Ellicott City Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

Baltimore 12 mi

Baltimore's largest pet-friendly festival benefiting the BARCS animal shelter.

Illustration of a witch in a pointed hat reading a book in an orange armchair beside pumpkins, a lamp and black cats (Halloween Tricks, Treats and Trees)

Halloween Tricks, Treats and Trees

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Columbia 7 mi $

Nature-themed Halloween stations and activities for all ages.

Illustration of a Halloween parade on a town street at dusk with a giant smiling pumpkin float and costumed children (The Great Baltimore Lantern Parade & Festival)

The Great Baltimore Lantern Parade & Festival

Baltimore 12 mi Free

Glowing community lantern parade and Dia de Los Muertos celebration.

Tails on the Rails

Sun, Oct 25

Baltimore 9 mi $$

The only time of year dogs can ride the Mile One Express.

ZooBOO! at The Maryland Zoo

Oct 2 – Oct 31

Baltimore 9 mi

Fall festival featuring trick-or-treating, costume contests, and an inflatable corn maze.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Monster Mini Golf Columbia)

Monster Mini Golf Columbia

Jessup 7 mi $

Indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf featuring animated monsters and black lights

Illustration of two costumed trick or treaters with candy buckets on a dusk street of glowing houses and carved pumpkins (Trick or Treat on Main Street)

Trick or Treat on Main Street

Sun, Oct 25

Sykesville 12 mi

Community trick-or-treating with local merchants and Sykesville Police.

Howard County Truck or Treat

Cooksville 12 mi $

Trick-or-treat from decorated trucks and emergency vehicles.

Illustration of clay figures in costumes mingling among striped market tents and pumpkin displays under orange autumn trees (Italian Heritage Fall Festival)

Italian Heritage Fall Festival

Towson 14 mi Free

Century-old Italian Heritage Month celebration featuring food vendors and live music.

Das Best Pumpkin Fest & Carnival

Lutherville 15 mi $

Features a 700-pound pumpkin drop, carnival rides, and family activities.

Illustration of a small Ferris wheel, striped tents and a decorated booth with pumpkins on a grassy fairground in autumn (Larriland Farm Fall Festivities)

Larriland Farm Fall Festivities

Sep 12 – Nov 1

Woodbine 17 mi $

Family-owned pick-your-own farm featuring seasonal crops, hayrides, and mazes.

ArBOOretum

Oct 29 – Oct 30

Baltimore 9 mi $

A candy-free family Halloween celebration featuring night hikes and spooky trails.

Illustration of two costumed figures in a festive autumn street at dusk with pumpkins, string lights and a glowing bonfire (Fall Festival at Serenity Ridge Nature Preserve)

Fall Festival at Serenity Ridge Nature Preserve

Windsor Mill Free

Annual autumn gathering featuring live music, food vendors, and nature exploration.

CandyFest

Sat, Oct 31

Columbia Free

Family-friendly Halloween alternative featuring games, inflatables, music, and treats.

Illustration of small cars parked at sunset with orange balloons, tiny houses on their roofs, a pumpkin and string lights (Halloween Trunk-Or-Treat)

Halloween Trunk-Or-Treat

Sat, Oct 31

Timonium 16 mi Free

Trick-or-treating featuring a decorated car contest with prizes.

Illustration of two small costumed children and a witch among pumpkins, hay bales and autumn trees on a sunny lawn (Oakland Mills Association Fall Festival)

Oakland Mills Association Fall Festival

Sat, Oct 3

Columbia Free

Features a live performance showcase by School of Rock Columbia.

Illustration of costumed figures mingling among striped festival booths, pumpkins, and orange autumn trees at dusk (Lantern Night at The Fire Museum of Maryland)

Lantern Night at The Fire Museum of Maryland

Lutherville 14 mi

See fire apparatus lit by kerosene lanterns alongside period reenactors.

Illustration of a child in a witch costume holding a pumpkin bucket on a leafy sidewalk lined with glowing houses at dusk (Family Flights and Frights: Trick-or-Treat at the Museum)

Family Flights and Frights: Trick-or-Treat at the Museum

College Park 21 mi $

Trick-or-treat among museum aircraft with games, crafts, and experiments.

Illustration of cars with open trunks decorated with pumpkins and balloons, with a child figure beside an orange car at dusk (ALA Liberty Unit 122 Trunk or Treat)

ALA Liberty Unit 122 Trunk or Treat

Sat, Oct 31

Owings Mills 9 mi Free

Family trunk-or-treat featuring games, candy, prizes, and costumes.

October Harvest Fest

Fri, Oct 30

Baltimore 9 mi Free

Church trunk-or-treat featuring dancing, games, candy, and on-site vendors.

CandyFEST

Fri, Oct 30

Owings Mills 11 mi Free

Family-friendly Halloween alternative featuring games, prizes, music, and candy.

Illustration of a row of cars with open trunks decorated for Halloween at sunset with balloons, pumpkins and costumed kids (Halloween Trunk-Or-Treat)

Halloween Trunk-Or-Treat

Sun, Oct 25

Baltimore 17 mi Free

Community trunk-or-treat featuring a decorated car contest with prizes.

Pumpkin Painting

North Bethesda 23 mi Free

Includes pumpkin decorating and a same-day complimentary brunch voucher for kids.

Illustration of small costumed figures and a witch playing on a sunny lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a tent and orange trees (Spooky Halloween Mini Golf)

Spooky Halloween Mini Golf

Gaithersburg 23 mi $

18 holes of mini golf plus face painting, crafts, and candy

2nd Annual Trunk or Treat

Elkridge Free

Community trunk-or-treat featuring Kona Ice, treat bags, and giveaways.

Illustration of a red tractor pulling a wooden wagon of small costumed figures past pumpkins and autumn trees near a red barn (Fall Fun and Bluegrass with Dave Zelonka)

Fall Fun and Bluegrass with Dave Zelonka

Fri, Oct 2

Elkridge 5 mi Free

Live bluegrass music by Dave Zelonka with hayrides, BBQ, and fall activities.

Illustration of a town square fall festival with striped pumpkin booths, costumed figures, and orange autumn trees (Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat 2026)

Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat 2026

Baltimore 9 mi Free

Community event featuring trunk-or-treating, inflatable games, and complimentary food.

Mommy & Me Pumpkin Party

Sat, Sep 26

Baltimore 10 mi $$

Guided cake decorating session for pairs to design pumpkin-themed cakes.

Illustration of a Halloween craft scene with clay kids, a friendly ghost, bats and glowing pumpkins under party bunting (Harvest Bash at Paintbox Kids & Home)

Harvest Bash at Paintbox Kids & Home

Fri, Sep 25

Baltimore 12 mi $

Fall celebration featuring crafts, snacks, and live music from Common Tone.

Illustration of costumed clay children and a witch playing among pumpkins, hay bales and tents on an autumn lawn (Kids’ Club Workshop – Spooky Pumpkin Decorating)

Kids’ Club Workshop – Spooky Pumpkin Decorating

Sun, Oct 4

Severna Park 19 mi $

Drop-in crafting session with spiders, bats, glitter, and googly eyes.

Illustration of clay figures walking past striped market stalls and pumpkins on a paved square with orange autumn trees (Hidden Gemz Family Food Tour: NYC Halloween Edition)

Hidden Gemz Family Food Tour: NYC Halloween Edition

Baltimore 8 mi $$

Family-friendly day trip from Baltimore to NYC with surprise stops

Main Street Fall Festival

Sykesville 11 mi Free

Celebrates global harvest traditions with cultural demonstrations, live performers, and crafts.

Trolleyween Weekend

Colesville 17 mi

Unlimited historic streetcar rides and a themed scavenger hunt with prizes.

Illustration of small costumed figures and a witch playing on a sunny lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a tent and orange trees (2026 Wheelchair Costume Workshop)

2026 Wheelchair Costume Workshop

Oct 2 – Oct 3

Bel Air 29 mi Free

Community volunteers build custom wheelchair Halloween costumes for children.

Costume Swap

Mon, Sep 28

Edgewood 29 mi Free

Community exchange of children's Halloween costumes from birth through tween.

STEAM Saturday - Pumpkin Fest