Knoxville has plenty of kid-friendly Halloween fun. Here's a handy round-up

Liz Kellar, Knoxville News Sentinel
Updated ·5 min read

'Tis the season to bundle up and seek out some chills and thrills. Just make sure your chosen fright site isn't too much for your little ones.

Halloween can be scary, what with monsters, ghouls and goblins galore out and about and ready to spook unsuspecting children. Halloween in Knoxville definitely has its family-friendly side, however, with dozens of events planned.

Here's some help tracking down all the best Halloween fun, with Knox News' handy list of seasonal events that are better suited for kids, including pumpkin carving, Halloween-themed cartoons, costume contests, pooch parades, special trick-or-treating and so much more.

BOO! at the Zoo

This annual event at Zoo Knoxville has been called the city's largest Halloween happening. It features multiple nights of not-too-scary Halloween fun perfect for preschool and elementary-aged children, now through Oct. 29.

The Halloween tradition features trick-or-treating along the BOO! Trail, as well as Dr. Carvenstein’s Pumpkin Carving, the Magic Man Magician, Wildly Fun Scientists, Ghost Busters and Princess Nights, the Zoo Choo train, a Monster Mash Dance Party, the Spooky Cemetery and some new, suitable for small-fry visual effects.

Find more about tickets at zooknoxville.org/event/boo-at-the-zoo/.

Howl-O-Ween Pooch Parade and Pet Expo

This Halloween-themed event for pet owners and their dogs, now in its 10th year, is co-sponsored by the University of Tennessee Gardens and the UT College of Veterinary Medicine.

The event is free to attend and will be 1-5 p.m. Oct. 22 in the Gardens at 2518 Jacob Drive. Costumed dogs can enter the 2:30 p.m. parade and be judged in categories including scariest, funniest, homemade and pop culture.

The cost to enter the parade is $10 per costume entry (can include multiple dogs as one costume) in advance or $15 on the day of the event beginning at 1 p.m.

Monsters at the Museum

The East Tennessee Historical Society invites families to Monsters at the Museum 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 28.

This free event will feature a variety of Halloween-themed children’s crafts, story times and walking tours, as well as a costume contest at 11 a.m. Fill your treat bags while trick-or-treating in the Voices of the Land gallery and learn about Halloween histories and eerie Victorian mourning customs.

Tennessee Theatre's Costumes & Cartoons

This is another free event for the little ones, at the Tennessee Theatre, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 21. The theater will show Halloween cartoon episodes of "Wild Kratts," "Arthur," "Pinkalicious," "Peg + Cat" and more.

Children are encouraged to dress in costumes that represent what they want to be when they grow up and can enjoy trick or treating throughout the theater thanks to Mast General Store.

Downtown Knoxville gets 'wicked'

The theme for Halloween this year in downtown Knoxville is "wicked cool," and there's plenty for families to do, including an online costume contest and a scavenger hunt.

For slightly older children, there is a Zombie Walk presented by Screamville Haunted Attraction and Scruffy City Hall Oct. 28 in Market Square (arrive early to be zombified by a make-up artist), with a costume contest at 3:30 p.m. and the walk beginning at 5 p.m. Stick around, because at 6 p.m. the same night, you can dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" during the 14th annual Thrill the World Knoxville event in Market Square.

Hallo-week at Ijams

There are a ton of scarily fun activities planned at Ijams Nature Center, including a night of haunted tales with Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association on Oct. 24; a Scare Fair at Meads Quarry and an Enchanted Forest on Oct. 29; and pumpkin carving and a door broom workshop on Oct. 30.

Freaky Friday Fright Nite in Farragut

The 27th annual Freaky Friday Fright Nite is 5-7 p.m. Oct. 27 at Mayor Bob Leonard Park.

Children ages 12 and younger are invited to "trick or treat" on the walk trail while local businesses, community groups and Town of Farragut volunteers hand out treats and provide games with prizes and cookie decorating. Taco Mafia and Kona Ice will be on location with food for purchase.

This is a free event, but participants are asked to take items to benefit the local Ronald McDonald House.

When is trick-or-treating in Knoxville and where should I go?

This year, Halloween falls on a Tuesday, which can make trick-or-treating a little more complicated for parents. Most websites recommend going out sometime 5-8 p.m.

Last year, Knox News took to social media to crowdsource Halloween hot spots around town, publishing a list of sites and places to take a fun drive.

Trunk or Treats in Knoxville

While it’s traditional to collect candy door-to-door for Halloween, consider an alternative form of trick-or-treating. Trunk or treat events allow costumed children to collect candy throughout a parking lot as they stop at cars that are decorated for Halloween.

Liz Kellar is a Tennessee Connect reporter. Email liz.kellar@knoxnews.com.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville keeps Halloween kid-friendly with BOO! at the Zoo and more