If you’re just not comfortable having your child wander from door to door trick-or-treating in the dark, you’re not alone. There are tons of options in the Cleveland area that will make both kids and parents happy that don’t include cold October nights asking strangers for candy. Kids still can get dressed up in their costumes and enjoy all of the fun that Halloween has to offer with the city’s best alternatives to trick-or-treating.

(credit: cbgarden.org)

Cleveland Botanical Garden

Boo-tanical Bash 2012
11030 East Blvd.
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 721-1600
cbgarden.org

Price: $12 adults/$15 children
Hours: Oct. 27 – 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

At the Boo-tanical Bash, kids may dress up in their Halloween costumes and play in Hershey Children’s Garden. They also get to go trick-or-treating on spooky garden paths and enjoy Halloween crafts and games. Music will be plentiful, so your little ones may dance the night away at this festive celebration. Activities take place both indoors and outdoors, making it perfect for the whole family.

(credit: Susan Walker)

Great Lakes Science Center

Spooky Science Nights
601 Erieside Ave.
Cleveland, OH  44114
(216) 694-2000
glsc.org

Price: $12
Hours: Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27 – 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Spooky Science Nights at the Great Lakes Science Center is designed for children of all ages. During this Halloween event, kids may take a haunted tour of the Mather Steamship while listening to eerie stories. They will get the chance to experiment with slime and create glow-in-the-dark concoctions as well. Enjoy doughnuts and cider, and you can watch an OMNIMAX film, “Mummies: Secrets of Pharaohs” for an additional charge.

(credit: redwagonfarm.com)

Red Wagon Farm

Pumpkin Festival 2012
16801 E. River Road (Route 252)
Columbia Station, OH 44028
(440) 236-3007
redwagonfarm.com
Price: free/click here for maze/hayride prices
Hours: Fri and Sat through Oct. 28 – noon to 5 p.m.

There is so much Halloween goodness at Red Wagon Farm this year at its 29th annual Pumpkin Festival. Explore the five-acre corn maze, go for a wagon ride, have fun in the kids’ play area, or jump around in the straw jumping area. Pick your pumpkin at the festival with “all you can carry pumpkins” for just $13. Come hungry, there will be lots of delicious food to choose from.

Related: Cleveland’s Best Stuff for Infants and Toddlers

(credit: pumpkinvillage.com)

Mapleside Farms

Pumpkin Village
294 Pearl Road
Brunswick, OH  44212
(330) 225-5577
mapleside.com

Click here for prices
Dates: through Nov. 3

Pumpkin Village at Mapleside Farms offers 100 acres of fun. Come on out and enjoy its corn maze, a brand new 250-foot super slide, the Moo-Lar Express cow train through the orchard, hayrides, interactive games and Ohio’s only 70-foot jumping pillow. Shoot the corn cannon and then have some fresh apple cider for the perfect fall day polished off with a romp in the 25-acre pumpkin patch.

Beachwood Place

26300 Cedar Road
Beachwood, OH  44122
(216) 464-9460
beachwoodplace.com

Price: free
Hours. Oct. 28 – noon to 2 p.m.

Beachwood Place’s Fall Festival offers safe trick-or-treating fun for the little ones. Radio Disney will be on hand with activities for the kids, and candy will be passed out at Center Court. Several stores at Beachwood Place get involved too, just look for the pumpkin display in their storefront, which indicates that they are giving out candy. This one is great for the little ones who want to get dressed up, but just can’t stay out late trick-or-treating.

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