Halloween (In the Time of COVID-19)
/Halloween is a great holiday and while 2020 does stand to get in the way of some of its greatness, all is not lost. Read on for TEN of the BEST socially distanced, spooky events happening in October. After all, what’s more scary than trick or treating during a global pandemic?!?!
1. Be Dazzled By The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
Croton-on-Hudson, NY, Select nights through November 29 Old Bethpage, NY, Select nights October 2 through November 1
Once again Croton-on-Hudson’s Van Cortlandt Manor has been transformed into a stunning Jack O’Lantern wonderland called the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze. And this year, a second location has emerged on Long Island at Old Bethpage Village!
Also new for this year - masks required for all patrons over age 2 and limited ticket sales to ensure distance can be kept between parties. The Blaze is so pretty and magical - everyone from the youngest to the oldest in your group will be blown away by its magic. Visitors walk along a path filled with thousands of hand-carved, lit up pumpkins in all kinds of gorgeous shapes and arrangements, while somewhat spooky music plays in the background. For those with babies, it’s best to leave your stroller at home and instead use a baby carrier for purposes of navigating the darkened path.
The event is very popular during normal times and expect harder ticket sales this season where crowds are limited. Also, early times (it’s a timed entry event) sell out first. Tickets are available now for both locations and no tickets will be available for purchase at the event.
The Croton location of the Blaze is also offering a second, daytime event - the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Guests can take a spooky but safe tour of the grounds of Washington Irving’s estate and join a literature themed scavenger hunt.
2. consume A Tiny Taste Of Terror At Headless Horseman Haunted Hayrides And Haunted Houses
Ulster Park, NY, Saturday October 10th and 24th
The website for Ulster Park’s Headless Horseman Haunted Hayrides and Haunted Houses clearly states that children aged 8 and under will NOT be admitted and that children age 15 and under need to be accompanied by an adult to partake in its spooky attractions - these events are NOT for the young or the faint at heart. (Note in 2020, the Haunted Hayride has moved to a “drive through,” which might make it easier for scaredy cat teens and adults).
For those of us with younger ones, Ulster Park DOES offer two much less scary, but still very fun Children’s Days, aka “A Tiny Taste of Terror.” At these two daytime events, the park turns down its scare level and offers a daytime drive-through experience with friendly characters to be met along the way. Then, inside the park there will be a Magic Moon Maze, Haunted Gardens and other family friendly surprises. Tickets are $11.95 per person plus service charge and tax.
3. Lose Yourself In The Amazing Maize Maze
Floral Park, NY, Weekends through October 30
Get lost in the city’s only corn maze at the Queens County Farm Museum - the Amazing Maize Maze. This 3-acre corn maze involves finding clues, solving puzzles and escaping an interactive maze. Tickets are $12 per person ($8 for kids) and must be purchased in advance. The maze can be visited on Saturdays and Sundays (plus Columbus Day) from 11am to 4:30pm. While at the farm, you can also check out the pumpkin patch and harvest treats and activities.
Or head to the farm on Halloween day from 11 to 4:30pm ($20/person - advance tickets only) for all the above PLUS trick or treating with farm animals, kids crafts and hayrides.
4. Cozy Up to An Outdoor Movie shown at An apple Orchard
Warwick, NY, Friday October 9, 16 and 23
For three Friday nights in October, Warwick’s Apple Ridge Orchards will be doing an outdoor evening viewing of “Spookley,” a family friendly Halloween outdoor movie that promotes “tolerance and kindness.” Grab your blankets and masks and head to Apple Ridge at 5:30pm to claim your spot and purchase snacks from the farm stand. The 45 minute movie will begin at 6:45pm on a screen set up amongst the beautiful apple orchards. Advance tickets are required ($16pp, kids under 2 free) and each ticket comes with the movie showing, parking AND any sized pumpkin from the patch.
5. OR STAY IN YOUR CAR AND DUCK UNDER THE SEATS DURING THE SCARY PARTS OF YOUR MOVIE
Farmingdale, NY, Select Fridays in October Central Valley, NY, Select October Weekends
Adventureland Park was a huge part of my childhood growing up on Long Island and while the amusement park sadly could not open for its usual summer season in 2020, it has pivoted to offering, among other things, scary drive in movies in October - Nightmare at the Movies! The 7pm show is “family friendly,” while the 10pm one is a scary adult-oriented feature. In either case, tickets are available in advance for $40 per car and along with the movie, folks get a chicken dinner and popcorn plus Adventureland Arcade Player Cards.
Upstate at Woodbury Commons Outlets, catch Halloweekends happening over three weekends in October. Each weekend offers different Halloween themed drive in movies plus live performances, concessions, trivia games and prizes and even some stand up comedy.
6. Celebrate Halloween With Your Favorite Animals At Boo At The Zoo
Bronx, NY, Weekends through November 1st
I was so happy to hear that the Bronx Zoo is still putting on its adorable Boo at the Zoo event in 2020. In addition to the usual zoo activities, Boo at the Zoo offers extra fun family friendly Halloween stuff like haunted pirate hayrides, magic shows, an extinct animal graveyard, arts and crafts and costume parades! Read all about our past visit HERE. This year, tickets MUST be purchased in advance.
7. get spooky at a ct nature center
Halloween action is full speed ahead at Fairfield County’s best nature centers. Unfortunately, the Stamford Nature Center’s adorable sounding Trick or Treat at the Farm is sold out (next time - check my Insta stories for the 411!), but the New Canaan Nature Center’s Halloween Spooktacular still has tickets available. On October 30th, there will be two evening sessions outdoors at the New Canaan Nature Center - guests will meet some creepy creatures like snakes and spiders, make some spooky crafts and roast marshmallows around a crackling campfire. And costumes are encouraged!
On Halloween afternoon, head to the Greenwich Botanical Center to safely trick or treat along a spooktacular path at Ghouls in the Garden. There will be three sessions in total and each includes take home treats and crafts. Guests must wear masks.
8. try a “not-so-scary day” at bayville’s scream park!
Bayville, New York, Saturdays, Sundays in October and Columbus Day
Similar to the Tiny Taste of Terror in Hudson Valley, Long Island’s incredibly creepy sounding Bayville Scream Park (7 creepy attractions in one place - recommended for ages 10 and up - the website alone is freaking me out!!), offers “Not-So-Scary" Days for younger guests. But here, the less scary option happens each weekend during daylight hours!
Come to Bayville from 11am to 6pm on an October weekend for less scary versions of its nighttime haunted house (no live actors), plus a fun house, a mirror maze, a Halloween train ride, a pumpkin bounce and all kinds of other spooky fun. It sounds adorable (but perhaps better suited for a post-COVID time?)
9. Search For Ghosts and Goblins At The Spooktacular Haunted House Hunt
Kent, NY, Saturdays and Sundays in October
Celebrate Halloween by searching for 18 creepy haunted houses hidden all over the beautiful grounds of Bottlegate Farm. Then head to the farm’s barn for a scavenger hunt and some spooky photo-ops. Tickets are on sale now and entries are timed by the half hour to help with social distancing.
10. get haunted from the comfort of your own house
The Norwalk Historical Society’s popular Halloween fundraiser, A Haunting At Mill Hill, is going virtual for 2020. The Historical Society filmed a haunting movie at various locations around Mill Hill Historic Park and will release the movie on Vimeo on Demand in mid-October. Follow @norwalkhistoricalsociety on Instagram for more details.
