3 Kid-Friendly Halloween Events in Indianapolis

Indianapolis has a lot to offer everyone on Halloween, from club and bar parties to haunted houses to family-friendly fun. If you are looking for something fun and educational to help you celebrate Halloween with your kids, look no further! Here are three fun, family-friendly Halloween events in Indianapolis that both parents and children will love.

First, two weeks before Halloween, the Children's Museum will host their annual bat encounter. The Organization for Bat Conservation at the Cranbrook Institute of Science conducts this interactive program, bringing children face-to-face with live vampire bats, flying foxes, dog-faced bats, and more. Children, and parents, learn more about the misunderstood creatures and enjoy a very rare opportunity to see some endangered species up close. This is a great way to begin your Halloween festivities! Bat encounters at the Children's Museum are scheduled at 11:30am, 1pm, and 3pm on Thursday and Friday, October 15 and 16, and at 1pm and 3pm on Saturday, October 17. The program is free with the price of admission into the museum, which is $14.50 for adults, $13.50 for seniors 60+, and $9.50 for children ages 2-17. The Children's Museum is located at 3000 North Meridian Street.

The Indianapolis Zoo is also hosting its annual Halloween event, the Halloween ZooBoo. Bring your kids to the zoo in costume from 2pm-7pm Friday - Sunday, October 16-18, Thursday - Sunday, October 22-25, and Thursday and Friday, October 29-30. Activities include bowling with pumpkins, a Halloween train, trick-or-treating, a Halloween-themed dolphin show, and of course, the opportunity to learn that some animals are not as scary as we think. Also enter for a chance to win a painting by an elephant! All these activities are free with admission into the Indianapolis Zoo, which is $14 for adult and $9 for seniors 62+ and children ages 2-12. The Indianapolis Zoo is located at 1200 West Washington Street.

Last, but not least, the Peewinkle's Puppet Studio will be performing the "Slightly Haunted Puppet Studio" from October 15 - October 30. Familiar witchy characters will introduce the cast of traditional Halloween spooks. Tickets are $10, and kids 2 and under are free. There will also be a workshop after the show. Tickets for the workshop are $3 and can be purchased after the show itself. Peewinkle's Puppet Studio is located at 25 East Henry Street.

To learn more about these and other Halloween events in Indianapolis, visit the Indy Metromix website, an excellent guide to all events in Indianapolis.