What to Do for the Halloween Weekend in the Mid Hudson Valley Area

Halloween in on Monday, and while there are many events on the day of the Eve of All Hallows, to give the holiday its full old-fashioned name, there will also be many things to do this weekend. The weather will be a bit warmer on Saturday and Sunday than the current cold snap, but it doesn’t look like it will rain on any costumed parades.

Here are some things to do this weekend:

Halloween Trail: You can drop in on the I Spy Halloween Trail at the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum in Cornwall-on-Hudson on Saturday or Sunday. 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.

Haverstraw Parade: Haverstraw’s Annual Village Halloween Parade will march from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday. People of all ages are invited and prizes for best costume will be awarded. The parade is in Haverstraw Center.
New Paltz Parade: The Annual New Paltz Halloween Parade will kick off at 6 p.m. on Monday on Main Street and Manheim Boulevard. The march will end at the firehouse, where the Lion’s Club will distribute apples and candy.

Nyack Parade: 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.

Field of Screamz: The Rockland Boulders presents “Field of Screamz” at Palisades Credit Union Park on Saturday and Sunday. 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.

Ragamuffin Parade and Trunk or Treat: The Annual Ragamuffin Parade will kick off this Saturday at Merkel Park in Brewster. Registration is at the park at 9 a.m. and the parade starts at 10 a.m. Three prizes will be awarded for best costume and there will be fun, activities, food, music, and candy. For further information, click here.

Halloween at the Museum: The Putnam History Museum in Cold Spring will be welcoming children for trick-or-treating from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday. The museum is at 63 Chestnut Street in Cold Spring. Please contact Rachel at rachel@putnamhistorymuseum.org or 845-265-4010 for more information.

Day of the Dead Celebration: The Southeast Museum and the Brewster Public Library will hold a Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos) Celebration on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will include face painting, crafts, storytelling, and a parade. The event is free and is at the library at 79 Main Street.

Bird hike at Westmoreland: The Westmoreland Sanctuary will hold a bird hike on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. for every aged 8 and older. Participants will learn how to identify birds and assist in recording the birds we see and hear for our monitoring records. There is a $5 fee for non-members. The sanctuary is located at 260 Chestnut Ridge Road in Mount Kisco.

A History of Funerals: St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site will present a lecture, “Rest in Peace: A History of Funerals in America,” with Nancy Coffey, a professor at the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. The lecture is at 1 p.m. on Saturday and is free. The historic site is at 894 South Columbus Avenue in Mount Vernon.

Dobbs Ferry Haunted House: The Dobbs Ferry Woman's Club and the Dobbs Ferry PTSA will hold their annual Dobbs Ferry Haunted House event at the Dobbs Ferry Woman’s Club, 54 Clinton Avenue, on Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $3 per person and includes participation in ghost stories acted out in the mansion, an activity room for children, and refreshments. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Proceeds from the event benefit the Dobbs Ferry PTSA and the Woman's Club Philanthropic Fund.

Family Cooking Classes: The Westchester Italian Cultural Center in Tuckahoe will hold a family cooking class at 2 p.m. Saturday. Kids will make ghost mini pizzas, creepy brain popcorn, and severed finger cookies. These treats are not only spooky, but tasty as well. You must register in advance and prepay. Child fee: Members $30, Non-Members $40; Parent & Child fee: Members $55, Non-Members $65; Additional person: Members $30, Non-Members $40. The center is at 1 Generoso Pope Place. For more information, call 914-771-8700.

Haunted Trains and Dinosaurs: The Ninth Annual Halloween Train Show will take place on Saturday and Sunday at Lasdon Park, Arboretum, and Veterans Memorial from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. The huge railroad layout in the Main house includes Hogwarts Castle among other features. The dinosaur garden is outside. 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. Lasdon Park is at 2610 Amawalk Road (Route 35) in Somers. For more information, click here.

SEE:

• The Best Real Haunted Places in the Hudson Valley
• Hudson Valley Guide to Halloween 2016
• Hudson Valley Guide to the Perfect Pumpkin 2016

Image by Evan Swigart, via Wikimedia Commons.