Halloween events on Long Island for kids

Worth knowingBayville Scream Park turns Bayville Adventure Park into a nighttime haunt with five haunted houses, which the park does not recommend for children 12 and under, and guests under 16 must come with an adult over 21. It opens on select nights through November 7, ending with two lights-out nights. Tickets start at $39.90 on value nights, fee included, and families with younger kids can try the daytime Not-So-Scary Days.

Worth knowingThe daytime, family side of Bayville Scream Park: an afternoon walk through the Funhouse and the Temple of Terror with the special effects turned off and no actors, plus a pumpkin patch, mini golf, a train ride, and character meet and greets. The park says these days are appropriate for children under 10.

Worth knowingThe nighttime walk-through haunted house run by The Gateway, the professional theater in Bellport, which the organizer recommends for ages 13 and older. It has dozens of trained actors and a new theme each year, plus Mr. Tickles 3-D Funhouse, a separate blacklight funhouse you walk in 3-D glasses. Actors will not touch guests, everyone passes through a metal detector, and bags are not allowed. Younger kids can try the daytime Not So Scary Adventure.

Worth knowingA self-guided walk-through trail at Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts with more than 10,000 illuminated objects, including 7,000 hand-carved jack o'lanterns. It is not a haunted attraction, with no scary actors or jump scares, and the walk is about a mile on timed tickets sold online. Kids 2 and under are free.

Worth knowingAn indoor walk-through in Greenlawn where every room is decorated in a different Halloween theme, spooky rather than scary, with no actors, no jump scares, and no gore. Groups go through with a tour guide at their own pace, usually in 40 to 45 minutes, on timed tickets sold online.

Worth knowingDarkside in Wading River, which has run since 1998, is a haunted house the operator does not recommend for anyone under 12, and children under 12 must be with an adult. It covers more than 20,000 square feet across two attractions, The Village and The House, opening at 7 PM on select nights, rain or shine. Actors will not touch guests. Tickets are $40 online in advance and $50 on site, plus taxes and fees.

Worth knowingThe farm does not recommend the nighttime haunt for children under 10, and children under 13 must come with an adult. The haunted house at F&W Schmitt Family Farm in Melville opens at 7 PM on select nights with live actors, for $47.11 with fees and tax. On October weekends and holidays it also opens in the daytime with no actors, for $10, though the farm says that version is not recommended for children under 12 who may be frightened, since the scenes and props are the same.

Worth knowingA haunted house complex in Huntington Station with four attractions: three indoors or under tents, and an outdoor haunted trail through the woods. The operator describes it as family friendly and appropriate for all guests, and families with younger children can ask for the Family Fright Option when buying tickets, a toned-down version at no extra cost.

Worth knowingOn four October nights the corn maze at Harbes Orchard in Riverhead becomes the Spooky Night Maze, with creepy characters waiting as you find your way out. Harbes bills it as spooky family fun for all ages. It runs from 7 PM to 10 PM, admission is $26, and each party needs a flashlight.

Worth knowingThe daytime side of Gateway's Haunted Playhouse in Bellport: a not-so-scary Halloween walk-through for kids ages 3 and up on October weekend afternoons, with goofy creatures, bewitching tricks, and a treat at the end. Costumes are welcome, and tickets are $25 for everyone who walks through, adults included.

Worth knowingWe found no age guidance from the organizer. A haunted walk at Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck in Center Moriches with about 45 minutes of scares. It is a fundraiser for the camp, which serves children and adults with special needs, and tickets are $25.

Worth knowingA haunt in the 1845 Deepwells mansion in St. James that the organizer says is not suitable for young children, and anyone 12 and under must be with an adult. It fills two floors and 14 rooms, then continues outside through a corn maze and wooded trails, open five October nights from 7 to 10 PM. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door, where it is cash or Venmo only.

Worth knowingWe found no age guidance from the organizer, who bills the trails as terrifying. A haunted trail that leads into a haunted house at Baiting Hollow Scout Camp in Calverton, run by Scouting America Long Island on Friday and Saturday nights, rain or shine. Admission is $15 per person.

Worth knowingA free day of Halloween fun for the whole family at Morpheus Tattoo in Islip, run with Strong Island Derby Revolution, the local roller derby league; the real tattoo flash is for adults 18 and older only. Kids can get face painting and temporary tattoos, make slime, and grab candy, and there is a bake sale, tarot readings, and league merch.

Worth knowingA family-friendly haunted trail at the Smithtown Historical Society, where friendly guides lead an interactive walk with a Halloween display on one side and the farm animals on the other for little ones. There is trick or treating along with craft and food vendors, and tickets are $10 per person, free for kids under 3.

Worth knowingA carnival-themed haunted walk-through at a home in Sayville that the owners rate Spooky (a few good frights) on their LI Lights Map page; we found no age guidance there. It has live scare actors, animatronics, and fog and special effects on four Friday and Saturday nights, so it will suit kids who enjoy a scare more than little ones, and younger kids have the No Scare Kid Day on October 24.

Worth knowingA u-pick pumpkin patch, hayrides, inflatables, and games, with free admission and kids welcome to come in costume.

Worth knowingThe Island Park Public Library's trunk or treat at Masone Beach, right after the Village of Island Park Halloween Beach Bash. No registration is needed to attend.

Worth knowingAn evening Halloween party at the Long Island Children's Museum in Garden City, billed as spooky but not scary. Kids can show off their costumes at the Monster Mash Dance Party, trick or treat through the museum, visit a spooky studio room full of mystery cauldrons, and make creepy crafts to take home. Tickets are $18 per person, $16 for museum members, and an add-on ticket gets you into the LICM Theater's Halloween show.

Worth knowingAn all-ages spooky daytime market with 100-plus vendors across a big outdoor field, live music, food trucks, puppy adoptions, and Halloween decor, with free admission and free parking.

Worth knowingThe afternoon side of the CarnEvil Hell haunt at a Sayville home, with no jump scares, no actors, and no animatronics, which the hosts call appropriate for most ages. There is face painting, popcorn, and balloon animals, with balloons for the first 100 kids. Donations are being collected for Tunnel to Towers, and non-perishable food for the Sayville food pantry.

Worth knowingA haunted house the McMahon-Alesi family builds at their home in Commack, billed as entertainment for all ages but run after dark with live actors and flame throwers, so use your own judgment: it will suit kids who enjoy a scare more than little ones. It is on Peppermint Road and opens on two Saturday nights. Admission is free, and donations support the Daniela Conte Foundation.

Worth knowingA free trunk or treat hosted by Branches Long Island and the Middle Island Fire Department, starting with a sensory-friendly quiet hour from 9:30 to 10 AM. Expect candy and nut-free options, raffle baskets, a craft table, a sensory area, therapy dogs, music, and free pizza.

Worth knowingOne Tuesday evening when Gateway's Haunted Playhouse runs with no actors in any of the rooms; we found no separate age for this night, and the organizer recommends the regular haunt for ages 13 and older. Anyone too nervous for the haunt can walk the same path and take in the sets, effects, and story without the scares. Tickets are $30, and the walk-through is not wheelchair accessible.

Worth knowingA free walk-through haunted house run by volunteers on Seminole Street in Selden, rated PG-13 by its organizers and marked Extreme, the top scare level, on LI Lights Map; the organizers say it is open to all ages but strongly encourage parental guidance. It has live scare actors, practical effects, and jump scares on a Scary Tales theme, so it will suit kids who enjoy a scare more than little ones.

Worth knowingTrick or treating in the Hauppauge Public Library parking lot, where community members decorate their trunks in fun and spooky themes and pass out candy. It is free and open to everyone.

Worth knowingA free Halloween night car show and trunk or treat at 35th Street Family Deli in Lindenhurst, with spooky show cars, candy, and a Halloween display. The deli is aiming to hand out full-size candy bars, and the organizers suggest trick-or-treating around the neighborhood and coming back to the show.