This last full weekend in October is jam-packed with seasonally spooky (and not-so-spooky) fun: If your family is up for some scares, there are plenty of events to meet that need. For kids who enjoy pumpkins more than vampires, there are lots of options, too.
Check out this selection of local events and add them to your family calendar, stat!
Friday, Oct. 24: Attack Theatre’s Ignite Imagination Pop-Up Workshop, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Step into an evening of creativity, movement and fun. Inspired by Attack Theatre’s summer camp series, this one-day program gives kids the chance to explore their creativity through energizing dance classes, hands-on art projects, and playful games that spark imaginative thinking. Perfect for kids ages 5–12, this workshop is designed to get bodies moving, minds creating, and spirits soaring—all in just one unforgettable evening. The cost is $30. Find more info here.
Courtesy of Attack Theatre.
Friday, Oct. 24: Sensory-Friendly Trick or Treat at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Kids of all ages and abilities can wear their favorite costumes (or no costume, if they prefer) to listen to Halloween stories, enjoy apple cider and other tasty treats, and get a closer look at dioramas, fossils and minerals in a relaxed, sensory-friendly setting. Tickets to this event are $16.
Friday, Oct. 24: “Boo! A Sensory-Sensitive Halloween” at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
This Halloween event is designed with a focus on providing a sensory-friendly environment for kiddos who may struggle with typical Halloween events. Tickets $8 per person, free for children under 2, and are $3 per person for Pennsylvania ACCESS and Pennsylvania ACCESS EBT card holders. Purchase tickets in advance right here.
Friday, Oct. 24-Sunday, Oct. 26: Explore: Bats with Park Rangers at Allegheny County Parks, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Learn about these amazing nocturnal aerial predators at ranger-led stations or relax around a campfire. A short, guided walk will provide flashlights at several parks around the county. Enrollment is free, but spots are limited and some sessions are full. Please check here before attending.
Photo courtesy of Allegheny County Parks.
Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25: “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” at Allegheny County Parks, 6:20 p.m.
The “Halloween Movies in the Parks” series visits Deer Lakes Park and Roundhill Park this weekend. Movies begin at dusk, which is around 6:20 p.m. this weekend. This movie is rated PG-13, and admission is free. Find dates and locations here.
Saturday, Oct. 25: Halloween Hoopla at B is for Books, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Reading Ready Pittsburgh is excited to welcome families to B is for Books in Homestead for a free fall event. This event will feature Halloween-themed storytimes, free pumpkins (while supplies last), as well as crafts, snacks, books and, of course, the option of wearing costumes. Find more info right here.
Saturday, Oct. 25: South Side Kids Halloween Spooktacular, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Don’t miss the 8th Annual South Side Kids Halloween Spooktacular this weekend at Ormsby Park. There will be pumpkin decorating, hayrides, food and drink, s’mores and so much more. This event is free and open to everyone (even if you don’t live in the South Side!) Find more info here.
Saturday, Oct. 25: Pumpkin Palooza at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
For this community event in East Liberty, kids can dress in their favorite costumes (or just come as they are) for an afternoon of tricks, treats, and groovy beats. Families can enjoy candy, crafts and fun activities. Tickets are priced at pay-what-you-want from $0-$25.
Courtesy of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater.
Saturday, Oct. 25: Halloween Cookie Bash at Sewickley Community Center, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The evening will start with dinner for attendees provided by Chick-fil-A. After dinner, guests will attend a cookie decorating class with the Sugar Dough Cookie Company. First, kids will work together to make cookie dough from scratch that they will be able to bring home to bake their own cookies with. After that, kids will be guided through how to decorate several cookies that they can take home to share with their family (if they don’t eat them on the car ride home first!) After cookie decorating, the event will wrap up with some gym time for fun and games. The cost is $35 per child.
Saturday, Oct. 25 and Sunday, Oct. 26: ZooBoo at the Pittsburgh Zoo, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Enjoy daytime trick-or-treating throughout the zoo, work on fun crafts and meet favorite costumed characters. It’s also interesting to see how zoo animals behave in different seasons, so fall is a great time to visit the zoo. Activities are all included in zoo admission.
Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium.
Saturday, Oct. 25 and Sunday, Oct. 26: “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” in Concert at Heinz Hall, 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The Pittsburgh Symphony plays the soundtrack for the film that follows the earnest but misguided adventures of Jack Skellington, Halloween Town’s beloved Pumpkin King. There is an evening concert on Saturday and a matinee on Sunday. Tickets start at $43.
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Image at top of guide of sensory-friendly trick-or-treat courtesy of Carnegie Museums.