Pittsburgh’s Not So Scary Halloween Fun
by Janet Jonus
BOO! If your younger ones are too young for the big scares, haunts, and frights, there is still a lot of Not-So-Scary Halloween Fun in and around Pittsburgh.
City
The Gateway Clipper goes all-out for Halloween with family-friendly Halloween cruises all month long. Cruise along Pittsburgh’s Rivers while enjoying Halloween Fun. All cruises require advance reservations. The Princesses and Superheroes Halloween Cruise sails on October 27th with boarding at 1130AM with a DJ Dance party, games, stories, and characters. Plus face painting, balloon artists and more for an additional fee. Adults 13+ $26, Kids 1-12 $13, Infants 11 months and under $5. The Halloween Fun Cruise sails on October 26 with boarding at 100PM. Share your cruise with friendly monsters and characters plus storytime, a dance party, and more. Face painting, balloon, artists, souvenir photos and more for an extra fee. Adults 13+ $26, Kids 1-12 $13, Infants 11 months and under $5. The Halloween Breakfast Cruise lets you enjoy a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs, pancakes, potatoes, and more with spooky characters and friendly monsters. Boarding is at 845AM on October 26th. Adults 13+ $30, Kids 1-12 $15, Infants 11 months and under $5. The Mad Scientist Laboratory Cruise has a “Mad” Scientist performing amazing feats of science in his onboard laboratory. Kids get to participate in the science experiments and then enjoy a DJ Dance party. For kids 6-12 years old. October 12 with boarding at 1230PM. Adults 13+ $26, Kids 1-12 $13, Infants 11 months and under $5. The Haunted Pittsburgh Cruise is a one-hour cruise along the Three Rivers while storytellers tell tales of the real ghosts that haunt our city. Cruises sail on October 11, 12, & 25 at 630PM & 745PM. Adults 13+ tickets are $22 and kids 1-11 are $15. Not recommended for kids under 1. 350 West Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh PA https://www.gatewayclipper.com/fall-specialty-cruises/
For a lot of Pumpkin FamilyFun head out to the Monster Pumpkin Festival. See pumpkins weighing up to one ton! Watch master pumpkin carvers in action plus vendors and more. Highlights include the Great Pumpkin Paddle Races on the Allegheny River – see the bravest paddle 1000 pound pumpkins down the river in an amazing race (Saturday at 100PM). On Sunday, participate in the “Pie Eating Plunge” Pie eating Contest. Both days feature the “Pumpkin Piñata Drop” where a giant pumpkin is dropped 60 feet from a crane. When it hits the ground, it explodes spreading candy everywhere. The Monster Pumpkin Festival is FREE. October 19 from 800AM-600PM and October 20 from 1000AM-600PM on the Great Lawn of the North Shore. https://monsterpumpkin.com/
Zoo Boo at the Pittsburgh Zoo returns again this year for two days of Halloween Fun October 19 & 20. Every year the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium hosts Zoo Boo with plenty of fun for the family. Come in costume and Trick or Treat through the Zoo (bring your own bag). Explore the Not Scary Haunted House and Haunted Hideaway. Watch the Halloween Parades, Dance Away at the Monster Mash, plus character Meet & Greets, Magic Shows, and Costume Contests. Zoo Boo gets VERY crowded so be prepared. October 19-20 & 26-27. 1000AM-300PM. Adults $16.95, Seniors 60+ $15.95, Children 2-13 $14.95, Children under 2 FREE. 7370 Baker St Pittsburgh PA. https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/event-zooboo/
Bump in the Night at Frick Park is for kids ages three to nine years old and their adults. Head out to Frick Park in Pittsburgh’s East End for a family-friendly night of fun. Take a not-at-all scary night hike through the Park, learn about night animals, then head back to a campfire for stories and snacks plus pumpkin carving lessons where you can carve your own pumpkin to take home. Bump in the Night is held on October 18, 19, 25, & 26 from 630-900PM. Kids 3-9 are $12. Adults are $15. Bump in the Night is for children ages 3-9. Kids under three are NOT permitted. Older kids are not permitted either. Registartion is required. https://www.pittsburghparks.org/bump
North
Play a round of Haunted Mini Golf Hopewell Windmill Golf Course in Aliquippa. This family-friendly golf course has been taken over by not-to-scary haunts. Play through the Halloween decorations as the ghosties challenge you. (No jump scares or scare actors, just spooky decorations.) Open Mondays through Thursdays 300-900PM, Fridays 300-1100Pm, Saturdays 1100AM-1030PM, and Sundays 1100AM-1000PM. Adults 13+ $12, kids 12 and under $10. 2142 Brodhead Rd Aliquippa. https://hopewellwindmill.com/haunted-mini-golf/
Join a master storyteller for Spooky Stories at the Old Stone House. Hear tales and folklore from our area including some spooky ghost stories! October 19 630 & 800PM $7 per person, kids 5 and under are free. 2865 William Flynn Hwy Slippery Rock PA https://www.visitbutlercounty.com/events/40261-m/spooky-stories-session-1
Monster Mile at Alameda Park in Butler PA is a family-friendly Trick or Treating event. Take a stroll with the kids through the beautiful fall leaves. Stop at Trick or Treating stations. Pick a pumpkin. Get your face painted plus games, a bounce house, and more. $7 for children 2-10 years old. Children 1 and younger are free. Registration is required. October 18, 1100AM-100PM. 184 Alameda Park Rd Butler PA https://www.visitbutlercounty.com/events/36246-p/monster-mile-family-walk
Fun Fore All has the Trick or Treat Glow Golf Trail. Play a round of golf in a family-friendly glow golf attraction. Dress up in your costume and trick or treat through 18 holes of mini golf. $8 for Adults, $6 for Children. 8 Progress Ave, Cranberry Twp PA. October 11-12, 18-19, & 25-26 from 600-1000PM. https://www.visitbutlercounty.com/events/40171-m/trick-or-treat-trail-glow-golf-fun-fore-all
East
Try not to get lost in Chad’s Corn Maze, a not-haunted maze at Green Mead Farm and Cairns Pumpkin Patch. Find the hidden clue stations and see if you can make your way out! Open during October on Fridays and Saturdays from 600-1100PM and Sundays 500-900PM. Adults $7. Children 3 and under are free. All children must be accompanied by an adult. 2973 Rt 711, Ligonier PA http://www.chadscornmaze.com/Pricing.html
HallowBoo returns to Idlewild Park for four weekends of rides, shows, food, and Trick or Treating for kids 12 and under through Storybook Forest. October 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, &26-27 1130AM-600PM. Tickets are $32.99 with discounts for military, season passholders, and seniors. Idlewild Park, Ligonier PA. https://familyfunpittsburgh.com/hallowboo-at-idlewild/
Happy Hauntings is a kid-friendly event at Kennywood Park. Enjoy Kiddieland rides, Thomas Town, a few ‘big kid” rides and the Steel Curtain plus food, shows, a hayride, and trick or treating. October 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, &26-27 1200-400PM. (Note: This is a separate, family-friendly, non-scary event from Phantom Fright Nights which is for kids 13+ and requires a separate ticket.) Kennywood Park, West Mifflin PA https://familyfunpittsburgh.com/happy-hauntings-at-kennywood/
South
All Aboard the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum’s Pumpkin Trolley. The Pumpkin Trolley is back for fall fun. Hop onboard one of the decorated trolleys and take a ride to the Pumpkin Patch. Every child ages 1-15 gets to pick their perfect pumpkin. Take it back to the depot where you can decorate your pumpkin, tour the vintage trolleys, enjoy snacks, and play pumpkin games. Children’s tickets include a pumpkin from the Patch. Additional pumpkins can be purchased for $2.50. The Pumpkin Trolley runs October 12-13, 19-20, & 26-27. Tickets are $10 for children 1-15, $10 for seniors 62+, and $12 for adults 16+. Children under 1 are free. Reservations are required. 1 Museum Rd Washington PA 15301. https://pa-trolley.org/pumpkin-patch-trolley-2/
