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.
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
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
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.
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
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 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
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.
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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