Moms Talk: Halloween Activities

Each week our Moms Council discusses a different parenting issue. Join the conversation by weighing in on a topic, or ask our panel of experts your question.

We put this week's question to our North Potomac-Darnestown Patch for their ideas and advice. The suggestions don’t end here. Add your own tips and advice in the comments section below.

This week's first question:

What kind of family activities do you look to do with your kids around this time of year (pumpkin patch, haunted forest, costume shopping, etc)? What places would you recommend for other families with children aged similar to yours and what places wouldn't you?

Michele Zaiderman: This time of year is so much fun for kids and adults! Our kids LOVE decorating the house for Halloween—I buy new decorations to add to the collection the day after Halloween; you can usually get them at 75 percent off.  We also love going to pick apples and love going to the pumpkin patch. Carving the pumpkin is high on the list too! There are so many great farms around us. You could go somewhere new and different every fall weekend. But when push comes to shove, for picking I really do like the simplicity of Homestead Farm. We can focus on picking the reddest apples and the perfect pumpkin without all of the other hoopla. We can go to Butler’s and many other orchards on a different day for other activities. Since our kids are only 5 and 8, we focus on fun as opposed to scary Halloween events.

Jeannette Lemieux: My children are older - 13 and 15 - so they are not really as interested in Halloween as they used to be. They are too old/cool for the pumpkin patch - but don't mind stopping at the outdoor stands for apple cider.  Last year we took them to the Markoff's Haunted Forest and they had a blast - I would definitely recommend this for older kids 12+.  My daughter went three or four years ago with my husband and a few friends and thought it was "waaaay too scary" and for one of her friends it was a bit too much. This time it was still scary but in a good way.  Their costumes for the past few year have been 'home made' or a 'mix match ' of older costumes.   My 15 year old didn't even go trick or treating last year - she preferred to stay home and hand out candy. This year I'm not sure what we will do - I see there is a new "Screamplex" at the Germantown Soccerplex - we might try that - the Halloween decorations won't go up until later in the week and I'm guessing that unless I throw a "hissy fit" I won't be getting any help putting then up.

Sharina Hunt: We have always loved Homestead Farm however the weekends there are crazy busy.  I go there many times throughout the spring, summer and fall to pick the fruit and then see the animals which my kids love. This year with soccer for two kids we have been so busy we haven't gotten around to doing our typical fall weekend activities but our neighborhood Fall Fun Fest was this past weekend which helped put us in the mood (along with the cooler weather). Making pumpkin bread is one of our favorite fall foods which we made this past weekend.  We also like to make playdough with pumpkin pie spices mixed in at the end to make it smell like pumpkin pie. Pumpkin carving will be done this weekend, a Halloween party and of course the trick or treating.

Renee Enright: One of our favorite places to go is Pumpkinville in Leesburg, VA. They have some pretty exotic animals, tons of slides, mazes, bouncy houses and free apples & cider. We also love to hike Sugarloaf Mountain and walk in Seneca Park at this time of year. I'm tempted to try the Markoff's Haunted Forest or Screamfest at the Soccer Plex, but I think my kids at almost 7 & 8 would be too scared, even though they're pretty brave in general.