Halloween frights and fun A scary and not so-scary handbook to some Halloween events

By Alexis Tarrazi

Thrills and chills are surrounding the tri-state area as Halloween creeps closer. Whether you crave frights or just want some pumpkin fun there are events happening throughout the month including costume contests, cemetery walks or haunted houses.

NEW JERSEY

Fright Fest

This family-friendly event includes 30 Halloween-themed shows and attractions like the Trick-or-Treat Trail, Monster Mash Bash musical, Professor Slithers’ Creepy Critters animal show, Haunted Wagon Tales ride, Spooky, Kooky Magic Show and more. After 6 p.m., the fright by night — not recommended for children 12 and under — shows including The Awakening, Dead Man’s Party—The Guest List, Circus of Thrills, Doc Swan’s Sideshow of Oddities and Bad Bob the Bone Butcher and Professor Zombini’s Freak Show starring Coney Island sideshow icon Todd Robbins.
Where: Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson.
When: Through Oct. 28. Hours vary on day.
How much: Included in park admission.
For more information: sixflags.com/greatadventure.

Corn Maze

During the day Lentini Produce presents family-friendly corn and hay mazes, pumpkin picking, farm animals and more. At night the farm transforms into a spookier setting where guests can enjoy a haunted hay ride and a creepy corn maze where they use a flashlights to navigate through the maze.
Where: Lentini Produce, 251 Route 94 South, Newton.
When: Friday and Saturday through Oct. 27. Hours vary on day.
How much: Haunted hayride $12 adults and $8 children (11 and under) with parent. Corn Maze $10 adults, $8 children (4 to 11) with parent and free for children 3 and under.
For more information:973-579-2424 or lentiniproduce.com.

Costume Contest

The farm will host its Annual Halloween Costume Contest where children ages 12 and under can don their best and favorite Halloween costume. Categories include scariest, most beautiful and most original costume. All participants will receive a goody bag full of tricks and treats. Winners will receive a variety of great prizes from NYC show tickets, ski and snowboard passes, retail gift cards, painted pumpkins, candy and more.
Where: Heaven Hill Farm, 451 Route 94, Vernon.
When: 2 p.m., Oct. 27.
How much: Free.
For more information:973-764-5144 or heavenhillfarm.com.

Scary Stories

John Zaffis, who has more than 30 years of experience studying and investigating the paranormal, will be telling some scary and freaky stories from documented hauntings. Along with looking for ghosts and hauntings, Zaffis has studied demonology, which led to his involvement with cases of possession and exorcism and working with prominent exorcists in this field. His research has taken him throughout the U.S., Canada, England and Scotland covering several thousands of cases. The Discovery Channel's documentaries "A Haunting in Connecticut" and "Little Lost Souls" have featured Zaffis. He has also appeared on "Unsolved Mysteries," "Fox News Live," and many other print and news media events.
Where: Sussex County Community College, One College Hill Road, Newton.
When: 10:50 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., Oct. 23.
How much: $12 community and free SCCC students.
For more information:973-300-3171 or sussex.edu.

NEW YORK

Blaze and Horseman's Hollow

The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze includes more than 5,000 jacks, many fused together in elaborate constructions such as life-size dinosaurs and 8-foot-tall working jack-o’lanterns-in-the-box, all lit up throughout the wooded walkways, orchards, and gardens. Washington Irving’s macabre tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow inspires Horseman’s Hollow, an interactive haunted attraction recommended for ages 10 and up. Stocked with professional actors and state-of-the-art special effects, Horseman’s Hollow has a high fear factor and is not for the faint of heart. All events are held rain or shine. Proceeds support Historic Hudson Valley.
Where: Philipsburg Manor, 381 North Broadway (Route 9), Sleepy Hollow.
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 11 for the blaze and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 28 for the horseman's hollow.
How much: $16 for adults ($20 on Saturdays), $12 for children 3-17 ($16 on Saturdays), and free for children under 3 and Historic Hudson Valley members for the blaze. $20 ($25 on Saturdays) and Historic Hudson Valley members receive a $5 per ticket discount for the horseman's hollow.
For more information: 914-366-6900 or hudsonvalley.org.

The Forest of Fear

Guests can enter the slaughterhouse haunted house where ghouls will be lurking or check out the slaughterhouse sideshow featuring actors walking on swords, lying on broken glass and more. There is also a monster smash show where monsters will battle it out and a coffin ride where guests ride inside a closed coffin. This event is not recommended for children under 8.
Where: Sterling Forest, 800 Rt. 17A, Tuxedo Park.
When: Nightfall to midnight Friday, nightfall to 1 a.m. Saturday and nightfall to 11 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 28.
How much: $20.
For more information: 845-351-5174 or renfair.com/forestoffear.

Pure Terror Screampark

Offering three attractions in one location, this screampark includes the Butcher's Revenge; Terror Under the Big Top which is full of clowns and sideshow freaks; and the House of Terror, which is now five times larger than other years with even more state of the art special effects and is filled with monsters.
Where: 107 Brookside Ave., Chester.
When: 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday and 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 28.
How much: $10 to $30.
For more information: 845-391-0071 or pureterror.com.

PENNSYLVANIA Poe Reading and Cemetery Walk

A dramatic Halloween reading by the American Readers Theatre Company “A Night With Poe” adaptations of four works of Edgar Allan Poe. A walk through the Laurel Hill Cemetery, Milford’s original town graveyard, on the grounds of Grey Towers. Meet at the Visitor Pavilion in the parking lot. Wear sturdy shoes.
Where: Grey Towers, 151 Grey Towers, Milford.
When: 6 p.m., Oct. 27 for the Poe reading and 1:30 p.m., Oct. 28 for cemetery walk.
How much: $20 for Poe reading and $5 for cemetery walk.
For more information: 570-296-9625 or greytowers.org.
PEEC A BOO
This non-scary, family-oriented trail is fun and educational and includes Halloween festivities. Refreshments are also available.
Where: Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry.
When: 4 to 7 p.m., Oct. 27, rain date Oct. 28.
How much: $5 children.
For more information: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org/events-date.html#october.