OCTOBER 6-28
(Weekends Only) Boo at the Zoo returns to the Bronx Zoo with everything little hearts could ask for this Halloween. On top of annual favorites like the Haunted Habitat Mansion of ghosts and extinct animals and a hayride through the animated Creepy Hollows town, magic shows, an extinction graveyard, intricate pumpkin carvings and costume parades will amp up the eerie fun. bronxzoo.com

OCTOBER 6–31
(Tuesdays-Fridays) The giant sculptures at the New York Botanical Haunted Pumpkin Garden will send delicious chills down little spines. Get more thrills from a spooky parade, a scary puppet show and lessons on creatures of the night. If you visit on the third weekend of the month, you’ll also see master pumpkin carver Ray Villafane at work. nybg.org

OCTOBER 27
Join the New York City Police Museum for a ghoulish good time at its annual Halloween party. Kids can immerse themselves in making slime, decorating trick-or-treat bags and winning giveaways while their parents brush up on trick-or-treating safety skills. Children should come in their best creepy costumes! 11 a.m.- 2 p.m., nycpolicemuseum.org

OCTOBER 27
Get ready for a fun-packed night of ghostly games at Ripley’s Boo-lieve It or Not! Slumber Fest. This eerie overnight experience includes adventures like Ripley’s signature laser beam race and costume contests, as well as snacks, pizza and breakfast. Come prepared with courage and spooky sleepover necessities.
ripleysnewyork.com

OCTOBER 28
It’s time for Central Park’s Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Sail! Don your scariest disguise and strut your stuff, then bring your best carved pumpkin to the city’s largest flotilla. As the day of Halloween fanfare fades into twilight, the sight of glowing, grinning pumpkins bobbing down the lake will raise some goose bumps. centralparknyc.org

OCTOBER 28
Bring the kids costumed up for The Queens County Farm Museum’s Fall Festival, where the family can enjoy sack races, hunt for trinkets in the haystack, dance to country music and fill up with goodies from crafts and food vendors. Tip: Stick around after the fall fest for the kids’ Haunted House that has just the right amount of scare. queensfarm.org

OCTOBER 31
The American Museum of Natural History is dedicating a whopping 30 halls to trick-or-treating, crafts and more at its annual Halloween Sleepover. Costumed kiddies can dance to performances from hit stars and possibly even get the chance to hang with big-screen cartoon characters. (Registration required.) amnh.org

OCTOBER 31
Just because it’s your baby’s first Halloween doesn’t mean he or she can’t partake in spooky fun. For babies 0-12 months and their parents, Mommybites’ Baby’s First Halloween Party presents a Little Maestros performance, light snacks and bonding time with other new moms and dads. Make sure you dress to impress for chance to win costume contest prizes! mommybites.com

ONGOING
Hit up Times Scare’s Dr. Blood Show anytime this month (or this year) for kid-friendly blood, guts and gore as the expert magician cuts off his limbs and saws audience members in half. For tweens and young adults, The Haunt, the city’s only year-round interactive haunted house, is the perfect place to enjoy some hi-tech spooks.
timesscarenyc.com

This weekend’s edition of fun around town is all about the mamas. From a two-day garden party (Mr. Sun, please stay!) to workshops for all ages and stages—

FRIDAY

Aspiring dancers ages 6-10 should head to Chinatown’s PS 124 to audition for the prestigious School of American Ballet. Boys and girls are welcome even without prior training.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

A Year with Children 2012, the Guggenheim’s newest exhibit, kicks off this weekend. Bring kids ages seven and up for a special showcase spotlighting art from their peers. (Friday-Sunday)

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

CELEBRATE MOM: The New York Botanical Garden is hosting a weekend-long Mother’s Day Garden Party filled with croquet, kite-flying, cupcakes and live music for the entire family.

Acquaint your children with the art form of arias through an hour-long Introduction to Italian Opera workshop at the Dicapo Opera Theatre.

SATURDAY

For local kid-friendly fun, Amtrak is hosting National Train Day at Grand Central. The event will include train tours, arts & crafts and musical performances. To get on board early, check out our Q&A about family train travel, which covers everything from where to go to what to bring.

To read the full listings at New York Family click here.