Community Corner
Fun Halloween Day Trips for the Whole Family
Celebrate Halloween with these entertaining, spooky and all-around fun excursions.
Written by Charlene Cooper
Halloween is only a week away. Before you indulge in a night of trick-or-treating with a bevy of ghost, goblins and ghouls, make time for your family to enjoy these great Halloween-themed day trips:
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Haunted Halloween, 1880s Style
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
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1303 Round Swamp Road
Old Bethpage, NY 11804
(516) 572-8400
Why Go
Grab your kids and take a trip back in time for a mid-19th century village experience. Spread 209 acres wide, Old Bethpage Village Restoration hosts an 1880s Haunted Halloween event each year. Visitors can walk through a recreation of that period’s homes, farms and businesses. Let the kids run free as they try to scout out ghouls and goblins on the monster hunt around the village or sit down with them to hear dark tales told from a local gravedigger. Just be warned that these activities are not for the faint of heart. If that's you, choose the lighthearted jack-o'-lantern carving demonstrations or scarecrow making as an alternative.
Insider Tip
Although the village closes at 4 p.m., registers close at 3 p.m. Also, don’t expect to grab lunch or dinner in the village since there are no restaurants close by. Instead, pack your own goodies and bring them along.
Must Do
Mary Ellis, who works at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration, suggests that no one miss out on the spooky ghost stories and the village monster hunt. “Adults will get a kick out of how much fun the kids are having, but they’ll also enjoy going through the different buildings in the village and hearing about the history behind them.”
The Fine Print
The 1880s Haunted Halloween event continues this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission is $10 for adults, $7 for children ages 5 to 12 and $7 for seniors 60 and over. Children under 5 are free and so is parking.
White Post Farms
250 Old Country Road
Melville, NY 11747
(631) 351-9373
Why Go
Ever see a dog fly, pigs race and chicken sing? If not, then you’ve got to add White Post Farms’ Fall Festival to your to-do list this fall. Bring your mini ghosts and goblins dressed in costume for an exciting celebration featuring activities such as the K-9 Kings Dog Show, where visitors can watch dogs perform acrobatic tricks and kids can go wild in the straw at Play-In-The-Hay. Stop to pick a few pumpkins on your way to the next activity in the farm’s pick-your-own pumpkin patch. For some comic relief with a magic twist, be sure to catch Jim McClenahan’s signature magic and comedy routine.
Insider Tip
The farm store provides fresh-baked goods, fruit and vegetables but it can get costly. If you’re all about getting specialty foods then the store is for you, but if you’re looking for a bargain you might not find it here.
Must Do
The racing pigs of the Hambone Express are not only extra fast but also extra cute! Cheer on your designated pig all the way to the finish line to help your porcine friend win an Oreo Cookie prize!
Fine Print
The festival has been taking place every weekend in October. Admission gates are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but families can stay until 6 p.m. The price is $16 for both children and adults.
Center for Science Teaching and Learning (CSTL)
1 Tanglewood Road
Rockville Centre, NY 11570
(516) 764-0045
Why Go
For a trip that you can tailor to your family’s needs, check out the Center for Science Teaching and Learning’s Spooky Fest. Younger kids can take a “Not-So-Spooky Walk” in the woods, which features a colorful and bright trail that leads them toward friendly ghosts, playful scarecrows, beautiful butterflies and other happy characters. There will be chances to get a family photo while walking the trail, so remember to bring your camera. Older children can take a scary walk through haunted woods and explore the Maze of Madness. Both adults and kids are in for a treat with the dinosaurs and live animal exhibits.
Insider Tip
Before you begin your day of tricks be sure you get your treats! The first 200 children to arrive at the festival receive a free goody bag. There’s also food at the center, but to cut down on costs, pack your own. Saturday is the center’s busiest night so come early to avoid lines.
Must Do
Each year, families consistently enjoy the live animals and the haunted walk through the woods, says Rayann Havasy, director of the CSTL. “Adults also love the ‘Not-So-Spooky Walk’ because it’s gorgeous!”
Fine Print
Spooky Fest took place last weekend and wraps up this Friday through Sunday with activities from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Admissions is $10 for kids 12 and under and $15 for anyone 13 and older.
Schmitt’s Family Farm
26 Pinelawn Road
Melville, NY 11747
Why Go
The Schmitt’s Family Farm is a great local spot to enjoy fall with the family. Explore Gladiators Corn Maze where there’s something for everyone. You can pick your own pumpkins and other vegetables throughout the trip and kids will have a blast in the Children's Haunted Mansion Walk Through. They’re also free to fly down a fire truck or tree house slide on the Pumpkin Patch Playground. Farm animals are around to play with and pony rides are also a treat. For something the family can do together, try the daytime haunted mansion and corn maze. If you can stay through the evening, the farm transforms with a hair-raising haunted mansion and a frightening nighttime corn maze.
Insider Tip
If you’re hoping not to be scared, stick with daytime activities such as pumpkin picking and shopping for fresh produce. The nighttime events are all terrifying, including the Corn Maze, which is often mistaken for a laid-back attraction.
Must Do
The hayrides are a perfect family bonding activity. All members can jump on for a fun ride around the entire property. It’s also a great way to get off your feet for a while after walking around all day.
Fine Print
The farm stand and pumpkin field are open daily at no cost. Parking is also free. Just note that the admission fee is $6 to explore either the Corn Maze or Haunted Mansion. All hayrides are free!
Halloween Fun at The Whaling Museum
The Whaling Museum & Education Center
301 Main St.
Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
(631) 367-3418
Why Go
Halloween gets hands-on at The Whaling Museum & Education Center. From dissecting owl pellets and getting up close and personal with hissing roaches to scavenger hunts and crafts, the museum has something for everyone. With both free and ticketed attractions, the education center will be transformed into a haunted museum with old pirates, sea captains and sea widows haunting the space. Kids can get their hands dirty in sticky Halloween goop or play with brains, eyeballs and other icky items at the touch tables. Afterward, the whole family can go on a walking tour into the town where ghost stories of Cold Spring Harbor will be told. Before you go, families can get matching airbrush tattoos to mark the fun-filled day.
Insider Tip
While food and drinks will be available at an outdoor food truck, a dinner special at the Harbor Mist restaurant will let one child eat free with every paid adult. The restaurant will be decked decorated for Halloween, with the staff fully dressed in their scariest of costumes.
Must Do
Besides seeing their kids have a blast, parents can get in on the fun alongside the little ones, says Trish Rongo, the museum’s marketing and development manager. “One of our attractions is called ‘Make a Mini Mummy’ where the adults can wrap their kids in toilet paper and have them explode out of their mummy wrappings afterward,” she says. “It’s a great activity that families can really enjoy together!”
Fine Print
The Halloween fun Festival takes place Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m., rain or shine. All ages are welcome. Select stations at the museum are free while others range from $1 to $3.
Tricks, Treats, Tentacles and More!
Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center
431 E. Main St.
Riverhead, NY 11901
(631) 208-9200
Why Go
Celebrate Halloween amongst slimy snakes, scary sharks and a bunch of other slithering sea critters as the Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center transforms into a haunted fun zone. Figure out what's inside mystery boxes, get wild with arts and crafts and even get slimed in the spooky Slime Lab. Add to your Halloween look with vibrant face paint in designs of your choice.
Insider Tip
Whether it’s Halloween night or not, if you plan on bringing children be sure to dress them in costume. It not only makes for a more delightful experience but also halves the admission price when children dressed for the occasion enter with one full-price adult.
Must Do
While you’re at the aquarium, take advantage of all the animals around you. The seals are always waiting for a chance to greet families. You can also say hello to a family of snow monkeys, enjoy a sea lion show and take in the penguin exhibit.
Fine Print
The Halloween fun takes place this Friday through Sunday and, of course, next Thursday, Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission for children in pre-K to sixth grade and seniors 62 and older is $12; tickets for ages 13 to 61 are priced at $14.50.
Garden of Eve Organic Farm & Market
4558 Sound Ave.
Riverhead, NY 11901
(631) 722-8777
Why Go
The Garden of Eve Organic Farm & Market makes learning fun throughout the year, but October weekends add a twist to the entire experience. This Friday through Saturday marks the final weekend this year to enjoy the Halloween spirit with hayrides, a bounce house, pony rides, pumpkin picking and live music on this family-owned farm. Gather your family and take a self-guided tour to learn about farming at your own pace. Spotting the roaming sheep and baby chicks is a bonus that the little ones and their parents can enjoy together. Kids can also learn how food is grown and enjoy the farm’s “Our Secret Garden” playground at their leisure. After working up an appetite, stop by the farm café, which serves homegrown organic options like roasted sweet corn, organic hot dogs, freshly squeezed lemonade and more.
Insider Tip
For a nearly free experience, bring your own lunches to enjoy at the farm. Also, if you’re family hopes to go on a hayride, don’t try to squeeze it in at the end of the day because you might miss out. Even though the farm closes at 6 p.m., the hayrides, which start at 11 a.m., stop boarding new riders after 5 p.m.
Must Do
“If the weather is good, I’d suggest families take a hayride and see the entire farm,” says owner Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht. “Everyone can learn a lot about farming just by seeing what’s growing and what things actually look like.”
Fine Print
The Fall Pumpkin Festival is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. All are welcome and there is no admissions charge, but some activities require a fee. For the extreme explorers out there, a $10 fun pass buys children the opportunity to experience all farm activities.
Stony Brook Village Center
111 Main St.
Stony Brook, NY 11790
(631) 751- 2244
Why Go
Come dressed in your Halloween best alongside your family for the Stony Brook Village Center’s 23rd Annual Halloween Festival. The festivities offer a safe way to celebrate the holiday while preserving the fun of both tricks and treats. Kids will love going shop to shop in the village to collect their sweets. Later, the whole family can enjoy dance performances and childhood favorites like beanbag and ring tosses with a Halloween spin. Join the action at the scarecrow competition and see which hay-man takes home the prize. Also, be sure to join Monster Merlin in the sure-to-be-epic costume parade. Keep the memories alive long after the festival by taking family photos with Halloween-themed backdrops and remember to take home a free pumpkin.
Insider Tip
With hundreds of families expected to attend, it’s a great idea to come early to snag a good parking spot before they’re all taken. No need to part with cash for parking: it’s completely free! You also won’t need to leave the area in search of a meal because the village is packed with restaurants and shops with an assortment of food.
Must Do
“The trick-or-treating in the shops is something everyone seems to love each year,” says the center’s communications manager, Marie Gilberti. “It’s a safe fun way to go door to door and out with the flashlights for hours of trick-or-treating, especially since a lot of the shop owners dress up and sit outside of their stores waiting with a big bowl of candy.”
Fine Print
The festival is held on Oct. 31 from 2 to 5 p.m. and is free to the public. The Stony Brook Village Center is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for families to enjoy before and after the Halloween fun.
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