Hudson Valley Guide to Halloween 2016

It is October, the time of year for “ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night.” In the Hudson Valley, not only do we know how to celebrate Halloween right, we have started the festivities already. From jack-o-lanterns ablaze to parades to haunted houses and spooky tales of the supernatural, this area has it all.

Here is a list of things to do for this spooky time of year. Warning: Many of these events sell out fast, so buy tickets early.

Orange County - The Forest of Fear has provided Halloween thrills to Hudson Valley and Northern New Jersey fans each autumn for 25 years. Presented by Renaissance Entertainment Productions, The Forest of Fear features professional performers as well as nationally-recognized fright masters to create the premier interactive haunt that has been named New York’s #1 Scariest Haunted Attraction by Hauntworld.com. Open Fridays, Saturdays and and Sundays at 7 PM, 600 Rte. 17A, Tuxedo Park, NY. Tickets can be bought in advance at theforestoffear.com

Bronxville - It's the 3rd Annual Halloween Organ Spooktacular! This is a unique concert for kids and adults. Everybody is encouraged to come in costume and listen to some wonderfully spooky organ music. Helga Bartus is the organist. 4-5 p.m. Monday, October 31, 2016.

Sleepy Hollow - Where else could we possibly start but in the hometown of the original American scary story?

• Sleepy Hollow Cemetery: The cemetery is holding several weird, wild, and wonderful events this month including dark tales not only from Washington Irving, but from Roald Dahl and Edgar Allen Poe, along with tours of the cemetery and a pie competition. These events often sell out. The cemetery is at 540 North Broadway in Sleepy Hollow. Click here for more information.
• Horseman’s Hollow: Philipsburg Manor will present the Horseman’s Hollow, which takes Washington Irving’s tale to very dark extremes by adding vampires and witches and other wicked whatnot. Visitors will walk a haunted trail and meet up with people driven mad by the Headless Horseman. This is not suitable for children or those who are faint of heart. Performances are on Oct 14-16, 21-23, and 27-31. Entrance to the performance is timed and tickets must be purchased in advance here or by calling 914-366-6900.
• Irving’s Legend: Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk will present a dramatic performance of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” at the Old Dutch Church. Performances are on Oct. 14-16, 21-22, 27-31. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for kids under 18. The church is at 430 Broadway. For more information, click here.
• Haunted Hayride: Take a hayride through the Village of Sleepy Hollow on Oct. 28 or 29, and also enjoy a block party on Beekman Avenue. The ride starts at the Village Hall at 28 Beekman Avenue. Tickets are $20 per person if you order ahead and $30 if purchased on the day of the hayride. For more information, click here.
• NEVERMORE, a circus/theater adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's haunting poem, 'The Raven'.
  Check out details here: www.nevermoresleepyhollow.com. Five shows Oct. 21-23.

Tarrytown - Curiosities Galore: Jay Ghoul’s House of Curiosities will be open at the Lyndhurst Mansion at 635 South Broadway. Meet the Mad Hatter, Rumpelstiltskin, and all six of Henry VIII’s wives, as well as characters from tales that are Grimm. The show is open Oct. 14, 16, 20, 23, 26, 27, 30, 31 from 6-8 p.m.; Oct. 15 from 6-9 p.m.; and Oct. 21, 22, 28 and 29 from 6-10 pm. Tickets by timed entry. For more information, click here.

• TarryHallow Walking Tours: Learn about the unique history of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow with a walking tour by The Historical Society. The two-hour tour will start at Patriots Park and take you past historic sites and buildings with guides who will share stories of the people who lived in there, along with tales of a few unexplained events. Tours are on Oct. 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 10 a.m. You can obtain tickets here.
• Chillers and Dark Tales: Master storyteller Linda Schuyler Ford will present an hour of eerie and odd tales on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. at The Historical Society at 1 Grove Street in Tarrytown. This event is not recommended for children under age 10. Refreshments will be served after the program. Tickets are $19.99.

Croton-on-Hudson - Each year, the Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor gets bigger and better with thousands of lit pumpkins forming wonderful sights. The walk-through display is very popular and sold out completely last year and already some dates are sold out this year. This year’s show features the Pumpkin Zee Bridge. Entrance to the display is timed. The Blaze is lit on Oct. 7-10, 13-16, and 19-31. Nov. 3-6, 10-13. Times vary by evening. Tickets are $20 for adults and $16 for children under 18, but are $25 and $20 on Saturdays. For more information, click here.

Nyack - The Nyack Halloween Parade kicks off at 5 p.m. on Oct. 29. There will be floats, bands, fire departments, and more than 300 costumed participants. Cash prizes for the best costume! Click here for more information.

• Frankenstein Live: The 1931 classic horror movie, starring Boris Karloff as the monster, will be presented at Nyack High School on Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. The Chappaqua Orchestra will perform music to accompany the film. Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for students.

Haverstraw - Haverstraw’s Annual Village Halloween Parade will march from 5 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31. People of all ages are invited and prizes for best costume will be awarded. The parade is in Haverstraw Center.

Cornwall-on-Hudson - You can drop in on the I Spy Halloween Trail at the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum on Oct. 29 or 30. Walk the trail and find objects like bones and skulls cleverly hidden along the trails and then visit with spiders and snakes in the Creepy Critter Room. The museum is at Muser Drive across from 174 Angola Road. For more information, call 845-534-5506.

Wappingers Falls - The Annual Parade and Festival will kick off on Saturday Oct. 17 at 11 a.m. There will be storytelling by Pirate Captain Jack and contests for best costume and float. The march kicks off at Elm Street and will end at Spring Street at the entrance to the park.

New Paltz - The Annual New Paltz Halloween Parade will kick off at 6 p.m. on Halloween on Main Street and Manheim Boulevard. The march will end at the firehouse, where the Lion’s Club will distribute apples and candy.

Pomona - Rockland Boulders presents “Field of Screamz” at Palisades Credit Union Park on Oct. 22-22 and 29-29. The Haunted House is open from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is $12. The stadium is at 1 Provident Bank Park Drive in Pomona.

Chappaqua - The Chappaqua Library will hold a Halloween Horror on Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 7 to 8 p.m. for kids up to grade 8. Wear a costume to this traditional storytelling and mummy-wrapping extravaganza. The library is at 195 South Greeley Avenue. For more information, call 914-234-4779.

Greenburgh - The Greenburgh Nature Center will hold its Annual Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 16. You can build a scarecrow, carve or paint a pumpkin, make cider, enjoy a hayride, listen to Native American storytelling in the new longhouse, and more. The fee is $15 for non-members and $8 for members. Pumpkin Carving is $10 and pumpkin painting is $5. Click here for more information.

Somers - Haunted Trains and Dinosaurs are on tap at Lasdon Park, Arboretum, and Veterans Memorial. The Ninth Annual Halloween Train Show will take place in the Main House with a huge railroad layout that includes Hogwarts Castle among other features. Outside, there will be a dinosaur garden with the resident T. rex available for photos. Visitors can explore the trail and see some of the thrills of the season. Tractor-drawn wagon rides will be available every half hour. The main garden will also feature a display of mums and the Westchester Veterans Museum will be open. The train display and house entrance fee is $3 per child and $5 for adults. Wagon rides are $5. The program is scheduled for Oct. 8-10, 15-16, 24-25, and 29-30 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. Lasdon Park is at 2610 Amawalk Road (Route 35) in Somers. For more information, click here.

Katonah - Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts will present storyteller LuAnn Adams telling tales for children aged 3 to 8 on Friday, Oct. 28, at 3:30 p.m. Caramoor is at 149 Girdle Ridge Road. Tickets are $13 for adults and $9 for children.

Rye - Rye Playland will present “Scared by the Sound” on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and Halloween in October. Enjoy (if that is the right word) the Crypt Walk, the Haunted Wine Cellar, the Creepy Morgue, the Tunnels of Doom and the all-new outdoor Black-Out Maze. Parents are advised not to bring children under age 10. You can check out a video montage from past editions. Tickets, $20, can be purchased in advance online or at the box office.

Wave Hill - Wave Hill in the Bronx will host the Dead Botanists Walk on Wednesday, Oct. 26, and Saturday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m. No, it isn’t about zombie plant lovers. It is a tour of the gardens with a discussion of how various plants got their names and to commemorate the botanists who undertook some pretty wild expeditions to bring back samples of new species. The event is free with admission to the grounds. Wave Hill is at West 249th Street and Independence Avenue in the Bronx.

Pleasantville - The Jacob Burns Film Center has two Halloween events taking place: the annual Halloween Movie Marathon, and screenings of "The Boxtrolls" for younger viewers, including a special 3D screening. Find out more here.

Carmel - There's usually a line in October to get a table at dinner time at Smalley’s Inn. That's because the decorations are fantastic and the costumed actors can make you jump in your seat. at 57 Gleneida Ave in downtown Carmel. Want to check out the decor only? It's easier to get a table at lunch.

Peekskill - All treats and no tricks are to be had with a magical evening to benefit local organizations in their fight against the Spectra pipeline. The Peekskill Halloween Ball featuring local MC and city council member Andre “Noodle” Rainey will be held Oct. 29 in the newly restored Dramatic Hall, 900 Main St., Peekskill. It includes a costume ball, silent auction, film screening of “We Are the Hartmans” and concert to benefit environmental advocacy groups SEnRG, SAPE and ResistSpectra. Tickets are $15 in advance at www.SEnRG.org or $20 at the door.

Did we miss an event you love? Email lanning.taliaferro@patch.com to get it added!

Image via New NY Bridge