Adobe Stock / JenkoAtaman
Count down to All Hallows’ Eve with haunted houses, ghoulish gatherings, and jack-o-lanterns galore throughout the Hudson Valley.
By Raphael Beretta and Kait Waterman
Every October, the Hudson Valley transforms into a hub for chills, thrills, and a little hallowed magic. With events scheduled throughout the month, there’s no better time to celebrate the arrival of Halloween than with haunted walking tours, pumpkin-packed festivals, spooky ghost stories, horror flicks, and so much more. Just remember, reservations are required for many of the attractions.
Albany County
Ghosts of Albany Walking Tours
Begins at Hilton Albany Hotel, Albany
Fridays and Saturdays, October – November, 7 p.m.
The Capitol is haunted! Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about sightings of apparitions, folklore and ghostly experiences, ghost stories told by participants, and much more. These spooky tours combine elements of human interest with historical facts over the course of evenings that are both fun and educational.
Hollowed Harvest
Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont
Through October
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The Altamont Fairgrounds run rampant with thousands of jack-o-lanterns during this year’s Hollowed Harvest spectacular. Go for the larger-than-life displays, some of which tower as tall as three stories and vary from dinosaurs to sea creatures. Tickets must be purchased online in advance to attend. This seasonal event features displays as tall as three stories and as long as 60 feet. Be sure to check out this year’s new attraction: a jack-o-lantern tunnel.
Murder at Cherry Hill
Historic Cherry Hill, Albany
October 19-29, 5:30 p.m.
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There’s been a murder in the Capital Region. This historic retelling immerses guests in the 1820s, on the night of a grisly murder that led to Albany’s last public hanging. An actor brings Jesse Strang to life, showcasing the sensational nature of the trials that had the town talking. Get tickets for a nighttime experience Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Columbia County
Clermont’s Legends by Candlelight Ghost Tours
Clermont State Historic Site, Germantown
October 21, 22, 29, & 30, at 6, 7, and 8 p.m.
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Would you dare bring an Ouija board to a historic site? This annual event brings visitors to Clermont State Historic Site closer to the past than ever before. A horde of ghosts tell their stories of glory and loss. While some aim to spook guests, others are quite the jokesters. Flickering jack-o-lanterns provide light to the performances along the Clermont lawn. Tickets are $12 per person for adults, and $5 for children. Make reservations online to guarantee entry.
Dutchess County
Beacon HorrorShow
Story Screen, Beacon
October 2, 5, 8, 12, 16, 19, 25, 27, 30; 7 p.m.
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Have you always wanted to see your Halloween horror classics on the big screen again? You’re in luck. Story Screen movie theater in Beacon presents HorrorShow Part VIII, a month-long celebration of scary genre films. Renowned flicks of the past like The Shining and Popcorn join more modern fan-favorites like Scary Movie and Casper. Plus, brand-new additions to the horror lexicon screen this month, including Halloween Ends and Barbarian.
The Wicked Woods
Kevin McCurdy’s Haunted Mansion, Wappingers Falls
Weekends in October, 7 p.m.
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Do you dare adventure your way through The Wicked Woods? This year, Kevin McCurdy’s Haunted Mansion challenges you to find the root of evil in “The Asylum.” Stop at The Grumpy Pumpkin for food, drinks, and mini donuts before or after hunting for tortured spirits (whichever your stomach can handle). Reservations must be made online and in advance.
A Very Fluffy Halloween
Lilymoore Farm, Pleasant Valley
October 21, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31
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Alpacas, goats, and llamas, oh my! Lilymoore Farm’s adorable family of alpacas don their best Halloween costumes and strut their stuff. Farm tours and craft demonstrations make the weekend extra fun. However, the star of the show has to be sassy alpaca Lady Valentina Von Sparkles, who is the one to beat in the costume contest. Tickets are selling out fast, so get them online ASAP.
Orange County
Mid-Orange Correctional Facility Ghost Hunt
Mid-Orange Correctional Facility, Warwick
Select weekends in October through November
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Unexpected horrors lurk at every corner of the former Mid-Orange Correctional Facility. Open for tours on weekends throughout the year, the haunting locale is a Halloween must. Book a tour for exclusive access to the space, with ample time for vigils. Equipment like trigger objects and EMF readers are available for guests…because you never know what you’ll find during a ghost hunt.
Pure Terror Scream Park
Monroe
Weekends in October
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Pure Terror is open for the season, promising screams galore. Make your way to Monroe for 10 themed haunted houses with a Halloween-style monster-themed midway. Challenge yourself to enter houses such as Psycho Circus, Resurrection Cemetery, Camp Killmore, and The Nightmare Factory. This Orange County destination currently holds the Guinness World Record for longest haunted attraction. Be sure to visit the new “Bedlam State Asylum” to see if you’re the next patient to never make it out.
PYO Pumpkin Spookley Movie Night
Apple Ridge Orchards, Warwick
October 14 & 21, 5:30-8 p.m.
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Designed with families in mind, Apple Ridge’s movie nights commence with a short walk under the moonlight and through the apple orchards. After throwing blankets onto the field, guests can sit back to watch Spookley the Square Pumpkin, a family-friendly film about the only square pumpkin in the patch and his journey to self-acceptance. You’ll be able to purchase movie snacks at the farm market, and everyone goes home with a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.
Trunk or Treat
Fair Oaks Drive-In, Middletown
October 29, 4 p.m.
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Calling spooky film fans of all ages! Fair Oaks Drive-In is hosting a Halloween movie night just for you. “Trunk or Treat” culminates in a screening of Casper, a family-friendly fright fest. Pumpkin painting, themed games, and, of course, tons of candy await. A fee of $30 admits a carload of up to five people. Be sure to show up right on time to decorate your trunk as there are limited spots this year.
Brick-or-Treat
Legoland, Goshen
Weekends Through October
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Take the time to finally visit Goshen’s Legoland park during its second annual Brick-or-Treat event Check out the new monster shows, munch on some candy, take pictures with the new bricktastic minifigures, and see what it takes to be a VIM (that stands for “very important monster,” of course).
Putnam County
Halloween on Hill Street
Putnam County Golf Course, Mahopac
October 29, 6:30 p.m.
Nothing tops the classic Halloween party. Bring your best moves and best friends for Disco with the Dancin’ Machine, enjoy a buffet dinner, and be sure to don your scariest attire for the costume contest.
Hearts of the Hollow
Whipple Feeley Veterans Memorial Chapel, Carmel
Weekends Through October
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If you’ve never been able to make it to Sleepy Hollow for Halloween, Hearts of the Hollow is a great way to catch up on everything you’re missing. This new musical is inspired by Washington Irving’s tale, with all the action, intrigue, romance, and mystery fans know and love. Meet new characters, enjoy 20 new songs, and try not to lose your head!
Spellbound Festival
Veteran’s Memorial Park, Carmel
October 29-30, 3-10 p.m.
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Megara Inc. has ventured off the beaten path of ‘fall festivals.’ Its take on the autumnal experience brings punk-rock and witchy vibes to Halloween with the first-ever Spellbound Festival. Lovers of music and all things mystical will not want to miss the live bands, vendors, and haunted attractions that Spellbound has to offer. General admission is $15 online or $20 at the gate, with a weekend pass option and discounts for teens.
Rensselaer County
Nightmares at Liberty Ridge Farm
Liberty Ridge Farm, Schaghticoke
October 1, 8, 15, 21, 22, 28, and 29, 7 p.m.
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A field of screams, underground tunnel, forest of fear, terrifying manor, and farmer’s haunted house give new meaning to fright night in Rensselaer County. In addition to the frightful attractions, Liberty Ridge Farm hosts a psychic sideshow, with barnyard barbecue and cabin rentals available for locals who want to extend the chilling experience.
Sullivan County
Peace, Love, and Pumpkins
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel
October 14-30
Hope, hippies, and Halloween! If you missed out on Bethel Woods Peace, Love, and Lights event last Christmas, enjoy this seasonal trip through the scenic garden trails and past hand-carved jack-o-lanterns. Check out glowing pumpkin art, live music, and displays featuring Woodstock festival icons, dinosaurs, mermaids, and even Big Foot.
Ulster County
Headless Horseman Haunted Attractions
Headless Horseman Haunted Attractions, Ulster Park
Through October 30
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The “#1 Haunted Attraction in America” returns in a big way. This year, spectators will get closer to the horror than ever before. Visitors will walk the haunted woods where the Horseman lurks, without the safety of the typical hayride. Other attractions including spooky motels, monster-filled greenhouses, haunted corn mazes, and more bring the scares. Reservations are strongly encouraged. In addition, on October 8 and 22, the park tones down its scare level for Children’s Day. Hayrides, haunted gardens, a dinosaur trail, and the Magic Moon Maze give kids a taste of the spookiness without the frights. Live music and treats make this the perfect outing for young kids.
Old Dutch Church Cemetery Tours
Old Dutch Church, Kingston
Saturdays in October, 7 p.m.
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A little spooky and a lot educational, Old Dutch Church’s cemetery tours take visitors back to the early days of the Hudson Valley to explore the chilling history of the region. This year’s focus has visitors meeting notable figures that put Kingston on the map. Tickets cost $15 per person and must be purchased online in advance.
Ulster Corps’ Zombie Escape
Williams Lake, Rosendale
October 29, 11 a.m.
Could you use a little motivation when running? Few things get you moving like a horde of hungry zombies. UlsterCorp’s annual fundraiser has 5k and 2k races track around the scenic trails of Williams Lake. Scary surprises lurk in the woods, tunnels, and caves that runners pass.
MyKingstonKids Halloween Fest & Parade
YMCA of Kingston & Ulster County, Kingston
October 29, 2-8 p.m.
It’s time to get your best bridezilla and finest witch robes out for the Monster Ball. Start at Kings Plaza to watch the festivities kick off with the fifth annual Halloween Parade before the ball begins. Hosted by DJ Frankie Bones, expect costumes, singing, dancing, music, and, of course, some sweet treats.
The Tell-Tale Heart
Denizen Theatre, New Paltz
September 29 – October 30
Can you make it through this scary story? Come enjoy a heart-stopping performance of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart at the Denizen Theatre. A classic tale of murder and madness, watch the so-called “perfect plan” unfold before you. We caught opening night, and we absolutely loved it.
Westchester County
The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze
Van Cortlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson
Through October
@hudsonvalleymag Have you been to the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze yet this year? It’s a Halloween staple in the Hudson Valley! // #Blaze #jackolantern #jackolanternblaze #pumpkinblaze #hudsonvalley #Westchester #Halloween // @sabrina.sucato ♬ Halloween ・ cute horror song – PeriTune
The Blaze is back! The Hudson Valley’s electrifying Halloween event fills the grounds at Van Cortlandt Manor with more than 7,000 illuminated jack o’ lanterns in a variety of haunting shapes and sculptures. Advance reservations are required. The show burns through the fall season, kicking off Friday, September 16 and wrapping November 20. Keep your eyes peeled for glowing bees and the animated “Jack” Smith Shop.
Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow
Through October
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Chills and thrills run rampant in Westchester County during the Halloween season, and nowhere is this more apparent than at Sleepy Hollow. Visit the hallowed grounds to reminisce upon Washington Irving’s tale of the same name. In the cemetery, spot the grave of the author himself, along with the headstones for Andrew Carnegie, William Rockefeller, and members of the Hamilton family. Events and activities such as The Original Knickerbocker: Washington Irving & “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” Evening Lantern Tour and The Good, the Bad and the Unusual are all taking place this month.
