Spooky season is everyone’s favorite (well, almost!) If you love Halloween, check out these family-friendly haunts and themed activities for all ages in Pittsburgh.
Halloween Treats
Hallowboo
Throughout October, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Idlewild Park | 2580 U.S. Route 30, Ligonier, PA 15658
Enjoy your favorite rides plus the trick-or-treat trail, a costume parade, Halloween shows
and all-new ways to celebrate Halloween at Idlewild, including the Sasquatchanna Railroad and Mystic Wilds Jungle Maze!
$42 | idlewild.com
Community Campfire
Oct. 17, 4-7 p.m.
Frick Park Hollow | Lancaster Avenue and Hutchinson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218
Come dressed in your costume and get ready to celebrate the splendor of the harvest season with live music, lawn games and pumpkin painting. Roasting sticks will be provided for guests, but plan to bring your own goodies to roast over the fire.
Free | pittsburghparks.org
Punkin Chunkin’
Oct. 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Hartwood Acres Park | 4000 Middle Road, Allison Park, PA 15101
Have a blast launching pumpkins across the amphitheater field with a full-size trebuchet and spend the afternoon enjoying crafts, games and lots of family fun! Activities include face painting, balloon art and medieval sword fighting.
Free| alleghenycounty.us
Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkin Festival
Oct. 18-19, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Stacks at Three Crossings | 2875 Railroad St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222
See Mother Nature’s most outrageous, humongous fruits … including pumpkins weighing more than 2,000 pounds! Other activities at this annual festival include carriage rides, pumpkin carving, a 5K race, a pumpkin drop and more!
Free | monsterpumpkins.com
Family Day Halloween Spooktacular
Oct. 19, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Schenley Plaza | 4100 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Take a not-so-scary ride on the PNC carousel that’s decorated for the season, enjoy special treats and meet some Halloween characters. Visitors are encouraged to dress in costume.
Free | pittsburghparks.org
Moon Halloween Spooktacular
Oct. 22, 5-8 P.M.
UPMC Events Center | 6001 University Blvd., Moon Township, PA 15108
Little ghouls and goblins can trick-or-treat as local businesses and organizations hand out candy and other goodies. The line will close at 7:15 P.M., so arrive in time to get some treats!
Free | moonparks.org
Boo! A Sensory Friendly Halloween
Oct. 24, 5-7 p.m.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh | 10 Children’s Way, Pittsburgh, PA 51212
This special event is designed with a focus on providing a sensory-friendly environment where everyone can enjoy Halloween activities at their own pace, with lower lights, softer sounds and plenty of space to feel comfortable.
Starting at $21 | pittsburghkids.org
Fright Nights
Zombies of the Corn
Throughout the Month, 6:30-10 P.M. Friday through Sunday (except Oct. 5)
Three Rivers Paintball Park | 282 Rochester Road, Freedom, PA 15042
Walk through the zombie campground and z-maze, see the 3D funhouse, hear ghost stories and more spooky fun.
Starting at $35 | zombiesofthecorn.com
Cheeseman Fright Farm
Cheeseman Farm | 147 Kennedy Road, Portersville, PA 16051
Throughout the Month, 7-9:30 PM Friday through Sunday
Get ready for Halloween with a haunted hayride, corn maze and multiple walk-through attractions. More than 100 actors are hiding around every corner, and the farm is isolated by more than 300 acres … so no one will hear you scream! Attractions are geared toward teens and adults.
Starting at $25 | cheesemanfarm.com
Hundred Acres Manor Haunted House
Hundred Acres Manor | 1 Hundred Acres Drive, Bethel Park, PA 15102
Throughout the Month, 7-10 P.M. Thursday, Sunday & Oct. 27-30, 7-11:30 P.M. Friday and Saturday
Face zombies, creatures and other monsters that haunt your nightmares at Pittsburgh’s largest haunted house that features five terrifying themes.
Starting at $28 | hundredacresmanor.com
Eerie Acres Farm Haunted House
Eerie Acres Farm | 386 Eagle Mill Road, Butler, PA 16001
Throughout the Month, 7:30-11 P.M. Friday and Saturday
The indoor haunt, outdoor cornfield and midway (with food trucks and music) will be in full swing with spooky surprises!
Starting at $25 | eerieacresfarm.com
More Family-Friendly Halloween Fun
Kennywood’s Phantom Fall Fest
This event offers two different vibes: daytime can bring trick-or-treating, hayrides and live shows geared toward families, while nighttime adds haunted houses and scare zones for teens and adults.
Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium’s Jack O’ Lantern Extravaganza
From Oct. 2 through Nov. 2 (closed Oct. 6–7, 14, 20–21), the zoo glows each evening with a trail of artistically carved pumpkins. The walk-through runs from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and is magical for kids and adults alike.
Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium’s ZooBoo
Families flock to this annual favorite, running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 18, 19, 25 and 26. Trick-or-treat stations, a costume parade and themed activities make ZooBoo a tradition for many local families.
National Aviary’s Owl-o-ween
The Aviary invites families to meet owls up close, create themed crafts and enjoy educational activities. Costumes are encouraged, making this a festive, animal-friendly alternative to traditional trick-or-treating Oct. 18, 19, 25 and 26.
Bridgeville Halloween Parade
10 a.m. Oct. 25: Bring your costumes, your spooky spirit and your love for community fun.
East McKeesport Halloween Parade and Costume Contest
1 p.m. Oct. 26: Categories for ages are 1-4, 5-9 and 10-12 years.
Swissvale Halloween Parade
Last Saturday in October: The Swissvale Halloween Parade is always a community favorite! Residents are invited to line the streets and cheer on the “ghosts” and “ghouls” as they showcase their creative costumes. Friendly furry friends are welcome to join the fun, too!
Carrie Woodard contributed the “More Family-Friendly Halloween Fun” section of this article. For more haunted houses and attractions from Woodard, check out “Haunts for Little Ghouls and Goblins in Pittsburgh.”
