Family Friendly Halloween Fun
It’s Trick-or-Treat season and, if you have young children, chances are you’re looking to emphasize the Treat when choosing Halloween activities – you know, stuff likely to produce more smiles than screams. Well, Long Beach can offer you Halloween-themed dance parties, scavenger hunts, train rides and craft classes as well as the traditional pumpkin carving, costume wearing and, yes, trick or treating. So many options, it’s scary … but in a good way!
HALLOWEEN DANCE PARTY
Retail Center 2ND & PCH (6400 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.) is inviting the community to a family friendly Halloween dance party on October 29, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., with everyone encouraged to dress in costume and come ready to dance and play games. There will be costumed characters who will perform, dance and be available for photos, as well as a balloon artist, airbrush tattoos and free crafts provided by Able ARTS Works, which provides creative arts opportunities with a focus on inclusive community participation. And all the while, the music will be playing and you and your family will be dancing. Treat!
HALLOWEEN CRAFT WORKSHOP
A lot of Halloween is about getting treats, but how about you and your kids making one at this event put on by the Long Beach Fair Trade Retail Collective (4105 North Bellflower Blvd)? Make some memories during a fun, crafty afternoon, October 23 from 2-4 p.m. You’ll love watching your kids be guided while they create and string their own photo display. It’s a terrific activity set up for kids 5-years-and-up, though parents with younger kids are encouraged to bring the little ones along.
PA’S PUMPKIN PATCH
One of the city’s great Halloween traditions, Pa’s Pumpkin Patch (6701 Pacific Coast Hwy.) has been bringing joy to families for more than 40-years amid its country fair-like atmosphere. As you’d expect, Pa’s is some place where you can buy your pumpkins for carving, but it also offers a carnival-style collection of rides, midway games and attractions, everything from petting zoos to dragon rides to ponies to bounce houses and mirror mazes. While it’s free to pick out your pumpkin, the rides and attractions require a reservation and entrance fee along with ride tickets. There’s also plenty to eat, whether you’re partial to BBQ or funnel cake.