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Halloween a.k.a. All Hallows’ Eve dates back to over 2,000 years. Originally, it was a day that symbolized the end of summer and the beginning of a cold, dark winter. The secular holiday was often linked to the celebration of death, the supernatural and the transition of seasons. Halloween is the night before All Saints Day or the Christian feast for celebrating the faithfully departed. On Halloween, the Irish and Spanish cultures especially, would celebrate with feasts, bonfires and sacrificial offerings.
Today, beliefs and customs from different cultures have meshed together creating the Halloween we’ve come to know. Dressing up in costume, trick-or-treating, playing silly pranks and watching scary movies has become what it’s all about. Although there are numerous night time attractions that’ll leave you spooked, there’s always happenings during the day. Whether you stick to the traditional pumpkin picking or take part in finding your way out of a corn maze, the Halloween festivities are abundant.
BAYVILLE Adventure PARK
8 Bayville Ave, Bayville
Open for Kids Activities Saturdays & Sundays (11:00PM-6:00PM)
Come visit the Bayville Adventure Park to enjoy rock climbing, miniature golf and a Halloween Express train ride. The entertainingly haunted park caters to every age and offers a variety of fun daytime activities. It’s the perfect place for families with younger children who are seeking a less scary version of Bayville’s nighttime scare. The Not-So-Scary day includes access to the pumpkin patch, tombstone treasure hunt, character meet and greet along with much more! Tickets start at $24.75 and vary based on the different attractions. For more information or to purchase tickets ahead of time, visit bayvillescreampark.com
SCHMITT’S FAMILY FARM:
26 Pinelawn Road, Melville
Saturdays & Sundays (10:00PM-5:00PM)
Fall is the favorite season for the Schmitt’s Family Farm. Between the seven-acre corn maze, free hayrides, pumpkin picking and pony rides, it’s always an exciting celebration. For as little as $8 per person, you can enjoy the thrill of racing family and friends through the zombie themed corn maze. Then, head on over to the children’s haunted mansion where the lights are kept on and the scare to a minimum. It’s the ultimate combination for those seeking only a slight taste of scary. Offering some of the best pumpkin picking Long Island has to offer, a day at Schmitt’s is a day filled with fun! For further information, go to schmittfarms.com/fall
MILLERIDGE HALLOWEEN VILLAGE
585 North Broadway, Jericho
Fridays (6:00PM-10:00PM)
Saturdays (1:00PM-11:00PM)
Sundays (12:00PM-6:00PM)
The annual Halloween Village at the Milleridge Inn is worth a visit. It features tons of activities that are kid-friendly and is open both day and night. Come with family and if you’re courageous enough, take a stroll through the haunted house. Perfect for all ages, even the little ghosts and ghouls, there’s an unlimited amount of Halloween entertainment. With a magician, stilt walker, fire eater and tarot reader, you’ll be immersed in some very mysterious acts. Open the last three weekends in October, The Milleridge Halloween Village gives visitors a chance to get their facepainted and listen to spooky stories. For more details, visit milleridgeinn.com/upcoming-event/halloween-village
DARKSIDE HAUNTED HOUSE
5184 NY-25A, Calverton
See website for hours
Serving over twenty years of fear, the Darkside Haunted House is Long Island’s most renown haunted attraction. Purchase a general admission ticket for $30 per person or a RIP fast pass for $40 and you’re bound to be frightened. With 14,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor attractions, Darkside Haunted Mansion is known to put the scare in scary. With their professional actors, makeup artists and petrifying special effects, they really know how to give you the thrills and chills. Situated on a large deserted field, they deliver movie quality scares and have even won numerous awards because of it. From the second you get on line, the cast and crew jump out and chase you. For visitors who dare to enter, make sure you’re ready for some serious heart pounding haunt. To buy tickets in advance, visit darksideproductions.com
SPOOKY FEST
Rockville Center
October 19th, 20th, 21st, 26th, 27th, 28th
(6:30PM-9:30PM)
The Spooky Fest in Rockville Center features eerie effects and unique characters. On the preserve there are multiple exhibits, a wooded path inhabited by creatures and a number of Halloween activities. For just $15 per person, guests can receive access to all attractions both scary and non-scary. For those visiting after dusk, experience the thrill of the haunted woods and maze of zombies. This scary walk includes an abandoned cemetery with a lengthy trail and corn maze that’ll leave you clinging to friends and family. The Not-So-Spooky walk through the woods is great for young kids. Colorfully lit with butterflies, friendly ghosts, happy scarecrows and non-scary displays, a fascinating Halloween story is unraveled. Whether you’re a haunted house fanatic or not, the Spooky Fest will knock your socks off! For more information, visit www.cstl.org/spooky-fest
BAYVILLE Scream PARK
8 Bayville Ave, Bayville
See website for hours
Bayville Scream Park features some of the scariest attractions imaginable. Open every day until Halloween, they were named one of the top thirteen haunted attractions in America as per Haunt World Magazine. Only if you’re ready for a night filled with terror, you can purchase tickets online or at the box office on the day of. For just $49.75 per person, the six attraction combo will leave visitors with nightmares. For those daring enough, it’s worth attempting all six haunted attractions since uniquely creepy props and sets fill each. Upon entering, lights flicker and visitors are spooked by zombies, clowns, hospital misfits and more for you to find out about! For more information, visit bayvillescreampark.com
SCHMITT’S FAMILY FARM:
26 Pinelawn Road, Melville
Saturdays & Sundays (7:00PM-12:00PM)
Schmitt’s Family Farm has been one of Long Island’s oldest and scariest haunted attractions. It’s a must-see exhibit during the month of October and has been for the past twenty-three years. For those brave enough, come after 7:00PM to experience some of the most ghostly enterttainment yet. Enter the haunted mansion or dare to explore the scary, nighttime corn maze. With intimidating actors jumping out at you, Schmitt’s Family Farm forces you to get your scream on. They’ll be plenty of surprises that catch you off guard where even the biggest horror fans will be scared. Schmitt’s will certainly get you in the Halloween spirit so make sure to purchase your tickets today! For further information, go to schmittfarms.com/fall
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20 lucky winners will win $500 each in prizes totaling $10,000. 