If your little ones love costumes and candy but aren’t fans of the spooky stuff, there’s still plenty of Halloween magic to enjoy. All across the Seattle area, families can find fun runs, pumpkin swims, parades, scavenger hunts, and animal adventures that bring the spirit of the season — without the scares. Here are some of our favorite Halloween activities for kids and family-friendly Halloween events happening around town this year.
Looking for even more? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Seattle-Area Halloween Events and Free Halloween Events for Families for additional ways to celebrate with Halloween acticities for kids all month long.
Active Halloween Fun: Swim, Run, and Skate!
Pumpkin Plunge at the Federal Way Pool | Saturday, October 18 |10 a.m.- 5 p.m.| 876 S 333rd St, Federal Way | Youth $10, Adult $12 | All ages | Pick pumpkins in a pool instead of a field! Swim around with your pumpkins and then take one home after choosing a floating pumpkin from the pool. Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult in the water.
West Seattle Monster Dash | Saturday, October 25 | 9:30 a.m. | 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW Seattle | 5K $35, Kids’ Monster Dash $20, Just a shirt $20 | All ages | Join this costumed fall fun run/walk for families; jogging strollers are welcome. The 12 and under Monster Dash starts at 10:30 a.m. They will also have Halloween activities for kids like a family fun zone featuring games, activities, prizes, and a photo booth.
Run Scared | Sunday, October 26 | 8:15 a.m. | 5900 Lake Washington Blvd S. | 10K $55, 5K and two miler $45, virtual race $40, FREE Kids’ Dash | Before the race, there is a Halloween treasure hunt for the kids. Event registration includes awesome swag and tons of race-day fun, including a costume contest, hot apple cider, a candy corn tasting bar, a free kids’ dash, a photo booth, and more.
Halloween Skate and Pumpkin Curling at Kraken Community Iceplex | Sunday, October 26 | Pumpkin Curling from 3:45-4:15 p.m., Halloween Skate from 4:15-6 p.m. | 10601 5th Ave | Cost $15 | Ages 4 and up| The annual Halloween festivities are rising from the grave! Pumpkin curling is sliding back, and the not-so-spooky skate will feature Halloween-themed music suitable for the whole family. Come dressed up in costume, and you could win our costume contest grand prize!
Harvest Fest Family Fun and Boo Bash Teen Late Night | Friday, October 31 | 4-6 p.m. | People’s Community Center, Tacoma | Free, no registration required | Ages: All | Bring the family for safe Halloween-themed holiday fun! Trunk or Treat, art projects and a bouncy house. Costumes encouraged but not required. The Teen Late Night event that follows from 7-11 p.m. is Halloween themed and also free.
Farm & Zoo Halloween Events for Families
Northwest Trek Pumpkin Chomp & Stomp | October 4 & 5 | 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | 11610 Trek Dr E., Eatonville | Adults $25, Seniors $23, youth $17, 2 and under free | All ages | Watch the animals chomp, stomp, and roll all day. Slide and climb at the Kids’ Trek playground, and take a Free-Roaming Area premier tour to spot animals. Do come in costume – but adults, leave the scary masks and face paint at home.
Zoo Boo at Point Defiance | October 18 & 19 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | 5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma | $17-$30 per person, 2 and under free | All ages | Treats and craft stations for kids and pumpkins and other enrichments for walruses, polar bears, sting rays, and other animals. Watch underwater pumpkin carving, wear a costume, join in a costume parade, play games and hop around at a dance party.
Trick or Treat with the Farm Animals at Kelsey Creek Farm | Saturday, October 25 | 1-3 p.m.| 410 130th Pl SE, Bellevue | $30 resident, $36 nonresident | Ages 2-10 | Go trick-or-treating with the farm animals and see what costumes they’re wearing. You’ll also get to participate in Halloween activities for kids like decorating a trick-or-treat bag, making Halloween crafts, and playing pumpkin bowling. Come dressed for the weather.
Woodland Park Zoo: Pumpkin Bash | October 25 & 26 | 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | 1000 N 50th St. | Free with zoo admission, one child under 12 admitted per paid adult | All ages | Trick-or-treat throughout the zoo and join in the special mascot-led costume parade! The Boo-mazium will be featuring a variety of engaging activities tailored for the youngest visitors. This year, don’t miss out on live pumpkin carving demonstrations. Costumes encouraged!
Tract or Treat at Infinity Farms | Sunday, October 26 | 3-7 p.m. | 16523 Issaquah-Hobart Road Southeast, Issaquah | Cost Free | All ages | Join Infinity Farms for their Tract-Or-Treat free family event. Bring the little ones to the farm to trick or treat from 30 local Eastside businesses. Explore the farm, feed the animals, and enjoy lots of fall activities.
Halloween Fun at Community Centers and Parks
Volunteer Park Halloween Pet Parade | Sunday, October 5 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (register for costume contest between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.) | 1247 15th Avenue E. | Free | All ages | This delightful FREE parade and costume competition will feature pets in costumes, crafts, food trucks, prizes, and vendor booths.
Spooky Sing-a-Long with Crowdsource Choir | Saturday, October 11 | 7:00 p.m. | 1119 8th Ave. (entrance off Seneca St.) | $25 – $50 sliding scale | All ages | Sing a spooky-season setlist including Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, “I Put a Spell on You” from “Hocus Pocus”, and Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”. Seasonal, a little haunting, and full of energy — it’s the perfect way to celebrate fall together. Feel free to dress up for Halloween.
Seattle Children’s Museum Fall Fest, Eerie Encounters | Saturday, October 18 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | 305 Harrison St. | Under age 1, free. Ages 1 and up, nonmembers $20, members $10 | All ages | Wear kid-friendly costumes if you wish to participate in Halloween activities for kids such as a sensory corn pit, ghostly stomp rockets, make Goblin slime, decorate pumpkins, and more. Live “spooky tunes” from Mr. Bri Guy + Brian the Drummer will keep the energy going, while Sage’s Coffee Co. serves cozy seasonal sips for parents.
Halloween Family Magic Show at Seattle Center | Sunday, October 18 | 2 p.m. | 305 Harrison Street | $9.85 per ticket |All ages | Seattle Magic Show presents Magician Raymond in this 1-hour theatrical Magic Show at the Seattle Center.
Big Pumpkin Bash at Bitter Lake Community Center | Saturday, October 18 | 6- 8 p.m. | 13035 Linden Ave N. | $10 per bracelet, payable in cash or check | All ages | Halloween activities for kids like carnival games, face painting, refreshments, and the always popular cake walk at this Big Pumpkin Bash at Bitter Lake Community Center! Bring a can of food to donate.
Pumpkin Prowl Scavenger Hunt | October 20-31 | Hunt anytime, but note times below to turn in your form and get a prize | 9850 64th Street West, University Place | |12 and under | Free | The Pumpkin Prowl Scavenger Hunt trail stretches between the North Meadow and the Environmental Services Building (ESB). Keep an eye out for hidden pumpkin cutouts along the path. Each cutout has a letter printed on the back. Collect all the letters to reveal a secret phrase! To participate in the scavenger hunt, download or grab the Hunt Form at the Environmental Services Building. Turn in your scavenger hunt card at the front desk in the ESB at Chambers Creek Regional Park between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to receive a themed treat bag. Limit of one prize per person.
Trick or Trees Scavenger Hunt | October 20-31 | Hunt anytime, but note times below for tuning in your form for a prize | 14422 Meridian E., Puyallup | Free | All ages | The trees along Meridian Habitat Park’s Nature Trail have donned eerie faces for Halloween. Begin your adventure in the Nature Classroom and take a leisurely walk along the Nature Trail, noting the number of faces you discover on your hunt form. You can download a scavenger hunt form or pick one up from the community center at Meridian Habitat Park, available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Once you’ve completed your hunt, return your form to the community center during regular business hours to receive a themed prize! Please note that there is a limit of one prize per person.
Montlake Fall Fest | Friday, October 24 | 5.-7:30 p.m. | 1618 E Calhoun St. | $8/wristband and with early registration or $10/wristband at the door | Ages 2-12 | Celebrate the season at Montlake Fall Fest — an evening of fun for the whole family! Purchase a wristband that includes unlimited carnival games, a seasonal craft project, and one ticket for the cupcake walk. Enjoy additional activities like face painting, a tot bounce house/toy area, and light refreshments. Costumes are welcome, so come dressed in your autumn best and join the celebration!
Halloween at the Heights Bash | Friday, October 24 | 6- 8:30 p.m. | 2101 NW 77th St. | $12 | All ages | Join us for a fright fest of activities, carnival games, music, challenges, and more. Dress in costume and remember to bring a bag for your goodies. Food available for sale. Volunteers are needed for before, during, and after the event. Proceeds from the wristband tickets support LHCC Scholarships.
Halloween Carnival at Ballard Community Center | Friday, October 24 | 6- 8 p.m. | 6020 28th Ave. NW | $10 | All ages | Early Bird gets the gummy worm! Crafts, music, food, games, prizes, and fun. There is something here for everyone. Come try your luck while there is still time.
Federal Way Tricks and Treats | Saturday, October 25 | 3- 5:30 p.m. | 876 S 333rd St, Federal Way | $6 online, $10 at the door | All ages | Join us for a spook-tacular Halloween adventure full of haunted games and sweet treats! Fun and frights await kids of all ages in a magically eerie atmosphere!
Jefferson Halloween Carnival | Saturday, October 25 | 1-4 p.m. |3801 Beacon Ave S. | Free| All ages | Start your Halloween off with a frighteningly fun-filled evening for the family! Wear your costumes and enjoy carnival games and spooktacular activities.
T’Challaween in Beacon Hill | Saturday, Oct. 25 | 1-4 p.m. | Parade Start: S. College St. and 18th Ave. S. | Free | All ages | RSVP | Hop in or out at any point in the parade route at this community-powered event. After the parade, at Jefferson Park, the celebration continues with entertainment, local businesses, games, and activities that highlight the creativity and resilience of the South End.
RSVP recommended.
Pumpkin Carving at Northgate Community Center | Saturday, October 25 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | 10510 5th Ave. NE | $5 | All ages | Kick off the Halloween season with a family pumpkin carving and decorating night! We’ll have pumpkins of all sizes with safe carving tools and paints to create your spooky or funky jack-o-lantern! *One pumpkin per family. Pumpkin choices are first-come, first-served. Supplies are limited.
Sunset Hill Neighborhood Halloween Party | October 25| 6:30-8:30 p.m. | 3003 NW 66th St. | Free | All ages | Participate in a low-key costume parade, and then enjoy hot dogs, sweet treats, games, and crafts. Pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch to decorate with stickers.
Our Lady of Guadelupe Halloween Carnival | October 25 | 3-6 p.m. | 3401 SW Myrtle St. | All ages | Enjoy outdoor thrills with inflatables, Trunk or Treat row, Food Trucks, and the Oktoberfest Tent (for 21+ guests). Inside, join the fun with a cake walk, face painting, photo ops, more games, and jam out to wicked tunes.
Harvest Fest at Rainer Beach Community Center | Sunday, October 26 | 2- 5 p.m. | 825 Rainier Ave S. | Free | All ages | Join us for a fun, safe, trunk-or-treating event for the whole family! In addition to colossal caches of candy, there will be games, entertainment, and various community resources.
Halloween Costume Crawl for Toddlers at Garfield Community Center | Wednesday, October 29 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | 2323 E Cherry St. | Free | Ages: 1 month – 5 years | Toddlers and preschoolers are encouraged to come to the Garfield Community Center in costumes for a Halloween celebration with play in the Toddler gym, spooky crafts, and yummy snacks.
Tot Carnival | Friday, October 31 | 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. | 1901 1st Ave W. | Free | Ages 3-6 | Have your tots try on their Halloween costumes and join in some pre-Halloween fun. The mini carnival will have games, treats, and fun for all. Costumes are optional but encouraged!
Creepy Carnival at Garfield Community Center | Friday, October 31 | 5 -7 p.m. | 2323 E. Cherry St. | Free | Ages 1-13 | Get in the Halloween spirit at the Garfield Community Center Creepy Carnival! Enjoy Halloween activities for kids like music, carnival games, face painting, and lots of treats. Wear a costume and join this fun event.
Spooky (But Sweet) Halloween Storytimes
Vashon Library Family Story Time: Halloween | Saturday, October 11 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.| 17210 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon Island | Free | All ages | Enjoy stories, music, movement and rhymes that celebrate Halloween. Stay afterward to decorate a mini pumpkin to take home.
Lifting Literacy: Trick or Treat and Magic Show at the Maple Valley Library | Saturday, October 25 | 1-3 p.m. | 21844 SE 248th Street, Maple Valley | Free | All ages | Be amazed by magician Jeff Evans! Wear your costumes or come as you are. Trick or treat around the library. Halloween Stories with Librarian Sharon at 1:15. Play games that build your reading skills. Have some physics and engineering fun making a candy catapult.
Hallo-weee Story Time and Costume Parade at Auburn Library | Thursday, October 30 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | 1102 Auburn Way S., Auburn | Free | All ages | Boo! Wear your costume for a short, not-too-scary Halloween Story Time. Then parade through the library.
Trick-or-Treat Story Times Redmond Library | Friday, October 31 | 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | 15990 NE 85th Street, Redmond | Free | All ages | Put on your Halloween costumes and join us for stories, music, movement, and rhymes that develop your child’s early literacy skills. Then practice your trick-or-treat skills by visiting candy stations throughout the library!
Hallo-weee! Story Time and Costume Parade at Kent Library | Friday, October 31 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | 212 2nd Avenue N., Kent | Free | All ages | Wear your costumes to a short Story Time. Halloween activities for kids include preschool-friendly rhymes, songs, and books featuring traditional Halloween characters. Stay for a costume parade and trick-or-treating in the library afterwards.
Great Pumpkin Hunt Woodinville | Friday, October 31 | 4:30.- 5:30 p.m. | 17105 Avondale Road NE, Woodinville | Free | All ages | Come find a mini pumpkin, join the small indoor costume parade, and trick-or-treat at the library! Happy Halloween!
More Not-So-Scary Halloween Events
Annual Squash Hunt at Bloedel Reserve | October 1-31, Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | 7571 NE Dolphin Drive, Bainbridge Island | Cost: Adult $26, ages 13-18 $14, ages 5-12 $9, under 4 free | Tickets | All ages | Search for decorative squash tucked throughout the gardens. Create nature rubbings, check out the Sheep Sheds, play games, and more.
Issaquah Highlands Treats and Tails | Saturday, October 18 | 12-2 p.m. | 2550 NE Park Dr., Issaquah | Free | Ages 3-10 accompanied by an adult | Bring a bag and come trick-or-treating. Feel free to bring pets and the whole family. Those without a reserved time slot can wait in the stand-by line. Reserve a time slot here.
Halloweentown at Sunrise Village |Saturday, October 25 | 4-8 p.m. | 10507156th St E., Puyallup | Free | All ages |Trunk or Treat, costume contest, and an all-new not-too-scary animatronic pups and live characters.
Museum of Fright | Sunday, October 26 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.| The Museum of Flight | Free admission to kids under 17 in costume (see costume policy on website) and activities are included in tickets or membership | All ages | Across the museum galleries, you’ll find Halloween games and activities for kids to spark imagination, innovation, and get in the Halloween spirit. This will be a frightful extravaganza!
Costumed fun awaits at the Museum of Fright. (Image: Ted Huetter)
Halloween Factoria | Friday, October 31 | 4:30-6:30 p.m.| 4053 Factoria Mall SE, Bellevue | Free | All ages | Children 12 and under who are dressed in Halloween costumes can trick-or-treat at participating retailers. A DJ will spin the top Halloween-themed pop music, and strolling costumed Halloween characters will add to the event’s fun.
KidsQuest Halloween Hangover | Saturday, November 1 & Sunday, November 2 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.| under 1, free, others $17.75 | Tickets | All ages | Wear your costume one last time and smash pumpkins, do candy science, and enjoy the museum.
More Fall Fun
Still craving cozy fall adventures? There’s plenty more to explore before the pumpkins disappear for the season:
- Ultimate Guide to Seattle-Area Halloween Events — Your go-to roundup of parades, festivals, and spooky (but not scary) fun for all ages.
- Free Halloween Events for Families — Trick-or-treating, carnivals, and community celebrations that won’t cost a dime.
- Pumpkin Patch Roundup — Find the best local farms for photo ops, hayrides, and cider donuts.
- Apple Picking Farms Near Seattle — A sweet day trip idea for families who love crisp air and fresh apples.
- Best Fall Color Hikes — Kid-friendly trails where the leaves put on a show.
- Free Family Events This Weekend — Updated weekly with free and low-cost outings for every kind of Seattle family.
