Tag Archives: Haunted Happenings in Salem

Arts & Entertainment, Attractions, Festivals and Events, Halloween Happenings

Halloween Expands to a Full Month of Festivities

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Halloween festivities have become so popular and so elaborate, the main ones have expanded from a weekend to weeks of spirited happenings © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

By Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com

New York may have its pumpkins and Headless Horseman but Salem has its witches and witchcraft, and not just at Halloween. But Salem, celebrating its 400th anniversary this year, has become hallowed ground for Halloween and a festival that used to last a weekend is now weeks long. Each year, this historically and culturally rich city comes under the spell of Haunted Happenings.

One of the world’s largest Halloween celebrations, Salem Haunted Happenings draws more than 1 million visitors from around the globe for a uniquely Salem blend of history, culture, creativity – a full month of signature events, family activities, live entertainment and Halloween festivities throughout the city, kicking off Oct. 1 with Salem Chamber of Commerce Haunted Happenings Grand Parade. This year’s celebration takes on added significance as Salem marks its 400th anniversary, with a special attempt to make history as hundreds (or even thousands) of people wearing witch hats gather along the city’s historic waterfront, and culminates on Halloween night with a spectacular 400-drone show commemorating Salem’s 400th anniversary.

The House of Seven Gables. Salem’s “Haunted Happenings,” is one of the world’s largest Halloween festivals and lasts a month, but the city, which celebrates its 400th anniversary this year, displays its connection to witches and witchcraft year-round. © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Salem Haunted Happenings began in 1982 as a weekend festival and has grown into a month-long celebration that draws visitors from around the world and turned Salem into the Halloween Capital of the World. Each Oct., the city welcomes families, couples, history buffs, and Halloween lovers for ghost tours, psychic readings, costume balls, haunted harbor cruises, and more. Salem’s modern Witch and Pagan communities also celebrate Samhain, sharing their traditions with locals and guests alike.

Highlights of Salem Haunted Happenings 2026

Howl-o-ween Pet Parade Saturday, Oct. 10 at 10:30 am. Salem Main Streets presents one of Oct.’s most adorable traditions, featuring costumed pets and plenty of creative competition. The event is free for spectators, with pet registration available for $5 for locals and $10 for out-of-town participants (www.salemmainstreets.org/events/howl-o-ween-pet-parade).

Salem Night Faire Fridays & Saturdays, Oct. 16 & 17 and 23 & 24, 5-10 pm. Presented by The Black Veil, the Salem Night Faire transforms the darkened pines of Pioneer Village with art, clothing, jewelry, and oddity vendors, performances, ghost stories, hot cider, food trucks, a Biergarten, and more. www.salemnightfaire.com/

Witch Hats on the Wharf Saturday, Oct. 17 at 11 am. In honor of Salem’s 400th anniversary, residents and visitors are invited to help make history during a one-of-a-kind community gathering and world record attempt on Salem’s historic waterfront. Participants are encouraged to wear their favorite witch hats and gather on the wharf for a spectacular drone photograph capturing hundreds (and potentially thousands) of witch hats. www.hauntedhappenings.org/event/witch-hats-on-the-wharf/ Hosted by the City of Salem, Salem Maritime National Historical Park and Destination Salem, the event will also feature special-edition Salem 400 witch hats sold by the City to benefit HAWC.

Haunted Speakeasy Saturday, Oct. 24, 6-10 pm. Step inside 221-year-old Hamilton Hall for a decadent Roaring ’20s-inspired Jazz Age ball featuring live music by Tricky Niki & The Grave Diggers, burlesque, cocktails, dancing and interactive ghostly encounters. www.thehauntedspeakeasy.com/

Wicked Night on the Wharf Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 pm. Salem Waterfront Hotel hosts its Untamed Wicked Night on the Wharf party for an evening of Halloween revelry along Salem’s waterfront. www.salemwaterfronthotel.com/hotel-events/comic-nightmare/

Halloween Night Live Music Saturday, Oct. 31. Beginning at noon, live music takes over stages throughout downtown Salem leading up to the Halloween Night Finale. Performance schedules and locations will be available at HauntedHappenings.org and through the Destination Salem app.

Halloween Night Finale: Drone Show Saturday, Oct. 31 at 10 pm. Salem Haunted Happenings concludes with a spectacular drone show over the North River with 400 drones marking the 400th anniversary of Salem.

For complete information, visit HauntedHappenings.org.

New Places to Discover in Salem

Oct. visitors will also find several new businesses adding to Salem’s year-round mix of independent shops, restaurants and gathering places.

Hollowed Harvest: Wicked Labyrinth is bringing Salem’s only Jack-O’-Lantern festival to a new location at 300 Derby Street. The Wicked Labyrinth is a twisting walk-through experience filled with hundreds of intricately carved Jack-O’-Lanterns, colorful lighting, animated spirits, music, and unexpected scenes. Designed as an all-ages Halloween experience, it is a chance to enjoy the magic of Halloween in Salem without the scares of a traditional haunted attraction. Tickets, info at HollowedHarvest.com.

Haunted Warren Museum Encounter the REAL Annabelle and discover more than 1,000 of the world’s most haunted objects, true-crime items, and cursed artifacts through immersive flashlight tours and paranormal investigations at the Warren Occult Museum  (www.hauntedwarrenmuseum.com).

Eternal Oct., in North Shore CDC’s Incubator Space, r keeps the Halloween spirit alive year-round with original apparel and merchandise inspired by vintage Halloween, neon haunts and horror nostalgia (www.eternalOct.salem.com).

The Midnight Bookseller is an independent bookstore specializing in fantasy, dark fiction and gothic literature, along with immersive community events (www.themidnightbookseller.com).

Plan Ahead: Download the Destination Salem App for maps, parking, restrooms, events, and attraction info. Begin your trip at the Visitor Information Center at 245 Derby Street for how to make the most of your visit. Reservations are strongly recommended for attractions, tours, and events, especially on weekends. The City of Salem encourages visitors to utilize public transit, including trains, ferries, and satellite parking with shuttles.

For visitor information, Salem.org.

Legendary Halloween Experiences in Sleepy Hollow Country

The Headless Horseman created out of carved pumpkins at The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, Van Cortlandt Manor © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

New York’s most highly anticipated fall tradition is back and bigger than ever. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze® returns to Van Cortlandt Manor with its longest trail of illuminated pumpkin displays in event history. Across Sleepy Hollow Country, a full slate of immersive events celebrates the season and the enduring legacy of Washington Irving’s classic ghost story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

At The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, running for 44 nights in Croton-on-Hudson from Sept. 18 through November 8, the expanded path features exciting new attractions. The Creature Feature Forest pays tribute to Van Cortlandt Manor’s history as home to a drive-in movie theater in the mid 20th-century, where you meet a cast of classic movie monsters carved entirely from pumpkins. Nearby, Literary Lane reimagines familiar fables, giving classic children’s tales a whole new glow. Join an interactive dance party On the lawn of the site’s regal manor house.

Blaze: Hudson Valley dates are Sept. 18-20, 25-30; Oct. 1-31; Nov. 1, 6-8. Entry to The Gourd & Goblet Tavern and Headless Horseman’s Hideaway require separate admission. FLEX and FLEX PLUS tickets provide access with no reservations required. Historic Hudson Valley members can access free standard admission tickets. Children 2 and under attend for free. As part of its 2026 expansion, Blaze has expanded value pricing of $24 on select evenings.

Van Cortlandt Manor is at 525 South Riverside Avenue, just off Route 9 in Croton-on-Hudson.

Oct. in Sleepy Hollow Country

The Headless Horseman dominates Sleepy Hollow’s Halloween festivities at Historic Hudson Valley © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

At Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, daytime Legendary Tours offer family fun, including a shadow puppet film and a Legend-themed exhibit. By night, master storyteller Jonathan Kruk and musician Jim Keyes team up for outdoor performances of Irving’s ‘Legend,’ a dramatic retelling of Irving’s classic tale.

At Philipsburg Manor, professional illusionists conjure the supernatural during The Spirits of Sleepy Hollow Country: A Night of Legendary Magic, with all-new magic and special effects.

The Headless Horseman Files: A Sleepy Hollow Whodunit: gather clues and uncover what really happened to Ichabod Crane.

Twilight Village at Sleepy Hollow, at Philipsburg Manor, features its signature fire performers, storytellers and a dramatic sound-and-light show recreating the Horseman’s midnight ride.

An Audience with Poe at the Historic Hudson Valley Library for an evening of storytelling and cocktails inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, pairing haunting renditions of The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Black Cat, and The Masque of the Red Death with complimentary themed drinks and treats.

Twilight Village, The Headless Horseman Files, Spirits of Sleepy Hollow Country, Irving’s Legend dates are Oct. 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 23-25, and 30-31. Historic Hudson Valley members receive a 15% discount on tickets.

At Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, master storyteller Jonathan Kruk gives a dramatic retelling of Irving’s classic tale, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Legendary Tours of Washington Irving’s Sunnyside dates Sept. 18-20, 25-30; Oct. 1-31 (Closed Tuesdays); November 1, 6-8. Historic Hudson Valley members receive a 15% discount on tickets.

Philipsburg Manor is at 381 North Broadway in Sleepy Hollow. Washington Irving’s Sunnyside is on West Sunnyside Lane, off Route 9 in Irvington.

All events have limited capacity and regularly sell out; advance ticket purchase is required. Go to the Historic Hudson Valley Events Page (https://tickets.hudsonvalley.org/).

Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure

The Dead Man’s Partyshow at Six Flags Great Adventure’s Fright Fest (photo: Six Flags Great Adventure)

Fright Fest Presented by SNICKERS®  at Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, N.J. features one of the park’s most ambitious Halloween lineups yet, featuring:

  • Four new haunted mazes, led by JASON: Blood Reign and Final Destination: Death’s Playground
  • New original haunted attractions Twisted Holidays and Deadwood Cabin
  • The return of fan favorites including The Conjuring Universe™ and Army of the Dead®
  • Multiple immersive scare zones throughout the park
  • The return of the legendary Dead Man’s Partyshow
  • Nightly live entertainment including Awakening, Blade Drummers, and Unleashed
  • Thrilling nighttime rides on Great Adventure’s world-class roller coasters

Fright Fest runs select nights through Nov. 1. Haunted attractions require a separate Haunted Attractions Pass in addition to valid park admission, a Season Pass or membership.

For event information, operating hours and tickets, visit Six Flags Great Adventure.

Bronx Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo

The Bronx Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo festival returns this fall with more ways to discover the wonders of wildlife through play, sensory exploration, and up-close access to animal experts. Explore 265 acres, home to 11,000 animals including endangered tigers © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The Bronx Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo festival returns this fall with more ways to discover the wonders of wildlife through play, sensory exploration, and up-close access to animal experts in one of New York’s most charming autumn destinations. The seasonal celebration runs weekends from Sept. 26 through Nov. 1, plus Monday, Oct. 12.

Boo at the Zoo provides a full day of fall adventure among its 265 acres of park populated with more than 11,000 animals. The debut of engaging elements like the Hay Maze & Challenge Course (climb, crawl, and balance through a trail of challenges and custom straw sculptures that represent animals; sneak like a snow leopard or hop like a frog to complete a series of movement challenges designed to engage kids’ senses and strength); Boo Carnival games station invite kinesthetic fun; and Animal Chats are opportunities to hear directly from animal experts about some of the zoo’s most fascinating species through animal enrichment, behavioral insights, and interactive Q&As.

The action-packed event also brings the annual return of familiar Bronx Zoo activities Costume Parade (join stilt walkers and puppeteers for on-the-move costumed entertainment); Boo Dance Party with wildlife puppets, music, and bubbles after each parade; Pumpkin Garden;  Magic & Mind Reading animal-inspired magic tricks led by a much-loved magician; Wildlife Theater with Bruja Alma and her spooky animal puppet friends singing, dancing and telling The Tale de los Animales Who are No More (Can you help Alma conjure up a solution?); free Face Painting; Spooky Stories to Tickle Your Spine from around the world featuring animal species that can be seen at the zoo; Creepy Crawly Mystery Wall (touch mysterious textures and materials to learn about animals and other creatures); Extinct Animal Species Graveyard (learn how to prevent future extinctions at the eerie graveyard of wildlife species that are no longer with us). Also, expert-led pumpkin carving demos, a palm oil-free candy trail, lawn games, and Halloween-themed community mural.

Boo at the Zoo is included with Bronx Zoo admission and is free for WCS Members. Tickets are required and must be reserved in advance; slots sell out quickly. This year, for maximum flexibility, Boo at the Zoo tickets are not timed. A schedule of daily activities and their in-park locations can be found at BronxZoo.com/Boo. Visit BronxZoo.com/Boo to view available dates and book your visit.

New York City’s Village Halloween Parade, Oct. 31

The Village Halloween Parade in New York City has become “the nation’s most wildly creative public participatory event in the greatest city in the world!” with 50,000 costumed participants, towering puppets, electrifying performers, and 50 bands © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

What has become “the nation’s most wildly creative public participatory event in the greatest city in the world!” the 53rd  Village Halloween Parade with 50,000 costumed participants, towering puppets, electrifying performers, and 50 bands kicks off on Friday, Oct. 31 at 7 pm from Canal Street, winding its way uptown on Sixth Avenue to 15th Street. The theme for 2026 is Body & Soul.

Each year, some 50,000-60,000 participate in the parade. Costumed participants line up and are join in groups of 1000-2000 beginning at 6:30 pm at Canal Street.

The parade is free for all to view or join in costume. To skip the line, you can purchase a VIP ticket or join the Special Theme Section or volunteer (https://halloween-nyc.com/volunteer/). All ticket holders are automatically admitted to The Vampire Ball (https://vampireball.nyc/). the official after party, at House of Yes.  Tickets for special VIP viewing and experiences are available at https://halloween-nyc.com/tickets/.

Empire Tours’ NYC Gangsters & Ghosts Walking Tour takes visitors through Little Italy, Chinatown, Five Points and the West Village, exploring old crime scenes, gangster history, bootlegger stories and reportedly haunted locations along the way. The two-hour, 1.2-mile tour is led by historians rather than actors, bringing the real history and ghost lore behind these neighborhoods to life (tourofnyc.com/tour/nyc-gangsters-and-ghosts-walking-tour).

New York’s Haunted Hotels: Fright This Way for a Spirited Stay

This fall, I Love New York invites travelers to explore New York State’s spirited side through hauntingly historic inns and storied stays overflowing with folklore, fall color and friendly frights. Rather than follow the traditional leaf-peeping road trip, travelers who dare can head off the beaten path to experience the Empire State’s full autumnal glory by pairing scenic hikes and charming downtowns with eerie experiences and after-dark adventures. 

Home to one of the country’s largest collections of haunted sites, New York invites travelers seeking an extra scare to journey along its Haunted History Trail, featuring more than 90 locations. From investigating a former Prohibition-era speakeasy in the Catskills to joining a Victorian séance at a historic manor in the Greater Niagara region, travelers can discover New York’s haunted history one region at a time.

These paranormal properties and sinister stops offer a thrilling new way to explore New York this fall:  

The Haunted Shanley Hotel (Catskills): Tucked in the foothills of the Shawangunk Mountains, the Shanley Hotel invites travelers to check in for more than 180 years of Catskills history and paranormal lore. Built in 1845 and rebuilt after a fire in 1895, the property reportedly welcomed notable guests including Thomas Edison and Eleanor Roosevelt before taking a more scandalous turn as a Prohibition-era speakeasy and bordello. Its most mysterious guests, however, may be those who never checked out, including former owner Beatrice Shanley and several child spirits said to still linger throughout the hotel. Brave travelers can spend the night in one of 10 guest rooms while joining a public ghost hunt, attending Afternoon Tea with the Spirits and a Victorian séance or conducting a paranormal investigation of their own. Nearby, visitors can keep the supernatural streak going at the Pine Bush UFO & Paranormal Museum or trade ghost stories for fall scenery at Minnewaska State Park, where cliffside trails, waterfalls and sky lakes show off the region’s autumn hues. Travelers can also step into the Catskills’ legendary resort era at the Borscht Belt Museum, where immersive exhibits trace the region’s lasting influence on American comedy, food, design and vacation culture.  

Home to one of the country’s largest collections of haunted sites, New York invites travelers seeking an extra scare to journey along its Haunted History Trail, featuring more than 90 locations, among them, Fainting Goat Island Inn, in the Finger Lakes (photo: I Love NY)

Fainting Goat Island Inn (Finger Lakes): Set on a quiet 17-acre island in the Susquehanna River, Fainting Goat Island Inn offers the charm of a restored 1850s railroad hotel with a playful paranormal twist. Named one of USA TODAY’s best haunted hotels in 2025, the five-room inn is no stranger to unusual overnight guests, with visitors reporting unexplained footsteps, moving furniture and the voices of two women chatting over tea in the “Fainting Room.” Brave travelers can spend the night in one of five rooms filled with period furnishings and antique phonographs, swap ghost stories in the private lounge or settle in with a book among the gardens and riverfront grounds while watching for deer, ducks and eagles alongside the inn’s resident dogs and fainting goats. Nearby, travelers can hunt for vintage treasures among more than 90 vendors at the Early Owego Antique Center before strolling the Owego Riverwalk behind the town’s historic storefronts. Those looking for another dose of fall scenery can head to Waverly Glen Falls for an easy hike to a picturesque waterfall.  

Graestone Manor (Greater Niagara): Set in the small town of Gasport, Graestone Manor offers a historic bed-and-breakfast stay where some former residents appear to have never moved out. The property once belonged to racehorse breeder Curtis Root, who died there in 1889 and is now said to whistle from the Green Room, while his daughter Flora reportedly makes her presence known in the Red Room. Guests have also encountered unexplained activity throughout the parlor, basement and former servants’ wing, giving nearly every corner of the manor a story of its own. Travelers can choose from four historic rooms before putting their nerves to the test during a paranormal investigation, Victorian séance or psychic reading. Beyond the manor, visitors can meet more lingering locals at the reportedly haunted Van Horn Mansion or follow the Niagara Wine Trail to the Winery at Marjim Manor. For a less spirited change of pace, travelers can hike past a suspension bridge, historic ruins and a 20-foot waterfall at Royalton Ravine Park or embrace a classic fall day at Becker Farms with apple picking, hard cider and a sprawling farm market.  

Tarrytown House Estate (Hudson Valley): Just minutes from the storied Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown House Estate puts travelers in the heart of one of New York’s most spirited fall destinations, complete with grand architecture, glowing pumpkins and a ghost story waiting upstairs. The estate’s 1840 King Mansion is said to be home to former resident Sybil Harris King, whose white-clad apparition reportedly roams the second-floor hallways and lingers near Room 293. Guests can spend the night in one of 10 historic rooms and suites, dine at Goosefeather, the estate’s modern Cantonese-inspired restaurant, or book the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze Experience Package, which includes admission to the nearby display of more than 7,000 illuminated pumpkins. Beyond the estate, visitors can follow Washington Irving’s Headless Horseman lore from his former home at Sunnyside to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where lantern-lit tours pass the resting places of Irving, Andrew Carnegie and William Rockefeller. Those still seeking another brush with the unexplained can end the night at the reportedly haunted Tarrytown Music Hall.  

Beyond these properties, travelers can keep the spirited season going with supernatural experiences across the state. In the Capital-Saratoga region, visitors can join ghost walks through Saratoga Springs or wander the shadowed mausoleums of Albany Rural Cemetery, while New York City offers candlelit tours at the Merchant’s House Museum and seasonal events like the Village Halloween Parade. Whether planning a full paranormal road trip or adding one final fright to a classic fall getaway, travelers will find no shortage of chilling ways to experience the season across New York. 

More ideas at iloveny.com.

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Fall Foliage Getaways, Festivals and Events

Halloween Happenings, Oktoberfest Take Center Stage in Fall Festivals

Historic Hudson Valley’s incredibly popular Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze will run for a record 45 evenings from late September through Thanksgiving weekend © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

By Karen Rubin

Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com

 

Halloween in Sleepy Hollow Country

SLEEPY HOLLOW, NY — Halloween in Sleepy Hollow Country is legendary, and this year, introduces new events including The Unsilent Picture. Historic Hudson Valley’s fall events, the largest in the tri-state area kick off Friday, Sept. 28, take place on selected evenings through Saturday, Nov. 24, and are expected to draw more than 250,000 visitors,

The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze®, the Hudson Valley’s biggest all-ages fall extravaganza, will run for a record 45 select evenings from late September through Thanksgiving weekend. The walk-through experience lights up the wooded pathways, orchards, and gardens of historic Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., where a small team of artists hand-carve more than 7,000 jacks and elaborate pumpkin sculptures. Visitors will see Blaze favorites, such as a giant spider web and the mammoth sea serpent. New additions include a medieval castle guarded by a flock of jack o’lantern owls, a functioning windmill, and a full set of Instagrammable zodiac signs all made of jack o’lanterns. (Van Cortlandt Manor is at 525 South Riverside Avenue, just off Route 9 in Croton-on-Hudson.)

Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze walk-through experience lights up the wooded pathways, orchards, and gardens of historic Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., where a small team of artists hand-carve more than 7,000 jacks and elaborate pumpkin sculptures, including this one of the Headless Horseman in jack o’lanterns © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Horseman’s Hollow takes Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” to its most terrifying extremes. Visitors walk a haunted trail where creatures lurk in the shadows, ready to strike fear into the hearts of those brave enough to venture into the darkness. Professional actors, award-winning feature-film makeup artists, and state-of-the-art special effects make the Horseman’s Hollow experience all too real. This 16-night haunted attraction at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., is recommended for ages 10 and up.

Horseman’s Hollow at Historic Hudson Valley’s Philipsburg Manor isn’t for the faint of heart. You never know what will emerge from the shadows © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Also at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow is The Unsilent Picture, a brand-new event for 2018. The immersive theater experience features an original black and white film starring Tony Award-winning actor Bill Irwin, accompanied by live music and a Foley artist. The movie, which was commissioned by Historic Hudson Valley and shot on location in buildings at Van Cortlandt Manor, is the center of this 16-night experience. It is recommended for ages 10 and up and contains scenes of drinking alcohol, smoking and snuff tobacco use, implied violence, and mature themes. (Philipsburg Manor is at 381 North Broadway (Route 9) in Sleepy Hollow.)

There are more opportunities to be captivated by Irving’s ‘Legend’ than ever before. Master storytellers Jonathan Kruk and Jim Keyes, accompanied by live organ music, bring to life The Legend of Sleepy Hollow during 45-minute afternoon and evening performances at Sleepy Hollow’s circa-1685 Old Dutch Church. Irving’s ‘Legend’ runs for 16 select dates in October and is recommended for ages 10 and up. The circa-1685 stone church is across the street from Philipsburg Manor, where visitors will park. Weekend afternoon performances are by Jim Keyes and weekday and weekend evening performances are by Jonathan Kruk.

Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk offers a dramatic reading of Washington Irving’s classic tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, at the Old Dutch Church © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Home of the ‘Legend’ is a daytime, all-ages experience at Washington Irving’s Sunnyside homestead in Tarrytown, N.Y. Visitors can tour the author’s home, embark on a literary-themed scavenger hunt, see a shadow puppet performance, and take part in historic games and Halloween-themed art activities. (Sunnyside is on West Sunnyside Lane, off Route 9 in Tarrytown.)

All events are held rain or shine. Proceeds support Historic Hudson Valley, the Tarrytown-based private, non-profit educational organization that owns and operates the historic sites that host these events.

These events have limited capacity and sell out. All admissions are by advance purchase timed ticket.

Blaze dates are Sept. 28-30; Oct. 4-31; and Nov. 1-4, 7-11, 15-17, 23-24. Online tickets are $22 for adults ($27 on Fridays and Saturdays), $16 for children 3-17 ($20 on Fridays and Saturdays), and free for children under 3 and Historic Hudson Valley members.

Horseman’s Hollow dates are Oct. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 25-31. Online tickets are $20 ($25 on Saturdays). Fast Track, a $15 per ticket upgrade, lets visitors skip the line in their time slot. Historic Hudson Valley members receive a $5 per ticket discount.

The Unsilent Picture dates are Oct. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 25-31. Online tickets are $18. Historic Hudson Valley members receive a $5 per ticket discount.

Irving’s ‘Legend’ dates are Oct. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 25-31. Seating is very limited and there are three performances on weekday evenings and six performances on weekends. Online tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for children under 18. Historic Hudson Valley members receive a $5 per ticket discount.

Home of the ‘Legend’ dates are Sept. 29-30; Oct. 1, 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28. Online tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for seniors, $8 for children 3-17, and free for those under 3 and Historic Hudson Valley members.

Buy tickets online at www.hudsonvalley.org or by calling 914-366-6900 ($2 per ticket surcharge for phone orders and for tickets purchased onsite, if available).

Haunted Happenings in Salem

Probably the epicenter of Halloween is Salem and to accommodate all the people who want to experience its annual Haunted Happenings festival (more than 500,000 come from around the world for the festival), the entire month of October is devoted to it.  Events include a Grand Parade, the Haunted Biz Baz Street Fair, Family Film Nights on Salem Common, costume balls, ghost tours, haunted houses, live music, and chilling theatrical presentations.

Classic experiences include:

Cry Innocent: The People vs. Bridget Bishop, Old Town Hall, 32 Derby Square, daily thru October. The year is 1692. Bridget Bishop has been accused of witchcraft and you are on the Puritan jury. Hear the historical testimonies, cross-examine the witnesses and decide the verdict. Is Bridget Bishop capable of witchcraft? The outdoor arrest scene begins approximately 15 minutes before show time.

Cry Innocent at The Old Town Hall: Bridget Bishop has been accused of witchcraft and you are on the Puritan jury, just one of the Haunted Happenings events in Salem © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

October Nights At The Gables, include:

Spirits of the Gables: Get swept into Hawthorne’s tale of guilt, greed and revenge as the characters from The House of the Seven Gables (1851), come to life and recount their stories while you walk through the very house that inspired Hawthorne’s timeless novel.

Legacy of the Hanging Judge takes visitors back through Nathaniel Hawthorne’s birth home to the events of the infamous Salem Witch Trials, through the eyes of the author, whose own ancestor, Judge John Hathorne had a hand to play in the tragic events of 1692. The 35-minute performances begin every 10 minutes in The Nathaniel Hawthorne birth house. Combination tickets available. Reservations highly recommended.

House of the Seven Gables: Discover 330 years of Salem’s history as you experience the museum and collection of historic buildings. Built in 1668, this is the oldest surviving 17th century wooden mansion in New England. The House of the Seven Gables inspired author Nathaniel Hawthorne to write his legendary novel of the same name. (House Of Seven Gables, 115 Derby St. 978-744-0991)

The Witch House, home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, is the only structure still standing in Salem with direct ties to the Witchcraft Trials of 1692. Corwin was called upon to investigate the claims of diabolical activity when a surge of witchcraft accusations arose. He served on the court which ultimately sent nineteen to the gallows. 310 1/2 Essex St.  (978) 744-8815

Witch Dungeon Museum. Experience the acclaimed performance of a Witch trial adapted from the 1692 historical transcripts. Most chilling is that it is real. 16 Lynde St.  (978) 741-3570.

There’s so much to do, you have to visit http://hauntedhappenings.org/ to plan.

Enhance your paranormal experience with a stay at the Hawthorne Hotel, one of Historic Hotels of America’s most haunted member hotels. Built in 1925, in the city notorious for the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, the hotel has ghost stories of its own, mostly attributed to the sea captains who were returning to their gathering place. In particular, rooms 621 and 325 have had reports of lights turning off and on and a general uneasy feeling throughout the rooms (www.hawthornehotel.com).

National Ghost Hunt Day at Lord Baltimore Hotel

Baltimore, Md.– Over the years, guests and staff of the historic Lord Baltimore Hotel, built in 1928, have reported sightings and supernatural activity. On September 29, 2018, the hotel, along with R.E.A.P. Investigations and Spirit Flows Studios, will kick off the Halloween season by taking part in the world’s largest ghost hunt as part of National Ghost Hunt Day. 

Activities include three different supernatural settings including an intuitive development class with Spirit Flow’s Amanda Jackiewicz at 5 p.m., which will teach participants how to strengthen their intuition and heighten their awareness and conscientiousness. Following the workshop, Jackiewicz will conduct a limited amount of individual medium sessions from 6-7:30 p.m.

During these sessions, guests will work one-on-one with Jackiewicz to communicate with loved ones in the afterlife. For the final portion of the supernatural event, attendees will participate in a ghost hunt with the R.E.A.P. Investigation team led by Bill Reap beginning at 8 p.m. R.E.A.P. Investigations will hunt for ghostly activities throughout four areas of the hotel, including the Calvert Ballroom and the 19th floor, which are said to have heightened supernatural activities. At 10 p.m., the Lord Baltimore Hotel will join a live feed with more than 100 other locations as each conduct a ghost hunt at the same time.

Perhaps participants will get a glimpse of Lord Baltimore’s resident ghost: a little girl, wearing a long, cream-colored dress and black, shiny shoes, running by the open doorway, bouncing a red ball before her. There have been many times when guests have asked, “Little girl, are you lost?” and the hallway has been completely empty.

Event proceeds will be donated to Back on my Feet, an organization that helps to combat homelessness through the power of running and community support.

Tickets ($20-50 pp) can be purchased through Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrate-national-ghost-hunting-day-at-the-lord-baltimore-hotel-tickets-49226293168.

Lord Baltimore Hotel is also offering a discounted guest room rate for National Ghost Hunt Day participants. Reservations can be made online through https://reservations.travelclick.com/85390?groupID=2360767#/guestsandrooms.

Held on the last Saturday of each September, National Ghost Hunt Day serves to enthusiastically commence the start of each new Halloween season.  Its noble intention is to globally observe the most haunted properties in the world while recognizing the novice, curious, experts and professionals that investigate paranormal activity in these iconic locations!  For more information, visit http://nationalghosthuntingday.com.

Historic Lord Baltimore Hotel is within walking distance of attractions at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The Lord Baltimore Hotel is in the heart of downtown Baltimore, within walking distance of many local attractions. Originally built in 1928, the hotel was purchased in 2013 and completely renovated by Rubell Hotels. A member of Historic Hotels of America (historichotels.org), the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Lord Baltimore is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (20 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201 www.lordbaltimorehotel.com).

But what may be the most haunted of Historic Hotels of America members is 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, in Eureka Springs Arkansas: “Guests who check out but never leave” at the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa include Michael, the Irish stonemason who helped build the hotel in 1885; Theodora, a patient of Baker’s Cancer Curing Hospital in the late 1930s; and “the lady in the Victorian nightgown”, who likes to stand at the foot of the bed in Room 3500 and stare at guests while they sleep. These are only three of the dozens upon dozens of spirits that guests and visitors have reported encountering in this historic hotel in the Ozark Mountains.

This mountaintop spa resort, which has also become known as “America’s Most Haunted Hotel,”  has been featured on popular shows like Ghost Hunter’s and Bio Channel’s My Ghost Story offers nightly tours that gain exclusive access to some of the most famous ghost sighting locations (recommended for 8 years and up; families with younger children should join the earliest tour.) And on October, 31, you can join a Halloween Séance.

For more haunted historic hotels, visit historichotels.org.

 Also in Eureka Springs, the 1905 Basin Park Hotel, which features a mysterious underground cave, offers a 90-minute Spirits of the Basin “ghost adventour” that combines a ghost tour with the adventure of paranormal investigation. It starts with a guided ghost hunt (in period costume) of the most haunted spaces and ends with a chilling ghost story told by candlelight and a sample of the bootleg liquor (http://www.spiritsofthebasin.com/)

Oktoberfest Weekend Celebrations Return to Hunter Mountain

Temperatures in the northeast have begun to trend cooler, and as the leaves begin to change, Hunter Mountain is hosting its long tradition of Oktoberfest celebrations.

Voted among the top 10 Best Oktoberfests in the Nation by USA Today, Hunter Mountain’s Oktoberfest weekends celebrate the arrival of autumn with authentic traditional German-American festivities, food and culture with a variety of entertainment options during all four free weekends. Oktoberfest weekends also occur in conjunction with specialty events alongside plentiful food and craft beverages, live music, artistic vendors, lawn games, our Scenic Skyride and much more.

Hunter Mountain hosts themed Oktoberfest weekends (photo courtesy of Hunter Mountain)

The Colors in the Catskills: Off-Road Edition is a new arrival for our second weekend of Oktoberfest (Sept. 29 & 30) and allows guests to explore Hunter Mountain’s vast trail network in the midst of fall foliage season. Lead by knowledgeable and experienced guides from Northeast Off-Road Adventures, guests can register their 4X4 vehicles to participate in off-road tours of Hunter Mountain. Additionally, drivers and passengers alike will be able to purchase exclusive camping packages that grant them access to camping right on the Mountain.

The Das Laufwerk Eurocar Rally and 18-time Grammy award winner Jimmy Sturr return to Hunter Mountain for the third weekend of Oktoberfest (Oct. 6 & 7) to rock the stage and showcase some of best European cars our guests have to offer. The Das Laufwerk Eurocar Rally is open to guests and completely free to attend! All European car models are welcome and will have access to exclusive parking in a reserved lot located close to the Hunter Mountain base lodge. Guests attending this weekend of Oktoberfest will have a chance to see the finest in German engineering including Audis, Volkswagens, Porsches and much more.

The final weekend of Oktoberfest (Oct. 13 and 14) will celebrate wineries from around New York State with our Wine Tasting on the Mountain event. This year’s wine tasting event will host wineries from Long Island to the Finger Lakes. Similarly to our Ciders in the Catskills event, guests will be able to purchase VIP tasting packages which provide them with a voucher for 20 wine tastings, a commemorative wine glass and t-shirt as well as admission for one to our Scenic Skyride.

Admission to Oktoberfest is free and gates open each weekend at 11 am – 6:15 pm Saturdays and from 11 am– 5:15 pm Sundays. All four Oktoberfest weekends are held indoors and outdoors, rain or shine.
Located in the heart of the Great Northern Catskills, Hunter Mountain is a four-season resort. Throughout the spring, summer and fall, Hunter Mountain offers a variety of outdoor activities, weddings, group retreats, festivals and concerts while surrounded by magnificent views of the Catskill Mountains. The 3,200’ summit of Hunter Mountain provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and is accessible from May – October via the Scenic Skyride. An easy 2 ½ hour ride North of New York City, Hunter Mountain can be a day trip or overnight getaway for sightseeing, relaxation, hiking, fly fishing, zip lining and much more.

Hiking up Kaaterskill Falls, one of the hikes on the Hudson River School Art in the Catskills, NY. New York State offers a weekly foliage update © Karen Rubin/ goingplacesfarandnear.com

Hunter Mountain abuts the Catskills Preserve with spectacular hiking. Follow the Hudson River School Art Trail (my favorite trails are in the North-South Campground and Kaaterskill Falls).

Further help planning a visit is available from Greene County Tourism, 700 Rte 23B, Leeds, NY 12451, 800-355-CATS, 518-943-3223, www.greatnortherncatskills.com and its fall hub http://www.greatnortherncatskills.com/catskills-fall-foliage

The I LOVE NEW YORK weekly foliage report – a detailed map charting fall color progress, vantage points for viewing spectacular foliage, suggested autumn getaways and weekly event listings – is available at www.iloveny.com/foliage or by calling 800/CALL-NYS (800/225-5697).
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