Halloween is a popular holiday, giving lots of eager residents in the area a reason to celebrate fall, spooky things and pumpkins for two months. While there are lots of fun activities planned in our area, for those who want a day trip to provide a reason to enjoy a drive and see the fall leaves, consider some of the following.

Here are a few fun events being held in Erie to celebrate spookiness and all things autumn:

— ZooBoo, the Erie Zoo’s safe and “scary, but not too scary” event, is held daily from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 17-30. On Oct. 19 and 26, the event runs from 2 to 9 p.m. Participants can visit animals and trick-or-treat at stations throughout the zoo, which is decorated for Halloween. Advance tickets are $8 per nonmember and $6 per zoo member. At the door, tickets are $9 per nonmember and $7 per member. Children under 2 are admitted for free.

— Port Farms’ Fall Harvest Festival in Waterford is open Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The festival is closed Tuesday. Enjoy hay wagon rides, an 8-acre corn maze, slide mountain, corn box, pedal carts, animal exhibits, mind-bender mazes, trike track, straw fort and more through Oct. 31. Admission on Mondays and Wednesdays is $8, Thursdays through Sundays, $12. Senior admission is $5 and kids ages 2 and younger are free.

— Peek’n Peak’s Fall Festival invites attendees to take in brilliant fall foliage views at Peek’n Peak Resort near Findley Lake, New York, on Oct. 12, 13, 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and choose from activities like a pumpkin cannon, children’s games, petting zoo, pony rides, ski lift rides, classic car cruise-in and an annual snow sports equipment swap. Admission to the festival is free.

Watch for a part 2 that includes more Erie events, as well as fun and spooky events in Warren and Jamestown, NY.