Where To Celebrate Halloween 2016

Where To Celebrate: Halloween: 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: Mon, 10/31: 5:53pm

Scarecrows & Pumpkins, New York Botanical Garden – 9/17-10/30: At this hit NYBG annual event, Artist Ray Villafane returns to NYBG to sculpt an original installation that explores the evolution of the scarecrow from its everyday role in agriculture to its status as a cultural icon in films and comic books. Celebrate the bounty of fall with a crowd of rare and unusual pumpkins and gourds in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. Plus hands on activities featuring pumpkins and gourds of all sizes, shapes and colors in a garden filled with 25 friendly scarecrows. (2900 Southern Blvd. Bronx; www.nybg.org)

Halloween Decorations at Muscoot Farm – Sun, 9/25: 1-3pm: Muscoot’s junior volunteers walk you through the process of making Halloween decorations that you can take home. 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)

Hot ticket alert! The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, Van Cortland Manor This one sells out so order early! – 9/30-10/2, 10/7-10, 13-16, 19-31, 11/3-6, 10-13, 19-20 & 25-26: 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)

The Wizard of Oz, Muscoot Farm – Fri, 9/30: 7pm: Here’s a special treat. Head to Muscoot Farm’s upper dairy barn for a night of family fun up on the big screen. This year’s movie is MGM’s 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz. Based on L. Frank Baum’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The film was nominated for 7 Academy Awards (won three including a special Academy Juvenile Award for Judy Garland) but lost out on Best Picture to Gone With The Wind. Suggested donation $5. (Muscoot Farm, Rt. 100, Somers;  www.muscootfarm.org)

Halloween Train Show, Lasdon Park – Sat-Sun & Columbus Day: 10/1-2, 8-10, 15-16, 22-23 & 29-30: 11am-3:30pm: This year the main attraction is a model Lionel train display featuring haunted scenery, the Harry Potter express and Hogwarts Castle. Lasdon’s main house will be transformed into a series of spooky surprises with a storyteller on select days. Lasdon’s new dinosaur topiary garden will be open, there will be hayrides, live music, food and fall plants, pumpkins and gifts for sale. (Lasdon Park, 2610 Amawalk Rd. Rt. 35, Katonah; www.lasdonpark.org)

The Legend Behind the ‘Legend’, Washington Irving’s Sunnyside – Sat-Sun, 10/1-30: 10am-3pm: 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)

Boo at the Zoo, Bronx Zoo – Weekends 10/1-30: Boo at the zoo features hay mazes, costume parades, Jack O’Lantern illuminations, magic shows, creepy crafts, elaborate carved pumpkin exhibit, music shows, treat stations and Halloween themed treats throughout the zoo. Sand Sculpture USA provides the carved pumpkins, pictured here in a photo by Julie Larsen Maher. Check times for special attractions and activities. (Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx; www.bronxzoo.com)

Make a Scarecrow Contest, Stamford Museum & Nature Center – Sun, 10/2 & 9: 2-4pm.: Bring your family for the SM&NC’s 7th annual scarecrow making program and create a scarecrow for their Harvest Festival Weekend contest. Families can create a life-size scarecrow that will be exhibited and entered in their scarecrow contest at Harvest Festival on (Oct. 15-16) then can be picked up in time to grace your own lawn for Halloween. Some materials are provided, but families are encouraged to bring clothing or accessories to help with their creation. (Stamford Museum & Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford; www.stamfordmuseum.org)

Irving’s ‘Legend’, Old Dutch Church – 10/7-9, 14-16, 21-23 & 27-31: 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)

Hot ticket alert! Horseman’s Hollow, Philipsburg Manor (Order early. This one sells out!) – 10/7-9, 14-16, 21-23 & 27-31: Taking The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to its darkest extremes, Horseman’s Hollow returns for 14 nights of haunted mayhem. Meet the undead, the evil and the insane denizens of a town driven mad by the Headless Horseman. Negotiate a twisted maze of horrors to get to the Horseman’s lair where a party is being thrown in his honor. With elaborate costumes from award-wining feature-film makeup artists and unsettling special effects this popular event is not suitable for children under ten or adults, who are claustrophobic, have heart or respiratory conditions, are prone to seizures, or have other chronic health conditions. (381 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow;  www.hudsonvalley.org)

Local! The Haunt at Rocky Ledge, North White Plains – Fri-Sun, 10/7-30: The nightmare begins October 7. Spooky adventures including 2 haunted houses, a haunted trail in the woods, a chilling cornfield, multiple hair-raising walk-throughs and a snack bar. One mile up the road from the Stop & Shop in N. White Plains. (Rocky Ledge Swim Club, 1402 Old Orchard St., North White Plains; www.hauntatrockyledge.com)

Scared By The Sound, Rye Playland – Fri-Sun, 10/14-16, 21-23 & Fri-Mon, 10/28-31: 7-11pm: 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. Imagine an abandoned amusement park after dark? Scary enough. Find out how scary it is when you add a haunted house at this boo-fest on the Sound! Fridays through Sundays (an Halloween too) 10/14-31. (Rye Playland, 1 Playland Pkwy, Rye; www.ryeplayland.org)

Jay Ghoul’s House of Curiosities, Lyndhurst Mansion: Fir-Sun, Fir-Sun, 10/14-16, Thurs-Sun, 10/20-23 & Wed-Mon, 10/26-31: Experience the only indoor Halloween venue in Westchester. Long-dead family members lead you on a spooky tour of the Lyndhurst mansion. Guests will experience the spectacular gothic castle at night and in a way rarely seen. While the event will appeal to adults and teens, younger children can also participate, as the performance is appropriate for all ages. (Lyndhurst Mansion, 635 S. Broadway, Tarrytown;  www.lyndhurst.org)

Local! Halloween Craft, Bedford Hill Community House – Fri, 10/21: 6-8:30pm: Join Kimberly O’Brien of Bedford Recreation for an evening of Halloween crafts, games and dinner. Grades 2-6. (Bedford Hills Community House, 7 Church St., Bedford Hills; www.bedfordny.gov)

Local! After Dark Halloween Marathon, Jacob Burns – Fri, 10/21: 9:30pm: Stay up all night at J. Burns’ annual Halloween Marathon! Hosted by JBFC Senior Programmer Andrew Jupin, this year’s marathon features eight films including: the new 4k restoration of Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm, the return of the We Hate Movies comedy podcast doing a live commentary over the ridiculous 1989 cult classic Death Spa, the over-the-top trip to Hell Jigoku, a special preview of a much-buzzed film hot off the festival circuit – and four more. There’s a  costume contest and activities in the Jane Peck Gallery, and the concession stand will be open all night with plenty of coffee! (Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Rd., Pleasantville;  www.burnsfilmcenter.org)

The Boxtrolls, Jacob Burns Film Center – Sat-Sun 10/22-23 & Thurs 10/27: Celebrate Halloween with a good flick. The Boxtrolls is the 2014 stop-action animated fantasy comedy from Laica – the creators of Coraline and ParaNorman. The Academy Award nominated film tells the story of an orphan boy Eggs, who is raised by subterranean box trolls who teams up with a girl named Winifred to save the trolls from the Archibald Snatcher, the box troll catcher played by Ben Kingsley.   When a boxtroll-catcher, captures human boy Eggs’ boxtroll guardian, he devises a daring plan to save his family. Sat-SunL 10/22-23: 12pm & Thurs, 10/27: 3pm.(Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Rd., Pleasantville;  www.burnsfilmcenter.org)

Historic Ghost Bus Tours, Lewisboro Town Park – Sat, 10/22: 3-5:30pm: Take a graveyard bus tour with Lewisboro Town Historian Maureen Koehl. Stop by several local cemeteries to look for ghosts and visit Lewisboro’s historic past. Ages 12 & up. (Rt. 35, Cross River; www.lewisboro.gov)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Tarrytown Music Hall – Sat, 10/22: 11pm: Get the full Rocky Horror experience with this late night screening of the cult classic with Brad and Janet, Dr. Frank-n-Furter, Riff-Raff, Columbia & Magenta, Rocky, Dr. Scott and Meatloaf as Eddy. With a live floor show from Rocky Horror performers (including Frank-n-Furter and many of the 8th Street Playhouse cast) who will be performing in their Rocky Horror Floorshow. Sign up online for the “participation kit” when you order TKTS. “But it’s the pelvic thru-ust that really drives you insa-a-a-a-ane, Let’s do the Time Warp again!.” (Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main St., Tarrytown;  www.tarrytownmusichall.org)

Local! Halloween Carnival & Ragamuffin Parade, Chappaqua Train Station – Sun 10/23: 12:30pm: The carnival starts at 12:30pm with giant slide games, bounce castle, go carts, rides, cotton candy, popcorn, a DJ and the Bedford School of Rock House Band.  Come in costume and march in the parade at 3:30pm. 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. Rain date, Sat, 10/30. (Chappaqua Train Station; newcastlerecreation)

Gravedigger’s Tale, Boscobel – Wed-Sat, 10/26-29 & Sun & Mon, 10/30-31: Meet the amiable grave-maker: the houses that he makes last till doomsday. Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival presents seven performances on Halloween weekend of Robert Richmond and Louis Butelli’s work Gravedigger’s Tale – originally produced at Folger Theatre in Washington DC. Your Gravedigger, appearing briefly in Act V of Hamlet, arrives onstage at the Boscobel Mansion with a trunk and a book, using Shakespeare’s moving words, traditional music, and help from the audience to bring this enduring story to life. (1601 Rt. 9D, Garrison; www.boscobel.org)

A Taste of Westchester, The Horse & Hound Inn, Ghosts? – Thurs, 10/27: 6-8pm. Husband and wife team, 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 an amuse bouche of braised pork belly with chipotle aioli. Then the lesson begins with Sue’s preparation of seared scallops over butternut squash risotto. For the main course, she demonstrates how to prep, pan sear and deglaze pork with peaches and bourbon. Her sweet lesson will be warm apple and sage compote over vanilla ice cream, paired with a white port. Register here (94 Spring Street, South Salem, 
914-763-3108; www.thehorseandhoundinn.com)

Local! Spooky Tales at Caramoor – Fri, 10/28: 3:30pm: Storyteller LuAnn Adams kicks off Halloween weekend with a multi-cultural performance of spooky (but not-too-scary) folktales from around the world featuring ghosts, witches, goblins and pumpkins. This show features puppets and audience participation. Hot cider and other ghostly cookie treats are served after the show. Come in costume! Prizes for all! Ages 3-8. (Caramoor, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah:  www.caramoor.org)

Local! Spooktacular Halloween Event, North White Plains – Fri, 10/28: 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)

Haunted Forest at Audubon Greenwitch – Fri, 10/28: 6-9:30pm: Brave their haunted trail and take your chances with up-close encounters with creepy creatures. There’s a costume dance party, games, a bonfire, S’more and candy. Plus a live Hairy Scary Critter Show. Advanced tickets required for the critter show. Advance or at the door admission for the haunted forest. (613 Riversville Rd, Greenwich; www.greenwich.audubon.org)

Frankenstein – The Movie Score, Chappaqua Orchestra, Nyack HS – Fri, 10/28: 8pm: The Chappaqua Orchestra, under the direction of Music Director and composer Michael Shapiro, perform his original score simultaneously with the classic early talkie with Boris Karloff and Colin Clive. Under the auspices of ArtsRock, the concert will be preceded by an interview of the composer by WQXR radio personality Elliott Forrest. (360 Christian Herald Rd., Upper Nyack; www.chappaquaorchestra.org)

Ghost Hunt, Onatru Farm Park – Fri, 10/28: 5-6:15pm: Join Robin and her raven, Edgar for a ghostly adventure with Lewisboro Recreation. Learn what to look for and how to become a Ghost Hunter as we stop by the places in Onatru Farm Park that have stories to tell. Bring a flashlight, sturdy shoes and maybe a camera for our adventure. The ghost hunt is educational, and fun. (99 Elmwood Rd., Lewisboro: www.lewisboro.gov) for ages 6-12 with parents.

Phil Lesh & Friends, Capitol Theatre – Fri-Sat, 10/28-9 & Mon, 10/31: 8pm: Lesh’s love affair with the Capitol Theatre continues. The Grateful Dead bassist and friends have a steady gig there -like Billy Joel at MSG. Just less advanced notice. He sells out so buy your TKTS today. (149 Westchester Ave., Port Chester;  www.thecapitoltheatre.com)

Rocky Horror Picture Show, Paramount Hudson Valley – Sat, 10/29: 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)

Boo Walk, Muscoot Farm – Sat, 10/29: 1-3PM: Dress in your costume for this Halloween themed scavenger hunt. (Muscoot Farm, Rt. 100, Somers; www.muscootfarm.org)

The Real Wicked Witches of Halloween Hills, Emelin Theatre – Sun, 10/30: 11am & 1:30pm: In this one-hour family musical the world’s most notorious witches compete for the title of Supreme Witch! But someone is trying to spoil 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? Come dressed in your Halloween costumes and meet the performers after the show. (153 Library Ln., Mamaroneck; www.emelin.org)

Local! Katonah Halloween Parade – Sun, 10/30: 3pm: Save the date for the Katonah Village Improvement Society’s (KVIS) Halloween Parade. Featuring cider, donuts, music by Abby + The Roadsters and of course the parade. Meet at Lot 2 behind Modern Paint & Hardware. www.katonahvis.com

Frankenstein, National Theatre Live, Ridgefield Playhouse – Mon. 10/31: 7pm: Directed by Academy Award®-winner Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, Steve Jobs), this thrilling production features Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC’s Sherlock, The Imitation Game) and Jonny Lee Miller (CBS’s Elementary, Trainspotting) alternating roles as Victor Frankenstein and his creation. The production was a sell-out hit at the National Theatre in 2011. And the broadcast has since become an international sensation, experienced by over half a million people in cinemas around the world.(80 East Ridge, Ridgefield; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

What To Do: With the Kids FALL 2016

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