There are many ways to celebrate the fall season, especially when the weather turns crisp and cool, and many events are still taking place outdoors. Whether you're food-tasting, navigating a corn maze or trying to get spooked at a haunted house, there's something for everyone as the leaves start to turn.

FOOD FESTIVALS

Taste the World/Famous Food Festival

Tanger Outlets Deer Park, southeast parking lot, 152 The Arches Circle, Deer Park

Enjoy a culinary adventure featuring dishes inspired by international cuisine. At Taste the World, you'll find over 100 food, art and beverage vendors serving specialties, plus live music, a beer and wine lounge, rock climbing, ax throwing, a mechanical bull, bounce houses and a kids' area with face painting and rides.

• WHEN 1-8 p.m. Oct. 10; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 11-13
• COST Tickets $15; $10 ages 8-12
• MORE INFO 516-416-5607, eventbrite.com 

Oyster Festival               

Theodore Roosevelt Park, Oyster Bay                                                                                 

The two-day waterfront festival pays homage to the mollusk and features booths selling specialty stew, seafood gumbo, and raw, fresh local oysters, along with other food. Other attractions include the historic John J. Harvey fireboat, which served the FDNY from 1931 to 1994, carnival rides, live music on two stages and a curated arts and crafts show.

• WHEN 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 18-19
• COST Free 
• MORE INFO 516-455-3179, theoysterfest.org 

SIP CIDER

Riverhead Ciderhouse

2711 Sound Ave., Calverton

Try a Honeycrisp Bolt, Razzmatazz, Black Cherry or Apple Annie hard cider along with local beers and wines.

• WHEN Tasting room is open noon-8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, noon-9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays; closed Tuesday. There's also patio seating, weather permitting.
• MORE INFO 631-591-0217, riverheadcider.com

Jericho Cider Mill

213 Rte. 106, Jericho

The cider mill offers a taste of fall fun right off Jericho-Oyster Bay Road. The venue turns its parking lot from mid-September through December into a fun spot with tents featuring free games for kids and photo-ops. Cider doughnuts are for purchase, as well as the popular crumb doughnuts and a line of breads served in large tins. You can also buy seasonal fruit pies and homemade cheese cake along with apple cider in half-gallon and gallon containers. Hot and cold cider will be for sale. .

• WHEN 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily from mid-September through December
• MORE INFO 516-433-3360, jerichocider.com 

GET SPOOKED

Not-So-Scary Adventure 

Gateway Playhouse, 215 S. Country Rd., Bellport

Experience a walk-through "lights on" Haunted House for kids ages 3-10. Meet Halloween characters throughout a journey where you will hear stories and play games. Also featured are a hay bale maze, pumpkin bouncer, face painting, balloons and more.

• WHEN Noon-4 p.m. Oct. 11-13, Oct. 18-19 and Oct. 25-26
• COST $20
• MORE INFO 631-286-1133, thegateway.org 

Gateway's Haunted Playhouse 

Gateway Playhouse, 215 S. Country Rd., Bellport

This haunted attraction features professional actors, state-of-the-art sound, lighting, automation and set design. Attendees can try a virtual queue midway with games and attractions. Head to the "Fear" garden with alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, snacks and a food truck.

• WHEN 7-11:30 p.m. weekends and select weekdays from Sept. 28 through Nov. 1; recommended for ages 13 and older.
• COST $40 online, $50 at the door
• MORE INFO 631-286-1133, fearli.com 

Spookyfest 

Center for Science Teaching and Learning, 1450 Tanglewood Rd., Rockville Centre

Discover what's lurking in the woods besides zombie dinosaurs at the Center for Science Teaching and Learning this Halloween season. Spookyfest includes a frightening walk in the woods along with The Enchanted Walk for younger kids. New this year is Pirates Cove, a place to meet friendly pirates. Kids can also meet merry monsters and stroll through a mystical garden from 6-9 p.m. Fridays to Sundays in October. Try face painting or learn what your future holds with a fortune reading. You'll also find kids' arts and crafts and, for a fee, "spooky bites" served by food trucks.

• WHEN 6-9:30 p.m. weekends in October 
• COST Admission starts at $22, book online
• MORE INFO 516-764-0045, cstl.org 

GO THROUGH A CORN MAZE OR PUMPKIN TRAIL 

Rise of the Jack-O'-Lanterns 

185 Colonial Springs Rd., Wheatley Heights

Pumpkins are crafted and arranged by local artists, with music playing in the background at Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts. It's a not-so-spooky, 4,200-foot trail suitable for all age groups.

• WHEN Oct. 3-5; Oct. 9-12; Oct. 15-19; Oct. 22-26; Oct. 29-Nov. 1
• COST Tickets start at $20 and advance tickets are required.
• MORE INFO jackolanterns.com 

Harbes Orchard  

5698 Sound Ave., Riverhead

The daytime Robin Hood trivia challenge maze features live actors portraying the merry men and women. Guests navigate the paths while answering trivia questions displayed on signs about the story of Robin Hood at six stations. The maze shifts from a trivia maze to a spooky maze with live characters on designated nights. Bring a flashlight or use your cellphone; refreshments are available for purchase, including hot or cold apple cider, cider doughnuts and fresh roasted corn. Other daytime activities include apple and pumpkin picking (priced by the pound). Check out live music on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from noon to 6 p.m.

• WHEN Daytime maze (through Oct. 26) is open 9 a.m. with last entry at 5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays and holidays and from 10 a.m. Mondays-Fridays with last entry 4 p.m. The night maze (Oct. 11-26) is open 7-10 p.m. with last entry at 9:30 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 25, and on Sunday, Oct. 12.
• COST Daytime maze is included in a combo value pass for $26-$36 depending on day; nighttime maze is $25.
• MORE INFO 631-683-8388, harbesfamilyfarm.com

Stakey's Pumpkin Farm  

270 West Lane, Aquebogue

Try to escape the corn maze (almost 4 acres). Visitors can get a copy of the corn maze trivia game upon arrival for 12 maze trivia clue stations. The clues that guide you to the next station include corn and pumpkin facts as well as cartoon questions. Answer the trivia incorrectly, and you might end up at one of the 30 dead ends. Many of the dead ends have character signs such as Yogi Bear and Buzz Lightyear. Other activities include a hayride around the farm (fees apply) and a 26-acre pumpkin area. Stop by the "Love at First Bite" stand for hot or cold fresh apple cider and homemade apple cider doughnuts that are available on weekends in September and October. Drop by the Snack Shack for a quick lunch; items include chicken nuggets, hot dogs, french fries and chips, along with beverages. Arm, hand and face painting is available on weekends in October. (Prices vary depending on the choice of design.)

• WHEN Noon-5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends and school holidays, Sept. 18 through October.
• COST $10 admission; pumpkin picking (69 cents a pound) in Sept. and Oct.
• MORE INFO 631-722-3467, stakeyspumpkinfarm.com