Family-friendly things to do: Spooky movies and pumpkin patches
Thursday
MIAMI CHILDRENS MUSEUM HALLOWEEN WEEK
Little goblins can dress up in a safe, fun environment around the Museum’s galleries, brave the Haunted House, test their knowledge in the Mad Scientist Lab, create crazed crafts and trick-or-treat on the weekend.
Details: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday at Miami Children’s Museum, 980 MacArthur Cswy., Watson Island, Miami; www.miamichildrensmuseum.org; $20, $15 for Florida residents, free for kids under 12 months.
THE LITTLE FARM PUMPKIN PATCH
Get into the fall season with this fun day featuring hundreds of pumpkins, pony rides (one free per pumpkin purchased), a petting farm, scarecrow kits and harvest décor for sale. Plus, kids can help feed the animals and milk the goats.
Details: 3-7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at The Little Farm, 13401 SW 224th St., Goulds; www.thelittlefarm.us; free entry, $5 parking fee.
GET SPOOKED HOUSE OF HORROR AMUSEMENT PARK
No place offers more thrills and chills than South Florida’s largest haunted house, which brings more than 30 rooms of terror, two acres of new rides, live music, games and great carnival food such as elephant ears and fried Oreos.
Details: 6-11 p.m. Thursday, 5:30 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday, 5:30-11 p.m. Sunday, and 6-11 p.m. Monday, at Miami International Mall, 1455 NW 107th Ave., Doral; www.houseofhorrorpark.com; $29, $15 kids 6 and under – includes unlimited rides.
Friday
PINTO’S FARM IT’S THE GREAT PUMPKIN (PATCH)
Enjoy an old-fashioned day at the farm with pumpkin decorating, face-painting, go-kart rides, paddle-boat rides, hay rides, tractor rides and a petting zoo, plus great food and drinks. Final weekend.
Details: 2-7 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Pinto’s Farm, 14890 SW 216th St., Miami; www.pintofarm.com; $15 includes unlimited rides, kids 1 and under free.
KIDS’ HAPPY HOUR FUNTASTIC FRIDAYS
Enjoy a DJ, face-painting, games and bounce houses and see why Local 10 (WPLG) viewers ranked this event No. 8 on their "Top 10 Places to Take the Kids in South Florida” list. Bring a blanket, stick around and watch Tim Burton’s 1988 comedy-horror classic “Beetlejuice,” starring Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis and Winona Ryder. Film is from 8-10 p.m., weather permitting.
Details: 5-8 p.m. Friday at Arts Park at Young Circle, Hollywood Boulevard and US 1, Hollywood; 954-921-3500 or www.visithollywoodfl.org; free.
STEPHEN KING CLASSIC “CARRIE — THE MUSICAL”
Get into the Halloween spirit with Stephen King’s horror novel about a bullied, sheltered teen with telekinetic powers that has been adapted into a modern-day pop musical. Not recommended for small children.
Details: 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday; running through Nov. 5; at the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theatre, Galleria Mall, 2542B E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-763-6882 or www.flct.org; $25 advance, $30 at the door.
Saturday
FLAMINGO GARDENS HARVEST FESTIVAL
Last weekend for this annual festival that features free hayrides, a pumpkin patch, a pumpkin decorating station, bounce houses,tunes by DJ Digital Anarchy, games, contests and autumn crafts and activities for the whole family. This week’s theme is Story Time Weekend, with stories at different times in the garden (meet the Good Witch and her creepy animal friends at noon Saturday!), plus costume contests.
Details: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Flamingo Gardens, 3750 S. Flamingo Rd., Davie; www.flamingogardens.org; $9.95, $6.45 age 3-11, free for 2 and under.
JUNGLE ISLAND KNOCK! KNOCK! HALLOWEEN
Last weekend to enjoy the Kids In Free promotion, during which each child 10 and under receives free admission to the tropical paradise of Jungle Island with each paid adult admission (must mention promotion). Dress up as your favorite superhero, princess, or creepy creature and trick-or-treat throughout the 18-acre park and enjoy Halloween-themed arts & crafts, scarecrows and animal shows. Plus, enter into a Halloween costume contest judged by Miss Florida USA and Miss Florida Teen delegates.
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami; 305-400-7000 or www.jungleisland.com; regular park admission is $39.95 per adult and $32.95 per child.
MUSICAL THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES “ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY”
Alexander knows it is going to be a very bad day when he wakes up with gum in his hair, and he is right. Things only get worse as the day goes on, and the only reasonable response is to move to Australia, his favorite country. Judith Viorst adapted her own award-winning children's book into this marvelous musical that will be very familiar to kids who have seen the hilarious feature film starring Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner.
Details: 2 p.m. Saturday, running through Nov. 10, at Actor’s Playhouse, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables; 305-444-9293 or www.actorsplayhouse.org; $20.
DISNEY CLASSIC THE LION KING JR.
Enjoy this adaptation of the 1994 Oscar-winning film with music by Elton John and Tim Rice featuring the young African Lion Prince Simba, who faces great danger in the African Pride Lands, learns about the “Circle of Life” and fulfills his destiny to follow his father, King Mustafa, as king.
Details: 4 p.m. Saturday at the Showtime Performing Arts Theatre, 503 SE Mizner Blvd., Royal Palm Plaza, Boca Raton; www.showtimeboca.com; $14, $10 kids under 12.
SOUTHLAND MALL KIDS’ CLUB HALLOWEEN EVENT
Spooktacular afternoon offers Halloween arts & crafts, carnival games, balloons and a costume contest with prizes for all participants, plus two grand prizes for the big winners.
Details: 4-6 p.m. Saturday at Southland Mall, 20505 S. Dixie Hwy., Cutler Bay; www.mysouthlandmall.com; free.
Sunday
PINECREST GARDENS HOWL-O-WEEN
Who says your precious pooch can’t have fun on Halloween, too? Sixth-annual family-friendly event benefitting Paws 4 You Rescue features trick-or-treating, games, arts & crafts, costume contests, a Doggie Fun Zone, dog parades, music, live entertainment, Pumpkin Patch portraits and great food and drink (with bars for the grown-ups!). Plus, adoptable dogs will be available.
Details: Noon-5 p.m. Sunday at Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 SW 57th Ave., Pinecrest; www.pinecrestgardens.org; $5, children under 2 free.
FREE FAMILY FEST SPOOKY SYMPHONY
Halloween concert with the Greater Miami Youth Symphony and the Alhambra Orchestra features hauntingly beautiful music including excerpts from “Star Wars,” “World of Warcraft,” “King Kong,” “Dance Macabre” and much more.
Details: 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Knight Concert Hall, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; get free first-access passes at www.arshtcenter.org.
Free For All
BLOCK PARTY HOLLYWEIRD HALLOWEEN
Family-friendly freak-fest features trick or treating, live music, candy stations, a playground, a magic show, balloon twisters, face-painting and a children's costume contest with prizes.
Details: 6-9 p.m. Saturday at Hollywood Boulevard, 330 N. Federal Hwy., Downtown Hollywood; www.artscalendar.com; free.
Sign up for the Family Fare newsletter
Do you want to receive this list every week, along with news on important topics for parents? Click here and sign up for our new Family Fare newsletter.
This story was originally published October 24, 2016 at 4:32 PM with the headline "Family-friendly things to do: Spooky movies and pumpkin patches."