Four scary haunts to visit in October
Celebrate halloween on a roller coaster ride at Six Flags' Fright Fest in new Jersey. Credit: Sixth Flags
October, of course, is the month for celebrating Halloween. Here are four devilish monthlong celebrations of all things haunted.
Great Jack O'lantern Blaze, Van Cordlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.
WHEN 6:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 2-Nov. 7
ADMISSION $16 ($12 ages 5-17)
WHY GO Over 4,000 illuminated jack-o'-lanterns light up the night and fire the imagination at Van Cordlandt Manor for 20 evenings. Now in its sixth year, the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze attracts over 60,000 visitors who wander the grounds of this late 18th century estate and enjoy the impressive, artistic - and only minimally scary - jack-o'-lantern-based tableaux. Themed areas include ancient Egypt, Jurassic Park, Pirate's Cove and an undersea aquarium. Suitable for all ages. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
INFO 914-631-8200, hudsonvalley.org
Horseman's Hollow, Philipsburg Manor, Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.
WHEN Fridays-Saturdays Oct. 14-Oct. 30
ADMISSION $20 (ages 14 and up only)
WHY GO The traditional Legend Weekend at historic Philipsburg Manor has a new element this year - Horseman's Hollow - where witches, vampires, corpses, zombies and (super) naturally, the Headless Horseman himself - run frighteningly and realistically amok. The characters are all portrayed by professional actors and the "performances" feature state-of-the-art special effects. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
INFO 914-631-8200, hudsonvalley.org
Fright Fest, Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park, Jackson, N.J.
WHEN Friday evenings and all day Saturday-Sunday Oct. 8-31
ADMISSION $60 ($35 under 54 inches)
WHY GO For the 19th year, Six Flags Great Adventure goes haunted for much of October, trimming the standard park rides and entertainment with spooky touches. For the kiddies, "Thrill by Day" is a not-very-scary approach, with family-friendly Halloween-themed musical performances and trick-or-treating. But after 6 p.m., the park comes alive - or is that dead? - with "Fright by Night" ghouls, monsters and odd demented clowns haunting the midway and adding their own charm to the park's standard amusements.
INFO 732-928-1821, sixflags.com
Haunted Happenings,Salem, Mass.
WHEN Through October
From its historical base as the site of America's infamous 1692 witch trials, Salem has become the country's unofficial Halloween Central. "Haunted Happenings," a compendium of dozens of disparate events, now lasts the entire month of October and culminates in an authentic Wiccan Magick Circle on Samhain (Halloween). Among the many offerings: an evening "Ghosts and Legends" trolley tour ($20), family-friendly outdoor movie screenings on select Saturday nights, parades, carnivals, dramatic performances and more haunted houses than you can shake a broomstick at.
INFO 877-725-3662, hauntedhappenings.org
