Not So Scary Haunts
Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo and Howl-O-Ween at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo are sure to be spooktacular afternoons. The Bronx Zoo’s Halloween tradition includes hay mazes, costume parades, magic shows, musical theater, a Dinosaur Safari, live music and more. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. October weekends only. $16.95 adults, $12.95 children. The Beardsley Zoo’s Halloween fun includes hayrides, face painting, a magic show, animal presentations and candy treats. 6:30-10 p.m., Oct. 17, 18, 24, 25 $12 adults, $12 in advance, $15 at the gate.
The Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx. 718-367-1010. www.bronxzoo.org.
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Ave., Bridgeport, Conn. 203-394-6563. www.beardsleyzoo.org.
Hardly Haunted
Lyndhurst, a Gothic Revival mansion and the only indoor Halloween venue in Westchester is hosting Jay Ghoul’s House of Curiosities. Lyndhurst ghosts lead a spooky tours evenings Oct 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 31 and Nov 1 and 2 for $25. Children and adults of all ages will revel in this journey back in time.
Lyndhurst, 635 South Broadway, Tarrytown. 631-4481. www.lyndhurst.org
The Blaze, at Van Cortlandt Manor, features some 5,000 individually hand-carved illuminated jack o’lanterns and is not to be missed! Families walk the grounds and see super-sized dinosaurs, pirates, flying ghosts, a likeness of Dracula, an undersea aquarium and more – all created out of carved jack o’lanterns. Timed reservations start at 7 pm, Oct. 6-8, 12-14, 19-21, 25-31, plus Nov. 2-4 and 9-11. $16 adults, $12 children ages 3-17; $20/$16 Saturdays, reservations required.
The Legend Celebration at Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, is a daytime festival with live musicians, magicians, puppeteers, a spooky mime scarecrow and ghost stories. Visitors wear costumes, take part in old-fashioned games and activities and tour the house where Irving lived. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 6-8, 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28. $14 adults, $6 children ages 3 to 17.
And Irving’s Legend is an evening event at the Old Dutch Church featuring the master storyteller Jonathan Kruk. His dramatic, candle-lit performance of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is accompanied by spooky organ music. There are three performances each evening on the hour (four on Sunday) beginning at either 5 p.m. or 6:15 p.m. depending on the evening. Oct. 6-8, 12-14, 19-21 and 26-28. $16 adults, $12 children under 18. Recommended for ages 10 and up.
Van Cortlandt Manor, 535 South Riverside Ave., Croton-on-Hudson.
Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, 89 West Sunnyside Lane, Tarrytown.
Old Dutch Church, 381 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow.
Historic Hudson Valley. 631-8200. www.hudsonvalley.org.
If you’re looking for a special Halloween treat for the “super hero” in your family, visit the Maritime Aquarium where visitors come face-to-face with Spider Man, Thor, Iron Man and the Green Goblin at Marvel Super Heroes: Operation Green, an interactive action-packed show that teaches audiences the dangers of pollution and ways to conserve energy, recycle and live a greener lifestyle. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Oct. 27. $10; reservations strongly suggested. The show is held in the IMAX theater (does not include an IMAX presentation).
The Maritime Aquarium, 10 North Water St., Norwalk, Conn. 203-852-0700
Chilling Thrills
Looking for a real fright? Historic Hudson Valley’s Horseman’s Hollow, based on Washington Irving’s Legend, takes The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to its darkest extremes. Phillipsburg Manor is transformed into a terrifying landscape and a cast of experienced actors creates an interactive experience with spooky special effects. The Hollow’s fear factor is very high with warnings for those who are claustrophobic, have heart or respiratory conditions or are prone to seizures. Not recommended for visitors under age 14. Timed reservations begin at 7 p.m., Oct. 6-7, 13-14, 19-21 and 25-28. $20; reservations required.
Philipsburg Manor, 381 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow. 631-8200. www.hudsonvalley.org.
The Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses located in Ulster Park, is an attraction that’s been rated one of the top haunted experiences in the country. The attraction includes six professionally created haunted houses, a labyrinth-style corn maze and a one-mile hayride. The 3-hour (approximate) theatrical experience begins with a Headless Horseman Hayride, which drops visitors at the first of the haunted attractions, the Lunar Motel Haunted House. Each attraction leads to the next and visitors end where they began. Recommended for ages 10 and up. 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays through Sundays in October, as well as Oct. 18, 25 and 31, and Nov. 2 and 3. $38.95 (includes eight attractions); reservations required. The Headless Horseman Hayrides tone down the scare level for one day during Children’s Day – A Tiny Taste of Terror and offers little ones a daylight hayride with a friendly storyteller telling scary tales, not-so-spooky entertainment, face painting, country games and a corn maze and haunted gardens to explore. Noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 13; rain date Oct. 14. $11.
The Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses, 778 Broadway, Rte. 9W, Ulster Park, NY. 845-339-2666.
Playland’s Scared by the Sound Haunted House offers a walk-through dark attraction with elaborate scenes and plenty of startles and scares for children ages 8 and up (too scary for youngsters even if accompanied by an adult). There are two new features this year: The Demented Pumpkin Patch and the truly scary Terror Trail. There is also a not-so-scary Hardly Haunted Matinee for children ages 7 and under. Haunted evenings: 8 to 11 p.m. Fridays; 7 to 11 p.m. Saturdays; and 7 to 10 p.m. Sundays and Halloween. Oct. 5-31. $16 adults. $12 children ages 11 and under. Matinee: noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28. $5. $1 coupon available for download on website.
Playland Amusement Park, Playland Pkwy.,Rye. 877-722-7938.
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