Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, so there are two full weekends of costumes, candy and not-so-scary parties. We went through every Halloween event on our calendar, pulled out the ones we would actually take our kids to, and checked each one against the organizer's own page on October 20. Then we put them all on a map, because "wait, where is that again?" is half of Halloween planning with little kids.
Download the two-page Halloween map (PDF). It prints on regular letter paper: Philly by neighborhood on the front, the suburbs on the back, and a QR code to the live calendar on both.
This weekend in the city
Saturday the 24th is the busiest Halloween day of the month, and you can find something in almost every part of the city.
- Center City: Trick-or-Treat Street at Franklin Square runs 11 to 1 and is free for kids 10 and under. Registration is full, but there are a limited number of walk-up tickets.
- Center City: Spooktacular Science Day at the Franklin Institute runs 11 to 3 with trick-or-treating, live science shows and slime. It's included with general admission, and you need a ticket.
- South: Mister John's Halloween Block Party in Bella Vista runs 10 to 2, with live music, crafts and a costume contest aimed at babies and little kids.
- North: Barely Scary Halloween at Smith Memorial Playground runs 3 to 6.
- Northwest: Halloween in Manayunk has free trick-or-treating along Main Street from 11 to 2.
Sunday the 25th
Our favorite Sunday plan is the Philly Art Center Halloween Festival in Fairmount. It runs 2 to 4 at 2333 Fairmount Ave with art stations and a baby zone, then a drumline parade at 4. It's free, but they ask you to register.
Earlier in the day, Open Streets closes Walnut to cars from 10 to 5, and there's free pumpkin painting on 18th Street between Chestnut and Locust from noon, while supplies last.
Doylestown's costume parade on Saturday starts with check-in at 9:30 at the Bucks County Administration Building, then trick-or-treating at the shops from 11:15. On Sunday, Pennsbury Manor in Morrisville has free trick-or-treating around the grounds from 1 to 4; register ahead.
A couple of weeknight options
On Thursday the 22nd, Autumn on the Avenue turns the 6600 to 6900 blocks of Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy into a trick-or-treat route from 3:30 to 6, right after school. There are crafts, a spooky storytime and fire trucks too.
On Friday the 23rd, the Schuylkill Center in Roxborough runs Halloween Hikes and Hayrides from 5:30 to 8:30, with a pumpkin path and s'mores. Buy online before Thursday at 5 pm: it's $20 for members and $28 for everyone else, and more at the gate.
Halloween weekend in the city
Saturday the 31st is the big day, and the city has plenty going on before the porch lights come on.
- PopUpPlay's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Cherry Street Pier, 11 to 1.
- Halloween Aboard Gazela at Penn's Landing, 11:30 to 2:30.
- Fall Fest on East Passyunk Avenue, 11 to 4.
- Philly Open Halloween at Treetop Quest in West Fairmount Park, 10 to 7.
- Halloween at Headhouse in Society Hill, 4 to 8.
Halloween weekend outside the city
- Friday the 30th: Trunk or Treat at Peddler's Village in New Hope, 5 to 8. It's free, and families don't need to register.
- Friday the 30th: Trick-or-Treat Nights at Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, 5:30 to 8:30.
- Saturday the 31st: Tram and Treat at Winterthur in Delaware, 10 to 2.
- Saturday the 31st: the Halloween Stroll on York Road in Hatboro, 2 to 4 and free.
We checked every event against its organizer on October 20, but times and tickets still change, so tap through before you head out. The Halloween calendar updates every day and has everything that didn't fit on the map.