10 SUPER WAYS TO SCARE UP A HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Janel Bladow
Chills and thrills. Ghosts, goblins and gore galore! The Hudson Valley is loaded with fun and spirits this Halloween. There's everything from cuddly Llamas in cupcake costumes to a frightful face-off with Pumpkin Jack and the Headless Horseman. The spooky season is one our favorites here at Hudson Valley Happenings. We put together this special list of 10 top events for a spine-tingling and fun-tastic Halloween.
1.Headless Horseman Attractions: The Haunting of Pumpkin Jack
778 Broadway, Rte 9W,
Ulster Park, NY 12487
(845) 339-2666
This Halloween one of the area’s top scary spots is all about wandering around in the dark (yes, at night!) hiding from a certain pumpkin named Jack and fearing the Headless Horseman. Legend has it that Pumpkin Jack is summoned each Fall by cave witches to seek vengeance for the Headless Horseman. He lurks in cornfields to sate his unnatural thirst. In the dead of night he creeps around stealing Jack-O-Lanterns, and with his pumpkin head, he patiently waits to decapitate his next victim. You are alone, on foot, walking in the dark at the historic manor with more than 65 acres of foreboding forests, surreal ponds, frightful fruit orchards and even a seductive gift shop with Deadly Donuts.
Opening night: Sept. 25 ($39.95 + tax), then weekends ($47.95 - $$57.95 + service charge and tax). Not recommended for little spirits under 13. Two Children’s Day events, Oct. 9 & 23, 1:30am- ($14.95 + service charge + tax) Prices are online orders; tickets are more expensive on-site.
2.No Scare Halloween: Museum of Village of Old Smith’s Close
Museum Village, 1010 Rte 17M,
Monroe, NY 10950
(845) 782-8247
From a very hairy hayride to an old-fashioned scary scavenger hunt you’ll tangle with monsters, witches and other goblins, as well as various vendors with tantalizing and tempting fare. This historic village embraces its old-time spirit.
Saturday, Oct. 16 and Sunday, Oct. 17. 11 am -4 pm, Admission: Adult $15, Seniors $13, Children 4-12 $10, Children under 4, Active Military & Veterans Free.
3.Peace, Love & Pumpkins: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
200 Hurd Road, Bethel, NY 12720
(845) 583-2000
For the faint of heart who wish to wander, stroll historic Bethel Woods - site of the original Woodstock music festival - which kicks off a peaceful party on Oct. 15. Kids of all ages will find magic in the uniquely carved jack-o-lanterns, glowing pumpkin art and Woodstock icons - dinosaurs, mermaids and Big Foot! The Center’s first ever Night Fall Festival starts Friday, Oct.29 through Sunday Oct. 31, with more that 50 craft and specialty food vendors. Show up on Wear-Wolf Wednesdays in costume for a $7 discount on tickets purchased at the gate.
Oct 15-31, 6:30-10pm (last entry 9pm) Admission: $20 Adults 18+, $10 Youths 3 - 17.
4.The Dark House Halloween Horror
Philipstown Depot Theater, 10 Garrisons Landing, Garrison, NY 10524, contact@hauntedhousenyc.com
Things you can’t see are always the scariest. Thrill-seekers who want the most terrifying immersive experience should scurry to this completely blacked out horror house to have their other four senses blown away. The storyline has you setting out to prove there’s no such things as ghosts, but things around you that you feel, smell, hear and taste come eerily to life and will frighten you into believing that the other-world may really exist.
No one under 14 is allowed in without a guardian. It’s that scary! Opens Oct. 2 through Oct 31. $30, tickets advance sale only
5.Halloween Weekend III: Campers Delight
Yogi Bear Jellystone Camp & Resort @ Lazy River, 50 Bevier Rd., Gardener, NY
12525 (845) 255-5193
Jellystone Park already is in full Halloween mode. Visit weekends through Oct. 31 and be ghoulishly delighted. Make it a family weekend of frighting fun. Or pick up a day pass for the party. This camp-resort is safely walk-able for even the littlest monsters, witches, princesses and superheroes to trick or treat. Over the six “Halloween” weekends, there will be costume contests from funniest too scariest, from best group to best pet. You could even take home the prize for best decorated campsite. The three day weekend fun includes DJ dance party, movie night, Halloween theme crafts and even a very scary haunted house - not recommended for anyone 13 or younger!
Day passes are also available. For reservations, details, prices and more:
6.A Very Fluffy Halloween with Alpacas in Costumes
Lilymoore Farm, 21 Moore Road,
Pleasant Valley, NY 12569
(845) 605-605-7002
Hazel makes a very appealing cupcake. If fuzzy is as frightening as you’ll go, then get your costumes on and head to the farm where Alpacas and goats are dressing up for Halloween too. Take a farm tour to learn about these charming critters, enjoy costumed photo-ops, and make a craft by wet-felting soap with real fiber in fall colors.
These 90-minute experiences are offered four times Halloween weekend, Oct. 27 & 31.Open to all ages but space is limited and advance registration required.
Tickets: $18.95 - $22.95.
7.My Kingston Kids Halloween Fest & Parade
YMCA, 507 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401 (845) 338-3810
Grab the kids and strut your spooky stuff for the YMCA MyKingstonKids Halloween Fest & Parade 2021. This year’s parade has a special Ghostbusters theme and MyKK Dance Party. The event is free to promote a safe, exciting Halloween experience. Among the fun: a children’s costume fashion show, vendor trick or treating, live performances and family games and activities. The parade starts at Academy Green Park on Broadway at Clinton Avenue. Line-up begins 2 pm with the parade leaving at 3 pm to wind its way along Broadway to the YMCA building. The Festival begins as the parade arrives in the YMCA parking lot. If you register, you receive a free gift when you show your confirmation email at the check in booth.
Saturday, Oct. 30, 2 - 8 pm.
8.Pumpkin Express Train Ride
Catskill Mountain Railroad, Westbrook Lane at 55 Kingston Plaza Road,
Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 332-4854
Enjoy a colorful train ride along the heritage trail of the former Ulster & Delaware Railroad corridor. Fall leaf-peeper rides are 8-miles round-trip to Hurley Flats and back to Kingston. Enjoy the journey on the open air flat cars, four of which have sun canopies. The Pumpkin Express is especially “orangey” - with big and small pumpkins spread through the cars - all for passengers to take home and decorate!
The Pumpkin Express leaves several times a day for two weekends, Sat. & Sun., Oct. 23-24 & Oct. 30-31. Tickets: $14 Children (2 - 12), $20 Adults,
$19 Senior/Military/Veteran.
9. Gertrude Deyo’s Ghost Ball: A Celebration of Life, Death & Love
81 Huguenot Street, New Paltz, NY 12561 (845) 255-1889
Meet the spirits of Historic Huguenot Street as All-Hallow’s Eve approaches. The ongoing evenings of ghoulish parties celebrate life and death, merriment and mischief. The outdoor, socially distanced party with fortune-telling games to see into the future, seances to bring back the dead, festive mock-tails and spectrally spooky dance tunes. Dress up and mask up and celebrate your otherworldly style at the photo booth.
Friday & Saturday evenings, Oct. 15-31, three shows a night at 6, 7 & 8pm. $25 General Admission, $20 HHS members, seniors, students, military, veterans & children under 13.
10. Black Hole Monoplex Presents Hole-A-Ween: Scary Movies, Michael Myers & Much More
Four Bros. Drive-in, 4957 NY-22,
Armenia, NY 12501
(845) 373-8178
Be a part of the largest, freakiest, zaniest Halloween happening in the Hudson Valley. Four Bros. Drive-in hosts two-events in one with a double feature film – opening night of the new horror film Halloween Kills followed by the fright night classic Halloween (2018). Get there before the films begin to get into the gore groove with an art bazaar – 20 groovy and gory vendors ply their wares, “The Scare Fair'' featuring Video Punks with live music of dark tunes with chilly visuals, and the food stand will sell creepy cocktails and freaky food, along with crazy car-hop service. And to make sure you get the fright of your life, Michael Myers will be roaming the park…so watch out! If you can’t make it or live in outer parts of the world, “Hole-A-Ween At Home,” a full virtual experience kit ($29.99) is available to order ahead of time.
Sat., Oct. 16, Park opens at 5:30 pm, first film begins at 7 pm. Doors close at midnight. Tickets: Car & driver $20, additional passengers pay at box office.
Have a spooktacular October!
