October and Halloween: This is the month to get frightened with friends. Here are some places you can get your scare on.

Gaver Farm is just eight minutes away from Linganore (5501 Detrick Road, Mt. Airy). Gaver Farm has a Fall Festival daily until  November 4th. It includes a free hayride to a 15-acre pumpkin patch to pick the perfect pumpkin. (Try saying that tongue twister fast.) But first, go to the 5-acre corn-maze and get lost.  Better yet, get lost with a friend. The farm has a menagerie of animals like cows, alpacas, peacocks, pigs and more.

One of the best features, in my opinion, is the giant jumping pillow. It’s like a giant bounce house but with no ceiling, just a huge rainbow trampoline. Small children enjoy a mini maze, giant slides and games. Entry costs $9.00 on weekends and $6.50 on weekdays. Open from 10am to 6pm, Gaver Farm is really a must for daytime Halloween fun!

Screamland Farms is only 20 minutes away in Frederick (Crumland Farms) and includes zombie paintball. Participants get on a wagon and shoot as many zombies as they can. It also includes three  different “haunts”. The first is a cornfield where the participants must navigate evil clowns. Next is a hayride, but arms and legs must stay inside because the woodsman will be looking for you. . . Last is the Barn of Bedlam, where doctors operate on sick patients. They say it is not for the “faint of heart” so beware if you choose this “haunt” to visit.

Bennett’s Curse is a very scary haunted house. It is 44 minutes away in Blobs Park. Rated as one of the top 13 haunted houses in America, the haunted house was featured on “Making Monsters” (on the Travel Channel). It is located in Jessup at Blob’s Park. Bennett’s Curse has three different types of themed “haunts.” The three different “haunts” are Medieval Underworld, Inferno 3D, and Sanctuary of Insanity. Bennett’s Curse is open on select days and hours, so see their website for more information. Bennett’s Farm is recommended for children over 10.

ZooBooo! at the Baltimore Zoo and is only  48 minutes away.  It is on October 25th to the 27th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is also free! There are many fun events here, too, like a goose puppet show, a magic act, an elephant pumpkin smash and lots more animal fun. For children ages 0-12, there is a costume contest. Every day the costume contest is from 11:30am to 2:30 p.m. daily. This could be really fun because there are a lot of activities for everyone. There are many food options, too. If you go to any of these zoo events, you’re bound to have a wild time.

Boo at the Zoo is at the Washington, D.C. Smithsonian Zoo (1 hour and 6 minutes away). It costs $30.00 for a ticket and parking is separate. It is good for younger kids or a group of friends who just want to see animals combined with fall fun. There are free souvenirs, snacks, and activities. The event is open October 24th – 26th from 5:30 to 8:30pm.

Field of Screams may be farther away (1 hour and 30 minutes), but it’s worth the travel. Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, you can find your way through a dark cornfield and forest. There is even a haunted hay ride. New for 2014, Serpent Falls is a haunted  greenhouse. Throughout October and November, the Field of Screams features special events like an open dance night, a skateboarding competition, rap battles, and more. Field of Screams is worth the $33 for the package for all three attractions, and the entertainment area is included. Field of Screams is open from 6pm to 1am.