Spooky season is upon us! Which means it’s time for our annual roundup of not-so-scary Halloween events in Connecticut that you can feel confident taking your littles to (hey, we don’t want our kids climbing into bed with us after a 3am nightmare either! Ha!).
And if you’re looking for a little extra mileage out of those Halloween costumes– good news! Many of these events encourage dress up. We love any extra opportunity to let the kiddos (and let’s be honest, sometimes ourselves too!) enjoy those beloved outfits.
We hope this list helps you find lots of opportunities to enjoy this fun holiday with your kiddos of all ages. And while none of these events are scary, we know you’ll have a frighteningly good time 🙂
Enjoy!
p.s. Looking for more things to do with kids in Connecticut? Let us send outing ideas straight to your email inbox by signing up here!
10+ Not-So-Scary Halloween Events for Families in CT
Annual Events:
Scarecrows on Main Street in Old Wethersfield
Come to the historic district of Wethersfield during the month of October and see something spooktacular! Scarecrows will be popping up alongside shops, restaurants, museums, colonial homes and more this fall season. Grab a warm cup of coffee and a cookie from Heirloom Market or a delicious ice cream from Main Street Creamery (or both!) and wander at will. (Check out our post from the 2020 event here!)
Main Street (between Garden Street and Hartford Avenue) Wethersfield
Pumpkin Patch Trolley Ride at CT Trolley Museum in East Windsor
Ride a historic trolley car out to the pumpkin patch and pick out a pumpkin! Then it’s back to the Visitor Center where you can decorate your pumpkin with the provided materials. Enjoy the outside harvest play area, corn box, and explore the museums as well! Tickets can be purchased online in advance.
58 North Road, East Windsor
Pumpkintown USA in East Hampton
The Pumpkinheads are back in the Village for fall, and looking forward to your visit. You’ll meet over 30 Pumpkinheads and their pals in the Village at Pumpkintown U.S.A. Scenes include a firehouse, saloon, church, bank, post office and more. Also returning…the hayride! Enjoy a scenic, narrated 1-mile hayride through the Pumpkintown Forest. In the Pumpkintown Forest you’ll see over 30 Pumpkinhead inhabitants in 17 different settings including a schoolyard, a sawmill, a coal mine and more! Reservations not required. Check out their handy visitor guide for more information!
93 E High Street, East Hampton
Flamig Farm Haunted Walk Through in West Simsbury
A spooky but fun, kid-friendly family walk through. A little scary, a lot of fun! This does take place on the petting zoo side of the road so you will see the animals. Some might be sleeping at night or might come to say hi. Purchase your tickets online. Strollers are not permitted.
7 Shingle Mill Road, West Simsbury
Wee Faerie Village at The Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme
Since 2009, visitors have immersed themselves in the spirit of imagination and whimsy that comes from visiting at least two dozen pint-sized installations across the Museum’s campus on a perfect autumn day. The annual Wee Faerie Village is a beloved seasonal tradition for all ages. A walking trail of faerie-sized creations takes visitors on an adventure through a different themed environment each year. Teams of local artists make their installations from scratch, often working with natural and found materials to evoke the Museum’s beautiful landscape. Upon check-in, visitors receive a map that guides them to each house’s location, tells the story of the faeries who live there, and invites close looking for a special hidden object. Costumes are encouraged! 2026 VILLAGE INFORMATION HERE! BUDGET BONUS: See if your local library offers a pass for reduced admission HERE.
Florence Griswold Museum, 96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme
Pumpkin Passage at The Dinosaur Place in Montville
Pumpkin Passage is a toddler-friendly Halloween event. Walk the Trail of Lights with glowing dinosaurs, pumpkins and mythical creatures. Enjoy special entertainment, bounce houses, corn maze, marshmallow roasting, food trucks & more! Costumes enouraged. Online booking recommended, but not required.
160 Hartford-New London Tpke, Montville
Putnam Pumpkin Festival
October 17th, 2026. Celebrate The Great Pumpkin with dozens of arts and crafts vendors, music, performances, a scarecrow contest, pumpkin features in specialty boutiques and food & drink specials in unique Putnam restaurants! Ride the train and spend the day discovering Putnam.
Downtown Putnam
Plainville PumpkinFest
October 17th, 2026. Dress up your little boys and ghouls for this outdoor festival featuring a kids’ Halloween party and costume parade, kids’ games, a variety of food trucks, carve your own pumpkin, a haunted house and many local vendors.
Plainville Municipal Center, 1 Central Square, Plainville (Kids’ Halloween party starts at 4:00pm at 50 Whiting Street)
Día de los Muertos at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History (formerly the Connecticut Historical Society) in Hartford
Saturday, October 24th, 2026. Visit “Día de los Muertos,” a FREE community event Experience the sights and sounds of Día de Muertos/Day of the Dead, with all-ages arts activities, mariachi music, and Mexican folk dance! Ofrendas, or small altars that honor and celebrate those who have passed away, will be open to visit all day. Bring your own photographs of your muertos or deceased relatives, small mementos, or messages to contribute to our community ofrenda (Please note: Photos and objects will become part of the ofrenda and will not be returned. Please do not bring anything precious or irreplaceable.) FREE but advance tickets required. Get your free tickets here.
One Elizabeth Street, Hartford
Hobgoblin Fair at the Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton
What “critters” will appear on the Roaring Brook nature trails this Halloween? Join the Nature Center for their annual Hobgoblin Fair held on the Saturday before Halloween. The Fair features the ‘Track & Treat’ walk, children’s crafts, and Halloween fun! Children are encouraged to wear costumes IF suitable for walking in the woods and participating in the craft activities. $10 per person. Register online. Suitable for children ages 3 – 8.
70 Gracey Road, Canton
Special 2026 Events (with options for older kids ages 8+)
Hocus Pocus Live at the Jorgensen Center in Storrs
Sun, Oct 18th 2026 @ 1:00pm & 4:00pm. Get ready for a spooky spectacular this fall in Storrs! Hocus Pocus Live!!!: An All-New Parody Musical is a hilarious, high-energy live musical parody inspired by the beloved Halloween cult classic. Starring New England’s #1 live singing Winifred Sanderson impersonator, Summer Orlando (as seen in Disney’s Hocus Pocus 2), alongside Miranda Miranda and Bonnie Petite as the Sanderson Sisters. This spellbinding production features live singing, laugh-out-loud comedy, magical effects, and interactive fun perfect for families, friend groups, and Halloween fans alike. Costumes are encouraged! Buy tickets online.
Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, Storrs
Coco in Concert Live to Film at the Jorgensen Center in Storrs
Fri, Oct 23rd, 2026 @ 7 pm. Come early for Pre-Show Activities at 6 pm (Free for ticket holders). Join Jorgensen for Disney and Pixar’s Coco in Concert Live to Film, the story of Miguel, a young boy who dreams of being an accomplished musician, despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music. Experience this Oscar®-winning film for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Remember Me,” with its vibrant musical score by Oscar® and Grammy®-winning composer Michael Giacchino performed live! Come hungry! Los Mariachis on Wheels will be serving authentic Mexican cuisine before the show! They’ll be located outside on the front patio area starting at 3 pm until before the show. Eat outside if weather allows. Tables available in the Jorgensen lower lobbies.
Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, 2132 Hillside Road, Storrs
Family Spirit Tours at the Stowe Center for Literary Activism
October 24th & October 31st, 2026. Did you know that Harriet Beecher Stowe practiced spiritualism throughout her life? Together with family, friends, and her Hartford neighbors, she would hold séances to try to speak with the spirits of people who had passed on to the next life. Over the years, visitors and staff at the Stowe Center have experienced many mysterious and unexplainable events in Harriet’s historic home—just as Harriet did during her spiritualist explorations.
Join The Stowe Center for Family Spirits Tours, where you’ll learn all about spiritualism in the 1800’s, and how people spoke to departed spirits looking for wisdom, comfort, and knowledge. You’ll also hear stories of some of the most haunting encounters in the history of our museum! [Please note, this tour talks openly about death and grief. Recommended for ages 8+]
Stowe Center for Literary Activism, 77 Forest Street, Hartford
What Lurks Beneath: Ghost Ship at Mystic Seaport
Select dates through October 2026. What Lurks Beneath: Ghost Ship unfolds across the Museum’s historic waterfront, where eerie stories and larger-than-life maritime characters create a mysterious world filled with strange encounters and secrets lurking beneath the surface. Wander the waterfront at your own pace, following the stories and characters that draw you in. Around every corner, ghostly whalers, eerie tales, and unexpected encounters build the suspense. The experience is more spine-tingling than terrifying, letting the setting, the story, and your imagination do the haunting. Spooky, swashbuckling, and full of surprises, What Lurks Beneath: Ghost Ship is a Halloween adventure recommended for ages 8 and up. Costumes encouraged (no full face masks, please). The experience has limited timed entries, so purchasing your tickets in advance is highly recommended in order to get the ticket entry time of your choosing.
Mystic Seaport Museum, 75 Greenmanville Ave, Mystic
Please note: All information contained in this post was current at the time of publication. We always recommend checking with each individual venue’s website or Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.
Do you have a not-so-scary Halloween event we should add to this list? Leave a comment with the details below!
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