Top Halloween Happenings for Kids in Boston551

Salem Haunted Happenings (activities throughout October): Children's events, costume parades, haunted houses, ghost stories, candlelit tours, and live music make Salem Haunted Happenings the best celebration of Halloween and October! See website for schedule.

Witch's Woods (Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun 10/1/- 10/30): Come if you dare! Four scary attractions, including Castle Morbid, 3-D Keeper's Crypt, Nightmare Mansion, and Witches Woods Haunted Hayride, plus carnival games, stage shows, and the Jack O Lantern Jamboree. Ages: 6 & up; Time: 6:30pm-10:30pm; Cost: Adults $28; Location: Nashoba Valley Ski Area, Westford.

Zoo Howl (11am-3pm, 10/30-10/31): Join Zoo New England for creepy crafts, goblin games, spooky storytelling, costume contests, and creature encounters. Explore the haunted maze and the trick-or-treat trail... if you dare. Ages: All Ages. Cost: Free with admission. Location: Franklin Park Zoo.

Tales of the Night (6:30pm-9pm, 10/28-10/29): A frightfully fun evening for the whole family. Prowl the farm with curious creatures of the night on candlelit paths. Delight in the haunted hayride's silly skits. Visit the ghoulish graveyard for witches' brew and spooky snacks. Dress in costume (if you wish) and bring a flashlight to light your way! Register in advance; tickets are also available at the gate. Event runs rain or shine. Ages: All Ages. Cost: Adults and Children (2 & up) $10; Children (under 2) free. Location: Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm, Lincoln.

Halloweenfest (10/23-10/24): Kids can enjoy face painting, pumpkin decorating, and costumed characters (Sat-Sun), plus PRU BOO trick-or-treating.

Toe Jam Puppet Band Halloween Spooktacular (10:30am, 10/30): Children can trick or treat with Toe Jam's all-original Halloween songs and puppets. Location: Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline.

Castle of the Damned (7pm-11pm, each Fri, Sat, Sun 10/22-10/30): Dare to venture on a guided tour of a transformed Hammond Castle Museum with bizarre and disturbing displays you will ever experience. Castle of the Damned is a "PG-13" show and may be too intense for younger visitors (or the faint of heart). Ages: 13 & up. Cost: Adults $15; Students $12. Location: Hammond Castle Museum, Gloucester.

Pumpkin Fest (10am, 10/23-10/24): The museum hosts a weekend of seasonal activities, like spooky face painting (Sat-Sun, museum hours, Children's & Science); pumpkin decorating (Sat-Sun, 9am-12n, Children's); Halloween music and movement with Miss Carolyn (Sat, 1pm, Children's); Fiddle Fun (Sat 1pm-3pm); and Pumpkin Science (Sat-Sun 1pm-4pm, Science). Ages: 0-12. Cost: Free with museum admission. Location: The Discovery Museums, Acton.

Harvard Scare: Harvard "Scare" kicks off Halloween weekend with magicians and mimes, a costume parade for children, an all-ages Monster Mash block party, and special offers from local merchants. Costumes welcome! (10/29-11/2). Cost: Free. Location: Harvard Square, Cambridge.