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.
