Boston's Best 2014 Halloween Events For Kids

Halloween is just about the best time of year to be a kid. Kids love to dress up as their favorite heroes or as spooky monsters and collect candy in their neighborhoods, but there are other activities too. Leading up to the big night of trick-or-treating, kids can head to various events in Boston or the surrounding suburbs to meet wizards and magicians, see a movie, march in a parade in their costume and, of course, collect even more candy.

Professor Wunder's School of Magic
Gallows Hill:The Witchcraft & Ghost Experience
7 Lynde St.
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 825-0222
www.gallowshillsalem.com

Date: Sundays in October, reservations strongly encouraged

Kids that are too young for haunted houses and scary movies will love Professor Wunder's School of Magic; after all, there is no better place to learn about wizardry than Salem, Massachusetts. Professor Wunder guides children through a fun show with a friendly, non-scary atmosphere. Ticket are $12 per person and sell out quickly during October which is the height of tourist season in Salem. Grab your tickets today to guarantee a fun day out in Salem with the whole family.

Halloween Celebration
Jamaica Plain Library
12 Sedgwick St.
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617) 536-5400
www.bpl.org

Dates: Oct. 29, 2014

Kids of all ages are invited to the Jamaica Plain branch of the Boston Public Library for a fun, active Halloween Celebration. There will be plenty of arts and crafts to kick off the party, followed by Rosalita's Puppets Haunted Woods show at 4 p.m. The puppet show is spooky, but not too scary for young children. They'll get to meet some fun characters like spiders and bats! The party will wrap up with Halloween-themed cupcake decorating.

Related: Boston Area's Best Ice Cream Sundaes

Boo at the Zoo

Stone Zoo
149 Pond St.
Stoneham, MA 02180
(617) 541-5466
www.zoonewengland.org

Date: Oct. 18-19, 2014

What could be more fun than trick-or-treating at the zoo? Families are invited for a weekend full of Halloween-themed activities in the zoo including crafts, scavenger hunts, mazes and costume contests. Pumpkins are even given to certain animals as toys so they can celebrate in their own way. Kids will get to learn about the animal kingdom and wildlife while also engaging in some of their favorite holiday events.

Pumpkin Fest at 75 Chestnut
75 Chestnut Restaurant
75 Chestnut St.
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 227-2175
75chestnut.com

Date: Oct. 11, 2014

Stroll down the charming streets of Beacon Hill and join in the fun at Pumpkin Fest at 75 Chestnut. The whole family is invited to carve and paint pumpkins. Adults can sip on special apple and pumpkin martinis while the kids gorge on a cran-apple crumble dessert made from locally sourced ingredients. This event is will be particularly appealing for foodies as there will be samplings of 75 Chestnut's favorite seasonal treats like pumpkin bisque. Walk away from the event with a full belly and your carefully crafted pumpkin.

Related: Boston's Best Museum Tours