Family-friendly Halloween events and activities in Philadelphia

With the Phillies' heartbreaking playoff exit, October is pretty scary. So why not enjoy the season without a rise in blood pressure? Philadelphia offers many family-friendly Halloween events that are more fun than scary.

Dress up and explore the city's famous museums in costume, trick-or-treat with horses, or cast your vote for the winner of a local pet costume content. There are also beer gardens and other facilities for parents at most of these events.

Here are some of the scariest (not scariest) family-friendly Halloween events in Philadelphia.

Every weekend in October, the Franklin Institute hosts “Franklin Fright,” where kids can trick-or-treat through the exhibits and take part in spooky science experiments.

🕒 Weekends in October, 10am – 4:30pm, 💵 $7 – $15, 📍222 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, 🌐 fi.edu, 📞 215-448-1200

Bring the costumed kids to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for pumpkin carving, puzzle solving and a lounge area with short horror films by teenagers and DJs spinning a fun, spooky mix.

🕒 Oct. 25, 5-8 p.m., 💵 $7-15, 📍2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, 19130 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 🌐 philamuseum.org, 📞 215-763-8100

At Dinos After Dark at Drexel University's Academy of Natural Sciences, guests can enjoy paid admission ($10 donation) to family-friendly festivities at the museum, including a Dino Drafts beer garden for adults.

🕒 Oct. 25, 5-8 p.m., 💵 Pay what you want, 📍1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., 19103 Philadelphia, Pa., 🌐 ansp.org, 📞 215-299-1000

On Wednesday, October 30, dress up in Halloween costumes and go trick-or-treating at Camden's Adventure Aquarium for a day of learning about the fun aquatic creatures.

🕒 Oct. 30, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., 💵 $27.99 – $47.99, 📍1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ 08103, 🌐 Adventureaquarium.com, 📞 1-844-474-3474

Fairmount Park's children's favorite museum hosts its annual Halloween celebration and Pumpkinpalooza in October. On Saturday, October 12th you can enjoy harvest crafts and pumpkin carving. Then on Saturday, October 26, visit the Museum of a Not-So-Scary Day with costumed characters, crafts and surprises.

🕒 October 12 and 26, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 💵 $22, 📍4231 Ave. of the Republic, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19131, 🌐 pleasetouchmuseum.org, 📞 215-581-3181

Experience gravity-defying stunts, fire twirls and more at two family-friendly performances by the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts' youth and adult troupes.

🕒 Oct. 25, 6 p.m., Oct. 26, 2:30 p.m., 💵 $10-$20, 📍6452 Greene St., Philadelphia Pa. 19119, 🌐 phillycircus.comcircus.com, 📞 215-849-1991

The Philadelphia Zoo's annual Halloween spectacular returns for three weekends in October, featuring seasonal decorations, Halloween-themed animals and plenty of activities for the costumed little ones.

🕒 12-13. Oct. 19-20 Oct. and 26-27. Oct., 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., 💵 $24 – $29, 📍3400 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19104, 🌐 philadelphiazoo.org, 📞 215- 243-1100

Explore the Morris Arboretum & Gardens among malevolent scarecrows like Maleficient at the 17th annual Scarecrow Walk, listen to October stories and check out the 1,000-square-foot Pumpkin Cottage exhibit throughout October.

🕒 1st – 31st Oct., 💵 $10-20, 📍100 E Northwestern Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19118, 🌐 morrisarboretum.org, 📞 (215)-247-5777

Trick-or-treat at this Philadelphia horse barn, where costumed riders on horses hand out treats and guests vote for their favorite rider-horse duo.

🕒 Oct. 26, 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., 💵 $7.50, 📍120 W. Northwestern Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19118, 🌐 Northwesternstables.com, ✉️ [email protected]

Throughout October, the mini golf course at Franklin Square is spooky and open at night. On October 26th, starting at noon, there will be trick-or-treating on the square with fun activities from Go with YoYo.

🕒 1st – 31st Oct. 26, 12-2 p.m., 💵 $11-13 (mini golf), 📍200 N. 6th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106, 🌐 Historicphiladelphia.org

Chestnut Hill's annual Halloween block party and celebration takes place on October 27th with trick-or-treating, scavenger hunts and a costumed pet parade.

🕒 Oct. 27, 12-4 p.m., 💵 Free, 📍Germantown Ave. & E. Hartwell Ln., Philadelphia, PA 19118, 🌐 chestnuthillpa.com, 📞 215-247-6696

Halloween parade, costume contests, children's activities and an afternoon of fun in East Falls hosted by the Rutabaga Toy Library.

🕒 October 26, 3-6 p.m., 💵 Free, 📍Conrad St. & Sunnyside Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19129, 🌐 rutabagatoylibrary.com, 📞 267-297-5293

East Passyunk Avenue pulls out all the stops for the Halloween and fall festivals, including dozens of local shops, trick-or-treating and live music.

🕒 Oct. 26, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., 💵 Free, 📍E. Passyunk Ave. & Dickinson St., 19147 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 🌐 visiteastpassyunk.com, 📞 215-336-1455

Street Tales Animal Rescue is hosting its 10th Annual Halloween Festival and Animal Costume Contest with a $500 grand prize sponsored by Wilson's Estate Jewelry and local food and drink at Liberty Lands.

🕒 October 19, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., 💵 Free, 📍913 N. 3rd St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19123, 🌐 streettails.org, 📞 267-761-9434

Bring the family to the bustling South Street area for “South Street is Dead,” including a candy crawl for trick-or-treaters followed by a happy hour pub crawl with boos-or-brews for adults.

🕒 Oct. 26, 12-4 p.m., 💵 Free, 📍6th St. & South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147, 🌐 Southstreet.com, 📞 215-413-3713

Manayunk offers a wide range of Halloween activities, from trick-or-trolley to The Haunting at Lincoln Mill. A neighborhood trick-or-treat meet-up between local businesses will be held October 26-27.

🕒 Oct. 26, 6-10 p.m., Oct. 27, 12-10 p.m., 💵 Free/Pay as you go, 📍4100 Main St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19127, 🌐 manayunk.com, 📞 215-482-9565

Mt. Airy's annual fall and Halloween event is back with three blocks of fun for the family, including dozens of local shops, trick-or-treaters and the Tired Hands Mt. Airy Beer Garden for adults.

🕒 October 24, 3:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., 💵 Free, 📍6600 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19119, 🌐 mtairycdc.org, 📞 215-844-6021

In October, the daily exhibitions at the Museum of Illusions in Philadelphia transform into spooky spectacles. From Monday, October 28th to Thursday, October 31st, children can enjoy trick-or-treating, children's crafts and costumed Halloween characters.

🕒 Oct. 28 – Oct. 31, 💵 $20-25, 📍401 Market St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19106, 🌐 moiphilly.com, 📞 267-703-2270