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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, Getaways, Travel in a Time of Pandemic

Fall Festivals, Hayrides, Corn-Mazes, Pumpkin Picking & Leaf Peeping Underway Throughout New York State

While in North Creek (Gore Mountain ski area) for an Adirondacks getaway, Marty takes a class with artist-in-residence glassblower Greg Tomb. In cooperation with North Creek’s Tannery Pond Center, Tomb has made hundreds of colorful, glass-blown pumpkins that will be sold at the “Glass Pumpkin Patch” weekend, September 25-27 © Laurie Millman/goingplacesfarandnear.com

by Karen Rubin
Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com

This fall, you can enjoy your favorite corn mazes, pick-your-own-fruit and vegetable activities, hayrides and haunted houses, plus farmers’ markets and craft beverage trails in New York State, albeit under special health protocols for low-risk outdoor outdoor arts and entertainment. You can also visit the state’s farmers’ markets and craft beverage trails, which have remained open under New York’s NY Forward guidance, supporting agriculture and tourism in the state.

Sleepy Hollow’s Iconic 16th Annual Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze Comes to Long Island for the First Time 

The extraordinarily popular Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze event that takes place each extended Halloween season at historic Hudson Valley is coming to Long Island for the first time, as Nassau County’s Old Bethpage Village Restoration (OBVR) hosts the iconic fall event in conjunction with the original Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze® Hudson Valley, kicking off this week, running for a record 53 select evenings from September 18 through November 21. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze® Long Island will run for 23 nights from October 2 through November 1. Both locations feature outdoor self-guided, touch-free walk-through experiences through the wooded pathways, orchards, and gardens of historic sites. A small team of local artists hand-carved more than 7,000 Jack O’Lanterns and elaborate pumpkin sculptures at each site. Nassau’s location will feature pumpkin sculptures that celebrate icons of Long Island culture – from the Apollo Lunar Module to the Montauk Lighthouse to the windmills of the East End.

Bringing the event to Nassau County is part of County Executive Laura Curran’s efforts to expand on the variety of extraordinary, cultural and memorable activities available to residents close to home – making the County a spectacular place to live, work, and play. OBVR provides a perfect 19th century backdrop for this magical and spooky event where attendees can safely socially distance across the property’s 209 acres. Advance purchase tickets are required; prices start at $32/adult, $24/child, purchase online (https://pumpkinblaze.org/blaze-long-island.html). (Old Bethpage Village Restoration, 1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage, NY 11804)

The Headless Horseman in jack o’lanterns during Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze at Historic Hudson Valley’s Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson. This year, for the first time, a second Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze is taking place at Old Bethpage Village Restoration on Long Island © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

To see the original, come to Van Cortlandt Manor. Meander through an 18th-century landscape and discover a breathtaking display of more than 7,000 illuminated jack o’ lanterns—all designed and hand-carved on site by HHV’s team of artisans. New for 2020, a fire truck—making a special rescue—and witches stirring up a spell. Tour the Museum of Pumpkin Art, where classic paintings get the gourd treatment, see who let the (pumpkin) dogs out, listen for the Headless Horseman—and watch out for swooping jack o’lantern bats. See the Pumpkin Carousel twirl and the Pumpkin Windmill whirl and step inside the Pumpkin Planetarium for a star show like you’ve never seen. Hold a torch for the 25-foot-tall jack o’lantern Statue of Liberty and get personal with Instagrammable signs of the zodiac. Social distancing and masks required at all times (no food and beverage on site and no outside food or drinks permitted). Tickets must be purchased in advance. (Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 S Riverside, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520, https://hudsonvalley.org/events/blaze/).

Historic Hudson Valley is also re-creating its famous “Legend” event for these times. Sunnyside celebrates its connection to Washington Irving’s classic tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, at this family friendly daytime event. Home of the ‘Legend’ includes a literary-themed scavenger hunt and a Legend-themed exhibit on the grounds of Washington Irving’s estate. Weekends through Nov. 6-8; tickets $12/adults, $10/seniors and children 3-17. (Sunnyside, West Sunnyside Lane, off Route 9 in Tarrytown, https://hudsonvalley.org/events/home-of-the-legend/).

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

Hudson Valley Bountiful With Farmers Markets, Pick-Your-Own, Biking, Hiking

Hudson Valley is full of farmers markets, pick-your-own, and tastings that show off New York State’s bounty.

After biking the River to Ridge trail in New Paltz, just off a Springtown Road, filled with apple and pumpkin farms and stands, just a few minutes away from the trailhead (and actually located right off the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail), we found Coppersea Distilling, with beautifully laid out bar stands for tasting their wonderful whiskeys and brandies, made with “heritage” methods, and locally source (within 25 miles) all the ingredients. They even use New York State wood for their barrels (which actually shape the taste). They floor-malt grains, ferment in wood tanks, distill in direct-fired copper pot stills to crate spirits with “provenance.” (It’s fascinating to hear James explain these processes.) They also have resurrected a 250-year old process for “green whiskey” – the significant difference in method and taste is that the grain is still alive and has chlorophyll, which gives the whiskey a kind of green-tea flavor. (Coppersea, 239 Springtown Road, New Paltz 12561, coppersea.com, 845-444-1044).

Whiskey tasting at Coppersea Distilling, New Paltz, meeting New York State’s COVID-19 guidelines. The state has made it possible to enjoy the traditional festivals and festivities of fall throughout New York State, with apple and pumpkin picking, farm stands, tastings, leaf-peeping, biking, hiking and more. © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

“New York State’s amazing outdoor attractions and recreational opportunities are a boon for families and communities during the fall season each year, and we want New Yorkers to be able to enjoy this time with their family responsibly and safely,” Governor Cuomo said. “The new guidance will ensure that these businesses can open to the public, allowing families to enjoy their favorite fall activities while providing a boost for our farming communities and local economies.”

New York State will be offering fall festivals that support the state’s agribusiness and agritourism, such as with this “Taste of New York” stand at one of the service centers on the New York Thruway, with COVID-19 precautions in place. (c) Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

“As one of the nation’s top agricultural states, New York traditionally comes together in the fall to celebrate the harvest—from apples to grapes to pumpkins,” State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said. “This year, while things may not look exactly the same on your favorite farm, I am happy to say we can still celebrate agriculture’s bounty and the many family-friendly activities that go with it. With this new guidance, we hope New Yorkers will be able to enjoy some of the best of New York agriculture in a safe and socially distanced manner.” 

The protocols include reduced capacity, face coverings, social distancing between individuals and parties, and frequently touched surfaces, such as handrails, cleaned and sanitized between rides. (See https://agriculture.ny.gov/coronavirus).

Autumn in The Adirondacks

Autumn is always a fabulous time to visit the Adirondacks in upstate NY, but in a year when fresh air and wide open spaces are what we are all craving, the region’s natural landscape is especially nurturing. Travelers will find endless opportunities for adventure, exploration and relaxation, from hiking the High Peaks to scenic drives along the Whiteface Memorial Highway to fireside dining on outdoor patios.

The Adirondack Fall Foliage Meter provides up-to-the-minute fall foliage reports on where the leaves are prettiest and most colorful.  In Lake Placid, the new Skyride, an 8-person state-of-the-art gondola, takes guests from the Olympic Jumping Complex’s base lodge to the 90-meter and 120-meter ski jump towers, where a new glass-enclosed elevator brings them to the top to enjoy the panoramic vista of the Adirondack High Peaks (and to experience what the jumpers see as they start to accelerate towards the end of the ramp!). The new Sky Flyer zipline also offers unparalleled views of Lake Placid and the High Peaks.  (https://lakeplacidolympicsites.com/todo/skyride/)   

Adirondacks ‘Glass Pumpkin Patch’ Weekend, Sept. 25-27

For a COVID getaway, which we just did over Labor Day, enjoy fall foliage colors and no quarantining required (if you live in the Northeast) in New York State’s Adirondacks State Park. 

While in North Creek (Gore Mt ski area), visit and/or take a class with artist-in-residence glassblower extraordinaire, Greg Tomb — last day for classes this season is  September 23, 2020.

In cooperation with North Creek’s Tannery Pond Center, Tomb has made hundreds of colorful, glass-blown pumpkins that will be sold at the “Glass Pumpkin Patch” weekend, September 25-27, 2020, from 10am – 6pm daily. Each pumpkin has been hand-blown by Tomb, giving them their unique and distinctive sizes and designs (starting price of $35). A sizable percentage of all sales goes towards the arts and operations of North Creek’s Tannery Pond Center, North Creek, NY. For more info, visit https://tannerypondcenter.org/event/fundraiser-glass-pumpkin-patch/). — Laurie Millman and Martin Rubin/Travel Features Syndicate

To keep tabs on the progress of fall foliage in the state, www.iloveny.com/things-to-do/fall/foliage-report.

See more information on where to go, what to do in New York, www.iloveny.com, 800 CALL NYS, info@iloveny.com.

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© 2020 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com, www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin, and travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/. Blogging at goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com and moralcompasstravel.info. Send comments or questions to FamTravLtr@aol.com. Tweet @TravelFeatures. ‘Like’ us at facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

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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© 2018 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com,  www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin , and travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/. Blogging at goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com and moralcompasstravel.info. Send comments or questions to FamTravLtr@aol.com. Tweet @TravelFeatures. ‘Like’ us at facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Arts & Entertainment, Attractions, Entertainment, Family Travel, Festivals and Events, Historic Places

‘Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ Halloween Events – Ghouls & All – Return to Historic Hudson Valley

Halloween in Historic Hudson Valley: Horseman's Hollow at Philipsburg © 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Halloween in Historic Hudson Valley: Horseman’s Hollow at Philipsburg © 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

By Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com

Washington Irving’s macabre tale, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” is the inspiration for Horseman’s Hollow, a spectacularly produced interactive Halloween haunted attraction at the colonial-era Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.

It is one of a series of Historic Hudson Valley’s Halloween season spectacular events taking place over an unprecedented 32 nights. They are the largest Halloween events in the tri-state area and are expected to draw more than 150,000 visitors to Sleepy Hollow Country. They take place in several Historic Hudson Valley venues, each one an important attraction.

Washington Irving’s macabre tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow inspires Horseman’s Hollow, an interactive haunted attraction taking place over 14 nights at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, an estate that dates back to colonial times. But for Halloween, it is stocked with professional actors and state-of-the-art special effects and lighting. Take note: Horseman’s Hollow has a high fear factor, which is why it is so popular with teenagers. (Recommended for ages 10 and up.)

Irving’s ‘Legend,’ recommended for ages 10 and up, brings the master storyteller Jonathan Kruk into the historic, candlelit interior of Sleepy Hollow’s circa-1685 Old Dutch Church, where for 14 afternoons and evenings he offers a dramatic re-telling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow accompanied by live organ music.

The Legend Behind the ‘Legend’ is a daytime experience at Washington Irving’s Sunnyside homestead in Tarrytown, N.Y., that highlights the author of the famous story.

Halloween in Historic Hudson Valley: Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor © 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Halloween in Historic Hudson Valley: Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor © 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

And continuing for a record 32 selected evenings through Nov. 13, The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze® is the Hudson Valley’s biggest all-ages Halloween extravaganza. A small team of artists comes together to carve more than 7,000 jacks, many fused together in elaborate constructions such as life-size dinosaurs and eight-foot-tall working jack-o’lanterns-in-the-box, all lit up throughout the wooded walkways, orchards, and gardens of historic Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Headless Horseman Rides Again

Philipsburg Manor, is but a few miles up the road from Washington Irving’s homestead at Sunnyside and, legend has it, is the setting for his classic story. The village, which was once known as North Tarrytown, actually changed its name to Sleepy Hollow in 1996.

But here at the 350-year old Philipsburg Manor, one of the Historic Hudson Valley historic sites, you can easily imagine the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” as Irving saw it in his mind.

Now in its 7th year, Horseman’s Hollow, which welcomed more than 30,000 visitors last year, is a haunted experience in the heart of Sleepy Hollow that takes the tale of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to its darkest extremes. Historic Philipsburg Manor transforms into a terrifying landscape ruled by the undead, the evil, and the insane, all serving the Headless Horseman himself.

For 14 nights, historic Philipsburg Manor transforms into a terrifying landscape ruled by the undead, the evil, and the insane, all serving the Headless Horseman himself.

Colonial ghouls inhabit Horseman’s Hollow, at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, NY © 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Colonial ghouls inhabit Horseman’s Hollow, at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, NY © 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The 300-year old manor house, barn and gristmill of the Philipses, a family of Anglo-Dutch merchants who owned the 50,000 acre- estate, become the sets and the backdrop for the really, really ghoulish hauntings by colonial spirits.

Haunted house professional Lance Hallowell is back this year to lead a crew of award-winning makeup and costume designers and a 45-member-strong cast of experienced actors to create an immersive, interactive, pleasantly terrifying experience, with state-of-the-spooky-art special effects.

Custom built set pieces and period-correct costumes help orient the experience in Philipsburg Manor’s traditional time period of the mid-1700s.

What is best about Horseman’s Hollow is the sheer number (and talent) of the live spirits – they are very considerate, too – they seem to know just how much to terrify you (though really squeamish and young children should not come). I have found that if the ghouls sense you are easily frightened (like me), they tend to take down a notch their scare factor (I basically announce that I am easily frightened as I enter one of the venues).

But the professional actors and state-of-the-art special effects, contributes to a high fear factor (it’s recommended for ages 10 and up and is not for the squeamish and you need to take heed of the warning: This event is NOT suitable for adults who are claustrophobic, have heart or respiratory conditions, are prone to seizures, or have other chronic health conditions.)

As we start our experience, walking up a dirt path that rings the pond, a faceless colonial escorts us for a time, then goes into the trees to surprise a group of teenagers who are following behind. With each step through the woods, you leave the modern world behind and suspend disbelief.

Timed tickets mean that it isn’t overcrowded (safety in numbers?) – but as we walk through (guided by helpful spirits with lanterns who lead us to the next haunted house), we hear the screams of a pack of teenage girls in the distant dark. It adds to the atmosphere.

The Headless Horseman comes out of the shadows at Horseman’s Hollow, at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, NY © 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The Headless Horseman comes out of the shadows at Horseman’s Hollow, at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, NY © 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Look carefully in the deepest, darkest shadow, and there is the Headless Horseman himself, astride his steed, standing quietly as if taking in the scene or simply delighting in the terror of recognition as the clueless passerby realizes who is lurking in the dark.

Horseman’s Hollow dates are Oct. 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 27-31. Online tickets are $20 ($25 on Saturdays).  Fast Track, for a $15 per ticket upgrade, lets visitors skip the line in their timeslot. Historic Hudson Valley members receive a$5 per ticket discount.

Philipsburg Manor is at 381 North Broadway (Route 9) in Sleepy Hollow. (There is a parking field.)

Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze

The Headless Horseman, in lighted jack o’lanterns, at Blaze © 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The Headless Horseman, in lighted jack o’lanterns, at Blaze © 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com


The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze, which drew more than 130,000 visitors last year, features more than 7,000 illuminated, individually hand-carved jack o’ lanterns. Elaborate single-pumpkin carvings and huge multi-jack o’lantern constructions are professionally lit throughout the landscape of Van Cortlandt Manor in various themed areas.

Favorite installations such as Jurassic Park and the giant spider web are joined this year by new creations including a plus-sized Pumpkin Planetarium, a Pumpkin Zee Bridge, and a brand-new herd of pint-sized dinosaurs all made of jack o’lanterns.

Creative Director Michael Natiello leads a small team of Historic Hudson Valley staff and local artists who carve. In addition, more than 2,000 volunteers help scoop and light the pumpkins. You can watch Blaze artists carving on site during the event.

Vernon Ford demonstrates pumpkin carving at Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor © 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Vernon Ford demonstrates pumpkin carving at Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor © 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Café Blazé, by Geordane’s of Irvington, offers culinary treats including soup, veggie chili, muffins, pumpkin cookies, and cider. The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze Shop has a full bounty of Blaze-specific merchandise including hats, notepads, games, T-shirts, magnets, caps, mugs, and jewelry.

New music this year created by professional musician, radio personality, and Halloween fanatic Richard Christy will augment the visitor experience. The new tracks as well as music from Christy’s Blaze: The Soundtrack Volume I & II play throughout the event. (Soundtrack Volume II is available as a CD at the event and both volumes are available as digital downloads and streams from iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play.)

Blaze dates are Sept. 30, Oct. 1-2, 7-10, 13-16, 19-31, Nov. 3-6, 10-13. Online tickets are $20 for adults ($25 on Saturdays), $16 for children 3-17 ($20 on Saturdays), and free for children under 3 and Historic Hudson Valley members.

Van Cortlandt Manor is at 525South Riverside Avenue, just off Route 9 in Croton-on-Hudson (A parking field is on site).

Irving’s ‘Legend’

Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk offers a dramatic re-telling of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” accompanied by live organ music in the candlelit interior of Sleepy Hollow’s circa-1685 Old Dutch Church © 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk offers a dramatic re-telling of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” accompanied by live organ music in the candlelit interior of Sleepy Hollow’s circa-1685 Old Dutch Church © 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Master storyteller Jonathan Krukoffers a dramatic re-telling of Washington Irving’s classic tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, featuring the Headless Horseman, Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones, and Katrina Van Tassel. Flavored with live spooky organ music by Jim Keyes, Kruk’s storytelling takes place in the historic, candlelit setting of the Old Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow. The circa-1685 stone church is across the street from Philipsburg Manor, where visitors will park. Performances last about 45 minutes.

Irving’s ‘Legend’ dates are Oct. 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 27-31. Seating is very limited and there are three performances each evening. Online tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for children under 18. Historic Hudson Valley members receive a $5 per ticket discount.

Legend Behind the ‘Legend’

Sunnyside, the home of Washington Irving, celebrates its connection to Irving’s classic tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, at this family friendly daytime event. The Legend Behind the ‘Legend includes tours of Irving’s home – a colorful blend of architectural styles – which showcase numerous objects from HHV’s collection related to Irving’s famous story. Visitors can also enjoy a shadow puppet performance of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and experience one of Irving’s spooky tales on a walk through the woods. Sunnyside is on West Sunnyside Lane, off Route 9 in Tarrytown.

Legend Behind the ‘Legend’ dates are Oct. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30. 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.

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 sitesthat host these events.
Because of the popularity of these events, it is essential to purchase tickets in advance.

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).

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© 2016 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com and travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/. Blogging at goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com and moralcompasstravel.info. Send comments or questions to FamTravLtr@aol.com. Tweet @TravelFeatures. ‘Like’ us at facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures