10 Best Halloween Activities To Do With Kids In Rochester

At Halloween, Rochester offers a variety of fun Halloween activities with kids that make the season magical for children. From trick-or-treating events to pumpkin walks, train rides to haunted houses, families can enjoy safe and festive environments perfect for all ages. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures or spooky-but-fun attractions, check out our 10 Best Halloween Activities To Do With Kids In Rochester.

#10 Halloween At The Market

Every year, on the Sunday before Halloween, the City of Rochester Public Market hosts one of the top Halloween activities of the season – Halloween at the Market. Visitors are encouraged to wear their costumes as you enjoy trick-or-treating opportunities, interactive activities, performances, live entertainment, spooky arts and crafts, and much more.

#9 Pumpkin Patches

One of the simplest and most enjoyable Halloween traditions is taking the kids to a local pumpkin patch. There’s something magical about letting children wander through rows of bright orange pumpkins, searching for the perfect one to take home. Whether they’re drawn to the tiniest gourds or the biggest pumpkins they can carry, kids love the hands-on experience of picking their own. It’s also a great way to enjoy the crisp fall air and slow down during the busy Halloween season. With so many local farms offering beautiful pumpkin fields, it’s an easy and memorable outing that captures the spirit of the season.

#8 Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Concerts

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra always has several events that you won’t want to miss!

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 In Concert on October 18 and 19
• OrKIDStra Monster Melodies on October 26

#7 Trunk-Or-Treat Events

Going to a local Trunk-Or-Treat event is a great way to get in some extra Halloween fun during the day. Check out our Guide To Trunk-Or-Treat In Rochester for local Trunk-Or-Treat events.

#6 Halloween Train Rides

There are a few opportunities to catch a Halloween train ride this fall.

In October, you can enjoy the Pumpkin Train Rides at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum on Saturdays and Sundays. Ride their vintage trains to the pumpkin patch, where every child takes home a free pumpkin. Tour their exhibits, see Lionel trains, and visit the friendly petting zoo!

Also check out the Halloween Trolley Express at the NY Museum of Transportation for trick-or-treating, cider and donuts on the Halloween Trolley.

#5 Halloween Movies

It’s Spooky Season at the Little Theatre in Rochester! Check out their line-up of cult-classics and staff picks for their Spooky Season Series. (Not appropriate for all ages, but we know moms have older kids too!)

#4 Museums & Attractions

Many Rochester museums and attractions have Halloween activities!

• Seneca Park Zoo Afterhours Spooktacular
• Rochester Museum & Science Center’s Family Fun Day: Tricks or Treats
• Strong National Museum of Play’s Toddler Trick-Or-Treat

#3 Nighttime Hikes and Pumpkin Trails

There is nothing like hiking on a trail at night lit by jack-o-lanterns!

• The Enchanted Forest at the Cumming Nature Center
• Webster’s Annual Parade of Pumpkins
• Walworth’s Annual Harvest Moon Festival & Halloween in the Park Party

#2 Farm Activities With Kids

There are so many wonderful local farms around Rochester that offer treats like donut and cider and fall activities like hayrides and corn mazes in the fall. Take the kids to pick out a pumpkin to decorate. For a unique Halloween experience, visit Power Farm Market in Pittsford to see the Powers Famous Teepee. Visit the spooky darkness filled with jack o’ lanterns, giggling ghosts, clever bats, mystical Halloween surprises – fun for all ages!

#1 Haunted Houses, Hayrides and Ghost Tours

Our top Halloween activity with kids is actually for older kids! Rochester has many haunts for extra scares at Halloween. Visit one of the haunted houses like Dark Matters Scream Works at the Greece Ridge Mall. Tag along on a Rochester Ghost Candlelight Walk through Mt. Hope Cemetary. There is a lot to check out at HalloweenFest at Lincoln Hill Farms in Canandaigua including a Halloween themed walking trail (for daytime and nighttime), bewitched farm characters lurking about and the Zombie Hunt Wagon Ride Adventure. These spooky attractions create an unforgettable Halloween experience in Rochester. For more ideas, read our guide to Haunted Houses, Hayrides and Ghost Tours In Rochester.