Pumpkin fling in Yaphank

The Suffolk County Farm and Education Center in Yaphank holds its yearly Pumpkin Catapult Contest, aka the Pumpkin Fling, on Saturday, October 27. You build a catapult, fling a pumpkin and vie for prizes. Click here for more information, entry forms and “acknowledgement of risk” forms.

Ghostly Gala at Long Island Children’s Museum

A very unscary Halloween for the younger set. Long Island Children’s Museum’s Ghostly Gala.

Show off your costumes, collect candy around the museum, face painting, decorate a goody bag, create a glow-in-the-dark spider and more. $7 per person, an extra $3 for the bat show, whatever that is!

Dickens Festival Nov. 30 in Port Jeff

“A Christmas Carol” comes alive in Port Jeff the weekend of November 30 – December 2.

Among the activities:

“In celebration, the Port Jefferson Dickens Festival beckons to one and all with the Yuletide tradition of High Tea, complete with gorgeous live music, at the First Presbyterian Church.” See the site here Check out the costumes you can rent from Antique Costume and Prop Rental by Nan Guzzetta

Clay workshop for kids at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury Gardens holds a Children’s Clay Workshop – with ceramic artists from New Orleans. Saturday, Oct. 20. 10:30 am. 516 333 0048.

Long Beach Fall festival

A costume parade, pumpkin patch, crafts, a haunted house and rides are all set up at Kennedy Plaza in front of Long Beach City Hall at the town’s annual Fall Festival. October 20-21.

Goin’ fishin’…

Children 12 and under can fish for trout at Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Acquarium’s Fall fair. All fishing equipment is provided.  Also games, food and refreshments and education on conservation and environment. Saturday, October 13. 10 am – 4:30 pm.