Located about an hour outside of Washington DC, Howard County, Maryland is a fun destination for October outings! With plenty of farm land, the area offers pick your own pumpkins and apples, hayrides through wide-open fields, and small markets for apple cider. Venture to Old Ellicott City, a 250 year old town, to see if you spot haunted spirits wandering the streets and storefront windows! Check out a full list of October things to do in Howard County, Maryland.

Wizarding Weekend on Magical Main (10/8 – 10/9) – Tiber Alley becomes Diagon Alley where a scavenger hunt, a costume contest, live music, and Potter-inspired mischief and magical treats take place all over town. You can enjoy the special outdoor movie showing of Harry Potter & the Chamber Secrets in the Wine Bin parking lot starting at 7 PM. Learn more here.

Haunted Main Street (10/8 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Old Ellicott City is a resilient town almost 250 years old with great shops and a vibrant night life. Is it any wonder that the many ghosts who still call this town home remain to see if they can still raise the hairs on the back of your neck? Meets at Howard County Welcome Center, Ellicott City, Md. 21043. Costs $15. Recommended for ages 12 and above. Learn more here.

Larriland Farm (Tues. – Fri. 9 – 6 p.m.; Sat. – Sun. 9 – 5 p.m. in October) – Enjoy fall fun with hayrides, the Straw Maze, and the Boo Barn. You will find apple fritters food trucks on Saturdays. Visit separate fields for pick your own pumpkins and apples. Learn more here.

Open House @ Sharp’s at Waterford (dates and times vary) – Various events take place throughout the month, including the October Farm Tour when you can feed animals, take a hayride, and harvest a pumpkin and an ear of popcorn to take home to see it pop! Learn more here.

Family Fun Day @ The Mall in Columbia (10/13 10 – 11 a.m.) – Let’s celebrate fall and have some slightly scary fun for upcoming Halloween! Singing, dancing, puppetry with ventriloquism, how could we miss this fun??? Rascal will be there too. Learn more here.

Floating Pumpkin Patch @ Roger Carter Community Center (10/15 2-3:30 p.m.) – Join us for a thrilling time with your family and friends. Jump into our heated pool to find your floating pumpkin. Enjoy games, crafts, and refreshments. Children can come dressed in their favorite costume, but don’t forget their bathing suit! Preregistration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Buy tickets here. Registration/Info: .

School’s Out: Science of Spooky Camp @ Robinson Nature Center (10/21 8:30 a.m. to 03:30 p.m) – Discover the science behind many of the things we consider “spooky.” Meet “scary” live animals and discover why our first impressions about them may be wrong. Create your own slime and go on a “spider hunt” through the woods. Recreate eerie and mysterious natural phenomenon to discover the scientific processes behind them. Enjoy free play in the outdoor Nature Place. Register for $80 by 10/19. Age 5-12. Register here.

Howl-o-Ween (10/22 12 – 3 p.m.) – Costumed pups meet at Clipper’s Canine Cafe in Old Ellicott City. Trick-or-treating ends at The Wine Bin where the Costume Contest begins at 3:15 p.m. There will be three categories: Cutest, Funniest, and Most Original Homemade costume. Make a $12 donation per dog to receive a list of participating businesses to make your way through town to receive your pup’s treats. Learn more here.

Ghost the Musical at Toby’s Dinner Theater (Through November 6) – You can’t miss this live show! Check showtimes, and buy tickets here.

Hyper Kidz Columbia (10/28 6-8:30 pm; 10/31 6-8:30 pm ) Join us for our Annual HYPERWEEN event! HYPERWEEN is a Non-scary, Trick-or-treat Costume party! A limited number of pre-sale tickets for kids & adults are available for this private event. Food and drinks are included. There will be a costume contest, fog machine, dance party, open play, and trick-or-treat parade!

Trick or Treat on Main (10/31 4-6 p.m.) – Trick or treat in Old Ellicott City!

For more October events in the Mid-Atlantic, check out Travel, which includes the National Harbor, Gettysburg, Annapolis, and Delaware.

You can also checkout this giveaway for a family 4-pack of tickets to Gaver Farm.

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