4. Great for older kids: Knott’s Spooky Farm, Knott’s Berry Farm

Image: Jeremy Thompson, Flickr (license)

Dates: September 29 – October 31, 2018

Cost: Included with park admission

Adjacent to the ticketed 13-and-up Knott’s Scary Farm event, Knott’s Spooky Farm is tailored to a much younger demographic, with none of the spine-tingling paranormal mazes or evil clown-filled walkways that make the adult activities such an appealing alternative to Universal’s acclaimed Horror Nights.

Themed to the beloved Peanuts cartoons, Knott’s Spooky Farm invites guests to partake in dance parties, a costume contest, pumpkin decorating, music-filled live shows, and trick-or-treating galore—basically, the same kind of traditional Halloween events you’ll find in any family-friendly area of any theme park around September and October. Those feeling especially brave can hop on the Grand Sierra Railroad to get to Camp Spooky or venture out to the Timber Mountain Log Ride to enjoy the Halloween Hootenanny overlay, where cobwebs and innocent-looking pumpkins mask the aliens, witches, nocturnal creatures, and occasional scare actors lurking inside.

5. Ideal for teenagers: Fright Fest, Six Flags

Image: anjanettew, Flickr (license)

Dates (may vary by park): September 15 – October 31, 2018

Cost: Included with park admission

If a slightly watered-down version of Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is what you’re after, you might find it in Six Flags’ scare zones and mazes during their annual Fright Fest. Here, various generic and comic book monsters are “unleashed” to roam throughout 14 Six Flags parks after dark, though some attendees have noticed that the scare actors tend to get overwhelmed by the hordes of teenage guests, rather than the other way around. Fright Fest is also a great way to ease into a scarier Halloween event without shelling out the extra event fees that Universal Studios and Knotts Berry Farm regularly charge, though this means you’ll inevitably face more crowds and enjoy less of an “exclusive” experience at the parks.

While Fright Fest isn’t geared toward young children—in fact, it’s not even recommended for kids under 13 years old—there are a few daytime Halloween activities worth participating in before the sun goes down and the monsters come out. In Six Flags America’s Looney Tunes Spooky Town, for example, kids can dance along to the Monster Stomp and Creature Feature shows, participate in a Halloween costume contest, and collect candy on the Trick or Treat Trail. Just remember to make your exit early in the day; once the clock creeps toward 6 PM or so, the monsters are free to wander through the park and things get considerably scarier (hence the park’s aptly-named “Thrills by Day, Fright by Night” slogan).

What family-friendly Halloween celebrations have you tried so far?