Westchester’s Best Halloween Events Guide 2018

Westchester’s Best Halloween Events Guide 2018: 27 boo fests, costume parades, train shows, pumpkin blazes, movies, scary tales, spooky theatre, crafts, and “a pelvic thru-ust that really drives you insa-a-a-a-ane!” 

Sunset time for Trick or Treaters: Wed, 10/31: 5:53pm

Scarecrows & Pumpkins, New York Botanical Garden, Sat, 9/22-Wed, 10/31: 10am-6pm: Kids can explore 100 friendly larger-than-life scarecrows in a garden of nearly 1,000 rare and unusual pumpkins and gourds. There are craft activities for kids, scarecrow puppets, a Victorian Playhouse were kids learn about bats, and pumpkin carving demonstrations, and creepy presentations with lizards & snakes on weekends.  (2900 Southern Pkwy, Bronx; www. Nybg.org)

Boo at the Zoo, Bronx Zoo – Weekends 9/29-10/28 & Columbus Day: A Haunted Pirate hayride, magic shows, costume parades, carved pumpkin demonstrations, crafts, an extinct animal graveyard, a bird meet & greet, a candy trail and a mentalist show. a Bootoberfest for all and seasonal fun at Nature Trek. Plus Spooktacular Night Walks after the park closes for all ages on 10/6, 13, 20, 26 & 27. (Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx; www.bronxzoo.com)

Hot ticket alert! The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, Van Cortland Manor – Select evenings from Fri, 9/28-Sat, 11/24: Walk through a path of 5,000 hand-carved, illuminated jack o’lanterns set against an historic, 18th-century riverside landscape. Highlights include a headless horseman, a working doomsday grandfather clock, and gourd filled jack in the boxes, and dinosaurs from Jurassic Park – all made out of jack-o-lanterns. With sound effects, synchronized lighting and an original soundtrack by recording artist Richard Christy. Advance tickets required. (525 S. Riverside Ave., Croton on Hudson; www.hudsonvalley.org)

Local! The Haunt at Rocky Ledge, North White Plains – Fri-Sun, 10/5-28: The nightmare begins October 5. In it’s 9th season, The Haunt features 9 acres of indoor/outdoor spooky adventures including 2 haunted houses, a haunted trail in the woods, Westchester’s only haunted cornfield, multiple hair-raising walk-throughs and a snack bar. One mile up the road from the Stop & Shop in N. White Plains. Want to join the cast? Call them now! (Rocky Ledge Swim Club, 1402 Old Orchard St., North White Plains; www.hauntatrockyledge.com)

Home of “The Legend”, Washington Irving’s Sunnyside – Sat-Sun, 9/29-10/24: 10am-3:30pm: A daytime visit here is the perfect prelude to an evening at Blaze, Horseman’s Hollow, or Irving’s ‘Legend.’ Irving’s fascinating home – a colorful blend of architectural styles – will showcase numerous objects related to Irving’s famous story. Visitors can enjoy a shadow puppet performance of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and experience one of Irving’s spooky tales on a walk through the woods. (3 W. Sunnyside Ln., Irvington; www.hudsonvalley.org)

Hot ticket alert! Horseman’s Hollow, Philipsburg Manor: Fri-Sun, 10/5-21 & Thurs-Wed, 10/25-31: Evenings: Philipsburg Manor transforms into a terrifying landscape ruled by the undead, the evil, and the insane. Visitors begin walking a haunted trail, stumbling upon scary scenes of a town driven mad by the Headless Horseman. Those who survive the trail enter the terrifying ruins of Ichabod’s Schoolhouse, where they must endure a twisted maze of horrors too terrible to describe, only to end up in the lair of the Horseman. Heads will definitely roll. (381 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow; www.hudsonvalley.org)

Editor’s Choice! The Unsilent Picture, Philpsburg Manor, Fri-Sun, 10/5-21 & Thurs-Wed, screenings at 6:15, 715, 8:15 & 9:15: BRAND NEW for 2018: Settle in to an eerie evening performance featuring an original silent film starring Bill Irwin accompanied by live musicians and an in-the-flesh special effects Foley artist. Inspired by Washington Irving’s spooky tale “The Adventure of the Mysterious Picture,” and steeped in dark and moody turn-of-the-19th-century atmosphere. (381 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow; www.hudsonvalley.org)

Irving’s ‘Legend’, Old Dutch Church – Weekday Evenings & Afternoon & Evenings on Weekends in October: Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk offers a dramatic performance of Washington Irving’s classic tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, featuring the Headless Horseman, Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones, and Katrina Van Tassel. With live, spooky organ music by Jim Keyes. (Old Dutch Church: Park at Philipsburg Manor 381 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow; www.hudsonvalley.org)

Local! Fall Festival & Halloween Train Show, Lasdon Park – Sat- Mon: 10/6-8 & Sat-Sun, 10/13-10/28: 10am-4pm: At this Fall Festival cum Halloween Train Show, Lasdon’s Main House is spooked out with decorations. There’s music, face painting, an animal embassy, Louie the T-Rex, a Halloween Crazy Maze, beer tastings, food trucks and, of course the Model Train display. Check out the Color of Summer exhibit in the Conservatory’s Glass House while you are there.(2810 Amawalk Rd., Katonah; www.lasdonpark.org)

Pumpkin Picking Weekend at Muscoot Farm, Sat-Mon, 10/6-8: 11am-3pm: Pick a pumpkin from Muscoot’s pumpkin patch, glitter a pumpkin, enjoy music, and take a hayride!  Check out the animals (moo, baa, quack, cluck, neigh) and the element historic buildings. We love the ice house. (Muscoot Farm, Rt. 100, Somers; www.muscootfarm.org)

Scary Stories on the Farm, Muscoot Farm, Fri, 10/12: 7pm: Children ages 10 and older can enjoy scary stories by the fire.  Pre-registration required at (914) 864-7286. (Muscoot Farm, Rt. 100, Somers;  www.muscootfarm.org)

Scared By The Sound, Rye Playland, Fri-Sun, 10/12-28: evenings: In it’s 19th year, Rye Playland becomes an abandoned amusement park after dark for this Halloween Spook event. Sound scary? Find out how scary it is when you add a 12,000 sq. foot haunted house at this boo-fest on the Sound! Take the Crypt Walk; visit the Haunted Wine Cellar, Creepy Morgue and Tunnels of Doom. This walk-through dark attraction may be too scary for children under 10. Strobe lighting and fog use alert for anyone adversely affected by these effects. Im (Rye Playland, 1 Playland Pkwy, Rye; www.ryeplayland.org)

Local! Halloween Craft, Bedford Hill Community House – Fri, 10/12: 6-8:30pm: Kids in grade 2-7 join Kimberly O’Brien of Bedford Recreation for an evening of Halloween crafts, games and dinner. (Bedford Hills Community House, 7 Church St., Bedford Hills; www.bedfordny.gov)

Muscoot Movies Presents: Psycho, Fri, 10/19: 7-9pm: A dominating mother, a son racked with sexual guilt, a pretty blonde, a convenient motel and a nice hot shower. The original “slasher” film from Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh was nominated for four Academy Awards and is on the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry. Will it be even scarier with night-time animal sounds in the background? (Muscoot Farm, Rt. 100, Somers;  www.muscootfarm.org)

Jay Ghoul’s House of Curiosities, The Mystery of the Pharaoh’s Curse, Lyndhurst Mansion: Fri, 10/19-Tues, 10/31: At Jay Ghoul’s House of Curiosities you will take a journey through the mansion to solve the murder mystery of the Pharaoh’s Curse. Or is it a cold blooded killer? Along the way you will meet the cast of zany archeologists, local personalities, and unscrupulous smugglers who have unearthed an ancient Egyptian tomb. But be careful…each of them has their own secrets and superstitions. (Lyndhurst Mansion, 635 S. Broadway, Tarrytown;  www.lyndhurst.org)

Boo Walk, Muscoot Farm, Sat, 10/20: 12-3PM: Dress in your costume for this Halloween themed scavenger hunt. (Muscoot Farm, Rt. 100, Somers; www.muscootfarm.org)

Giant Pumpkin Weekend, New York Botanical Garden, Sat, 10/20: 1 & 3pm, Sun, 10/21: 1pm: Monstrous pumpkins from around the country—some weighing in at more than a ton—once again arrive at the Garden, arranged in collaboration with the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth. Meet the growers to learn more about the growing process during Q&A sessions and enjoy photo ops with these giant gourds, on display through October 31. (2900 Southern Pkwy, Bronx; www. Nybg.org)

Local! Halloween Carnival & Ragamuffin Parade, Chappaqua Train Station, Sun, 10/21: 12pm: The carnival starts at 12 with giant slide games, bounce castle, go carts, rides, cotton candy, popcorn and music. Come in costume and march in the parade at 2pm. Be part of the parade featuring the Blue Crew Marching Band, the Dixie Dandies Marching Band, the Chappaqua Fire Department and the Chappaqua Ambulance Dracula. Everyone is welcome. (Chappaqua Train Station; newcastlerecreation)

Go To Sleep Little Creep, Scattered Books, Chappaqua, Sun, 10/21: 12-2pm: Join the spirited fun as local author David Quinn reads his new book for kids, Go to Sleep, Little Creep (Crown Books for Young Readers, July 2018). This warm, funny rhyming picture book transports kids to a make-believe Halloween Night World where Monster Parents struggle to cuddle and calm their little ghosts, zombies, creatures and creeps for a good night’s, well, actually, it’s a good day’s sleep. (29 King St, Chappaqua)

Trick or Treat on the Farm & Ick Fest, Stamford Museum & Nature Center, Sun, 10/28: 1-2:30pm: Come in costume and let the clues lead you around the farm to find trick or treat goodies! Each clue takes you to a new animal location starting at the otter bridge. Visit Heckscher WILD! for a chance to meet some cool creepy crawlies and stop by the Overbrook Nature Center building for self-guided crafts and THE SLIME TABLE. (39 Schofieldtown Rd., Stamford, CT; www.stamfordmuseum.org)

JBFC’s Fifth Annual Halloween Movie Marathon, Jacob Burns Film Center, Fri, 10/26: 9pm: JBFC Senior Programmer Andrew Jupin’s selection of restored classics, oddball gems and shocking new boo-movies includes 10 movies from around the globe from Morocco, Iran, Northern Ireland, the Philippines – Haddonfield and Castle Rock too. Plus, the return of the We Hate Movies comedy podcast, set to mock yet another schlocky horror title live! There’s a costume contest and plenty of coffee! (364 Manville Rd, Pleasantville; www.burnsfilmcenter.org)

Spooky Pumpkin Nights, New York Botanical Garden, Fri-Sat, 10/26-27: Come dressed in your favorite costume, grab a flashlight, and go on a nighttime adventure to explore the Spooky Pumpkin Garden’s scarecrow and pumpkin displays. Visit the Whole Foods Market® Trick-or-Treat Trail to decorate a bag and collect wholesome goodies. Other frightfully fun activities include gourd decorating, mingling with larger-than-life skeletons and costumed characters, and listening for critters of the night.  (2900 Southern Pkwy, Bronx; www. Nybg.org)

The Exorcist, The Shining, Bedord Playhouse, Sat-Sun, 10/27-28: check times: The new Bedford Playhouse, Home of the Clive Davis Cultural Center, gets their Halloween on with screenings of William Friedkin’s 1973 classic of demonic possession and projectile vomiting, starring Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair and Max von Sydow. Plus Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 horror film based on the Stephen King novel, The Shining, about Jack Torrance’s (Jack Nicholson) and his wife’s (Shelly Duvall’s) unfortunate choice of hotels. Shoulda used Triavgo. “Here’s Johnny!” (633 Old Post Rd., Bedford; www.bedfordplayhouse.org)

The Grand Slambovian Halloween Ball, Irvington Town Hall Theater, Sat, 10/27: 8pm: The Slambovian Circus of Dreams (think “hill-billy Pink Floyd”) returns to their native Sleepy Hollow country for this special, immersive multi-media event. Hailed by Maverick magazine for their “hugely original rock from the cool end of Americana”, SCOD is joined by Gary Lucas (Captain Beefheart). Rolling Stone called Lucas a “modern guitar miracle.” The ball features legendary creatures of the night, including the indescribable, Immortal Jellyfish, and a Washington Irving inspired costume contest. (85 Main St. Irvington; clicks for ticks)

The Real Wicked Witches of Halloween Hills, Emelin Theatre, Sun, 10/28: 11am & 1:30pm: On All Hallows Eve the world’s most notorious witches compete for the title of Supreme Witch! But someone is trying to mess up the contest? Can a young witch apprentice, a skeleton boy, and a cat named Pumpkin uncover who is trying to control The Real Wicked Witches of Halloween Hills? This one-hour musical for ages k-5, is from John Tracey Eagen (The Producers) and Robert Hager (Fun Home). (153 Library Ln., Mamaroneck; www.emelin.org)

A Taste of Westchester, The Horse & Hound Inn, Ghosts?, Mon, 10/29: 6-8pm: Silvano and Sue Vales share stories of spirit sightings at the inn at this annual cooking class and gourmet boo fest. Your meal starts with  fried oyster and old bay aioli. Learn to make phyllo wrapped baked brie and apple-cranberry chutney, how to break down a pork loin three ways and a French cut chop with calvados and apples. Sues’ South Salem grown white peaches foster over vanilla bean ice cream will end your class on a sweet high. Register here (94 Spring Street, South Salem, 
914-763-3108;  www.thehorseandhoundinn.com)

Spooky Tales, Caramoor, Tues, 10/30: 3:30pm: Come with your little ones to a riveting storytelling performance to begin your Halloween festivities, followed by a special brew (hot cider) and other ghostly treats (cookies) served in the Summer Dining Room. Come in costume! Prizes given to all! Ages 3–8. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah: www.caramoor.org)

Rocky Horror Picture Show, Paramount Hudson Valley, Wed, 10/31: 8pm: “Toucha- toucha- toucha- touch me, I wanna be dirty. Thrill me, chill me, fulfill me, creature of the night.”  (1008 Brown St., Peekskill: www.paramounthudsonvalley.com)

Phil-O-Ween, Capitol Theater, Wed-Fri, 10/32-11/2: Phil Lesh (The Grateful Dead) is back to the Cap for his annual Halloween run. On Halloween Night, Phiddle (Phil Leshand The Terrapin Family Band + Twiddle) take the stage. On Thursday night, Jimmy Herring and Karl Denson join Phil and Terrapin and on Friday Jimmy Herring joins Phil and The Terrapin Family Band. (149 Westchester Ave., Port Chester;  www.capitoltheatre.com)

Local! Spooktacular Halloween Event, North White Plains, Fri, 11/2: 7-9pm: DJ, games, prizes and face painting for grades K-5 with an adult. Come in costume. This is a free event. (North Castle Community Center, 10 Clove Rd., N.W. Plains; www.northcastleny.com)

More stuff to do here.

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