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Getting Bigger

Maybe it’s because Westchester is home to Sleepy Hollow, the area long associated with all things Halloween, but it seems to me that Halloween is getting bigger every year.

Once it was enough to make an annual visit to Sunnyside, the Tarrytown home of Washington Irving, author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow featuring the Headless Horseman. Today, this is just one of the historic Hudson Valley Halloween events happening this month. October is packed with reenactments, blazing pumpkins, not-so-scary daytime fun for little ones and thrilling and chilling late night adventures for kids and parents that are looking for a little make-believe terror.

I’m a scaredy cat. I cover my eyes in PG movies (just in case) and feel a little nervous opening the door on Halloween when the “big kids” start showing up after 9 p.m. (sometimes the blood looks too real). But I am apparently in the minority. Halloween is big business and getting bigger. Temporary Halloween stores are on the rise and other retailers have expanded their offerings for the holiday. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), business is booming. They estimate that seven in 10 Americans will celebrate Halloween this year and they will be spending more than ever before. NRF says the average person will spend about $72 on costumes, candy and decorations. All totaled that’s some $6.9 billion nationally.

So who am I to let the economy down? No matter how frightening it can be I will be buy my fair share of candy and take in the local entertainment, just look for me at the kiddie events – who can resist a Ragamuffin children’s parade?

We know your family is looking forward to this time of year, so we’ve scoured the area and have an entire feature story on where to go and what to do to be properly, or not-so, scared this Halloween. And make sure to take a look at our Calendar of Events, because there are even more Halloween and harvest-themed events listed there. Whatever you and the family do, have fun doing it!

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