Westchester loves Halloween. There are so many activities and events that you can try something new every year and start a tradition of your favorites. Many of these events require advanced tickets, so reserve your spot now for your most exciting, thrilling and fun Halloween yet!
A lot of the following events look very scary, but there are also many little kid friendly events, and I made sure to state age appropriateness for each one. Of course all kids are different, so use your best judgement when considering if your child will enjoy the event.
Horseman’s Hollow (Ages 10+)
In its third year of existence, “Horseman’s Hollow” is a spooky destination event held in the heart of Sleepy Hollow. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow becomes a dark and terrifying reality as visitors walk along a haunted trail, encountering scary scenes of a village driven mad by the Headless Horseman. The evil, insane, and “undead” lurk around every corner, and they are said to spook even the most previously unshakeable visitors.
When: October 6- 7, 13-14, 19-21, 25-28, check their website for show times.
Where: Philipsburg Manor, 381 North Broadway in Sleepy Hollow
Cost: Tickets are $20 ($25 on Saturdays), reservations are necessary.
Irving’s Legend (Ages 10+)
Washington Irving’s classic tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is told by Jonathan Kruk with live organ music by Jim Keyes.
When: Oct. 6-8, 12-14, 19-21, 26-28, check the website for show times.
Where: Old Dutch Church, across the street from Philipsburg Manor. Parking is at Philipsburg Manor. Philipsburg Manor is located at 381 North Broadway in Sleepy Hollow.
Cost: Adults $16; Children (under 18) $12, reservations are necessary.
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze (Ages 5+)
This is the event that sells out every year. With more than 5,000 hand carved jack-o-lanterns illuminated spectacle with synchronized lighting, spooky music and sound effects, flying pumpkins and more.
When: Oct 6-8, 12-14, 19-21, 25-31, Nov 2-4, 9-11, check website for show times.
Where: Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 South Riverside, Croton-on-Hudson
Cost: Adults $16; Children (ages 3-17) $12 (Saturdays $20, $16), reservations are necessary.
Legend Celebration (for all ages)
Daytime festival with ghost stories, live music, magicians, puppeteers and a miming scarecrow. Enjoy games, activities and treats. Come in costume!
When: Oct. 6-8, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28 at 10am – 4pm
Where: Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, 3 West Sunnyside Lane, Irvington
Cost: Adults $14; Seniors $12; Children (ages 3-17) $8, reservations are necessary.
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Walking Tours (for big kids)
Two-hour walks that introduce you to the famous inhabitants of Sleepy Hollow cemetery. Tour includes more than a mile of walking including stairs, unpaved roads, and hills.
When: Check the website for dates and times
Where: Sleepy Hollow Cemetery; 540 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow
Cost: $19.99 for afternoon tours and $24.99 for evening tours, reservations are necessary.
Lyndhurst After Dark (Ages 6+)
Walk through the Lyndhurst mansion at your own pace for a guaranteed spook fest. Scary live music by Kirk Ehrenreich. Costumes are encouraged. The site recommends the event for kids over 6 years old, but I think it looks pretty scary!
When: Started Oct 4, check their calendar for availability.
Where: 635 South Broadway, Tarrytown
Cost: $25
Historic Lyndhurst Tours with a Halloween Twist (Ages 6+)
Tours that mix history with a Halloween twist. Tours are offered hourly and last 50 minutes.When: the month of October starting at 10:00am every day Thursday – Sunday. Please check their website for dates and times. Reservations are necessary.
Where: Lyndhurst 635 South Broadway, Tarrytown
Cost: $18
Scarecrow Contemporary Art at Lyndhurst (for adults)
Visit this outdoor art exhibition and see scarecrows created by artists, exploring the themes of human surrogate, decoy, and silent observer. This is the first year for this event.
When: The month of October. Please check their website for dates and times.
Where: Lyndhurst’s greenhouse, 635 South Broadway, Tarrytown
Cost: free
Scarecrow Invasion at Lyndhurst (for all ages)
The annual art festival of scarecrows created by school kids from Irvington School District Middle and High Schools, Westlake Middle School, Mount Pleasant School District, Another Step, Elmsford.
When: October 12-31, all day
Where: Lyndhurst 635 South Broadway, Tarrytown
Cost: free
Demented Pumpkin Patch at Playland (Ages 8+)
Visit the intricately carved and lit gourds and see who is guarding them! This event is formally “Scared by the Sound”.
When: Opens October 5, see schedule for days and times
Where: Playland Parkway, 48-60 Playland Access Drive, Rye
Cost: $12
Demented Pumpkin Patch and Terror Trail Combo: Adults, $25.00, Children (under 12), $20.00
Terror Trail at Playland (Ages 8+)
Wander through dark farmland and corn stalks and find yourself in front of a slaughter house. But, is there someone following you? What are those ghoulish sounds? I guess you better go inside and see for yourself!
When: Opens October 5, see schedule for days and times
Where: Playland Parkway, 48-60 Playland Access Drive, Rye
Cost: $16 adults, $12 kids
Demented Pumpkin Patch and Terror Trail Combo: Adults, $25.00, Children under 12, $20.00
Lasdon Park Halloween Haunted House & Train Show (for all ages)
Trains travel through a spooky world with a castle, skeletons, haunted house and more. There is also a knee-high train for younger kids who can play engineer and control the trains.
When: Saturdays and Sundays, Oct, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28, 11am- 3:30pm
Where: Lasdon Park and Arboretum; Route 35, Somers
Cost: $5 adults, $2 kids, tickets are sold at the door. For more information call (914) 864-7268.
Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo (for all ages)
Every weekend at the Bronx Zoo enjoy Halloween inspired activities and rides like the Haunted Habitat Mansion, Creepy Hallows Hayride, Hay Maze and more. (Read our full review of Boo at the Zoo!)
When: The month of October
Where: Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx
Cost: Total Experience ticket $29.95 for adult and Total Experience ticket for child (ages 3-12) $19.95
New York Botanical Garden’s Haunted Pumpkin Garden (for all ages)
In true NY Botanical Garden fashion, the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden is decorated with whimsical carved pumpkin sculptures of bugs, flowers, mushrooms, bats and other Halloween animals. Enjoy a playhouse made of pumpkins, pumpkin puppet theater, join in a parade, pumpkin carving and more. (Read our full review of the Haunted Pumpkin Garden!)
When: The month of October
Where: 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx
Cost: All-Garden pass starts at $20 for adults and $8 for kids under 12. See prices by date on their website.
New York Botanical Garden’s Spooky Nighttime Adventures (for big kids)
Bring or borrow a flashlight and explore the sculptures as you trick-or-treat in the Adventure Garden after dark. All activities are designed for kids ages 5 – 12.
When: October 20, 21, 26, 27, and 28; 6:30-8 p.m.
Where: 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx
Cost: Tickets are $20 non-member and $15 member.
Rag-a-muffin Parade and Carnival in Chappaqua (for all ages)
Chappaqua’s annual Halloween carnival and parade with the Blue Crew Marching Band and The Dixie Dandies Band in the parade. Come in costume and march in the parade! After the parade, visit The Witches and Pirates Den and enjoy the carnival with games, rides, entertainment and more.
When: October 20, Carnival is from 12pm-5pm and the parade is at 3:30pm.
Where: Washington Avenue, Chappaqua
Cost: Purchase of tickets required for each ride.
Rag-a-muffin Parade in Larchmont (for all ages)
Children should gather at Palmer Avenue and Larchmont Avenue to show off their Halloween costumes. Then, they will parade down Larchmont Avenue to Village Hall beginning at 1:00 PM. Refreshments and music will be provided at the end of the parade.
When: October 20, gather at 12:30pm and parade starts at 1pm (Rain date October 27)
Where: Palmer Avenue and Larchmont Avenue
Cost: Free
Sleepy Hollow’s Haunted Hayride (for big kids)
Sleepy Hollow’s annual hayride has to be the spookiest hayride! Join the block party on Beekman Avenue before or after your ride through the real Sleepy Hollow.
When: October 26 and 27 at 7 – 11pm and October 28 at 7- 10pm
Where Sleepy Hollow Village Hall, 28 Beekman Avenue, Sleepy Hollow
Cost: $20
Halloween Bat and Prowl at Weinberg Nature Center (for all ages)
Come in costume to meet live “creatures of the night.” We’ll gaze at stars, take a night-hike and stir some witches brew.
When: Friday October 26, 6-9pm
Where: Weinberg Nature Center, 455 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale
Cost: $5 (children under 2 free)
Ghost Stories by the Campfire at Cranberry Lake Preserve (for big kids)
Spooky stories and roasting marshmallows around the campfire. Stories will start silly and get progressively spookier. Bring your own flashlights, hot dogs and your own story to tell.
When: October 26, 27 , 7pm
Where: Cranberry Lake Preserve, North White Plains
Cost: Free
Rag-a-muffin Parade in Pleasantville (for all ages)
Dress up in your Halloween best and march along Pleasantville’s main drag. There will be rides for kids, face painting, pumpkin decorating, crafts and snacks.
When: October 27, line up for parade at 11:30am and parade starts at 12pm (rain date is October 28)
Where: Parade begins at Bedford Road School and ends at Memorial Plaza in Pleasantville.
Cost: Free
Halloween Hoopla at Lenoir Preserve (for all ages)
Come in costume for a costume contest with prizes plus games, Halloween crafts and hunt for candy.
When: October 27, 1pm
Where: Lenoir Preserve; Dudley Street, Yonkers, 914-968-5851
Cost: $8 per child; registration required.
Pumpkins and Hayrides at Teatown Reservation (for all ages)
Every family gets two pumpkins to carve plus a relaxing hayride underneath a beautiful fall canopy.
When: October 27, 11am – 1pm or 2-4pm
Where: Teatown Reservation, 1600 Spring Valley Road, Ossining
Cost: $20/member family and $30/nonmember family. The event is limited to 20 families/session. Make your reservation early by calling 914-762-2912 x110.
Halloween Parade at Tarrytown Village (for all ages)
Costume parade. March with a theme as a group or float for a chance to win and be named on the Golden Jack-o-Lantern. Food will be sold from local restaurants. A block party with DJ starts after the parade.
When: October 27, parade assembles at 5pm and marches at 6pm. Block party is at 8pm -10pm.
Where: Patriot’s Park, Tarrytown and marches along Broadway to Tarrytown’s Main Street.
Scarecrows & Pumpkins Parade at Greenburgh Nature Center (for all ages)
Come in costume and enjoy cider and treats and family activities.
When: October 28, 11am-3:30pm
Where: Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Road
Cost (in advance): $4 members, $7 non-members, (at the door) $6 members , $9 non-members
Boo Walk at Muscoot Farm (for all ages)
Come to Muscoot dressed in your Halloween costume a Halloween themed scavenger hunt. Everyone who completes the scavenger hunt gets a Halloween treat!
When: October 28, 12 – 3pm
Where: Muscoot Farm, 51 Route 100, Katonah
Cost: Free
Bronxville’s Children’s Halloween Festival (for all ages)
Join the fun with carnival rides, activities, pony rides, live music and food.
When: October 28, 12-4pm
Where: Leonard Morange Park (Between the Bronxville Train Station and Parkway Road)
Cost: Free (just pay for rides and food)
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I just wanted to say what a great blog this is – i only found it a few days ago but it’s such a good resource, am recommending it to friends as well – thanks !
We’re so glad you’re enjoying Wee Westchester and thanks for spreading the word!
Elizabeth