Trick or Treating Festivities

Today we took the kids to Trick-or-Treat Street at the IX Center.  We have never gone before because the price was ridiculously high and you had to pay for parking on top of that.  But, their cousins were in town from North Carolina, and they sold discount 4 packs of tickets (that included a parking pass) at Marc's for $45, so we tried it.  Trick-or-Treat Street runs for two weekends before Halloween.  The first weekend is only on Saturday and Sunday, the next is Friday-Sunday.  They open on the weekends at 11 and close at 9 on Saturdays.  I am not sure of the hours on Fridays or Sundays.  When we got there, it was not very crowded.  We parked pretty close to the entrance.  When you walk in, if you go to the right, there is a section with trick-or-treating stations.  Our kids brought their own Halloween buckets, but if you don't bring one, they will give you a bag.  After going to the stations and collecting treats, they have a bunch of rides the kids can go on.  There was a miniature golf course and pony rides.  I think you had to pay extra for those two things.  They also had things that cost extra--games and concessions.  Overall, the kids had a wonderful time!

Kaylee and Lindsey Rating: 6/5

Another great Trick-or-Treating event is Boo at the Zoo.  We went a few years ago to the one at the Cleveland Zoo.  It was pretty bad.  They gave the kids a ticket to get a bag of treats, most of which was candy they don't really like.  Last year, we went to the one at the Akron Zoo.  It was a million times better.  If you are going to go to one, definately make it Akron!

Halloween Festival

Yesterday we took the girls to the Halloween Festival at Carlisle Reservation.  It is located at 12882 Diagonal Rd., in LaGrange.  The festival is on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, starting 2 weeks before Halloween.  It runs from 5-7 for kids and 7-10 for older kids and adults (when it becomes scary instead of family-friendly).

                                          Pumpkin Lagoon, on the Halloween trail

                                                    This is also on the trail...gets you dizzy...

                                                    The winter fairy giving the girls magic dust

                                                     View from the Little Green Choo

So, you can go on a train ride (The LIttle Green Choo) or a wagon ride through a trail.  This is free and is not scary.  The wait is usually long (30+ minutes).  The kids do enjoy it though.  The rest of the things are part of the festival, and the cost is $2 per per person, but kids under 3 are free.  They have a few food vendors set up, a bound house and racetrack ($1 tickets) and a Halloween trail.  The trail has a serious of not that scary haunted houses (gets scarier at night) and the kids were given a paper storybook and got a picture to paste in their books after they completed each house.  There was also a bridge to cross where the area around you moved so it made you dizzy and a fairy that gave the kids magic dust.  There was a bubble machine outside of the trail and moving brooms. 

Kaylee and Lindsey Rating: ...depends on the kid you ask.  Kaylee still got scared at one of the houses when she saw frankenstein and she cried.  Lindsey ran up to the characters and talked to them.  No fear in that kid.  All in all, it was fun and worth it, even though it did rain while we were on the train ride!

Fall Fun...in the Cold!

This weekend, we did a few fun fall activities, but it was extremely cold.  On Friday, the kids saw a movie at Giant Eagle.  The first Friday of every month, out Giant Eage holds a movie night.  The kids have to be at least 3 to go, but they have a great time.  They arrive at 5:30, in their pajamas.  They play a movie, get pictures taken with the them of the movie, get pizza, juice and a cookie.  You have to agree to stay in the store until the movie is over, but it is well worth it.  It is free for kids!

On Saturday, we went to the drive-in.  They have something called Trunk or Treat the last weekend of the season they are open.  You come to the movie, dress up your kids in costumes, decorate your car and pass out candy while the kids trick-or-treat.  The kids had a wonderful time!  This is the first time we have done it, and will definately make plans for next year.

                                           The kids at Trunk or Treat
Kaylee and Lindsey Rating: 6/5..we will definately do this again!  The girls loved it...staying up late, watching a movie outside, seeing friends, dressing up and free candy!  It was like kiddie paradise!


On Sunday, we went to Ramseyer Farm, in Wooster.  They have a fall festival every year.  We have gone the past 3 years and always had fun.  Once you pay to get in ($9 for adults, $7 for kids over 2), everything to do is free (with the exception of the scarecrow craft orfood).  They have animals, several cornmazes, a bunch of slides, 2 corn pits, bikes/cars to drive, potato shooting, a huge pumpkin house, and a bunch of other things.  It is located at 3488 Akron Rd in Wooster.

Kaylee and Lindsey Rating: 5/5-even though it was cold, we still had a lot of fun!