13 frights of Halloween: Spooky Long Island events
Have a scary good time this Halloween season. Credit: Newsday illustration/Neville Harvey
Halloween isn't until Oct. 31, but spooky season lasts all month. Kick off the countdown with these picks for 13 frights, whether you're looking for spine-chilling haunts or not-so-scary attractions.
Fright 1: Spooky Fest on Oct. 19
1450 Tanglewood Rd., Rockville Centre
Take a chilling walk through Spooky Fest at the Center for Science Teaching and Learning in Rockville Centre. Credit: Jeff Bachner
Take a walk through the "spooky woods" at the Center for Science Teaching and Learning from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Littles can explore the family Enchanted Forest Walk. "Science is all around us and at Spooky Fest, children can make slime and interact with dinosaurs in the woods," says Ray Ann Havasy, center director.
Salvatore Andreassi, 13, and his sister, Tiffany, 16, walk through the “Scary Woods” at Spooky Fest. Credit: Linda Rosier
Starting at $22 for non-scary and $27 for all-attractions ticket. Also open weekends through October and Nov. 1-2. More info cstl.org, 516-764-0045
Fright 2: Fall Festival at Hicks Nurseries on Oct. 20
100 Jericho Tpke., Westbury
The walk-through show at Hicks Nurseries tells a story about the way Otto the Ghost learns about Halloween. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Take a photo with Otto the Ghost (10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sundays only through Oct. 26), stroll through the animated Halloween walk and play games like scarecrow ring toss, bowling and cornhole. Free admission, $30 wristband includes hay maze and crafts. Open daily through Oct. 26. More info hicksnurseries.com, 516-334-0066
Fright 3: Halloween House Long Island on Oct. 21
The Shops on Broadway, 358 N. Broadway, Hicksville
Ralph DeBrossee, of East Northport, with his son, Leon, play in the illusion room at the Halloween House Long Island in Hicksville. Credit: Linda Rosier
Walk through rooms with themed decorations, including the Spiderweb Spectacle, the Halloween House Carnival, the Monster Mash Rave and the Horror Hotel from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $24.99. More info halloweenhouselongisland.com)
Fright 4: Gateway’s Haunted Playhouse on Oct. 22
215 S. Country Rd., Bellport
A haunted creature at Gateway's Haunted Playhouse. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
The haunted house brings frights with a midway featuring games and attractions, snacks and a food truck; 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $42 online, $52 at the door. Also open Thursday through Sunday through Nov. 1. More info fearli.com, 631-286-1133)
Fright 5: Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns on Oct. 23
Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts, 185 Colonial Springs Rd., Wheatley Heights
Twins Nate and Violet Vega, 4, of Centereach, with their mother, Ashley, posing in photo cutout at the Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns trail at Usdan on Oct. 3. Credit: Howard Simmons
See thousands of carved and lit pumpkins portraying pop culture and Halloween characters; 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets start at $20. Also open Wednesday through Sunday in October and Nov. 1. More info usdan.org)
Fright 6: Halloween boat burning on Oct. 24
Long Island Maritime Museum, 88 West Ave., West Sayville
A boat that has outlived its usefulness is burned during the annual event at Long Island Maritime Museum in West Sayville. Credit: Long Island Maritime Museum
"Boat burning comes from a centuries-old tradition brought about by Dutch immigrant sailors and ship makers who lived in the area," says Justin Walsh, volunteer coordinator at the Long Island Maritime Museum. "Today, the burning is meant to evoke that time in history and coincides with Halloween as the end of the boating season." Gates open at 5 p.m. Admission is $5. More info limaritime.org, 631-854-4974)
Fright 7: Halloween pet parade on Oct. 25
Nassau County Museum of Art’s north lawn, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor
Dash, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, is dressed as an artist for the Nassau County Museum of Art pet parade. Credit: Nassau County Museum of Art/Beth Horn
Dress up your pet and join the costume parade, 2 to 4 p.m. Rain date on Oct. 26. Pre-registration is required and dogs must be leashed. $10 per car. More info nassaumuseum.org, 516-766-1029)
Fright 8: White Post Farms Fall Festival on Oct. 26
250 Old Country Rd., Melville
Isidro Maldonado and his son, Jared Maldonado, 3, greet a triceratops. Credit: Morgan Campbell
Families can meet farm animals and animatronic dinosaurs at a new, permanent exhibit. Tickets are $43.95 plus tax online; $39.95 plus tax (cash only at the gate). Also open Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 26. More info whitepostfarms.com, 631-351-9373)
Fright 9: Bayville Scream Park on Oct. 27
8 Bayville Ave., Bayville
Visitors will find scares in every corner at Bayville Scream Park in Bayville. Credit: Rick Kopstein
Thrill-seekers can explore five haunted houses, including the Bayville Asylum, Uncle Needle's Funhouse of Fear in 3D, Bloodworth Haunted Mansion, The Cage and Temple of Terror. Tickets start at $56.75. Also open Oct. 17-19, Oct. 21-Nov. 2 and Nov. 7-8. More info bayvillescreampark.com, 516-624-4678)
Fright 10: Halloween dine-in movie on Oct. 28
317 Main St., Farmingdale
Enjoy a spooky themed dinner during a dine-in showing of "Hocus Pocus" at 317 Main in Farmingdale. Credit: Karina C Photography
See "Hocus Pocus" and have a five-course themed meal, if you dare. 317 Main Street menu highlights include hummus with headstone chips, witches brew bacon chowder and dragon fire wings, ghost pasta, a dirt and worm cup and more at 6 p.m. Tickets are $50 and reservations are required. Upcoming events include Oct. 28-30. More info 317mainstreet.com, 516-512-5317)
Fright 11: Spooky Science workshop on Oct. 29
Planting Fields, 1395 Planting Fields Rd., Oyster Bay
Explore the science of pumpkins at Planting Fields in Oyster Bay. Credit: Kendall Rodriguez
The workshop for ages 5-12 explores the science of pumpkins and kids can make a fall nature craft from 4 to 6 p.m.; $25. More info plantingfields.org, 516-922-9210)
Fright 12: 'Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary' on Oct. 30
Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, 71 E. Main St., Patchogue
Tim Curry as Frank-N-Furter in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Credit: Twentieth Century Fox
Join Columbia (actor Nell Campbell) at a screening of the cult classic on its 50th anniversary, featuring a live shadow cast with audience participation at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $43-$83 and include a prop bag. More info patchoguetheatre.org, 631-207-1313)
Fright 13: Halloween Festival in Stony Brook on Oct. 31
Stony Brook Village Center, 111 Main St., Stony Brook
Walter Lynch, of Stony Brook, dressed as a police officer to trick or treat at the annual Stony Brook Village Halloween Festival. Credit: Linda Rosier
Wear your costume and go trick-or-treating through the village. Meet Monster Merlin for photos and play yard games from 2 to 5 p.m. (free). More info wmho.org, 631-751-2244)
