While we are sad to see summer go, there’s a lot to look forward to with all of the fall events, including some incredible Halloween experiences hosted by the Historic Hudson Valley.
Kicking off on September, 28 through selected evenings November, 24, the Historic Hudson Valley is expected to to draw more than 250,000 visitors to Sleepy Hollow Country this fall. Read on to check out a few of their legendary Halloween experiences, including our favorite – The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze.
1. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, which drew more than 175,000 visitors last year, features over 7,000 illuminated, individually hand-carved jack o’ lanterns, running from 45 select evenings from late September through Thanksgiving weekend. This includes elaborate single-pumpkin carvings and huge multi-jack o’lantern constructions that are professionally lit throughout the landscape of Van Cortlandt Manor in various themed areas.
Guests can enjoy a walk-through experience where they can see illuminated favorites, such as a giant spider web, the mammoth sea serpent, the Pumpkin Planetarium, Jurassic Parkthe Statue of Liberty as well as new additions including a a medieval castle guarded by a flock of jack o’lantern owls, a functioning windmill, and a full set of zodiac signs.
Van Cortlandt Manor is at 525 South Riverside Avenue, just off Route 9 in Croton-on-Hudson.
2. Horseman’s Hollow
Back for a spine-tingling ninth year, Horseman’s Hollow, which welcomed more than 34,000 visitors last year, is a haunted experience in the heart of Sleepy Hollow that takes the tale of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to its darkest extremes. Historic Philipsburg Manor transforms into a terrifying landscape ruled by the undead, the evil, and the insane, all serving the Headless Horseman himself.
A crew of award-winning makeup and costume designers and a 40-member-strong cast of experienced actors work to create an immersive, interactive, pleasantly terrifying experience, with state-of-the-spooky-art special effects. Custom built set pieces and period-correct costumes help orient the experience in Philipsburg Manor’s traditional time period of the mid-1700s.
Philipsburg Manor is at 381 North Broadway (Route 9) in Sleepy Hollow.
3. The Unsilent Picture
Brand new for 2018, The Unsilent Picture is an immersive theater experience in Sleepy Hollow at Philipsburg Manor. At its core is an all-new, all-original black and white film, based on the Washington Irving story “The Adventure of the Mysterious Picture,” and shot on location at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson. It stars Tony Award winner Bill Irwin and each screening features a soundtrack by live musicians and a Foley artist. Performances are at 6:15, 71:15, 8:15, and 9:15pm.
Philipsburg Manor is at 381 North Broadway (Route 9) in Sleepy Hollow.
4. Irving’s Legend
Master storytellers Jonathan Kruk and Jim Keyes offer dramatic re-tellings of Washington Irving’s classic tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, featuring the Headless Horseman, Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones, and Katrina Van Tassel. Flavored with live spooky organ music, the event takes place in the historic setting of the Old Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow. The circa-1685 stone church is across the street from Philipsburg Manor, where visitors will park. These performances last about 45 minutes. Weekend afternoon performances are by Jim Keyes and weekday and weekend evening performances are by Jonathan Kruk.
5. Home of the ‘Legend’
Sunnyside celebrates its connection to Washington Irving’s classic tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, at this family friendly daytime event. Home of the ‘Legend’ includes a spooky tour of both floors Irving’s home, a literary-themed scavenger hunt, shadow puppet shows, and historic games.
Sunnyside is on West Sunnyside Lane, off Route 9 in Tarrytown.
Ticket and date information
These events have limited capacity and sell out. All admissions are by advance purchase timed ticket.
Blaze dates are Sept. 28-30; Oct. 4-31; and Nov. 1-4, 7-11, 15-17, 23-24. Online tickets are $22 for adults ($27 on Fridays and Saturdays), $16 for children 3-17 ($20 on Fridays and Saturdays), and free for children under 3 and Historic Hudson Valley members.
Horseman’s Hollow dates are Oct. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 25-31. Online tickets are $20 ($25 on Saturdays). Fast Track, a $15 per ticket upgrade, lets visitors skip the line in their time slot. Historic Hudson Valley members receive a $5 per ticket discount.
The Unsilent Picture dates are Oct. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 25-31. Online tickets are $18. Historic Hudson Valley members receive a $5 per ticket discount.
Irving’s ‘Legend’ dates are Oct. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 25-31. Seating is very limited and there are three performances on weekday evenings and six performances on weekends. Online tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for children under 18. Historic Hudson Valley members receive a $5 per ticket discount.
Home of the ‘Legend’ dates are Sept. 29-30; Oct. 1, 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28. Online tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for seniors, $8 for children 3-17, and free for those under 3 and Historic Hudson Valley members.
All events are held rain or shine. Proceeds support Historic Hudson Valley, the Tarrytown-based private, non-profit educational organization that owns and operates the historic sites that host these events.
Buy tickets online at www.hudsonvalley.org or by calling 914-366-6900 ($2 per ticket surcharge for phone orders and for tickets purchased onsite, if available).
