rwpzoo.org/

Pumpkin Harvest Festival & Jack O’Lantern Illumination
October 6-8, 10:00am-9:00pm. Illumination from 6:00pm-9:00pm.
Hayrides, burlap maze, pumpkin painting, live music and more. Jack o’lantern illumination at dusk.
WHERE: Phantom Farms, 2920 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland
AGES: All Ages
COST: Some activities are FREE, others are fundraisers for the Boys & Girls Club and cost $2-$3.
WEBSITE: http://phantomfarms.com/

BOO at the Zoo, New Bedford
October 12-14, 19-21, and 26-28, 6:00-9:00pm
There’s enough thrills and chills for everyone at Boo at the Zoo! Rides are included in the Boo admission. Climb aboard for a spoooooky train ride or take a bewitching carousel ride! It’s slightly scary fun for all ages!
WHERE: Buttonwood Zoo, 25 Hawthorn Street, New Bedford, MA, 02740
AGES: All ages
COST: members $8 adult, $5 child. Non-members $13 adult, $10 child
PHONE: (508) 991-6178
WEBSITE: http://bpzoo.org/

Children’s Fall Festival
October 13, 1:00-4:00pm
Pumpkin painting, sand art, face painting and much much more! We’ll have games to play and prizes to win. Be sure to get in line early for the inflatable bounces! Visit with local police officers and firemen and see what cool stuff they brought with them. Don’t leave early because “Toe Jam the Puppet Band” will be performing from 2:30 to 3:30pm.
WHERE: Old Mountain Field. (Rain location: SK High School gym.)
AGES: All
COST: FREE with the donation of 1 household cleaning item or toiletry item per person. All items will be donated to the Welcome House
WEBSITE: http://www.southkingstownri.com

Little Pumpkins
October 25, 4:00-5:00pm
Don your Halloween finery, enjoy light refreshments and be entertained by music maker Lindsay Meehan. Younger siblings are welcome! All children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
WHERE: The Providence Athenaeum, 251 Benefit Street, Providence
AGES: 2-6
COST: suggested donation of $5 per child. R.S.V.P. a must! Call Lindsay at 421-6970 or email lshaw@provath.org
WEBSITE: http://www.providenceathenaeum.org

7th Annual Halloween Iron Pour!
Friday, October 26th, 5:30pm – 8:30pm. Rain Date: October 27th.
Doors open at 5:30pm, performance begins at 7:00pm.
Each year, the Steel Yard teams up with the Iron Guild to demonstrate the industrial arts in an exciting, accessible way. The Iron Pour is a luminous spectacle in celebration of the fall season in Providence. Incredible displays of molten metal in the past have included: liquid iron being poured into a huge, hand-carved wooden skull and casting the insides of pumpkins while a giant steel one was brought to life. Food vendors will be on site.
WHERE: The Steel Yard, 27 Sims Ave. Providence, RI
AGES: All ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
COST: $10
WEBSITE: http://www.thesteelyard.org

Kidoinfo Spooky Storytime & Haunted Art in the Park
Saturday, October 27th, 10:30am-12:30pm
Join us in Burnside Park on Saturday morning for a special fall Kidoinfo Spooky Storytime & Haunted Art in the Park with Alison Paul! Come in costume and get a special treat!
Spooky Storytime: Hear guest authors & illustrators read their books and other spooky favorites. Following Storytime, at Haunted Art in the Park kids can work on creating an interactive haunted house in Burnside Park with artist Alison Paul! Also learn about our life-size human anatomy skeleton, Mr. Bones (and his guts!) as science educator Nora Barre explains the function of bones and explores human anatomy! Do a fun skeleton craft to hang in the trees and spookify the park! Please join us for this first-ever Spooky (but Not So Scary) Kidoinfo Storytime event!
More fun: Explore our Spooky playground, get FREE Halloween facepainting by artist RattScalion, dance to our special Halloweenie sound-track and enjoy delicious fall treats from food trucks!
WHERE: Burnside Park, Downtown Providence
AGES:  All ages!
COST: FREE!
Sponsored by Kidoinfo & Greater Kennedy Plaza

WBNA Goblins & Gremlins Halloween Activities and Parade
October 27, 1:00-4:00pm
Come out in costume to march in a real Halloween parade. The neighborhood will light up with pageantry in celebration of creativity, spirit and community with face and pumpkin painting, a dog costume contest, a bake sale, hot dogs, popcorn, apples and hot cider, and the giant trebuchet pumpkin launcher.
WHERE: Dexter Training Ground. West Side of Providence
AGES: All family members are welcome, including pets
COST: FREE ($5 to enter pet costume contest) ($5 to launch a pumpkin)
Sponsored by WBNA

Spooky Zoo
October 27 & 28, 10:00am-3:00pm
Daytime outdoor autumn activities for the whole family: trick-or-treat, enjoy live music and seasonal entertainment including pumpkin carving demonstrations, games, creepy-crawly animal encounters, costumed characters, pumpkin treats for the animals and more!
WHERE: Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence
AGES: 12 and under.
COST: Free with admission. Half-price admission for kids (12 and under) in costume.
PHONE: 401-785-3510
WEBSITE: http://www.rwpzoo.org/

Halloween Hike – Mother Nature style!
Saturday, October 27, 5:30-9:00pm (Groups depart every 10 minutes)
Bundle up and rustle through the leaves on guided lantern-lit trails through the cool night forest. Families encounter friendly costumed woodland creatures that explore the myths and legends associated with local wildlife and Halloween. Before or after the tour, take part in fun crafts and activities. Registration is required to reserve a time slot.
WHERE: Audubon Society of RI at the Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA
AGES: All ages
COST: $12 per non-member; family 4-pack available for $36 (Members, $8/person)
PHONE: (401) 949-5454 ext. 3041
WEBSITE: http://www.asri.org

Boo Bash at Providence Children’s Museum
October 28, 11:00am-2:00pm
A tiny bit spooky, a whole lot of fun! Come in costume and have a blast at the biggest Halloween bash around!  Play bewitching games galore, have hands-on fun with imaginative arts and “witch crafts,” explore an eerie environment, mix it up in the mad scientist’s laboratory and much more.
WHERE: Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South Street, Providence
AGES: 3 – 11
COST: Free with admission (admission is $8.50 per person, free for babies under the age of 12 months and for members.)
PHONE: 273-5437
WEBSITE: http://www.childrenmuseum.org/

“Fiends” of Brown Street Park Halloween Party and Parade
October 31, 4:00–5:30pm.
All are welcome at the “Fiends” of Brown Street Park Children’s Halloween Party and Parade. Kids can join in on the ghoulish games, creepy crafts, and demented decorating projects, while filling up on pizza and healthy snacks. At 5:00pm, jump in as one of our favorite marching bands honks, blasts and bangs their way along a neighborhood parade route. Sponsored by “Fiends” of Brown Street Park, Mt. Hope YMCA, Crossfit Providence, and Whole Foods University Heights.
WHERE: Brown Street Park, corner of Brown & Creighton Streets, Providence
AGES: All welcome at this free and fun event (best for ages 10 and under).
COST: FREE
PHONE: 454 8712
WEBSITE: http://www.friendsofbrownstreetpark.org/

Tags: halloween, pumpkins, rhode island

Category: holidays, seasonal