To be a kid in October is to be caught up in a magical world. The days grow short and foggy. Ghosts legit scare you. You can wear an Iron Man costume in public and strangers will shower you in Kit Kats.

Build some future nostalgia with your kiddos by participating in these local events. Most are free or affordable. All are sure to be a hit.

1. Sausage Fest
October 7-9, Noon-Midnight, Sunday ‘til 7PM
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
From the Bavarian Dinner Haus to the, uh, bouncy haus, this event has something for everyone. Think Oktoberfest meets a carnival. This year Sausage Fest turns forty, making this event a bona fide Everett tradition.

What’s on tap? Kid games, music, arts and crafts, food booths, and “Xtreme Bingo.” Also, there’s a shuttle bus to/from the Everett Station if you plan on lingering in the beer garden.

2. Monster Bash
October 8, 10AM-2PM
Flying Heritage Collection
I don’t know why, but kids really like modes of transportation (see: the collection of Thomas the Tank Engine DVDS on my bedroom floor). This is your opportunity to get your gremlins their vehicular fix.

Take a picture with a monster truck and a Sherman tank for starters. Stay and check out the FHC’s collection of rare vintage aircraft and vehicles. Kids under 13 with costumes get in free.

3. Goblin Splash
October 14, 7-8:30 PM
Forest Park Swim Center
Calling all subaquatic monsters! Get into the deep end of the ghoul pool with games, prizes, refreshments, and swim time. It’s all for a good cause. Bring canned food for VOA Food Bank or you can pay admission to put money toward the Park Scholarship Fund.

4. Monster Mash Halloween Kids Dance
October 21, 6:30-8 PM
Floral Hall at Forest Park
This is a mother-son party. And yes, Pops, it’s exclusively mother-son (note: the Parks Dept. hosts a father-daughter dance around Valentine’s Day). Mamas can bring their young male robot and Power Ranger offspring and dance the evening away to pop music in beautiful Floral Hall. There will be “spooky activities,” and tasty refreshments.

$29/adult-child pair, $6 for each additional child.
Register here or call 425.257.8300 ext. 2.

5. Trick or Treat at the Everett Mall
October 31, 5:00-7PM
Everett Mall
Tired of asking for Nerds in the cold rain? Is your toilet paper mummy costume less than waterproof? Here’s an event that won’t soak your sneakers. Mall retailers will be handing out candy on Halloween evening. If your little werewolves aren’t having it you can always ride out a sugar high in the mall’s play area.

Pro Tip: Leaves. Keep it low-fi/low-key with a walk. Our city has no shortage of beautiful public parks filled with shedding trees. Buy yourself a dang #PSL and get your kid a hot chocolate. Call it an investment.

Real parent talk: time goes by fast and you only have so many years to do an autumnal bro-down with your kids before they decide, around junior high, that your awful Halloween puns embarrass them. You won’t always be walking hand in hand with vampires and cavemen, after all.

And that’s a scary thought.

Richard Porter is a social worker and musician. He lives in North Everett and enjoys running on Marine View Drive, bicycling down tree-lined streets, and trying to coax vegetables out of his yard.