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!

Credit: LB Special Events & Filming

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!

SCARIUM OF THE PACIFIC

For the 23rd year, the Aquarium of the Pacific (100 Aquarium Way) will celebrate Halloween for several family-friendly days. Scarium of the Pacific takes place October 29 and 30 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) and features the annual children’s costume contest, magic shows with a vampire magician, underwater pumpkin carving – yes, underwater – spooky storytelling, kooky crafts and creepy coloring contest. There will also be a Halloween Family Night on October 21 (6:30-9 p.m.) where families can dress up in their favorite costumes, explore the Aquarium's animal exhibits while on a self-guided scavenger hunt. Oh, and goodie bags. Goodie!

Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific

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.

EL DORADO FRONTIER PUMPKIN PATCH

On every Saturday and Sunday throughout the month of October, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., one of the most unique spots in the city, the boutique, mini, western theme park, El Dorado Frontier (7550 E. Spring St.) will feature all manner of Halloween-themed activities. Take a ride aboard the Frontier Express Train and learn the origin of the Jack O’ Lantern or do some prospecting at Panning for Goldie’s Treasure where you get to keep what you find. Located inside El Dorado Park, El Dorado Frontier has its own pumpkin patch where you can pick out your next Jack ‘O Lantern.

Credit: El Dorado Frontier

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.

SHAQTOBERFEST

With the Queen Mary as a backdrop, Shaqtoberfest (1126 Queensway Hwy.) offers fun Halloween activities for kids and their families during the daytime for the entire month of October. There are multiple attraction areas, including Shaq Diesel’s Pumpkin Patch which not only offers trick-or-treating, but pumpkin sculpture and inflatable play zones. Midway Madness is filled with rides, games, food and a carnival-like feel, while Lost City Boardwalk, located underneath the gangways alongside the Queen Mary, offers larger-than-life characters as well as frozen treats at the Ice Cream Shaq.

Credit: LB Special Events & Filming
About the Author
Steve Lowery
Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.