Boston Moms October Getting-Out Guide — things to do in Boston with kids

Welcome, fall! The leaves are turning, the scent of pumpkin-flavored everything is in the air, and our favorite spooky holiday is fast approaching! Need ideas for getting out this month? Boston Moms has compiled a few of our favorite things to do with kids in Boston this October!

This Getting-Out Guide is sponsored by our friends at Keenee! Keenee is a virtual marketplace for renting items to and from other community members. Rent any item when you need it, AND rent the items you already own to OTHER community members!

October 1-7

New England Carnivorous Plant Show

September 30-October 1 :: Boylston

More than 300 plants are scheduled to be on display! Featured plants include pitcher plants from Malaysia, which have traps the size of softballs that are capable of eating lizards and mice, and the ever popular Venus fly trap. Make sure to visit the Venus fly trap feeding station, where you can observe up close how these plants devour insects!

Cardboard Explosion! by Paper Heart Puppets

September 30, October 1, and October 7-8 :: Brookline

Join Brad Shur, beloved former resident artist of Puppet Showplace, on a choose-your-own-adventure featuring cardboard creations assembled before your very eyes!

Salem Haunted Happenings

October 1-31 :: Salem

Nobody celebrates Halloween quite like Salem! Come experience America’s Halloween festival in the bewitching seaport of Salem! Don’t miss the grand parade on October 5!

NRT’s 50th Annual Harvest & Craft Fair

October 1 :: Easton

This fun-filled community event is once again taking place at NRT’s sheep pasture, where thousands of people will welcome the fall season and enjoy various seasonal activities!

Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour!

October 1 :: Boston

Blippi is coming to Boston for the ultimate curiosity adventure! Dance, sing, and learn with Blippi and special guest Meekah as they discover what makes different cities unique and special. Will there be monster trucks, excavators, and garbage trucks galore? You bet! So get ready to shake those wiggles out and OJ Twist your way through this brand-new musical party!

HONK! Music Festival

October 6-8 :: Somerville

No stages, no sound systems, just music for the people. Called everything from “avant-oompah!” to a “brassroots revolution,” the bands playing at this exuberant street festival draw inspiration from sources as diverse as Klezmer, Balkan and Romani music; Brazilian Samba; Afrobeat and Highlife; punk, funk, and hip-hop; as well as the New Orleans second-line tradition delivered with all the passion and spirit of Mardi Gras and Carnival! 

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Live in Concert

October 7 :: Boston

Featuring a soundtrack that blends symphonic orchestral music with hip-hop, “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Live in Concert” pairs a screening of the Academy Award winning animated film with a full orchestra, band, and turntables live on stage!

October 8-15

Discovery Museum Reflection Room: Whose Land Are We On?

October 7-9 :: Acton

October 10 is Indigenous Peoples Day, a day to honor and celebrate Native American peoples. Join the Discovery Museum to explore a variety of stories written by Indigenous authors and learn more about Native histories and cultures. Take a closer look at a map of New England to see where the tribal territories overlay the borders that we know as our current cities and towns. Then, add a mark to the map where you live to find out whose land we are really on.

Diwalifest

October 8 :: Boxborough

People of all different backgrounds are invited to learn about and celebrate Diwali together at this local, non-profit mela (fair/festival). There will be music, dance, performances, vendors, food, and more!

Second Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum

October 8 :: Boston

Bring your family and friends to the dawn redwood grove on Peters Hill for an afternoon of free tours, crafts, family activities, and more! Guests will also enjoy free ice cream and bubbles!

Indigenous Peoples Day at the ICA

October 9 :: Boston

In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, the ICA is offering free museum admission for all on Monday, October 9. Check out the new Can You See Me? exhibit, where you can dive into an immersive hands-on art-making project involving photography, photo transfers, and self-exploration. Add your artwork to a growing display of visitor reflections and creations!

MFA Boston’s Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration

October 9 :: Boston

Enjoy free admission all day and special events at MFA Boston’s Indigenous Peoples Day celebration. Visitors are invited to enjoy music and dance, art-making activities, and galleries showcasing 20th-century Native art from the Southwest as well as Indigenous artworks from across the U.S. and Canada.

Sensory-Friendly Trunk-Or-Treat Bash

October 11 :: Randolph

As the moon rises and shadows play, gather ’round for a night of spooky soiree! This free, sensory-friendly event will feature ghoulish games, crafty cauldrons, monstrous mischief, treats and terrors, and much more!

Frightful Fridays: Scary Tales in the Mansion

October 13, 20, and 27 :: Waltham

Enjoy spooky stories as you move through the beautiful 1806 mansion. The 45-minute program features four spooky tales, which are appropriate for children ages 6 and over.

Taylor Swift Painting Party

October 13 :: Wellesley

It is your LUCKY day! Paint your own pottery with Taylor Swift Eras-inspired designs! Choose between a plate or canvas, and staff will help with design ideas at stations inspired by Taylor’s albums. Ticket price includes admission, bracelet making, and dance party for everyone!

Harvest Festival at Verrill Farm

October 15 :: Concord

The annual Harvest Festival at Verrill Farm supports the Pediatric Unit at Emerson Hospital. Don’t miss this day of family fun featuring games and prizes, live music by the Sandy Ridge Boys, PYO pumpkins, 4-H animals, a silent auction, and a la cart food!

October 16-23

Head of the Charles Regatta

October 19-21 :: Cambridge

Come out and watch rowing teams compete from all over the country, and take in the sights of autumn along the banks of the Charles River in Cambridge!

Halloweek With Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys

October 20 :: Newton

Enjoy this special glow-in-the-dark, family-friendly Halloween concert with Boston’s beloved, Parents Choice Award-winning kids band, Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys! Costumes are encouraged!

Monsterbash at NARA Park

October 20 :: Acton

Costumes are encouraged at this fun event! Elementary aged kids are invited to participate in dance offs, games, and much more! 

Dock Dogs

October 21-22 :: Boston

Come watch athletic pooches compete in Big Air and Extreme Vertical challenges! Cheer on your favorite four-legged competitors, or register your own doggo to compete! 

Tricks and Treats

October 21 :: Pembroke

Hosted by Raising Harts and City Arena, Tricks + Treats is an opportunity to enjoy a safe and inclusive Halloween experience! Families can enjoy bouncy houses, immersive art, face painting, balloon artists, games, treats, and all kinds of fall activities!

The LEGO Train at the Wenham Museum

October 21-22 :: Wenham

Calling all LEGO fans! The LEGO Train is back at the Wenham Museum for a special fall-time visit! Halloween-themed surprises will be included in this fantastical LEGO display!

Calmer Con Boston

October 21 :: Weston

Calmer Con Boston is a sensory-friendly comics and pop culture convention designed to accommodate the needs of autistic attendees and those with sensory processing and anxiety concerns. Like a traditional “comic con,” there are artists, vendors, and cosplayers, as well as activities like Jedi training, superhero academy, block building, and an art area.

October 24-31

Wicked at Wicks

October 27 :: Falmouth

Come down to the Falmouth Museums on the Green for a fun family Halloween event. The event will include trick-or-treating at several historic properties on the campus, including the 1790 Dr. Francis Wicks House, plus pumpkin painting, storytelling, and a costume parade. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn about local history, including stories about Halloween in Falmouth in years past. Come dressed to impress and enjoy the best of fall in Falmouth.

Halloween Hullabaloo

October 28, 29, and 31 :: Acton

Come celebrate Halloween weekend at the Discovery Museum! Dress for the occasion and give your Halloween costume the chance to spook, sparkle, and shine. Challenge yourself to a few holes of Pumpkin Putt Putt and other outdoor games with a frightfully fun twist. Use your powers of observation on a spooktacular scavenger hunt, and expect other ghostly surprises to pop up around the museum!

Potted Potter

October 23-26 :: Medford

Even if you don’t know the difference between a Horcrux and a Hufflepuff, Potted Potter will make you roar with laughter as they condense all seven Harry Potter books into a hilarious 70-minute stage show!

Disney’s Frozen

October 25-November 12 :: Boston

Join Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and all your favorite Frozen characters live on stage in this spectacular, magical Broadway production! 

Dia de los Muertos Tea

October 28 :: Lexington

The Inn at Hastings Park is celebrating spooky season with a Dia de los Muertos tea, complete with ofrenda! Enjoy savory and sweet bites (featuring flavors of Mexico) with a choice of J’enwey tea. Kids of all ages will enjoy trick-or-treating, crafting, and cookie decorating at this event!

Zoo Howl at Franklin Park Zoo

October 28-29 :: Boston

Come celebrate Halloween at the Franklin Park Zoo! Guests can visit the trick-or-treat trail, participate in costume contests and mystery animal encounters, visit education stations to learn about creepy, crawly critters, and enjoy terrifyingly tasty treats available for purchase at the GiddyUp Grill.

Looking for even more ideas for things to do with kids in Boston this October? Check out our monthly calendar, with event listings submitted by tons of local organizations!

Boston Moms is a rapidly growing community of moms in the Boston area, providing a collaborative parenting resource written and read by local moms. We are passionate about engaging with our readers online through mom-to-mom content + recommendations, and offline through our exciting local events that connect moms to each other and to local and national businesses they should know about!

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