Gwynn Oak Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

Baltimore $$

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

Illustration of a ghost, a witch and a pumpkin figure on a dusk street with glowing houses, autumn leaves and pumpkins (Trick or Treating in Downtown Bel Air)

Trick or Treating in Downtown Bel Air

Bel Air 23 mi Free

Community-wide trick-or-treating at local businesses

BARCStoberfest

Baltimore 7 mi

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

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 8 mi Free

Glowing community lantern parade and Dia de Los Muertos celebration.

Illustration of a fall festival with a tractor, striped pumpkin booths, hay bales and orange trees (Clark's Elioak Farm Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival)

Clark's Elioak Farm Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival

Sep 19 – Nov 8

Ellicott City 12 mi $

Features petting farm animals, Enchanted Forest attractions, and hayrides.

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 15 mi $

Nature-themed Halloween stations and activities for all ages.

Tails on the Rails

Sun, Oct 25

Baltimore $$

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

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 12 mi $

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

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 6 mi Free

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

Das Best Pumpkin Fest & Carnival

Lutherville 8 mi $

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

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 15 mi

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

Beachmont Corn Maze

Sep 11 – Nov 7

Kingsville 15 mi $$

Interactive six-acre corn maze with over two miles of pathways.

Howard County Truck or Treat

Cooksville 18 mi $

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

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 22 mi $

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

Illustration of a fall festival in a town square with a red roofed gazebo, striped booths, pumpkins and orange trees (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.

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 22 mi Free

Community volunteers build custom wheelchair Halloween costumes for children.

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 9 mi Free

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

CandyFest

Sat, Oct 31

Columbia 10 mi Free

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

Illustration of small purple clay characters carving glowing jack-o'-lanterns on a wooden table with candles and seeds (Maple Border Farm Corn Maze 2026)

Maple Border Farm Corn Maze 2026

Sep 18 – Oct 31

White Hall 22 mi $

Two corn mazes, wagon rides, flower fields, and farmyard play activities.

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 7 mi

See fire apparatus lit by kerosene lanterns alongside period reenactors.

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 12 mi Free

Features a live performance showcase by School of Rock Columbia.

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 6 mi Free

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

CandyFEST

Fri, Oct 30

Owings Mills 9 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 9 mi Free

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

Costume Swap

Mon, Sep 28

Edgewood 22 mi Free

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

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 Free

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

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 5 mi $

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

Mommy & Me Pumpkin Party

Sat, Sep 26

Baltimore 6 mi $$

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

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 8 mi Free

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

2nd Annual Trunk or Treat

Elkridge 10 mi Free

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

STEAM Saturday - Pumpkin Fest

Joppa 19 mi

Hands-on family STEAM activities exploring science, music, math, and art.

Illustration of two small costumed children and a witch among pumpkins, hay bales and autumn trees on a sunny lawn (Kids’ Club Workshop – Spooky Pumpkin Decorating)

Kids’ Club Workshop – Spooky Pumpkin Decorating

Sun, Oct 4

Severna Park 20 mi $

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

Halloween Crafts

Mon, Oct 26

White Hall 24 mi

Spooktacular hands-on family crafting supported by Norrisville Friends of HCPL.

Halloween Story Time

Fri, Oct 23

White Hall 24 mi

Costume-friendly family gathering featuring seasonal stories, songs, and a craft.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Egg Carton Halloween Friends)

Egg Carton Halloween Friends

Fri, Oct 2

Abingdon 22 mi

Craft spooky Halloween figures using recycled egg cartons.

Main Street Fall Festival

Sykesville 15 mi Free

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

Trolleyween Weekend

Colesville 24 mi

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

Spooky Halloween Mini Golf

Gaithersburg 30 mi $

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

Pumpkin Painting