Pumpkins, candy and costumes … oh my! Your family may choose to celebrate Halloween a bit differently this year due to the pandemic, but there are still plenty of ways to have fun.  Many local businesses have made every effort to provide festivities that your family can enjoy while still feeling safe. And if you’re looking to stay more socially distanced in 2020, you can do that, too! Whatever you decide, Halloween can be a welcome distraction (and a bit of normalcy) for us all right now! Pandemic or not, Halloween is NOT cancelled. So go ahead and get in the spooky spirit!

In our 2020 Halloween Guide, you’ll find:

Pumpkin Patches

More Local Festivities

Ways to Celebrate at Home/With a Small Group

Photo by Michelle Reese

Merrymead Farm

When: Harvest Day Activities run every Saturday in October from 11 a.. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. During the week, there are limited activities Monday through Friday.
Where: 2222 S. Valley Forge Road, Lansdale, PA 19446

• A five-acre maze offering daytime or moonlight fun, Merrymead is a working dairy farm with plenty of fall activities.
• Visit the apple shed for seasonal produce, cider and decorations. Take a hayride around the farm.
• There’s also a corn stalk tunnel, animals, wagon train rides, pumpkin painting and more!

Northern Star Farm

When: Open through November 1; Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 112 East Third Ave., Trappe, PA 19426

• Pumpkin patch, hay rides, scavenger hunt, corn maze, pony rides, scarecrow contest, super cannon, apple slingshot, private bon fires and farm animals!
• Free admission and parking.

Olszanowski Farm

When: Open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 315 Pughtown Rd., Spring City, PA 19475

• Per their Facebook page, the farm will be doing pumpkin picking, hayrides and corn mazes. Currently, they will only have evening activities for scheduled groups and they are now scheduling times for fire rings, the maze and hay rides.
• Note: Masks are required to participate in these events.
• Contact the farm to schedule your excursion, as slots can fill up quick! Email olsfarm@yahoo.com or consult the Facebook page.

Varner Farms

When: Harvest Land reopens Saturday, September 26, open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: 746 S Trappe Rd., Collegeville, PA 19426

• Tickets are $14.95 for ages 3 and up.
• Ticket includes 5-acre corn maze, horse/tractor drawn ride to the pumpkin patch, visit with barnyard animal friends, and access to the pumpkin patch and flower field.
• Pumpkins and flowers are an additional charge.

Winding Brook Farm

When: Daytime pumpkin picking is slated to be offered October 17, 18, 24, 25, and 31^st from 12-5pm, in the front field only (no hayrides or concessions) and reservation-group only hayrides and birthday parties (each group will have their own bonfire area)
Where: 3014 Bristol Rd., Warrington, PA 18976

• Per their Facebook page, most public events for Fall 2020 have been cancelled due to the uncertainties in relation to the coronavirus, however, pumpkin picking will be offered.

Wilcox Farms

When:

Large Corn Maze: September 11-October 31 on Fri-Sat = 9am-midnight, Sunday = 9am-9pm; November hours = 9am-9pm.

Kids Corn Maze: September 11-November 8, open daily, 9am-dark.

Hayrides: September 11-November 8^th, Fri-Sunday; for weekday hayrides call for availability.

Market: 8am-7pm, daily.

Where: 1134 Reading Ave., Boyertown, PA 19512

• Over 8 miles of trails wind through a 25-acre maze of corn.
• The large maze is actually made up of many small ones, with a Gargoyle theme, this year.
• Little ones looking for fun will enjoy the smaller Owl-themed corn maze or the hay bale maze. Flashlights are available to rent (or bring your own) for fun after dark. The mazes are open Fri. – Sun. through mid-November. Farm stand with seasonal items and hand-dipped ice cream. Check out all the details HERE.

Abby’s Pumpkin Farm

When: Opening Saturday, September 26
Where: 2471 Little Rd., Perkiomenville, PA 18074

• Pumpkin picking, hayride and corn maze!
• Call for further information: 610-220-7608

Harvest Hayride at Arasapha Farms

When: September 1, 2020 -Ongoing (Be sure to check their Facebook page and WEBSITE for the latest updates and to confirm.
Where: Arasapha Farm, 1835 Middletown Road, Glen Mills, PA 19342

• Enjoy an all-new, 5-acre corn maze, plus pumpkin picking, a 3-acre sunflower field and the option to pick your own flowers!
• Plus, an option to reserve your own birthday parties and gatherings is also available. For more information and to book, email: andothecommando@comcast.net.

Photo by Michelle Reese

Bates Motel & Haunted Attractions

When: Now through November 1; 7pm-10pm (reserve tickets online HERE)
Where:  1835 Middletown Road, Glen Mills

Celebrate the 30^th year of spooky fun safely while sporting a mask and social-distancing at this event. Enjoy admission to the all-new “Psycho Path”, “Revenge of the Scarecrows Haunted Trail” and the Bates Motel Haunted Mansion!

Pumpkinland & Haunted Gardens at Colonial Gardens

When: Daily, now through October 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; plus Family Night Hayrides Fridays-Sundays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. until October 30.
Where: 745 Schuylkill Road, Phoenixville

Pumpkinland and Haunted Gardens are back for another year! (With some changes.) Pumpkinland is a free play area with popular character cutouts and is open daily through Halloween. There will also be 15-minute daytime socially distanced hayrides ($6 per person) daily, and spookier 25-minute hayrides on weekend nights priced at $11 for ages 12 and over and $9 for 11 and under. For $3, you can go through the fun house, corn maze, Casper’s Castle and princess-themed privet maze unlimited times. And maze/hayride combo ticket is $8. Masks are required on Colonial grounds for guests over the age of 2. There are also additional options to rent private wagons and party rooms/tents for larger groups.

The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular

When: Weekends, now through November 1
Where: Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne

Come in costume and celebrate silly, not-too-spooky fun at The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place! The park will be transformed into a family-friendly Halloween haven and guests will enjoy trick-or-treating around the park, Halloween-themed shows, an interactive Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt, pumpkin decorating, swinging, flying, and cruising on Count von Count-themed mechanical rides, and unique photo opportunities with everyone’s favorite furry friends dressed up in costume on their Halloween-themed floats! Note that reservations must be made online. Masks are required.

ALL NEW Halloween Drive-Thru at Sesame Place

When: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in October
Where: Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne

For the first time ever, families can enjoy a Halloween-themed experience at Sesame Place from the comfort of their cars! Enjoy a special soundtrack, festive decor, millions of lights and Sesame Place characters dressed up in costume on Halloween themed floats. Tickets are $35 per car, and Season Pass Members save 20% on admission.

Night Tours at Eastern State Penitentiary

When: Select dates now through November 15
Where: 2027 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia

The annual haunted house event, Terror Behind the Walls, is cancelled this year due to the pandemic. But you can STILL visit one of the most famous prisons in the world this fall! The penitentiary is offering Night Tours, allowing visitors to explore the dark, abandoned cellblocks like never before. These self-guided tours include access to historic locations in the complex such as Al Capone’s Cell and Death Row. You can also enjoy “The Voices of Eastern State” audio Tour, narrated by Steve Buscemi. Tickets start at $19 and vary by night. Find out more about the event and purchase tickets HERE.

Scarecrow Season at Peddler’s Village

When: Now through October 31
Where: 2400 Street Road, New Hope

Peddler’s Village is kicking off its 41st Annual Scarecrow Season with a property-wide display of scarecrows created by individuals and local businesses and organizations. While the traditional Festival is cancelled due to the pandemic, they will sill be hosting scarecrow-making workshops designed with safety in mind on Saturday and Sunday, September 12 and 13 as well as Saturday, September 19 and 26. Get more details (and register) for the workshops at THIS link.

13th Annual Scarecrow Walk at Morris Arboretum

When: October 3 – November 1
Where: 100 E. Northwestern Avenue, Chestnut Hill

Morris Arboretum’s Scarecrow Design Contest is back for the 13^th year (spooky right?) with the 2020 theme, “Fairy Tale ‘Crows.”  Think back to your favorite fairy tales. Scarecrows will be on display throughout the Arboretum from October 3 through November 1. Vote for your favorite to determine the winners of the Scarecrow Design Contest.

Homicide and Hauntings – Murder Mystery Walking Tour at Peddler’s Village

When: Fridays through Sundays, October 3 – November 8, select times
Where: Routes 202 & 263, Lahaska (Meet at the Cock ‘n Bull lobby)

Peddler’s Village is known for their Murder Mystery Dinners, but in the times of corona, they’re getting creative with these new Murder Mystery Walking Tours.

Being a ghost doesn’t mean you can’t be driven to murder.
The ghosts of Peddler’s Village are in a quandary. Some of them have been disappearing…for good…and no one wants to be next. When a specter finds itself permanently dispatched to the Great Beyond, what can it do but investigate? Hear spine-tingling ghost lore of Bucks County while you help discover which apparition is bumping off the others…with bumps in the night.
When afterlives collide, who will be left with a ghost of a chance?  Can you solve a murder at Homicide and Hauntings?

Tickets are $25 per person. Dinner is not included, but you receive a 10% discount at several Village restaurants when you show your receipt.

Brick or Treat at Legoland Discovery Center

When: October 2 – November 1
Where: Plymouth Meeting Mall, 500 West Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting

Halloween Themed Event (for adults) and Trick or Treat Trains (all ages) on the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad 

When: Select dates and times October 8 – October 31, see site for details
Where: New Hope & Ivyland Railroad, 32 W. Bridge St, New Hope

The New Hope Railroad is offering two Halloween-themed excursions – one for adults, and one for all ages. The adults event is meant to spook and delight passengers. The Trick or Treat event will include a live reading of Spookley the Square Pumpkin and trick or treating around the station platform. Masks are required while on the train.

Boo at the Zoo (Elmwood Park Zoo)

When: October 10-November 1; 12pm-3pm (weekends only)
Where: Elmwood Park Zoo; 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown

Children of all ages can attend this annual, fun-filled Halloween-themed event in costume and enjoy socially-distanced trick or treating alongside their favorite animals! Check the website for the latest updates and information as it becomes available: https://www.elmwoodparkzoo.org/boo-at-the-zoo/

Third Annual Haunted Hayride in the Park (Drive-thru)

When: October 10, 2020; 5:30pm-9:30pm (rain date: October 11)
Where: Green Lane Park; 2144 Snyder Road, Green Lane

As a free event, this year, the hayride will be conducted via drive-thru! Enjoy the same spooky spectacular sites and creepy campgrounds from the comfort and safety of your own vehicle!

Parking Lot Horrors: A Haunted Drive-Thru Cinema

When: Select dates October 16 through November 1 (schedule below)
Where: King of Prussia Mall, 160 N. Gulph Road, King of Prussia

Join Parking Lot Theaters and King of Prussia Mall this Halloween for our 1st Annual Parking Lot Horrors, a Haunted Drive-Thru Cinema Experience, featuring all the Top Movies you love and a Parking Lot full of Ghouls, Zombies and Things that go Bump in the Night. Tickets are $40 per car (4 people per car) for General Admission. VIP Admission guarantees you a spot in the first 3 rows for $55. Find out more and purchase tickets HERE.

Halloween Movie Lineup

• Oct 16th- Ghostbusters
• Oct 17th- Adams Family
• Oct 18th- Tyler Perry Boo 2
• Oct 23rd- Beetlejuice
• Oct 24th- Goosebumps
• Oct 25th- Insidious
• Oct 30th- The Ring
• Oct 31st- The Grudge
• Nov 1st- Goonies

Skippack Children’s Halloween Parade

When: Saturday, October 17 at at 9:45 a.m.
Where: Begins at Trinity Christian UCC, 2009 Church Road, Skippack

The annual Skippack Village Children’s Halloween Parade is still on! Participants will line up in socially distanced groups, starting at 9:45 a.m. in the church parking lot. Dr. Mak from Skippack Pharmacy will lead the parade along the sidewalk on Skippack Pike (north side of street only) to Floral & Hardy where they’ll have candy and fun activities for the kids. Register for the event HERE.

Trick-or-Treat with the Animals

When: Saturday, October 17, 2020; 1pm-5pm
Where: The Shops at Valley Square, 1501 Main Street, Warrington

Enjoy a walk-thru zoo event serving as a fundraiser for animal care and a fun event to celebrate Halloween all in one! Don your best costume, bring along a $5 participant fee and your own bag to collect tasty treats! A special raffle will also take place for $25 a ticket with the prize being a Percy the Camel home visit! Catch a glimpse of the infamous camel at this event, as well! Check out the event’s Facebook page for more information and updates.

Trick or Treat Nights at Elmwood Park Zoo

When: Friday, October 23; Thursday, October 29 and Saturday, October 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown

Bring the kiddos to the zoo for a night of trick-or-treating fun! This socially distanced event will provide families with a safe space to trick-or-treat around the zoo. Adults and children are encouraged to dress up in their best costume. Don’t forget your trick-or-treat bag and your flashlight! Guests can also enjoy one free carousel ride included with their ticket and animal meet and greets. Adults 21+ can visit Zoo Brew during the event for drink specials. Tickets are $20 per child ($15 for Yearly Member) and include 2 free adult tickets. Face masks are required for all guests 3 and up.

Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Glow Festival

When: Friday, October 23 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: Slatington Airport, 1000 Airport Lane, Slatington

This one might be worth the drive! Lehigh Valley Hot Air is hosting this Halloween themed event for families to have some safe fun at a distance. The Hot Air balloons will begin inflating at 6:00 PM. Tethered rides will begin at 5:00. All drive through vehicles must enter and exit from the airport main entrance. All guests with VIP lawn tickets must remain in their designated area for the duration of the event. Each child under 10 will receive a pre packaged trick or treat bag, while supplies last. There will also be a DJ playing Halloween themed music and fireworks at 10 p.m. Find out more HERE.

A Night of Jack ‘O Lanterns at The Highlands Mansion & Gardens

When: Friday, October 30 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: 7001 Sheaff Lane, Fort Washington

This popular annual event is back this year … but with a few changes. A Night of Jack ‘O Lanterns will be a Drive Thru this year. Cost will be reduced to just $10 per car at the gate upon arrival and all proceeds go to the continued restorations of the mansion and gardens. Enjoy a moonlit drive through the historic estate along the jack ‘o lantern and ghost luminaire lit driveway. Be a part of the event by carving your own pumpkin and entering it in the contest. All entries will need to be dropped off on the day of the event by 5 pm. Email ddorsey@highlandshistorical.org to register your pumpkin in advance. Voting will take place online and top winners will be rewarded with gift cards from favorite local businesses. Please enter Sheaff Lane by way of Morris Road for this event. Skip the congestion of Skippack!

Franklin Fright Weekend at the Franklin Institute

When: Saturday and Sunday, October 31 and November 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: 271 North 21st Street, Philadelphia

Trick or treat indoors at The Franklin Institute this Halloween weekend when spooky science, liquid scare shows, and other frightfully-fun festivities take over the entire museum. Put on your best, most creative costume and experience ghostly science as you tour the museum, trick or treat through exhibit galleries and knock on the Halloween-inspired doors—behind them, a witch, a pirate, or even Ben Franklin might appear to hand out goodies! Included with the price of admission. Purchase tickets HERE.

According to the COVID Risk Levels Dashboard on globalepidemics.org, Montgomery County is currently rated “Yellow” in a scale of Green, Yellow, Orange, Red with Green being the safest and Red being the riskiest. That being said, you’ll probably find a real mix of people that feel comfortable trick or treating and those that prefer to stay home this year.

Whether you plan to go trick or treating on Halloween night or not, you might be looking for some suggestions to celebrate at home or with a close group of friends this year. Here are some suggestions:

• Go ALL out with decorating this year. Whether you DIY or let the kids help with shopping, making your home into your own little haunted house is sure to make you feel frightfully festive.
• Organize a Halloween parade in your neighborhood. This is probably the closest to traditional trick or treating, but instead of going door to door, families can simply walk on the sidewalks around the neighborhood in an organized/spaced fashion. If you want to give out treats, place individual bags on a table at the end of your driveway.
• Decorate or carve pumpkins. This is always a Halloween favorite, but make it extra special this year by getting together with some friends outside or organizing Zoom parties.
• Have a face mask party! In true 2020 fashion, your “QuaranTeam” can get together to decorate masks instead of pumpkins this year. Order up a bunch of plain cotton masks. (Or you could even use disposables) and let the kids go nuts with puffy pant, fabric markers and more.
• “BOO” a Neighbor! During the month of October, choose one neighbor and secretly leave a Halloween package at their front door along with a “Boo” poem asking them to pass it on and a “We’ve Been Boo’ed” sign for them to hang on their door. Get ideas/printables HERE.
• Have a Halloween Movie Marathon. You can do this with just your family, invite a few friends and watch on a projector in the backyard, or even use a program like Netflix Party to watch remotely with others.
• Plan a Halloween Scavenger Hunt. Make the kids “work” for their candy this year by figuring out clues! Place small pieces of candy at the site of each new clue, eventually leading them to a big bag or Giant sized candy bar. You can find plenty of ideas on Pinterest, but HERE‘s a link to a free printable.
• Go on a Candy Hunt … in your yard! Think Easter egg hunt, Halloween style. Get creative by using glow-in-the-dark eggs or using flashlights.
• Find Halloween-themed recipes and have a family bake-off!