Family events in Amsterdam, NY

At Pine Grove United Methodist Church in Colonie, Cauldron Magic offers a hands-on Halloween experience for children and their grown-ups. Expect bubbling, fizzing science experiments alongside creative crafts inspired by the spooky season. Activities are designed for shared participation and can get messy. The cost is $7.

Each Wednesday in October, the farmers market becomes an after school discovery series with free activities for families at High Rock Park. Every week brings something new, combining hands on projects, seasonal tastings, and visits from community partners while kids stay engaged and caregivers shop the fall harvest. Highlights include apples and autumn themed art with Find Me in Saratoga author Patrice Mastrianni and CREATE Community Studios, a playful day with fall crowns, time in the Play Patch, pumpkin games, and warm apple cider, an apples and gratitude celebration with thank you card making, another CREATE Community Studios activity, and applesauce made with local apples, and a finale featuring the Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association, a children’s craft with the Saratoga Springs Public Library, and whimsical gourd creatures. The regular market runs alongside the fun with October produce and local foods, making it easy to pick up dinner and enjoy a relaxed fall afternoon. Activities are free.

An LGBTQIA+ youth group in Albany welcomes ages 13 to 18. It is a drop-in gathering, and food and drinks are provided by community volunteers.

The Haunted Arena returns with an expanded experience. Admission is $15 per person. It is not suitable for children under 8, and parental discretion is advised.

This longstanding wrap-up to the warm season focuses on the owls that live in the Arboretum woods. Participants learn about these nocturnal birds of prey by listening for their calls and exploring their behavior in the field. The session is led by nature educator George Steele. The group meets at the Nicholas J. Juried Meeting House at Landis. Registration fees are members $5 per person or $15 per family, and non-members $15 per person or $25 per family. This class is supported in part by a grant from the Stewart's Shops Holiday Match Program.

Venture into the dark corn maze, where sinister hypnotist Clarence Shillington, known as The Amazing Nocturno, plunges visitors into a nightmare of disorienting sights and sounds. A glow bracelet lights the way as fears and phobias come to life. Find a route through the maze and escape the torment.

The Grow Amsterdam Farmers Market brings together locally grown produce, fresh-baked treats, meats, honey, maple goods, handmade wares, flowers, and more, with every purchase helping support local farmers and small businesses. The atmosphere is lively and welcoming, featuring seasonal foods, local eats, activities for all ages, live music, and vendors from the community. There are weekly specials along with newcomers among the vendors. It offers a chance to meet the growers and makers behind your food and to enjoy a day out in Amsterdam, NY.

The farmers’ market becomes a Halloween celebration with pumpkin games, spooky crafts, trick-or-treating with vendors, and a haunted photo spot for capturing costumes. All ages are welcome to take part in the costume parade. Visitors can also enjoy freshly harvested produce, pumpkins, baked goods, delicious food, and offerings from local farmers and producers.

Kids can show off their costumes early at a trunk or treat where car trunks in the parking lot are decorated for the season. Children can go from trunk to trunk collecting treats. The event is free to attend, and donations for the food pantry will be accepted.

Via Aquarium hosts a family-friendly Halloween celebration filled with spooky fun. Wander the exhibits and pick up treats at candy stations throughout the aquarium. See Chappy, the resident alligator snapping turtle, bob for pumpkins, and watch a demonstration of pumpkin carving performed underwater. Boogie Down Bugs will be there with a table full of creepy, crawly insects to discover. Costumes are encouraged and candy is ready for a festive day.

A live, family-friendly skit brings the Halloween favorite Room on the Broom to life. Follow a helpful witch, her cat, and a growing crew of friends as they search for a missing hat, bow, and wand in a short performance designed for young children and enjoyable for adults. Costumes are welcome, and admission is free.

Kids ages 7 to 12 can step into the world of Dungeons and Dragons with the Amsterdam Free Library. This cooperative tabletop role-playing game encourages storytelling, creative problem solving, and teamwork as players create characters and collaborate under the guidance of a Dungeon Master. Each session features a self-contained one-shot adventure that concludes by the end of the session. Registration is required by calling 518-842-1080. Please note that dates are subject to change.

Have your pet strike a pose and receive a 4"x6" framed keepsake photo for a $10 donation. Each month brings a fresh theme, from Beach Party and Patriotic to Back to School, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more. Operated entirely by volunteers, The Animal Support Project puts 100 percent of every donation toward pets in need. This Fantasy Photos session takes place at Benson's Pet Center (Colonie).