Wanna Be Scared? Or Sorta?

Seeing as it's the time of year for scares and shivers, here's a shortlist of ideas for being scared out of your mind, scared a good bit, scared in good fun, or just kinda amused by spooky decorations...

Scared out of your MIND!  The best venue for this category is none other than the Terror Behind the Walls at the Eastern State Penitentiary.  This is NOT for the faint of heart!  My 10 year old went to "family night" last year and barely made it through... but of course, is dying to go back this year... not on family night!  On family nights, kids can bark the command, "Monster, be good!", and they'll obey... but ONLY on family nights (for kids ages 7-12).  Family nights include every Sunday night through Halloween and Tuesday October 19th as well... price during family night is $10/person.
http://halloween.easternstate.org/halloween/visit/schedule-prices/family

Scared a good bit!  Try the Laurel Hill Cemetery Halloween Flashlight Tours on Friday October 29th and Saturday October 30. These hour-long tours start every half hour from 7pm to 9:30pm.  Not recommended for children under 12.  Flashlight tours snake through the cemetery with tales of history and mystery.  Featuring the "Not Ready for the Afterlife Actors".  After your tour, if you still have an appetite, you can feast on an assortment of delicious cookies, hot apple cider, and other spooky treats.
http://www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org/index.php?m=4&id=16

Scared in Good Fun!  Try out the Ghost Tours in Chestnut Hill.  Friday and Saturday evenings through November 6.  These tours are 90 minutes long and begin at 8pm.  The tour begins at the Chestnut Hill Hotel and goes along the Avenue, with "scary stories, tall tales, and paranormal happenings".  Peggy and Bruce Schmidt are your Spooky tour guides, assisted by their ever-faithful paranormal specialist dog Pixie!  Cost is $10 for adults, $7 for children.
http://www.chestnuthillpa.com/events/hauntings-and-happenings-on-the-hill/

Kinda Amused by Scary Decorations... Many local children's venues offer fun, but not too spooky Halloween parties... most are "members-only events", so if you were thinking of joining any of these, now might be a good time.  

Please Touch Museum Monster Mash!  Children (and grown-ups, too!) are encouraged to dress in costume for an evening of trick-or-treating, themed art activities, a Halloween-inspired magic show by Tom McDonnell in the Playhouse Theater, a Monster Mash dance party that is sure to excite but not fright, and light refreshments provided by Max and Me Catering.  Friday October 22 & Friday Oct, 29.
http://www.pleasetouchmuseum.org/monster_mash/index.php


Adventure Aquarium's Annual "Creep in the Deep".  Wednesday, October 20th & Thursday October 21st.  6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
This event is FREE* for Annual Pass Holders
~ Enjoy indoor Trick or Treating!!!
~ Design your very own trick-or-treat bag, courtesy of A.C. Moore and
~ Each Family can decorate their own pumpkin in our Pumpkin Patch, provided by   Johnson's Corner Farm
~ Event parking is FREE!


But if you'd like to keep it super friendly and have fun while it's still light out, try the Boo at the Zoo, Saturday and Sunday, October 16 and 17,  and Saturday and Sunday October 23 and 24, 10:00AM - 4:00PM.  The Boo! is a masquerade party for the whole family. Trick-or-treat your way around the zoo with plenty of treats and sweets while participating in games and crafts, listening to music and stories, and meeting cool characters along the way.   Free for members, or included with zoo admission.