A pumpkin, a costume and getting home before everyone is exhausted can be plenty. Here are five Halloween outings for little kids.
2026 planning note: Event details checked October 20, 2026. Dates below focus on what remains this season. Confirm weather arrangements, tickets and accessibility with the organizer before leaving. Driving ranges are rough estimates from Center City, not live directions. Age-fit suggestions are editorial guidance, not admission rules; “low-scare” does not mean every child will be comfortable.
1. Make Boo at the Zoo a short costume adventure
- Where
- Philadelphia Zoo, West Philadelphia.
- Age fit
- toddlers and elementary-age animal fans.
- Dates
- October 24–25 and October 31–November 1.
- Cost
- included with zoo admission or membership; parking separate.
Choose a few favorite animals and let the trick-or-treat stops connect them. That gives the outing a beginning and an end without making every exhibit a requirement. Bring a treat bag and a change of clothes if the costume has a short shelf life.
2. Keep Pumpkinland at Linvilla simple
- Where
- Media, Delaware County.
- Age fit
- younger children; flexible daytime visit.
- Dates
- daily through November 8; check hours.
- Cost
- free entry; pumpkins, hayrides and mazes extra.
You do not need to buy an entire afternoon of activities. Walk through the displays, let each child choose a pumpkin, then decide whether there is energy for a daytime hayride. Set the pumpkin budget before the smallest member of the group falls in love with the largest one.
3. Turn Peddler’s Village into a tiny scavenger hunt
- Where
- Lahaska, Bucks County.
- Age fit
- mixed ages; some spooky displays.
- Dates
- daily through October 26.
- Cost
- free display; food, shopping and attractions extra.
Give the kids three things to find: the funniest face, an animal and a character they recognize. Let them choose a family favorite instead of trying to see every display. This works particularly well when siblings have different attention spans.
4. Pick one big moment at Sesame Place
- Where
- Langhorne, Bucks County.
- Age fit
- preschoolers and Sesame Street fans.
- Dates
- select days through November 1.
- Cost
- paid park admission; check parking and extras.
The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular runs on select dates September 19–November 1, 2026, with trick-or-treating, shows, rides and a parade. Choose one show or character moment as the anchor, then leave the rest of the plan loose. A theme-park ticket does not obligate your family to stay until closing.
5. Make Dutch Wonderland your longer Halloween day trip
- Where
- Lancaster.
- Age fit
- children comfortable with a longer day trip.
- Dates
- operating dates through October 31.
- Cost
- paid park visit; ages 2 and under free.
Happy Hauntings offers a trick-or-treat trail, family entertainment and Halloween activities without a haunted-house focus. The 2026 program runs through October 31 on operating dates. Check the actual calendar rather than assuming the park opens every day.
Which Halloween outing works for a two-year-old?
Start with how your child handles crowds, costumes and a change in routine, not how much the ticket includes. A short daytime display walk at Linvilla or Peddler’s Village lets you leave without feeling you’ve wasted an expensive ticket. Some scarecrows may still be frightening. Zoo time can work well for an animal-loving toddler; a theme park is a bigger commitment.
Check stroller access, toilets, allergy arrangements and the actual walking route with the venue. Admission policies and ride height limits are separate from whether an outing feels right for your child.
One costume decision you can make before leaving
Need a theme for the grown-ups or a coordinated family look? Try the Halloween costume picker for outfit ideas and practical shopping suggestions. Treat it as inspiration, not a guarantee of children’s sizing or venue approval. Check each organizer’s rules before bringing masks or props. Pets should stay home unless the venue explicitly allows them.
For a group that has outgrown the gentle version, see five Halloween plans for teens and young adults.
Before you head out
Choose one main activity, check the toilet and food options, and decide what would make you leave early. For allergies, ask the venue about current treat options rather than assuming every station can accommodate them. A backup set of everyday clothes may be more useful than a second attraction.
This is a researched local planning guide, not a claim of firsthand visits or a paid venue endorsement. Organizer links above are the sources for dates and event rules. No ticket availability is guaranteed.
Sources & method
Information in this guide was checked October 20, 2026. Source links appear in the text above. Dates, prices and hours can change, so confirm with the official source before you rely on them.
Photo credits and image details
These photographs were resized and converted to WebP for this website, with no crop or content changes. Source and license links are below. Dates describe the source photos, not current conditions or future events.
- Frenchtowner · CC BY-SA 4.0An autumn pumpkin display at Trauger's Farm in Bucks County, October 2006. A seasonal opening scene, not a photo of Linvilla's Pumpkinland.
- Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0Philadelphia Zoo's main entrance in April 2024. Venue reference photo, not a Boo at the Zoo event scene.
- Jim, the Photographer · CC BY 2.0Pumpkinland at Linvilla Orchards, September 2012. Archival view, not this year’s display.
- Staniulis · CC0Peddler’s Village, May 2024. A view of the grounds, not a Halloween event photo.
- Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0An autumn view of Sesame Place's entrance in October 2025. Seasonal decorations and programs may change each year.
- Smallbones · CC0 1.0Dutch Wonderland's entrance decorated for Halloween in October 2018. This is an earlier season, not a preview of the current program.