DOVER — While older children and adults gear up for the thrills and chills of haunted hayrides and houses, younger children may not be ready for creepy costumes, frightening noises and scary surprises. Parents of toddlers and preschoolers also don’t appreciate the sugar overload that usually goes hand-in-hand with Halloween events.

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire has created a different kind of Halloween celebration specifically with young children in mind. On Saturday, Oct. 24, the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire hosts its annual “Not-So-Spooky Spectacular” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This affordable, family-friendly event puts the focus on fun rather than fright.

“Although Halloween is often considered a holiday for kids, children can be frightened by gory decorations and costumes that are part of many events,” said Jane Bard, associate director of the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire. “We created the Not-So-Spooky Spectacular to give young families a place to celebrate the season in a safe, yet festive environment.

We’ve paid careful attention to the details of this event from intriguing experiments and non-food trick-or-treating to smiling pumpkins and strings of colorful Halloween lights to bring smiles to the faces of children visiting the museum that day.”

The Not-So-Spooky Spectacular festivities include:
Tours of the museum’s decorated “bat cave” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a small prize from a friendly costumed character
Trying hands-on science experiments with the Wacky Scientist at 10:30 and 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.
Trick-or-treating for small prizes (no food or candy) throughout the museum from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Theatrical costumes to try on
Face painting
Construction of “silly spiders” to take home
This is the second year that the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire has held the Not-So-Spooky Spectacular at its new location in Dover. Last year’s event drew families from around the state.

All Not-So-Spooky Spectacular activities are included in the museum’s regular price of admission: $8 adults & children, $7 seniors, free for children under 1 and museum members. Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover. For more information call 742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org.