Autumn’s here; you know what that means if you have kids. (Hint- it’s not pumpkin-spiced lattes or Oktoberfest beer.) It’s that Halloween is right around the corner! I like to take the kids to various events and places during this season. Given their ages, I stay away from the scary haunted houses but instead focus on family-friendly New England Halloween events and attractions.
Pumpkin People- Jackson, NH
And I thought this was not going to be scary! Although the phrase “pumpkin people” may conjure up a variety of images, the Pumpkin People of Jackson, New Hampshire, are not creepy. Figures with pumpkin heads are on display throughout the quaint town of Jackson. It’s fun to walk (or drive) around Jackson spotting as many as you can. 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the Pumpkin People. For this year’s event, check out the map here; they anticipate around 60 participants. Past displays have included pumpkin people trick or treating, the Muppets, and one commemorating the moon landing. They are on view during the whole month of October.
Pumpkintown USA
I guess we can’t get away from pumpkin people here at Backyard Road Trips. For the next recommendation for New England Halloween events for kids we are heading to East Hampton, Connecticut. Pumpkintown is located at Paul and Sandy’s Too garden center. It is open starting September 21st. There are many activities in Pumpkintown, so choose from one or do them all. Enter the village full of pumpkin people as farmers, in a chapel, or doing other activities through the town. Or go for the pumpkin ride where you take your car through a forest with pumpkin people in various scenes. Check out the farm store for all your autumn goodies while you’re there. For a complete list of what to do check out this guide.
Cervelli Farm Stand
Let’s head out to one of my favorite farm stands in the region as we visit the Cervelli Farm Stand in Rochester, Massachusetts. Rochester is a surprisingly rural town for eastern Massachusetts. The Cervelli Farm Stand has an awesome display of huge Halloween figures! The kids will get a kick out of them but also will enjoy roaming around the pumpkin patch. Make sure to grab a glass of their superb hot apple cider.
Ghost Tours
Many of the major touristy towns and cities in New England offer ghost tours. Some of my personal favorites include the classic Ghosts and Gravestones tour of Boston, the Plymouth Dead of Night ghost tour, and the Old Port ghost tour in Portland, Maine. If you’re visiting Salem this spooky season, there are numerous ghost tours to choose from as well. What I like about a ghost tour is that it combines the history of the town with eerie stories. I may not bring my two-year-old but for reasons less about the scare factor than the amount of time standing and listening. My oldest son, who is nine, has been enjoying ghost tours for a few years now, although he wouldn’t be ready for the region’s scarier attractions.
Halloween on Main Street – Plymouth
If you are looking for a fun event on the actual holiday, check out Halloween on Main Street in Plymouth. Plymouth’s downtown shopping district is shut down to vehicular traffic and replaced by hundreds of kids pining for candy. In the late afternoon, most of the stores on Main and Court streets hand out candy for trick or treating. With the haul that the kids get here, it may not even be necessary to go door to door in your own neighborhood! Halloween on Main has its share of community spirit as the kids march from business to business all dressed up.
Salem Haunted Happenings
Here’s the elephant in the room: Salem, Massachusetts. I mean this city is all about Halloween! The month-long Haunted Happenings celebrate this fully. I’m mentioning Salem but not going into too much detail. I’d be happy to bring my kids to window shop and walk through the streets during the day but there would be less reason to bring them to attractions such as the Witch Dungeon Museum at this age without paying for it later with ample sleepless nights. No matter what, Salem around Halloween does have a certain vibe about it with plenty to do.
Decorated Stores
For a true down-the-road, if not backyard road trip, visit the places I usually would never have you visit, big box stores! Places such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, and of course, the seasonal, Spirit Halloween make a fun quick seasonal stop-off for the kids. At Home Depot or Lowe’s my kids love seeing the seasonal blowup decorations and love the thrill of Spirit (although at some of the displays the younger two may have to look away). Either way, it’s quick and easy but is also a great way to break up an otherwise monotonous afternoon of necessary shopping.
Given New England’s legendary past, Halloween activities abound. I hope you enjoyed this list of some of my favorite New England Halloween events for kids. Whether it’s a day outing to Pumpkintown USA, a visit to an autumnal farm stand, or a down the road visit to Lowe’s, check out these for this year’s Halloween season.
