Kids museums offer Halloween parties for the littlest

Tickets: Party is free with admission: $6 for members, $15 for non-members; purchase tickets online by Oct. 24

What: The Fernbank Museum of Natural History's annual Halloween "BOO-Seum" party

Where: Clifton Road NE in Atlanta; 404-929-6300; www.fernbankmuseum.org.

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26.

Tickets: "BOO-Seum" activities are free with admission; adults, $17.50; students and seniors, $16.50; children 3-12, $15.50; children 2 and under, free

Halloween is a great time for scary stuff, unless you’re two feet tall. Then maybe life is scary enough already.

Luckily there are plenty of church-sponsored and neighborhood Halloween parties that allow kids to have fun without wandering up darkened driveways and ringing strange doorbells.

Two kid-oriented Halloween shindigs that incorporate costumes, candy and even a dose of learning take place Oct. 26 at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta.

“This event is great for Halloween first-timers,” said Betsy Harvey of the Children’s Museum, “but it’s also good for the veteran who knows where all the candy stations are.”

The Children’s Museum of Atlanta

Treats: Seek out goodies in candy stations located around the facility.

Fun: Enter the costume contest, dance to the music, buy a raffle ticket or catch a showing of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."

Learning: The Children's Museum's current exhibit, "Moneyville," teaches about international trade, anti-counterfeiting technologies and the history, science and math behind the world of money.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Treats: Yes, there will be sweet stuff.

Fun: Radio Disney will be broadcasting in the Main Hall. The Georgia Bubbleman will blow monster-sized bubbles and kids can get temporary tattoos or meet Giggy, the museum's dinosaur mascot.

Learning: Fernbank's newest exhibit, "Marco Polo: Man and Myth," tells the story of the 13th-century Italian tradesman whose remarkable journey to China and back changed the world.