By Danielle Davies
These days, it almost seems like Halloween is more for adults than it is for kids — we’ve figured out a way to make our cocktails festive, our home décor glamorously ghoulish, and don’t even get me started on how scary a walking haunted attraction can be. But there’s still plenty for the kids! Besides the traditional trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving, there’s a pretty spook-tacular Halloween Fest from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the Ocean City Free Public Library. The open house-style event features multiple stations for kids of all ages. Wear your favorite costume (not required) and head on over. Here are five reasons to make this one of your new family traditions.
1. Stories
If you’ve ever taken your child to story-time at the library, you know that librarians are the bee’s knees when it comes to keeping kids engaged with their storytelling prowess. Whether they’re using different voices, including a hands-on element to their stories or simply reading some of the best seasonal and age-appropriate books available, Halloween Fest story-time is a can’t-miss part of the night.
2. Games
Another station available at Halloween Fest is the game station, and it’s full of fa-boo-lous fun. Families can expect a decorated space in the Kids Activity Room with entertaining activities and plenty of prizes, including — but not limited to — candy.
3. Dry Ice Station
For the first time at Halloween Fest, there will be a demonstration station featuring the magical effects of science! Hosted by Talewise, the dry ice demonstration is fun and factual, teaching kids about frozen carbon dioxide.
4. Take-homes
Kids won’t leave empty-handed at Halloween Fest. Every child — and there are often hundreds — is invited to create two-dimensional wooden pumpkins they can decorate and bring home. Before they leave, each child gets a free book and a small pumpkin. It’s almost like Christmas!
5. Trick-or-treating
No Halloween-themed event is complete without some form of trick-or-treating. Fortunately, the Ocean City Free Public Library has you covered. Each station has plenty of candy and non-edible items like bookmarks and bracelets so kids can trick-or-treat their way through the library.
Danielle’s been a writer and storyteller for the past fifteen years—her work has appeared everywhere from Philadelphia Style Magazine and The Press of Atlantic City to Cape May Magazine and The WC Press in West Chester. Nationally, her short stories have been published in Typehouse Magazine and Scary Mommy. She lives in South Jersey with her husband and two children.
