Family-friendly Halloween events

Great places to take the little spooks so they can have a happy (not-so-scary) Halloween

October 21, 2013; 6:57 AM • by Nathan Cushing

Planet Spooky

Join Snoopy and the PEANUTS gang in this new daytime event at Kings Dominion. Kids can do all sorts of activities, like jump in a foam pit, visit a petting zoo, and more.

• Date: Runs every Saturday and Sunday through October 27th
• Time: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
• Location: Kings Dominion
• Cost: Included in admission

Monster Mash at Dorey Park

Music, crafts, games, a costume contest, and a spooky trail round out this event.

• Date: Friday, October 26th
• Time: 8:00 PM
• Location: Dorey Park and Recreation Center in Henrico
• Cost: FREE

Eerie Nights Ghost Tour

Follow a band of “ghoul guides” (i.e. the walking dead) as you stroll through Shockoe Bottom, hearing stories of Richmond’s spooky past.

• Date: Saturday, October 26th
• Time: 8:00 – 9:30 PM
• Location: 1700 E. Main Street
• Cost: $10 – $13

Howl-A-Woof

Why can’t animals get in on the Halloween festivities? Head over to the Ruff House Dog Park for dog costume contests, food, games, and more. Open to all dogs (and their owners).

• Date: Saturday, October 26th
• Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Location: Rockwood Park at 3401 Courthouse Road in Chesterfield
• Cost: FREE

Scarytown

Carytown gets spooked up (but not enough to scare the kids away). There’s safe trick-or-treating for kids, pumpkin crafting, the Richmond Zombie Walk, and the Light The Night Walk.

• Date: Saturday, October 26th
• Time: 12:00 PM – Dusk
• Location: Carytown
• Cost: FREE

Fancy Me Mad

Swing by to hear tales from Edgar Allen Poe, followed by a tour of the historic graveyard.

• Date: Saturday, October 26th
• Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
• Location: St. John’s Church • 2319 E. Broad Street
• Cost: $5

Spooky Party

Dress to impress in your best halloween costume and play ghoulish games at the Children’s Museum.

• Date: Saturday, October 26th
• Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Location: Children’s Museum of Richmond (both locations)
• Cost: FREE with Museum admission

Boulevard Pumpkin Festival

This new event boasts “autumn themed fun for all ages.” What does that mean? Pumpkin games, costume contests, and holiday-inspired beer and wine. It’s a good way to explore all the new businesses in Scott’s Addition.

• Date: October 26th
• Time: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
• Location: W. Marshall to W. Leigh streets
• Cost: FREE

Goblins and Gourds

Head to the Children’s Garden to partake in pumpkin painting, food tasting, hoop dancing, and a concert by the Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra.

• Date: Sunday, October 27th
• Time: 1:00 – 4:00 PM
• Location: Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens
• Cost: Regular garden admission

Trick-or-Treat with the Dinosaurs

Kings Dominion’s 6-acre dinosaur park will be come trick-or-treat haven. In addition to gazing at the 39 life-sized moving dinosaurs, the little tykes can collect a monstrous bag of sweets. Beat that, Jurassic Park!

• Date: Runs every Saturday and Sunday through October 27th
• Time: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
• Location: Kings Dominion
• Cost: $5 in addition to regular admission

Halloween Howl at Forest Hill Park

Pets and pet owners will dress up in their best costumes and compete for Best Duo, Scariest, Cutest, and Best Overall competition prizes. There’ll also be one of the cutest parades you’ll see this season. Plus, donations will benefit Ring Dog Rescue.

• Date: October 27th
• Time: 1:00 – 3:00 PM
• Location: Forest Hill Park
• Cost:

TRICK OR TREAT STREET

Trick of Treat Street (TOTS) creates a safe, fun, festive Halloween event for kids 10 and under. There’ll be food, magicians, games, pumpkin decorating, face painting, a costume contest, moon bounces, and more. Pets can also take part in the festivities with a pet costume contest!

• Date: Sunday, October 27th
• Time: 12:30 – 4:30 PM
• Location: Westhampton Green at the University of Richmond
• Cost: FREE

Squirreloween at The Diamond

Just because Richmond’s baseball season is over doesn’t mean The Diamond becomes a ghost town. Nutzy, Captain ARRR VA and others will come back for Squirreloween. Let the kids trick-or-treat through the stadium suites and take hayrides around the field.

• Date: October 27th
• Time: 2:00 – 6:00 PM
• Location: The Diamond
• Cost: FREE

Halloween on Hanover

Each year the quaint 1900 block of Hanover Avenue becomes Halloween central with ornate decorations, lights, families, and trick-or-treating. It gets crowded fast, so arrive early to beat the bustle.

• Date: October 31st
• Time: Early evening
• Location: 1900 of Hanover Avenue
• Cost: FREE

Halloween Hoopla

Adults and children should come dressed in their Halloween best for an evening full of fun at the Children’s Museum. Enjoy trick-or-treating in the Spooky Village, play fun games like pin the nose on the Jack-O-Lantern, paint pumpkins in The Backyard, and much more.

• Date: Thursday, October 31st
• Time: 4:00 – 8:00 PM
• Location: Children’s Museum of Richmond • 2626 W. Broad Street
• Cost: $4.00 for adults (FREE for kids)

photo by Fionnuala Bradley

October 21, 2013 6:57 AM 0