Keep the Kids Busy for Free at Bass Pro Shops This Halloween Season
I’m not an outdoorsy person, but I’m a fan of Bass Pro Shops for one reason: They know how to do the holidays right with free activities for the kiddos.
My daughter’s first experience trick-or-treating was at Bass Pro Shops in Atlantic City, New Jersey, when she was 2 years old. This year, the outdoor recreation retailer is hosting eight days of free Halloween fun. There will be crafts, games, costume parades, photos with Charlie Brown and the gang and — of course — trick-or-treating.
Events will be held at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s stores, which are owned by the company. About 170 locations in 45 states and Canada will get in on the Halloween spirit with the exception of the retailer’s Islamorada, Florida, location.
The festivities start two weekends before the holiday. On Oct. 20 and 21 from noon to 5 p.m., children can create Frankenstein crafts, pose for photos and play pumpkin toss — a holiday-themed version of bean bag toss — for the chance to win small prizes. The stores will be selling a photo package for $5, but you can get one free 4-by-6 photo without buying anything.
From Oct. 26 to 30, the Frankenstein craft will be swapped out for a vampire bat craft. Families can go to Bass Pro Shops on Oct. 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. to make crafts and take photos.
More activities are scheduled the Saturday before Halloween (Oct. 27) with treat-or-treating from 3 to 5 p.m. and a costume parade at 4 p.m. The store’s pint-sized visitors can also make crafts, play pumpkin toss and take photos from noon to 5 p.m. on Oct. 27 and 28.
The action is light the two days leading up to Halloween — Oct. 29 and 30 — with just crafts and photos from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Halloween celebration culminates the evening of Oct. 31 with events from 4 to 8 p.m. Guests can take photos, play pumpkin toss and create crafts — this time a scarecrow — throughout the entire time.
From 5 to 7 p.m., children can decorate a cookie. Trick-or-treating will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. At 6 p.m., kids can walk in a costume parade.
My little one enjoyed her time collecting candy and making crafts at Bass Pro Shops. And I loved that I didn’t have to spend a dime.
Nicole Dow is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She loves free kids’ events and is in favor of trick-or-treating that doesn’t involve going door to door.
