This Weekend in PDX

We’ve got enough family fun to fill your weekend to bursting. Read on for kid-friendly activities in the Portland area this weekend.

Don’t Miss Howloween at The Oregon Zoo
It’s that time of year! The zoo provides a fun and safe setting for this Halloween tradition, where costumed trick-or-treaters learn about healthy habitats for wildlife in a fun scavenger hunt throughout the zoo. Treat bags available for $3 each at the end of the scavenger hunt this year. Mask up and have fun! 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 23, 24 and 28–31.  P.S. Did you miss the Squishing of the Squash? You can still catch it on YouTube! Plus there’s a walk to benefit the Children’s Heart Foundation this weekend, too.

Watch The Nightmare Before Christmas at the Oregon Symphony
Tim Burton’s fantastical tale of the Pumpkin King, Oogie Boogie, and Sandy Claws comes to life on The Oregon Symphony’s big screen, complete with Danny Elfman’s film score performed live to picture. Costumes encouraged, it’s the perfect outing to celebrate Halloween. Tickets start at $29; this performance in included in their “popcorn package.” October 22 and 23 at 7:30p, October 24 at 2p.

Get Scared (but not too scared!) at Kids Monster Fest
The Kids Monster Fest is a special matinee haunted house experience for children below 12 and scaredy cats of all ages! Upon entering, young guests receive a magic device that will frighten any ghouls, monsters or creeps away. Also, guests should try and find Harry, their very cute resident bat! If you do prizes await. Saturday and Sunday, 1-4p, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, masks and vaccination or negative test required. $8

Take a Not-So-Spooky Trail Walk
The City of Beaverton and Experience Theatre Project bring a spooky trail walk to Fir Grove Park. Saturday, 4-7p. Pre-registration recommended.

Explore Mike Bennett’s Museum of Mystery
Are your kids already thinking about Halloween? Check out beloved local artist Mike Bennett’s famous Crypto-Zoo: Museum of Mystery in St. Johns. Play games, win prizes, and walk through the immersive museum filled with 26 life-size Cryptids, Monsters and Mythical Beasts! Free. Masks required and social distancing enforced. Daily, 10a-5p, through November 5.

Hunt Pumpkins in Tualatin
Looking for some fall fun? Grab your friends and family and get outside to explore Tualatin’s beautiful parks and trails for a chance to find one of 250 mini pumpkins! Keep the pumpkin or hide it again for someone else to find. Each week between October 9-31 their stealthy volunteers will be hiding pumpkins for you to find.  Keep an eye out for 20 special GOLDEN pumpkins to win a special West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta prize package.

Get Spooked at the Graveyard
Davis Graveyard is set up and ready to haunt you. Weekends in October.

Visit a Spooky City
Spirit of Halloweentown takes place in the real city of St. Helens, Oregon, where you can visit a whole-town Halloween spectacular all month long. See their website for more details.

See a Spectacular, FREE Pumpkin Display
Beginning October 16, head out to West Linn on weekends for a kid-friendly Halloween display featuring 200 intricately carved pumpkins with music, fog, lasers, and UV glow lights.

Go on a Spooky Trail Walk
THPRD & the City of Beaverton invite you to celebrate Halloween with their Spooky Trail Walk at Fir Grove Park in Beaverton. Registration is recommended. Saturday, 4-7p, free.

Save Pirates at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum
Powerland Halloween: Pirates of the Portal Stone is a new family-friendly experience at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum. Guests embark on a 30-minute adventure to help a pirate find a “Portal Stone” that will bring back a pirate community that disappeared during a total solar eclipse in 1778. Check out the show, train ride, spooky trolley car barn and more. Brooks, Oregon. Saturdays and Sundays in October.

Visit a Pumpkin Patch and Explore a Corn Maze!
Pack up your littles and get ready to celebrate fall. We’ve rounded up all the pumpkin patches in one place, so you can explore your options.

Drive by Halloween Decorations on Franklin Street
Every year, Franklin Street (outside Vancouver) goes all out decorating for Halloween. Drive by after dark to see the spooky lights!

Check out the Pirates of Pinehurst
Speaking of decorations, don’t miss this street in Sherwood that is completely pirate themed for Halloween. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for dates and times for pirate shows.

Search for Pumpkins at the Ledding Library
It’s that time of year when rain is always a possibility. Head over to the Ledding Library on Saturday for some pumpkin hunting and stay dry!

Introduce an Icon at OMSI
Inspire your children to create a more just society at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry’s new exhibit featuring Nelson Mandela. $12-15, all weekend long. Plus don’t miss the LAIKA pop-up exhibit, included with admission. LAIKA movies will be showing at the Empirical Theater, too.

Explore Ancient Egypt
Step into the Portland Art Museum and let its latest exhibition, Queen Nefertari’s Egypt, transport you and the family back to the mid-14th century B.C. $25 for adults, kids under 18 are free. Oct 16-Jan 16.

Root for the Home Team
The Blazers are playing the Suns this Saturday at the Moda Center, and the Winterhawks are playing the Everett Silvertips at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Get Spooked at Oaks Park Scaregrounds
Portland Oregon’s only Scream Park returns this fall to historic Oaks Amusement Park. The event features three horrifying haunted walkthrough attractions, House of Horrors Scarezone, Graveyard Pumpkin Patch, Last ‘Scream’ Photo Op, as well as Oaks Park Thrill Rides, Games, Concessions. There’s no age restriction, but children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. They offer a “not-so-scary” glow stick for younger kids that cues actors to tone down the experience, plus there are emergency exits throughout each attraction should the experience prove too scary. $19.95-59.95, depending on the attractions you want to visit. Weekends and select nights, October 8-31.

Celebrate Fall at Triskelee Farm
Come for a tour and stay for fall fest activities! They’ll have hayrides, pumpkin painting, horse rides, kids activities, and snacks available to purchase when you arrive. Get up close and personal with their goats, alpacas, ostriches, bunnies, pigs, and many more animals. Costumes encouraged, prizes for best costume kids and adult categories! The tour will last about 40 min, after the tour you may stay for activities and snacks. $10 per person, carried babies are free. Oct 23-31, 9a-5p.

Visit French Prairie Gardens for Farm Fun
There’s so much to do at French Prairie Gardens! Activities include: Pumpkin Patch, Pigtucky Derby Pig Races, Corn Maze, Sunflower Maze, Rope Maze, Obstacle Course, Tube Slide, Farm Ninja Course, Pig Barrel Train Rides, Tire Swings, Hand Pump Duck Races, Jump Pad, Tractor Wagon Ride, Hamster Rollers, Corn Cannon, Apple Slingshot & our NEW Super Mega Ride n’ Slide! Wristbands are $20, pumpkins and mega slide passes sold separately. Saturdays and Sundays, through October 31.

Learn at Open Saturday at Pearson Field Education Center
Open by reservation each Saturday from 10am-4pm, the Pearson Field Education Center is the ideal location for youth of all ages to experience STEM education through aviation. They feature a flight simulator lab, vertical wind table, glider building, historic airplanes and collections on display, and various educational programs. $7, but free for those who receive SNAP benefits.

Celebrate Boo Bash at Hands on Children’s Museum
Do you miss the Children’s Museum as much as we do? Check out Boo Bash at the Hands on Children’s Museum in Washington. Navigate a straw bale maze, explore a black-light cavern, design a scarecrow family, go on a scavenger hunt, decorate mini pumpkins, watch Dr. Science demos, join the costume parade, and more, all without a fright! Saturday, 9-5a, Olympia, WA.

Get Started on that Fall Bucket List
Check out our list of 30-plus ideas for quintessential fall fun in Portland.

Take in a Show
Check out our NEW guide to live performances in the Portland area, whether you’re introducing your children to the performing arts or planning date night for the grown-ups.

Have Fun Without Breaking the Budget
We’ve got 20 ideas for October fun that won’t cost a dime.

Don’t Miss These Annual October Happenings
Our editor has rounded up the very BEST of October fun in Portland.

Tour the Hood River Fruit Loop
Visiting the Fruit Loop in the scenic Hood River area is a favorite fall tradition.

Go Apple Picking
Check out our favorite U-Pick spots

Get Caffeinated at Local Coffee Spots
We’ve rounded up our favorite kid-friendly spots, so you can enjoy your cup of joe, sans whining. 

Back to School Shop
Now that school has started, are you realizing your kids’ clothes are too small? Check out our list of consignment shops, great for the planet and your wallet.

Visit Portland-Area Farmers Markets
Don’t forget to visit the farmers market this weekend. The fruit is so sweet you can call it dessert.

Piano Push Play
Is your family musical? Go on a hunt for one of Piano Push Play’s outdoor pianos.

For more kid-friendly events in Portland, keep up with our popular Kids Calendar!

This page is updated weekly, so add it to your bookmarks! We’ll plan the weekend fun for you every week.