Long Island venues offer safe, supervised Halloween activities for children

More than 100,000 children are expected to visit Long Island venues this weekend for organized Halloween activities. These events provide structured alternatives to traditional street trick-or-treating, offering supervised environments and themed entertainment for families.

The Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove opens its doors on Oct. 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a trick-or-treat session. The venue will host a Boo Bash in its new courtyard from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the same day. Admission is free, and organizers note that supplies are limited.

On Oct. 31, The Shoppes at East Wind in Wading River will hold outdoor trick-or-treating from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Village of Port Jefferson offers a similar window from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring a scavenger hunt with participating businesses displaying signs in their windows. The Reboli Center in Stony Brook hosts drop-in crafting and treats from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Museum venues are also participating in the holiday. The Jazz Loft in Stony Brook opens to trick-or-treaters aged 2 to 110 on Oct. 31 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets cost $10, and visitors will encounter costumed characters in the historic building. The Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington offers free admission for an art activity and treat from noon to 5 p.m. on Oct. 31.

Creative workshops are scheduled for older children. The Atelier at Flowerfield in St. James hosts a painting session on Oct. 31 for ages 6 to 12. The $55 fee includes an 11 by 14 inch canvas and supplies. Celebrate St. James offers a glow-in-the-dark paint night for children ages 6 to 12 on Oct. 30 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for $50 per child.

The Heckscher Museum will also host a Día de los Muertos Family Celebration on Nov. 1 from noon to 5 p.m. Families can decorate masks, make flower crowns, and eat complimentary churros and pan de muertos while listening to Mariachi music. The event is free and requires no registration.

Winter theater productions begin at local venues on Nov. 21. Theatre Three in Port Jefferson presents Barnaby Saves Christmas through Dec. 27. Tickets are $20. The John W. Engeman Theater in Northport stages a musical adaptation of Frosty from Nov. 21 to Dec. 27. All seats cost $30.

The Smithtown Performing Arts Center opens Frozen Jr. on Nov. 21, with runs continuing through Dec. 30. Tickets are $26.50. A sensory-friendly performance is scheduled for Dec. 4. Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington will screen the film Coco on Nov. 1 at noon for $16 for adults and $5 for children.