Are you ready for this? An overwhelming amount of Parties, Festivals, and Trick-or-Treating events are taking place in Sacramento in the next couple weeks. If your kids love Halloween and you want them to wear their costumes more than once…no problem! Here are your choices of super fun things to do:
Haunted Factory Tours
When: October 18-31; 9am-4pm
Where: Jelly Belly Factory, Fairfield
What: 40-min candy factory tour takes a special detour through a decorated haven of Halloween delights. Munchkin Masquerade on Oct. 30: costumed kids (10 and under) march through the factory and the haunted house.
Cost: FREE
Info: 800-953-5592
Monster Mini Golf
When: Open Tues-Sun all year round; T-Th 2-9pm, Fri 2-10pm, Sat 12-10pm, Sun 12-8pm
Where: Monster Mini Golf, 12401 Folsom Blvd., Rancho Cordova
What: 18 holes of Infoor Glow-in-the-Dark Monster Themed Min Golf. Golf in a costume in October and be eligible to win prizes.
Cost: Adults $7.50, Kids $6.50; Arcades take quarters.
Info: Monsterminigolf.com
Woodland Corn Maze
When: October 1-31
Where: Woodland
What: Biggest corn maze around! Good for older kids. Weekends, the maze is haunted after dusk and not recommended for under 12.
Cost: $10 ages 12 and up,$8 Kids 6-11, Free Kids 5 and under. (Discount Tues and Wed)
Info: WoodlandCornMaze.com
Paint a Gourd
When: Daily through Oct. 31; 9:30am-5:30pm
Where: TrailMix.net Store, 116B I Street (across from Railroad Museum), Old Sacramento
What: Paint a gourd or pumpkin in the activity center.
Cost: Purchase a palette of acrylic paint for $5 and activity is free.
Info: 888-95TRAIL
Monster Mash
When: Oct. 22-24; 5-9pm
Where: Fairytale Town
What: 15 candy stations, free family photos, hands-on activities, Dracula’s Castle and a costume parade.
Cost: $12
Info: FairytaleTown.org or 808-7462
Boogie Bash
When: Friday, Oct. 22; 6:30-9pm
Where: Laguna Town Hall, Elk Grove
What: Halloween Part for families with children 3 and older. Come in Costume. Costume contest, DJ and dancing, creepy cuisine buffet, Halloween activities.
Cost: $12 per person
Info: Yourcsd.com
Spookomotive Train
When: October 23-24, 30-31; departs on-the-hour 11am-4pm
Where: Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot in Old Sacramento
What: Halloween-themed “Spookomotive” train decorated for the season. 40-minute ride along the Sacramento River.
Cost: Adults $9.00, 6-17 $4.00, 5 and under FREE
Info: Csrmf.org
Halloween Haunt
When: Saturday, Oct. 23; 11am-4pm
Where: Safetyville USA, 3909 Bradshaw Rd., Sacramento
What: Games and prizes, magician, costumed characters, face painting, live music, a costume parade, climbing wall, live music
Cost: $6.00 general admission (includes a $2 food/game coupon), Free for kids 2 and under.
Info: SafetyCenter.org or 438-3352
Halloween Event & Safety Fair
When: Saturday, Oct. 23; 10am-2pm
Where: Marketplace 99, Bond Rd. & Stockton Blvd., Elk Grove
What: Safety Fair by EG Police Dept., Radio Disney Team, Costume Contest & Parade 11:30 (Registration 10:30), Trick-or-Treating 11am-2pm.
Cost: FREE
Tots Halloween
When: Oct. 23-24; 5pm-8:30pm, Oct. 30-31; 5pm-8:30pm
Where: Placer County Fairgrounds, Roseville
What: Games, face painting, jump houses, rides, food, pumpkins, mysterious castle and more.
Cost: $6.00 admission to Trick-or-Treat Street, extra for attractions
Info: TotsHalloween.com
Halloween Crafts
When: Tuesday, Oct. 26; 3-6pm
Where: Isleton Library
What: Make spooky Halloween crafts. An assortment of creepy craft materials will be provided.
Cost: FREE
Info: Saclibrary.org
Halloween Crafts with ArtWorks
When: Tuesday, Oct. 26; 4-5pm
Where: Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
What: ArtWorks will provide an arts and crafts program based on the Halloween theme.
Cost: FREE
Info: Saclibrary.org
Spooky, Cozy Tales and Treats
When: Tuesday, Oct. 26; 6:30-7:30pm
Where: Galt Library
What: Come costumed to the “Haunted Library”, hear spooky stories, scavenger hunt, Halloween craft, holiday treats.
Cost: FREE
Info: Saclibrary.org
Face Painting with Blanca Rose
When: Thursday, Oct. 28; 4-5pm
Where: Belle Cooledge Library
What: Get your face painted for some Pre-Halloween fun.
Cost: FREE
Info: Saclibrary.org
Mini Monster Mash for Pre-Readers
When: Thursday, Oct. 28; 11am-12pm
Where: Robbie Waters Pocket Library
What: Easy crafts, snacks, music, and social time with the other kids (ages 0-6) and parents.
Cost: FREE
Info: Saclibrary.org
Frankenswine with Puppet Art Theater
When: Thursday, Oct. 28; 4-4:45pm
Where: Arcade Library
What: Zany version of the classic Frankenstein story told by a cast of pigs.
Cost: FREE
Info: Saclibrary.org
Kids Haunt Your Library!
When: Thursday, Oct. 28; 4-6pm
Where: Del Paso Heights Library
What: Kids ages 5 – 12 come in costume. Scary stories, puppet show, the Monster and the Tailor at 4:00pm. Crafts, games, treats, candy, & more. Costume contest will have prizes at 3 age levels: 2-5, 6-9, and 10-12 up.
Cost: FREE
Info: Saclibrary.org
Halloween Family Fun Night
When: Friday, Oct. 29; 4-8pm
Where: Downtown Roseville; Vernon St. & S. Grant St.
What: Face painting, clowns, and a magic show.
Cost: FREE
Info: DowntownRoseville.com
Howlin’ Halloween Spooktacular
When: Friday, Oct. 29; 5:30-8:30
Where: Mad Science Labratory
What: Wear costume, games, scary crafts, science activities.
Cost: FREE
Info: MadScience.org
Bounce into Halloween
When: Friday, October 29; 6-9pm
Where: The Bounce Spot, 2939 Promenade St., West Sacramento
What: Trick-or-Treat, Bounce, games, costume contest and more.
Cost: FREE
Info: Thebouncespot.com
Night of 1000 Pumpkins
When: Friday, Oct. 29; 6pm-8:30pm
Where: Sutter Street in Historic Folsom
What: Trick-or-Treating, “drive-in” movies, arrival of the Zombie Train.
Cost: FREE
Info: Sutterfallfest.com
Twilight Carnival and Pumpkin Fest
When: Saturday, Oct. 30; 5:30-8:30pm
Where: Cordova Community Center, 2197 Chase Drive, Rancho Cordova
What: Annual haunted house and children¹s carnival event. games, bounce houses, prizes, clowns, contests, and a Haunted
House. Costume contest, pumpkin bowling, pumpkin smashing, a cake walk and more. Ride on the hay wagon, and visit the bounce house. Ages 2-10
Cost: FREE Haunted House Admission, Activity Tickets for games, activities and food $.25 each OR 5 for $1. Pumpkin Patch Pictures available for $3 each.
Info: crpd.com
Fall Fest
When: Saturday, Oct. 30; 10am-4pm
Where: Trader Lane Parking Lot in Historic Folsom
What: Chili cookoff, scarecrow contest, costume contest, coloring contest, live entertainment, Trick-or-Treating from 1-3pm.
Cost: FREE
Info: Sutterfallfest.com
Old Sacramento Trick-or-Treat
When: Saturday, Oct. 30; 12pm-4pm
Where: Old Sacramento
What: Where your costume and Trick-or-Treat through the streets of Old Sacramento.
Cost: FREE
Info: OldSacramento.com
Midtown Trick-or-Treat
When: Saturday, Oct. 30; 11am-3pm
Where: Midtown
What: Trick-or-Treat, stop by Relles Florist 2400 J St for spooky fun.
Cost:FREE
Info: Mbasac.com or 442-1500
Spooky Stories
When: Saturday, Oct. 30; 1:30-2:30pm
Where: Effie Yeaw Nature Center
What: Listen to Spooky Stories by the Story Tellers’ Guild. Best Suited for kids 5 and up. Reservations Recommended.
Cost: Adults $5.00, Kids $3.00
Info: Sacnaturecenter.net or 489-4918
Davis Farmers’ Market Fall Festival
When: Saturday, Oct. 30; 8am-1pm
Where: Central Park, Davis
What: Avenue of scarecrows, pie-by-the-slice, live music, arts and crafts, and more.
Cost: FREE
Info: DavisFarmersMarket.org or 530-756-1695
Family Spooktacular
When: Saturday, Oct. 30; 12-5pm
Where: Westfield Galleria, Roseville
What: Crafts, spooky scavenger hunt, costume contests and more.
Cost: FREE
Info: Westfield.com or 787-2000
Mad Science Halloween Show
When: Saturday, Oct. 30; 2-3pm
Where: North Natomas Library
What: Mad Science Halloween show.
Cost: FREE
Info: Saclibrary.org
Pumpkin Decoration & Costume Party
When: Saturday, Oct. 30; 2pm
Where: North Sacramento Library
What: Pumpkin decoration & Halloween games. Wear a costume. Trick-or-treat Del Paso Blvd. starting at 11:00.
Cost: FREE
Info: Saclibrary.org
Boo at the Zoo
When: Sat., Sun., Oct. 30-31; 4:30-8pm
Where: Sacramento Zoo
What: Kids age 10 and under can trick-or-treat around the lake, magic shows, costumeparty, crafts and more.
Cost: $9 general admission, Free for 2 and under.
Info: SacZoo.com or 808-5888
Spooktacular Halloween
When: Sat., Sun., Oct. 30-31; 10am-6pm
Where: Funderland
What: Silly haunted house, decorate pumpkins, pumpkin patch, not-so-scary train ride.
Cost: Bring a game or art supplies to donate to River Oak in exchange for FREE tickets.
Info: FunderlandPark.com or 456-0115
Winnie the Witch; A Black-Light Puppet Spectacular
When: Sunday, Oct. 31; 2-3pm
Where: Carmichael Library
What: Winnie the Witch’s adventures on her way to Candy Island.
Cost: FREE
Info: Saclibrary.org
Halloween Bash
When: Sunday, Oct. 31; 4-6pm
Where: The Fountains At Roseville
What: Trick-or-treat and ride the train.
Cost: FREE
Info: TheFountainsAtRoseville.com
ArtBeast Halloween
When: Sunday, October 31; 9am-5pm
Where: ArtBeast Studio, 2226 K Street, Sacramento
What: Halloween crafts, paint a pumpkin, costume parade around block at noon (weather permitting).
Cost: $8.00 per person (children under 1 and 2nd adult in family Free).
Info: 916-441-1233
Written by Keilah Woodard
My love for exploring and creating experiences with my three kids led to the founding of SacramentoSidetracks.com in 2009. I realized that Sacramento has so much to offer and I was excited to share my findings with other parents. Besides simply having fun, these are the other positive side effects of taking my kids on outings that I’ve discovered: we have quality time together away from the distractions at home, we cultivate our curiosity, learn new things, conversations are triggered by what we see and do, we connect and bond as a family, and we create new memories. Ready to get sidetracked, too? Let me be your guide!
