Halloween Fun for the Entire Family

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

29 Sep 2008 05:52 PM

If you still think Halloween is a one-day shebang consider yourself out of touch with reality. Festive families in search of fun-tastic seasonal events don't need to look very far at all these days. Halloween is no longer viewed as a single night event whereby kids get free candy for dressing up. Rather, the tourism industry has created a monster of the holiday (in some people's opinion) by hosting events that start (in some cases) a few days after Labor Day and continue through the first week in November.

This, of course, comes as glorious news to clans who love the thrills and chills that make the holiday a season long party. If you are looking for some fun this Halloween consider some of these mega-popular family-friendly events:

CALIFORNIA

Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party takes place at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The event, designed especially for kids ages 3 to 8, begins October 3rd and runs through October 31st. Forget the bloody body parts and spooky screaming witches this party is filled with tame Disney characters doling out treats, plus arts and crafts, rides, and live entertainment.

FLORIDA

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disney World started back on September 5th (yes, just four days after Labor Day) and runs through Halloween. The kid-friendly event encourages little ones to arrive in costume so they will be ready to trick-or-treat with their favorite Disney characters, who (appropriately) will be wearing their Halloween outfits, too. After your little ghosts and goblins fill their bags you can make your way over to Mickey's "Boo-to-You" Halloween Parade, featuring the new "Goofy's Candy Factory" finale, and the "Happy HalloWishes" fireworks spectacular.

For older children and adults Universal Orlando is once again sponsoring its Halloween Horror Nights, which takes place this year from now through November 1st. In addition to the traditional scream-a-minute thrill rides, the park has a slew of haunted houses and "scare zones" where actors with bloody limbs leap out at petrified patrons.

TEXAS

Screams Halloween Theme Park in Waxahachie, Texas is touted as "The World's Largest Halloween Theme Park." Located near Dallas, the park boasts four haunted houses, various macabre mazes, a ghoulish graveyard, and a trail of terror. For younger guests the park also includes a Spooky Hollow children's area with not so wild rides, along with face painters, fortunetellers, and inflatables. The park is open Friday and Saturday nights from October 3rd to November 1st.

Related Articles:

Halloween and Young Children: Trick or Treat?

Halloween Horror Nights: Can Your Marriage Survive It?

Fall Crafts: Making Paper Bag Pumpkins

Go Batty this Halloween

Simple Halloween Crafts: Fun with Paper Plates

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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