Carve out some time for Halloween fun this weekend—we have 20 ideas to help. 

Thursday

Virtual Halloween at HAM 

Tune in for spooky fun from the comfort of your home. On the itinerary: a ghost story from Arkansas’ past and your chance to chat with HAM’s soothsayer. 

The Details: 

When: Thursday | 6-7 p.m. Where: Historic Arkansas Museum Facebook 

Saturday

Harry Potter Halloween Brunch at Nexus Coffee & Creative

Accio fun! Kick off your Halloween with brunch and a butterbeer latte at Nexus Coffee & Creative. 

The Details: 

When: Saturday | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Where: Nexus Coffee & Creative | 301 President Clinton Ave., Suite B, Little Rock More information: Harry Potter Halloween Brunch + Trivia event page

Doggie Costume Contest + Adoption Event at Bernice Garden

Happy Howl-oween from Bernice Garden and Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals (CARE)! This adoption event will feature a silent auction, a chance to meet your new furry friend and pet costume contest.  

The Details: 

When: Saturday | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Where: Bernice Garden | 1401 Main St., Little Rock Cost: $5 to enter your pet and show your support for CARE More information: Doggie Costume Contest + Adoption Event at Bernice Garden event page

SoMa Trunk-or-Treat 

Let the kids dress up and collect candy in the SoMa Outdoor Dining parking lot. Guidelines will be in place to help keep Little Rock families safe. 

The Details: 

When: Saturday | 5-7:30 p.m. Where: SoMa | 1301 Main St., Little Rock Cost: Free Guidelines: Social distancing and masks are required. Limited to 50 trick-or-treaters at a time. Candy eating is encouraged post-event only. Hand sanitizer will be provided. One-way route will help encourage social distancing. 

Trunk Or Treat + The Addams Family at MP Cinemas

A spooky-fun movie and candy? Yes, please! 

The Details: 

When: Saturday | 7:30-10 p.m. Where: MP Cinemas | 6700 Allied Way, Little Rock Cost: $27.95/car  

Sunday

Arkansas Circus Arts Halloween + Fall Show at Lake Willastein Park

This will be an outdoor, socially distanced, free performance featuring youth students, adult students and professional instructors from Arkansas Circus Arts! Bring a blanket, your lawn chair, and stay 6 feet away from other groups/families. 

The Details: 

When: Sunday | 1-7 p.m. Where: Lake Willastein Cost: Free More information: Arkansas Circus Arts Halloween + Fall Show at Lake Willastein Park event page

Friday-Saturday

Funland Halloween Carnival

Funland, an amusement park nestled in North Little Rock’s Murray Park, is hosting a Halloween Carnival this year. Come for a costume contest and other holiday activities. 

The Details: 

When: Friday-Saturday | 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Where: Funland Amusement Park | 25 Funland Drive, North Little Rock Price: $5 for kids 2 and older | Free for parents For more information: Check out their siteGuidelines: Masks are required for guests over 10. Social distancing is encouraged. Hand sanitizing stations are available at the park’s entrance, exit and throughout the park.

Friday-Sunday 

Whimsy Halloween Weekend Bash 

Kids can show off their costumes at Whimsy Cookie Co. and receive a fun trick-or-treat Halloween goodie bag and a free buttercream bite. If parents don’t want to be left out, adults can also dress up to receive a free gooey cookie or a basic sugar cookie. For even more sweet fun, enter their costume contest giveaway by striking a pose in the lobby and tagging your pictures with #whimsycookielittlerock or #whimsycookiehalloween on social media. Prize is a $25 gift card!

The Details: 

When: Friday-Sunday | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Where: Whimsy Cookie Co. | 401 S. Bowman Rd. Suite B, Little Rock

Trick-or-Treat at the Movie Tavern

Come enjoy spooky fun and a treat at the movies. Each child’s admission includes a trick-or-treat tub, choice of select candy or popcorn and Halloween coloring sheets. Costumes are encouraged.  

The Details:

When: Friday-Sunday | Check movie times here Where: Movie Tavern Little Rock | 11300 Bass Pro Pkwy, Little Rock Tickets: $5 on Friday-Saturday; $1 on Sunday

Saturday-Sunday

The Taming of the Shrew at Little Rock River Market 

Brought to you by Studio Theater, this one-hour Shakespeare in the Park show checks all the boxes. It’s family friendly (check), outside (check) and socially distant (check). 

The Details: 

When: Saturday-Sunday | Shows at 1 p.m and 4 p.m. Where: History Pavilion @ Riverfront Park | 202 Arkansas 10, Little Rock Tickets: $10 | Purchase here

All Month 

Virtual Boo!suem 2020

Boo!suem 2020 is transforming from an annual night of fun to 12 days of virtual posts from your favorite local museums. This family-friendly event will include ghost stories, Halloween-themed crafts, prizes and more.

The Details:

When: October 20-31 Where: All videos will be uploaded to the Big Boo!seum Facebook page. | Enter to win prizes here

Food Truck Friday at Simmons Bank Arena 

Kick the weekend off early with a fun lunch. Each Friday in October, families can enjoy an outdoor meal in the Simmons Bank Arena VIP parking lot. 

The Details: 

When: Friday | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Where: VIP parking lot at Simmons Bank Arena | 1 Simmons Bank Arena Drive, North Little Rock

Live Music Friday at the SoMa Outdoor Dining Room

This Friday you and the fam can enjoy food and live music. Grab your mask, the kids and order takeout from your favorite SoMa restaurant. 

The Details: 

When: Friday | 4-9 p.m. (live music starts at 7 p.m.) Where: SoMa Outdoor Dining Room | 1301 S. Main St. 

Guidelines: Use hand sanitizer before you grab a seat. Wear a mask when not seated.

October River Market Outdoor Dining Room 

Enjoy the cooler weather and your favorite food from the River Market Entertainment District at their outdoor dining area! 

The Details: 

When: Friday 6-11 p.m. | Saturday-Sunday 2-11 p.m. every weekend in October Where: 300 & 400 Blocks of President Clinton Avenue Guidelines: Social distancing will be practiced. Masks are required.

Halloweekends at Magic Springs

This year Magic Screams is getting a family-friendly and social-distance makeover as Halloweekends at Magic Springs. Starting October 10, park-goers of all ages can enjoy Saturdays and Sundays full of fall family fun. Learn more here

The Details: 

When: Saturday-Sunday | noon-6 p.m. Where: Magic Springs Theme and Water Park | 1701 E. Grand Ave., Hot Springs 

Admission: 

  • At the gate: $29.99 plus tax for adults | $21.99 plus tax for juniors and seniors 

  • Online: $24.99 plus tax for adults | $19.99 plus tax for juniors and seniors 

  • 2021 Season Pass holders: Free

Garvan Gardens Fall Celebration Saturdays 

Enjoy fall foliage, flowers and fun at Garvan Gardens this month. For a fun twist, the first 200 children to the Gardens will receive a free Halloween treat bag. 

The Details:

When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | October Saturdays Where: Garvan Woodland Gardens | 550 Arkridge Road, Hot Springs Admission: Members Free | $15 ages 13 and up | $5 ages 4-12 | Free ages 3 and younger | $5 dogs on a short leash Guidelines: Masks required for entry. Masks required in some garden areas. 

Shadows at Sixth Street

Buckle up for family-friendly, pandemic-safe fun with Shadows at Sixth Street, an elevated Halloween drive-through experience. Learn more here

The Details: 

When: 7-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday | 7-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday Where: Best Park Parking Deck | 600 Scott St., Little Rock Admission: $25/car if purchased online | $30/car if purchased at the event 

Anytime Fun: 

Still stumped? Here are a few other ideas:

Visit a Pumpkin Patch 

You have one more weekent to visit a local pumpkin patch. Check out our post for full details

Create Fall-Tastic Treats

We found pumpkin-based treats to take you from breakfast to dessert. Apples more your jam? Check out these six easy recipes. Or cook up a spooky treat with these Halloween recipes. Weekend plans, enhanced. 

Decorate Halloween Cookies

Ready for a sweet treat? Here are some local bakeries that are offering fall fun in a box — Halloween cookie decorating kits. Check out the post for delicious fun