10 Best Halloween Events for Kids on Long Island, 2012

Whether you're looking for a calm autumn activity or you're ready to bring on the Halloween ghosts and goblins, you'll find some great fall activities in the coming weeks. This Halloween you can party 1880s style or enjoy a modern-day party at the Ghostly Gala, learn a bit of history by attending a boat burning to commemorate the holiday as they did centuries ago, hear some pirate lore on Fire Island, or sit back and see how far a pumpkin can be catapulted across a field. Whatever you fancy this Halloween on Long Island promises to be full of surprises so be sure to put the finishing touches on your costumes early as you'll have ample opportunities to wear them all month long....

Ghostly Gala Long Island Children's Museum
11 Davis Ave
Garden City
516-224-5800
Saturday, October 27, 6–9pm
$9, members $7; bat exhibit additional $4, members $3
Enjoy face painting, craft making, goodie-bag designing and trick-or-treating throughout the museum. For an additional fee, the Bat Conservancy will be on hand in the LICM theater to introduce children to live bats from around the world. Advance reservations are required.

Haunted Museum
Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum
301 Main Street
Cold Spring Harbor
631-367-3418
Saturday and Sunday, October 27 and 28 3–7pm
$5 per person, $20 max per family; members $4 per child
Meet some wandering ghostly historical figures of Cold Spring Harbor, including wailing widows, missing sailors and roving pirates. Kids can touch things icky and sticky, meet a roach, and make a Halloween mask. The event is family-friendly, although recommended for ages 6 and up.  

Haunted Halloween at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration
Old Bethpage 
1303 Round Swamp Road
Old Bethpage
516-572-8400
Saturday, October 27, 10am–4pm, and Sunday, October 28, 11am–5pm
The setup here is a re-creation of life as it was in the 1800s, complete with more than 50 buildings restored to perfection and set up as a village. For Halloween, Old Bethpage Village puts its best seasonal foot forward with historical personalities, such as a grave digger. Activities include jack-o'-lantern carvings and a monster hunt.

22nd Annual Halloween Boat Burning
Long Island Maritime Museum
86 West Ave
West Sayville
631-HISTORY
Friday, October 26, at 5pm
$5 per person, children 12 and under are free.
Some of the earliest traditions of Halloween lie in ancient celebrations in which bonfires were lit to burn haunted spirits away. Every year someone donates an old boat to the Maritime Museum and the institution burns the vessel in the harbor. So head over for the historical reenactment, or use the event as another chance for your kids to wear their favorite costumes and for you to stand outside in the cool autumn air and drink spiked apple cider. Mark your calendar: They burn the boat only one night a year (rain date: October 27th).

Halloween Family Day with Magic Bob
Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site
246 Old Walt Whitman Road
West Hills
631-427-5240, ext. 11
Saturday, October 27, 1–3PM
Children $7, chaperones free
Magic Bob offers a family show with magic, music, and (not-too-scary) Halloween storytelling. Plus there will be treats, face painting, and a prize for best costume. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended. 

Family Festival and Ghost Stories at Fire Island Lighthouse
Fire Island Lighthouse
Robert Moses Causeway
Fire Island
631-661-4876
Saturday, October 27: Children's festival at 2pm, ghost stories begin at 7pm
Free admission
Spend the day enjoying the festivities, then bundle the kids up, grab some blankets and flashlights and head out to the Fire Island Lighthouse to hear tales of spooky happenings along the Barrier Beach.

Pumpkin Park
Adventureland
2245 Broadhollow Road
Farmingdale
631-694-6868
Saturday, October 27, 10am–4pm
Come see Adventureland as you've never seen it before; decked out in pumpkins. Come in costume and enjoy trick-or-treating. Rides and games are open at regular prices, but the trick-or-treating is free.  

Pumpkin Fling 2012
Suffolk County Farm
350 Yaphank Road
Yaphank
631-852-4602
Saturday, October 27, 10am–3pm
Spectators: Donations requested
Take your crew out to the Suffolk County Farm and Education Center in Yaphank to watch the smashing pumpkins: Teams build a catapult to hurl a 3–5 pound pumpkin into an open field. Whichever team lobs theirs the farthest wins. Prizes are also awarded for Audience Favorite and other categories. Teams must pay $25–$50 to enter; a donation is requested from spectators.

Haunted Hatchery
Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery
1660 Rte. 25A
Cold Spring Harbor
516-672-6768
Saturday, October 27, 4–8pm
Adults $6, ages 3–12 and 65+ $4
Calling all witches, goblins, spiders, and gnomes, the hatchery's open for an evening's roam. Come see the hatchery at night as black catfish and others swim in the darkness and visit the pumpkin sunfish. 

Trick or Tweet
Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center
134 Cove Rd.
Oyster Bay
516-922-3200
Saturday, October 27; rain date: October 28
10:30am–12pm and 1–2:30pm
Members $5, nonmembers $8; suggested donation for adults $2 The center has opened  up its grounds for a holiday celebration. Each session will feature “spooky” animals for the kids to meet, a visit to the pumpkin patch, an adventure walk, and stories around a campfire.