Can't-miss fall activities for kids on Long Island

Family fall festivals

From hayrides and petting zoos, to pumpkin-picking and carnival games, there are many family festivals in September and October. Some of the upcoming festivals: The Long Island Fair, Apple Festival, Oyster Festival, Halloween fairs and more. To find the complete list, check out our family fall festivals guide.

The Milleridge Halloween Village

The Millerdige Inn in Jericho transforms into a Halloween Village with a haunted house, fortune readers, spooky rides, a pumpkin patch, bounce houses, face painting, glitter tattoos, a magician, stilt walkers, fire eaters and an escape room. There will also be homemade food and treats. More info: 585 N. Broadway, 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday now through Oct. 27, $15 haunted house, prices vary for other activities, 516-931-2201, milleridgeinn.com.

Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns at Old Westbury Gardens

The Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns at Old Westbury Gardens (71 Old Westbury Rd.) in Old Westbury lights up the night in October. The exhibit features more than 5,000 hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns created by professional artists and sculptors on display throughout a 1/3-mile trail. Watch for a rumble between a skeleton biker gang and their off-road riding rivals, as well as a trio of talking jack o'lanterns, 3D sculpted pumpkins and more. New this year: Trees as well as the path will be a "forest of lights" The event takes place Oct. 4-6, 11-13, 17-20 and 24-28; $26 adults, $22 children ages 3-17, free children two and younger; advanced tickets are required; therise.org.

Ghostly Gala at Long Island Children's Museum

On Saturday, Oct. 26, from 6 to 9 p.m., the Long Island Children's Museum (11 Davis Ave.) in Garden City will be hosting a "Ghostly Gala." Show off your costume, decorate a goody bag, trick-or-treat, get your face painted, meet live animals, listen to eerie music, make spooky crafts and more. In addition, families can check out the "Scaredy-Cat Scarecrow Show," which features magic, bubbles, music and comedy (at 6:15 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 8:30 p.m.). Price: $12 ($10 LICM members), additional $4, $3 for members for show; advanced ticket purchases recommended, 516-244-5800, licm.org.

Halloween at the American Airpower Museum

The 2019 Child Safe Halloween at the American Airpower Museum (1230 New Highway, Farmingdale) kicks off on Sunday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kids can trick-or-treat in the haunted hangar, scavenger hunt, best costume contest (kids ages 12 and younger), tour the haunted bomber, crafts, games with prizes, face painting, a ride on the Travesty Tram and more. Price: $12 adults, $10 seniors and veterans, $7 children ages 5-12. For more information, visit americanairpowermuseum.org.

Riverhead Halloween Festival

Riverhead bewitches for the day -- and night. Its free outdoor Halloween celebration kicks off Saturday, Oct. 26 with trick-or-treating from 3-5 p.m. followed by a costume parade at 6:30 p.m. on Main Street. There will be coffin races, pumpkin carving, a jack o'lantern walk, music and more. Restaurants along Main Street will be offering family-friendly specials. Rain date: Sunday, Oct. 27. INFO 631-591-0722, halloweenfestriverhead.com.

Halloween fun at Stew Leonard's in East Meadow and Farmingdale

Stew Leonard's East Meadow (1897 Front St.) and Farmingdale (261 Airport Plaza) stores are hosting Halloween Happenings through the month of October. Events in both stores include: On Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 4 to 5 p.m., children are invited to dress in costumes and go trick-or-treating throughout the store. Children can pick up a map from Customer Service and use the map to find treats. Local author Steve Simmons will be signing his book "Alice and Greta" about two young witches as they attend Miss Mildew's School of Magic. The event takes place Saturday, Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (East Meadow) and 2 to 4 p.m. (Farmingdale). The first 100 children at each location will be able to make their own magic want ($2 each). On Thursday, Oct. 31, children who come to the store in their costumes will receive a free small ice cream. The East Meadow store is also hosting a "Spooktacular Dance Party" from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18 using a special dance floor; pizza, snacks and juice will be served ($10.99 ages 11 and younger, $12.99 ages 12 and older. The Farmingdale store is offering a "Halloween Costume Party" at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, with arts and crafts, food, games and an appearance by Wow the Cow ($12.99 ages 11 and younger, $14.99 ages 12 and older). Both stores will be showing kid-friendly Halloween movies at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4 and 18 (Farmingdale) and Friday, Oct. 11 and 25 (East Meadow). Additionally, the Farmingdale store will also have a free hay maze for kids, which is open every day from 8 a.m. until dark. For more information, call the East Meadow store, 516-394-9001 and the Farmingdale store, 516-962-8210.

Fall Festival at Dees' Nursery

At Dees' Nursery's fall festival you'll find a children's corn maze, gem mining, an interactive petting zoo, a pumpkin patch and a "Spooky Walk." Some fees may apply. More info: 69 Atlantic Ave., Oceanside, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends starting Sept. 28 through Oct. 27, plus Columbus Day, 516-678-3535, deesnursery.com.

Fall Festival Weekends at The Shoppes

The Shoppes at East Wind (5768 Route 25A) in Wading River is hosting Fall Festival Weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Saturday, Sept. 21 through Sunday, Oct. 27. Each weekend, families will find pumpkins, a Farmer's Market, a bouncy house, wooden train, a carousel and more. The Shoppes are also hosting a Scarecrow Contest, which is free to enter. Simply create a scarecrow and the public will vote. There will be prizes for first, second and third place. Entries must be in by Sept. 13. More information: 631-929-3500, eastwindlongisland.com.    

'Otto the Ghost' animated story at Hicks Nurseries

Enjoy hayrides, fresh picked apples, apple cider, live farm animals, children's workshops, pumpkin contests and more. Come see "Otto's Pirate Adventure" animated story, that follows him and his pirate friends as they learn the importance of teamwork; "Otto" will be available for photos on weekends. The new hayride ($5) features a pirate ship, haunted forest and graveyard. Fall festival POP bracelet ($25) includes one ticket for a bag of popcorn, one Otto the Ghost trick-or-treat bag, one ticket for face painting, one ticket for pumpkin decorating, one ticket for Sand Art and unlimited hayrides for the day. Parking and admission is free. More info: 100 Jericho Tpke., Westbury; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 14 through Oct. 27 (Otto runs through Oct. 31), 516-272-4649, hicksnurseries.com.

Haunted Hatchery

Families are welcome to the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium's not-so-scary Haunted Hatchery from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26. Young guests can come and trick-or-treat through the facility, while making crafts and enjoying refreshments and game play. Price is $7 adults, $5 children ages 3 to 12, free ages 2 and younger; cshfha.org.

Bats, Barnacles & Broomsticks at Long Island Aquarium

The Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center (431 E. Main St.) in Riverhead is hosting a "Bats, Barnacles & Broomsticks" Halloween extravaganza on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Celebrate Halloween Aquarium-style with trick-or-treating, games, music and more. Kids ages 12 and younger in costume will receive half off admission with a paying adult. Price: Aquarium admission is $33 adults, $24 ages 3 to 12, free children ages two and younger; longislandaquarium.com.

Spooky Fest!

Spooky Fest at The Center for Science Teaching and Learning transforms Tanglewood Preserve into a family-friendly Halloween event. There are many non-spooky activities such as a Not-So-Spooky Walk" in the woods for young children, arts and crafts, live animals, face painting and more. Price: $10 admission for non-scary attractions, $15 admission non-scary attractions as well as the Haunted Woods, Maze of Zombies. Additionally, families can visit the center's new Dinosaurs! and People's United Bank Animal Adventure exhibit for an additional cost of $15 for adults, $12 ages 10 and younger after purchasing tickets to Spooky Fest. More info: 1450 Tanglewood Rd. Rockville Centre, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12 and every Friday, Saturday and Sunday Oct. 18 through Nov. 2, 516-764-0045, cstl.org.

Bayville Scream Park 'Not So Scary' Days

Bayville Scream Park (8 Bayville Ave.) in Bayville is known for its five thrilling attractions for brave tweens, teens and adults, but you may not know that the park also offers kids "Not So Scary" days. Open weekends and Columbus Day Sept. 27 through Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the park feature less-scary versions of the haunted houses with no live actors. Families can enjoy Uncle Needles Fun House and Mirror Maze, The Temple of Terror, a Pumpkin Bounce, a Halloween Express Train Ride, crafts, a pumpkin patch, Halloween story telling, hermit crab races and more. Price: $24.75 Scream Park only, $31.75 for Scream Park and Adventure Park; bayvillescreampark.com.

Fall Farm Festival at White Post Farms

Check out an animal farm (including Patches, the resident giraffe), sing-a-long hayrides, bouncers and slides, playground, play-in-the-hay, pumpkin picking and entrance into the bird aviary. Scheduled entertainment includes a dog show, magic show, exotic bird show, variety show, the "Rodeo Ricky in the Lifestyle of the Rich & Shameless" show and the "Nick's Kids Show." Check website for fall festival pricing. More info: 250 Old Country Rd., Melville, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends and Columbus Day, Sept. 21 through Oct. 27, 631-351-9373, whitepostfarms.com.

Pumpkins, corn maze, more at F&W Schmitt Family Farm

Picking pumpkins isn't the only thing you can do at F&W Schmitt's Family Farms (26 Pinelawn Rd.) in Melville. There's a daytime, seven-acre corn maze, with this year's theme "Mad Scientist," free hayrides, straw pyramid, fire truck and treehouse slide, pumpkin patch playground, petting zoo, pony rides and a haunted mansion. Open daily starting Sept. 28 through Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; free to enter the festival; fee for playground, corn maze and daytime haunted mansion; schmittfarms.com.

Oyster Festival

The annual Oyster Festival features carnival rides, pirate shows, a zoo attraction, vendors, live entertainment, an oyster eating/ shucking contest, sports clinics, a food court and more; rain or shine. Admission and parking are free, some attractions require fees. More info: Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, West End Ave., Oyster Bay, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 19-20: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 516-628-1625, theoysterfestival.org.

Apple-picking at Seven Ponds Orchard

Spend the day apple-picking at Seven Ponds Orchard (65 Seven Ponds Rd.) in Water Mill. Afterward, check out the corn maze, hay rides and a playground with life-size wooden toys such as a tractor, truck and windmill to climb on, crawl through and slide down, a mining station (bags for mining are an additional fee) a Cow Train, which is new this year. Plus, there's a farmers market with a bounty of fresh fruit, vegetables, baked goods and more. Guests can also u-pick apples, berries, vegetables and sunflowers. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., $9; 631-726-8015.

Fall fun at Hanks Pumpkintown

Looking for gigantic pumpkins? Hanks Pumpkintown (240 Montauk Hwy.) in Water Mill features large pumpkins for picking plus apple picking (Saturday and Sunday), wagon rides, mazes, face painting, gem mining, pedal cars, tractor train rides, rubber duck races, playgrounds, corn swings, giant slide and more. There's also a market including fruits, vegetables, baked goods and roasted corn. There's an hour-long "Farm Scene Investigation" corn maze, as well as the 15-minute "Spooky Pumpkin" and "Finger Foods" mazes. Open daily Sept. 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Maze Park, weekends only and Columbus Day, $15 (additional fees for add-on activities); hankspumpkintown.com.

Great Jack-O’-Lantern Spectacular Sail

A family-friendly Halloween event featuring trick-or-treating, games, craft-making, a children's "Spooky Den" and the sailing of the first 50 carved pumpkins (lit with candles, at dusk) at Belmont Lake State Park. Price: Free admission. More info: Sourthern State Parkway, Exit 38, North Babylon, 3 p.m. Oct. 26 (6:15 p.m. pumpkin sailing begins), 631-667-5055, parks.ny.gov.

Schmitt Family Farm Fall Festival

The family festival includes pumpkin-picking, hayrides, an animal train ride, a pumpkin bounce house, a firetruck slide, haunted maze, a John Deere trike play area, duck races, roasted corn, apple cider and more. Price: Free admission, fees apply for games and rides. More info: 6 Bagatelle Rd., Dix Hills; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from mid-September through Oct. 31 (including Columbus Day), 631-549-3276, schmittsfamilyfarms.com.

Long Island Fall Festival

The Long Island Fall Festival at Heckscher Park will feature live entertainment, a carnival, vendors, food court, activities for young children and more. Admission is free. More info: Prime Ave. and Main St., Huntington, 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 12-13, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, 631-423-6100, lifallfestival.com.

'Not So Scary' Adventure for Kids at Gateway Playhouse

Take a stroll through a batty maze and encounter some goofy creatures, bewitching tricks and ghoulish delights at the "Not So Scary" Adventure for Kids at Gateway Playhouse (215 South Country Rd.) in Bellport. A cheerful guide accompanies groups through a well-lit tour with treats at the end. The event takes place Saturdays and Sundays starting Oct. 5 through Oct. 27, from noon to 4 p.m. Face-painting, balloons, a pumpkin bouncer, hay bale maze, coloring activities and more are included. Price: $15; gatewayplayhouse.org.

Barnyard Adventure at Harbes Family Farm

Through Sunday, Oct. 28 (Mon-Thurs: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fri-Sun: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.), families can enjoy the Barnyard Adventure at Harbes Family Farm (715 Sound Ave.) in Mattituck. Kids will enjoy singing hayrides (Fri-Sun, holidays only), a petting zoo, pig races (Fri-Sun, holidays only), a gnome-themed hedge maze, "Jumbo Jumpers" bounce pillows, Bunnyville rabbit attraction, an animatronic Chicken Show and more. There will also be pumpkin-picking, a corn maze, live entertainment, roasted corn, lemonades and more. Price: Barnyard Adventure: Monday through Friday, $11.95, Saturday and Sunday, $18.95; holidays and festivals: $19.95, season pass: $39.95, free ages two and younger. Added fees for pony rides and singing hayride; harbesfamilyfarm.com

Pumpkin Park at Adventureland

The Pumpkin Park at Adventureland (2245 Broad Hollow Rd.) in Farmingdale will take place on Oct. 19-20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guests are encouraged to dress up and trick-or-treat at vendors set up throughout the park. Adventureland is also hosting a food drive and are encouraging guests to bring non-perishable food items. Pumpkin Park entrance is free, fee for rides; adventureland.us.

The 1880 Haunted Halloween

The 1880s Haunted Halloween at Old Bethpage Village Restoration (1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage) features ghost tours, a monster hunt, pumpkin carving and more on Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $14 adults, $8 children; obvrnassau.com.