Kid activities range
sOME KIDS dread autumn because it means back to school and colder weather, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had. From a piratethemed fall festival to Muppets dressed in spooky costumes, there’s tons for tots to do this season.
Luna Park, 1000 Surf Ave., Brooklyn; lunaparknyc.com. Halloween Harvest entry is included with the price of a wristband. All-day wristbands start at $42 for guests under 48 inches, $69 for those above 48 inches. The prices include all rides in Luna Park.
Join in on some piratethemed shenanigans at this year’s Halloween Harvest festival in Coney Island. On weekends from Sept. 16 to Oct. 29, kids can participate in activities like exploring a pumpkin patch, riding a pony, enjoying arts and crafts, and watching a doggie costume parade and contest (Oct. 14 at noon).
100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, Pa.; sesameplace.com. Tickets, which include park entry fee and rides, are $45 in advance online.
For six weekends from Sept. 22 to Oct. 29, the Count will host Sesame Place’s annual Halloween Spooktacular. It’s a not-so-scary chance for kids to dress up along with their favorite monsters in a place where the air is sweet. Free (with admission) festivities include the Neighborhood Street Party Halloween Parade,
and there are also more exclusive, paid activities like Elmo’s Silly Bones Spooktacular Dine (Sept. 22-24; adults, $29, children, $9); and Zoe’s Monster Mash Dance Party Dine (Sept. 30 and Oct. 1; adults, $29, children, $9).
46-48th Sts. in Times Square; diwalitimessquare.com. Free.
Celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in the brightest place in the city, Times Square. While the festival is officially celebrated on Oct. 19 this year, Diwali at Times Square will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7, starting at 2 p.m. Promoters call it the biggest Diwali celebration outside India, with food, dancing, traditional diya (oil lamp) lighting ceremonies and a fireworks display. 58-03 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Far Rockaway, Queens; rwalliance.org. Free. Beach season will be over, but you can still have fun in Far Rockaway this fall. On Oct. 14, the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance will hold its annual Hip Hop Halloween community event from 1 to 4 p.m. Happening in the Rockaway Institute for a Sustainable Environment, there will be food, candy, face-painting and a pumpkin giveaway.
32-01 Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City, Queens; socratessculpturepark.org. Free.
Take a twirl on Oct. 28 with the Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Nueva York, who will be performing from 2-3 p.m. at the Socrates Sculpture Park’s annual Halloween Harvest Festival. This year’s theme for the fest, happening between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., is Mexico’s Day of the Dead. There will be face painting (noon-3 p.m.), costume and art-making workshops (11 a.m.-2 p.m.), a canine costume contest (1-2 p.m.) and a harvest animal blessing for your pets (12:30-2:30 p.m.).
Go to the Battery Maritime Building (10 South St.) to catch the ferry (govisland.com) to Governor’s Island; therise. org. Advanced tickets required: $20 for kids 3-12 and seniors 65 and older, $24 for adults.
More than 1,000 illuminated pumpkins carved and sculpted by local artists, some which weigh over 100 pounds, will line Governors Island from Oct. 26-29. You can also Grandma the clown, who retired in 2012, and feature high-wire legend Nik Wallenda among other highlights.