This weekend is jam-packed with fall family fun. There are plenty of not-so-spooky Halloween events, including some with a dose of history included. Park rangers are helping kids explore fall changes in the region’s green space, and those fall festivals are in full swing (check out our fall fest guide!)

Your weekend planning starts right here:

Friday, Oct. 17-Sunday, Oct. 19: Guided Hikes featuring Autumnal Changes with Allegheny County Parks

From the dazzling colors of the leaves to the fascinating behaviors of wildlife preparing for winter, autumn is a season of change and beauty. These hikes will be approximately two miles with moderate elevation changes. Bring water and wear closed-toe shoes. Choose from Harrison Hills, North Park, Settlers Cabin, and South Park. Enrollment is free, but space is limited.

Photo courtesy of Allegheny County Parks.

Friday, Oct. 17: Duo’s Treehouse with La Escuelita Arcoiris, 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Duolingo and La Escuelita Arcoiris invite caregivers and little ones from birth to age 5 to spend time learning in a bilingual environment on Fridays. This free program aims to foster healthy development for children and support the adults who care for them. The program is held every Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Kingsley Association. Registration is required. (Learn more about Duos’s Treehouse right here.)

Friday, Oct. 17: Spooky Spirits Walk at The Frick Pittsburgh, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Explore the macabre, haunting history of Pittsburgh’s East End on a guided walk of the Frick grounds. From the city’s link to the “crime of the century” to the real-life origins of the city’s most enduring urban legends, grownups and bigger kids can discover the darker side of the East End. Two drink vouchers and a sweet treat are included in the cost of the ticket. Register in advance for this popular event. Tickets are $50 for grown-ups and $25 for students.

Saturday, Oct. 18: Punkin Chunkin and Bark or Treat at Hartwood Acres, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Join Allegheny County Parks and SHARP Robotics from Sarah Heinz House to launch pumpkins across the amphitheater field with a full-size trebuchet! Enjoy crafts, games, activities and family fun. Bring your vaccinated pooches and stop by Bark or Treat, too.  Enrollment is free.

Courtesy of Allegheny County Parks.

Saturday, Oct. 18: Creatures and Crafts at The Ellis School, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Join the Ellis School and Humane Animal Rescue Pittsburgh on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a morning of festive fall fun. This free community event is open to kids in grades 1–4 (with an adult chaperone) and promises a mix of creativity, learning and seasonal treats. They will also have a special visit from a Humane Animal Rescue wildlife ambassador (it will be some kind of interesting creature!). This event is free, but registration is required.

Saturday, Oct. 18: Community Campfire at Frick Park Hollow, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

The evening will feature live music by Norside Trio, lawn games, and pumpkin painting. We’ll provide hay bales for sitting, but feel free to bring your own blankets and additional chairs. This event is BYOR—bring your own roastables. Registration is $5, free for ages 3 and younger.

Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, October 19: ZooBoo at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Enjoy daytime trick-or-treating throughout the zoo, work on fun crafts, and meet favorite costumed characters. This event also runs the following weekend, so put on your favorite costume (optional!) and head over to see how the animals act in chillier weather. These activities are included in the cost of zoo admission.

Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19: Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival in the Strip District, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Have you seen a pumpkin bigger than a car? Well, you should. From a pie-eating contest and giant pumpkin sculptures to a floating pumpkin regatta, this festival celebrates all things pumpkin. There will be food, vendors, demonstrations and lots of fall fun. Admission is free.

Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19: Seven Springs Autumnfest

This is the final weekend for Autumnfest at Seven Springs. Our local ski resorts are fun year-round, and this one is no exception. Enjoy live music, food, scenic chair lift rides, balloon artists and more. Find all the details here!

Courtesy of Seven Springs/Vail Resorts.

Sunday, Oct. 19: Family Day at Schenley Plaza, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy will host a Spooktacular Family Day filled with Halloween fun in Schenley Plaza. Guests can enjoy a not-so-scary ride on the PNC Carousel, specially decorated for the season, and meet frightful friends Jack, Sally, and Mr. Oogie for photos and treats from noon until 2:00 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to come dressed in costume to celebrate the day and capture memories with the ghoulish guests. The festivities continue with the Azure Monster Bash Concert from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. under the Schenley Plaza Tent, where Anton DeFade’s Half Step All-Stars will perform classic spooky tunes during a lively dance party. Following the concert, children will have the chance to try out instruments at an interactive petting zoo. This event is free, and no registration is required.

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Photo at top of story courtesy of Allegheny County Parks.