For kids under about eight, the safe metro Atlanta Halloween outings are Boo at the Zoo (Oct 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., free with Zoo Atlanta admission), Stone Mountain’s Pumpkin Festival, Goblins in the Garden on Oct 18, and Six Flags’ daytime Tricks and Treats — and the one to keep them away from is Netherworld, which sets a minimum age of 7 and calls itself “recommended for adults and teens.”
Atlanta runs two Halloween seasons at once. One is candy and costumed characters in daylight; the other is fog, strobes and actors paid to make you scream. Several venues run both on the same property hours apart, and the photos never tell you which one you bought. Everything below is sorted by scare level and the age each operator publishes; where 2026 is unannounced, we say so.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Best for toddlers? | Boo at the Zoo, Oct 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31, free with admission |
| What should young kids skip? | Netherworld (minimum age 7) and Fright Fest (“not recommended for children under 13”) |
| Cheapest ticketed outing? | Monster Mash — $20, free for members |
| Most expensive? | Netherworld SpeedPass, $55–$77 online plus fees and tax |
| Parking? | Zoo Atlanta $12 max; Stone Mountain $25/day; Netherworld free but limited |
| Not announced for 2026? | Alpharetta’s Scarecrow Harvest and most city trick-or-treat events |
How do you tell how scary an event actually is?
Three signals do the work. A stated age floor is the operator speaking plainly: Netherworld publishes a minimum of 7, and Six Flags says “Fright Fest is not recommended for children under 13.” The clock is second — Tricks and Treats runs noon to 5 p.m., “all fun, no fear,” then scare zones take over after dark. Third is the word “immersive”: at Chattahoochee, the Haunted Quest is “recommended for ages 12 and older” while the plain hike is not.
Boo at the Zoo, Zoo Atlanta
The default answer for kids who still hold your hand: October 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31, 2026, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., under the zoo’s own banner of “Be merry, not scary!” Expect a Kids’ Trick-or-Treat Lane with roughly a dozen candy stations, crafts, carnival games and strolling characters from 10 a.m. It is free with general admission and free for members and children under 3; non-members need a dated ticket, priced by date rather than a flat rate.
Stone Mountain Park Pumpkin Festival
Fridays through Sundays, September 19 to November 1, 2026. The Skyride opens at 10 a.m. and the festival at 2 p.m.; after dark, “Glow by Night” adds a pumpkin drone show, a parade with fireworks and glow-in-the-dark mini golf. Nothing is built to frighten anyone. Entry needs a Daily Attractions Ticket or membership, plus $25 parking. Full detail is in our Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival guide and Stone Mountain Park guide.
Six Flags Over Georgia: Tricks and Treats versus Fright Fest
One gate, two opposite events. Tricks and Treats runs select days from September 12 to November 1, noon to 5 p.m., included with admission: a Trick-or-Treat Trail for children 12 and under, a costume contest, a pumpkin patch and an inflatable corn maze. A park ticket was $45 when we checked.
Fright Fest fills the same calendar on select nights, and the park states it “is not recommended for children under 13.” Its four mazes need a Haunted Attractions Pass, with a bundle from $69. The trap: scare zones come with ordinary admission, so staying past sunset with a seven-year-old puts you in Fright Fest whether you bought a maze pass or not.
Netherworld: why is it not a family outing?
Netherworld (1313 Netherworld Way, Stone Mountain) runs September 18, 19, 25 and 26; October 2–4, 6–12 and 14–31; and November 1, 6 and 7.
Read its own FAQ as written. The minimum age is 7. It “is recommended for adults and teens, but younger kids may come if an accompanying guardian chooses to bring them,” and “carrying children through is NOT permitted” — a frightened child cannot be picked up and carried out. It is also not recommended for guests who are pregnant or have heart conditions. Expect darkness, heavy fog and strobes.
Online timed entry runs $25–$41 for one haunt and $35–$53 for the combo, plus fees and tax; SpeedPass is $55–$77. Parking is free but construction has left it severely limited, so Netherworld “strongly encourage[s] guests to carpool.”
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Scarecrows in the Garden runs October 1 to November 1 at the Midtown campus, included with daytime admission, with supersized figures up to 12 feet tall on the Great Lawn. The family day is Goblins in the Garden, October 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free with Garden admission, with live entertainment, train rides and pumpkin decorating; costumes encouraged. A Great Pumpkin-Carving Festival follows October 22, and hours through October 31 are Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The winter version is our Garden Lights guide.
Center for Puppetry Arts
The sharpest age split in the city, inside one building. Monster Mash, October 17 and 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., is all ages: $20 for non-members, free for members, including the Jim Henson Collection plus indoor trick-or-treating, a kids’ DJ, walk-around puppets and mask making. You can add Spookhouse Annie, recommended for ages 4 and up.
The Ghastly Dreadfuls, October 7–31, is the opposite: 18+, 21+ on Halloween night, $25–$125 by date, described by the Center as “for mature audiences only” with “crass humor, simulated nudity, violence, and horror elements.” Do not book it by mistake. Museum-only admission is $16.50 adult, $12.50 ages 2–12.
Chattahoochee Nature Center Halloween Hikes
Roswell’s nature center runs Halloween Hikes October 23–24, 6 to 10 p.m., and October 25, 5 to 9 p.m. Two tracks share the night: a half-mile self-guided hike that suits most ages, and the Haunted Quest, an immersive mile-and-a-half scavenger hunt recommended for ages 12 and older. Tickets are $25 advance, $20 member presale, $30 day-of — but presale opens October 1 and general sales October 8, so nothing is on sale in mid-September.
What about trick-or-treat events at local parks?
As of mid-September 2026, Alpharetta’s Scarecrow Harvest page carries no 2026 dates, Roswell’s Halloween page lists no 2026 events, and Gwinnett County’s parks calendar showed no October listings. Cities post two to four weeks out, so do not build a weekend around an event you remember from last year. If it falls through, our list of free things to do in Atlanta with kids fills the day for nothing.
Where do you park, and what does it cost?
Zoo Atlanta is the only real line item: the Cherokee Avenue lot and Grant Park Gateway deck charge $3 an hour to a $12 daily maximum through ParkMobile, discounted for members — budget $9–$12 for a three-hour visit. Stone Mountain charges $25 daily; Netherworld is free but squeezed; Six Flags sells parking separately.
Which Atlanta Halloween event fits your kid?
| Event | Drive from Midtown (approx.) | 2026 dates | Cost | Scare level and ages | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boo at the Zoo | ~10 min | Oct 17, 18, 24, 25, 31; 9 a.m.–4 p.m. | Free with admission; $12 parking | None — “be merry, not scary” | Toddlers to early elementary |
| Goblins in the Garden | ~5 min | Oct 18, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Free with Garden admission | None; costumes encouraged | Short attention spans |
| Monster Mash | ~5 min | Oct 17 and 24, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. | $20; free for members | None; all ages | Rain days, indoor candy |
| Pumpkin Festival | ~30 min | Fri–Sun, Sept 19–Nov 1, from 2 p.m. | Attractions ticket + $25 parking | None; storybook themes | A full day, mixed ages |
| Tricks and Treats | ~30 min | Select days Sept 12–Nov 1, 12–5 p.m. | Included; ticket from $45 | “All fun, no fear”; trail 12 and under | Ride lovers — leave by dark |
| Halloween Hikes | ~35 min | Oct 23–24, 6–10 p.m.; Oct 25, 5–9 p.m. | $25 advance, $30 day-of | Hike all ages; Quest 12+ | Outdoors, not animatronics |
| Fright Fest | ~30 min | Select nights Sept 12–Nov 1 | Bundle from $69; mazes need a pass | High — “not recommended under 13” | Teens and adults |
| Netherworld | ~30 min | Sept 18–26, Oct 2–31, Nov 1–7 (select) | $25–$41 single; $35–$53 combo | Very high; minimum age 7 | Teens and adults only |
| Ghastly Dreadfuls | ~5 min | Oct 7–31 | $25–$125 | 18+ (21+ Oct 31) | Grown-ups only |
What should you do if your day looks like this?
| If you… | Do this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Have a toddler and three hours | Boo at the Zoo, arriving at 9 a.m. | Characters start at 10 a.m.; three hours is the zoo’s average visit |
| Have a 6-year-old and a 14-year-old | Stone Mountain, then split for Netherworld | Ten minutes apart; the age gap is unbridgeable |
| Are on a tight budget | Monster Mash at $20, or Goblins on a membership | Flat cost, no parking stacked on top |
| Get rained out | Center for Puppetry Arts | Show, galleries and trick-or-treating are all indoors |
| Have a child who spooks easily | Chattahoochee’s half-mile hike, not the Quest | Same crafts and food, no ages 12+ loop |
What has not been announced for 2026?
Alpharetta’s Scarecrow Harvest has no 2026 dates posted, Roswell lists no 2026 Halloween events, and Gwinnett’s parks calendar had nothing for October. Zoo Atlanta and the Botanical Garden both price by date and publish no flat admission figure. Six Flags does not publish which nights inside its September 12 to November 1 window operate — check the park calendar before you drive.
The same planning carries into the holidays — pumpkin patches near Atlanta, apple picking in North Georgia, North Georgia fall foliage, and once the rinks open, ice skating around Atlanta. To compare ticket prices, use the Georgia Family Day-Out Cost Index.
FAQ
What is the best Halloween event in Atlanta for a 3-year-old?
Boo at the Zoo, which runs October 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Zoo Atlanta frames it as “Be merry, not scary!” with a trick-or-treat lane, crafts and strolling characters from 10 a.m. It is free with general admission and free for children under 3, so a toddler costs nothing beyond your own ticket and parking.
Is Netherworld safe for young children?
No, and Netherworld says so. The minimum age is 7, and the policy reads that it “is recommended for adults and teens, but younger kids may come if an accompanying guardian chooses to bring them.” Critically, “carrying children through is NOT permitted,” so a frightened child cannot be carried out. Expect fog, darkness and strobes throughout.
Can you visit Six Flags at Halloween without the scary parts?
Yes, if you leave before dark. Tricks and Treats runs select days from September 12 to November 1, noon to 5 p.m., included with admission, billed as “all fun, no fear.” Fright Fest takes the same park at night, and Six Flags states it “is not recommended for children under 13” — with scare zones included in ordinary admission.
How much does Boo at the Zoo cost?
Nothing extra. It is free with general admission and free for Zoo Atlanta members and children under 3. Non-members need a dated ticket, priced by date rather than a flat rate. Budget separately for parking: the Cherokee Avenue lot and Grant Park Gateway deck charge $3 an hour to a $12 daily maximum.
Boo at the Zoo or Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival for little kids?
Boo at the Zoo if you have three hours and a stroller; Stone Mountain if you want a full day. The zoo event is compact, daytime and included with admission. Stone Mountain runs Friday to Sunday, September 19 to November 1, with attractions from 2 p.m., but needs a ticket plus $25 parking.
Monster Mash or Goblins in the Garden for a preschooler?
Monster Mash if rain is forecast, Goblins if it is clear. Monster Mash runs October 17 and 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., entirely indoors, $20 for non-members and free for members. Goblins in the Garden is October 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free with Garden admission, with train rides and pumpkin decorating outdoors.
Are the Halloween Hikes at Chattahoochee Nature Center scary?
The half-mile self-guided hike is not; the Haunted Quest is the part to watch. The Center recommends the Quest, a mile-and-a-half immersive scavenger hunt, for ages 12 and older with an adult along. Both run October 23–24, 6 to 10 p.m., and October 25, 5 to 9 p.m.
What if it rains on the weekend we planned?
Move indoors to the Center for Puppetry Arts, where the show, galleries and trick-or-treating are all under a roof, or use the Botanical Garden’s conservatory. Chattahoochee’s hikes and Six Flags are the most weather-exposed, and Stone Mountain’s night show needs clear skies for drones and fireworks.
Which event costs least for a family of four?
Monster Mash at $20 per non-member, with no separate parking charge, or Goblins in the Garden if you hold a Garden membership. Boo at the Zoo is free with admission but adds up to $12 parking. Netherworld is the priciest per head, with SpeedPass at $55 to $77 online before fees and tax.
Are city and county trick-or-treat events announced yet for 2026?
Mostly not. As of mid-September 2026, Alpharetta’s Scarecrow Harvest page carries no 2026 dates, Roswell’s Halloween page lists no 2026 events, and Gwinnett’s parks calendar showed no October listings. Municipal departments publish two to four weeks ahead, so check the city calendar in early October.
How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on . Operators change schedules and raise prices without notice, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you drive. The figures in this guide also feed our Georgia Attraction Transparency Index and Family Day-Out Cost Index.
Sources
- Zoo Atlanta — Boo at the Zoo 2026 dates
- Zoo Atlanta — visitor hours
- Zoo Atlanta — parking rates
- Stone Mountain Park — Pumpkin Festival 2026 dates
- Stone Mountain Park — parking permits
- Six Flags Over Georgia — Fright Fest dates and age guidance
- Six Flags Over Georgia — Tricks and Treats hours
- Six Flags Over Georgia — daily tickets
- Netherworld — 2026 dates and ticket prices
- Netherworld — minimum age and warnings
- Atlanta Botanical Garden — Goblins in the Garden
- Atlanta Botanical Garden — Scarecrows 2026 dates
- Atlanta Botanical Garden — hours and parking
- Center for Puppetry Arts — Monster Mash
- Center for Puppetry Arts — Ghastly Dreadfuls ages
- Center for Puppetry Arts — Spookhouse Annie ages
- Center for Puppetry Arts — museum admission
- Chattahoochee Nature Center — Halloween Hikes
- City of Alpharetta — Scarecrow Harvest
- City of Roswell — Halloween events
- Gwinnett County — Parks and Recreation calendar
Hank Whitlock is the pen name of the It's Georgia editor. Every guide is built around the questions a busy family actually asks before a trip: how long is the drive, what does parking cost, can the stroller make it, are dogs allowed. Details are checked against official park, city, and venue sources, and each guide shows the date it was last updated.
