Okay. Let's say that you're a parent living in Southern California. And you want to give your family a special treat-or-treat this Halloween season.
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The only problem is … Your kids are kind of on the young side. 4 to 8 years-old. Which means that – unless you're willing to pay for years & years of therapy afterwards – a trip to Halloween Haunt at Knott's Scary Farm and/or Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood is absolutely out of the question.
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All rights reserved
So where does that leave you? Well, I guess you could try Halloween Time at Disneyland. Which can be a lot of fun. The only problem is – due to the huge crowds that typically pour into the Happiest Place on Earth this time of year just so they can experience seasonal attractions like Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy – that super-popular theme park can get pretty overwhelming. Especially if you're traveling with itty-bitties.
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So if you're looking to avoid large crowds and/or huge therapy bills, how about this instead? Simply pack the family in the car and then drive on down to LEGOLAND® California in Carlsbad. Where every Saturday in October from 5 to 9 p.m., this family-friendly theme park is transformed into a not-too-spooky Halloween haven for its annual Brick-or-Treat Party Nights.
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"And what exactly is a Brick-or-Treat Party Night?," you ask. Quite simply, this annual LEGOLAND® California event is the biggest Halloween celebration for kids in the San Diego area.
Photo by Todd James Pierce
In fact, for its 2010 edition, Brick-or-Treat just got a little bit bigger with the addition of "Mail Order Monsters," a new interactive musical as well as Castle Hill's new animated light show. And did I mention that LEGOLAND® California's next door neighbor, SEA LIFETM Aquarium, is now getting in on the Halloween fun with the addition of its very own nighttime Brick-or-Treat bonus station?
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Speaking of those Brick-or-Treat bonus stations, LEGOLAND® California visitors 12 and under can go trick-or-treating on one of this theme park's two Brick-or-Treat Trails. Where they can gather goodies that include delicious treats, trading cards and other surprises.
Photo by Todd James Pierce
Then – when you fold in the costume contests and the live entertainment (which includes a pumpkin patch building event as well as a "howler of the hour" contest) – you're talking about a full day of kid-friendly fun. I mean, where else in Southern California are you going to be able to pose your children in front of a giant LEGO® jack-o-lantern? Which weighs 850 pounds, is more than 7 feet wide and is made of 22,000 DUPLO® bricks?
Photo by Todd James Pierce
Just this past Saturday, regular JHM contributor Todd James Pierce took his family down to LEGOLAND® California for that theme park's Brick-or-Treat Party Night. Was that visit a success? The very next morning, his three year-old twins immediately began campaigning for a return trip to Carlsbad.
Photo by Todd James Pierce
So if you want to do something different this year – maybe keep your family clear of the crowds that you'll invariably find during Halloween Time at Disneyland and/or the creeps that wander the streets at USH's Halloween Horror Nights & Knott's Haunt – then LEGOLAND® California may in fact be the smartest way to go. Especially if you're looking for a seasonal event that is sure to be big fun for your little kids.
Photo by Todd James Pierce
For further information on LEGOLAND® California's annual Brick-or-Treat Party Nights (including pricing and park hours), please click on this link.