Weekly Top Picks for September 27th- October 3rd, 2018

With October arriving over the weekend, we are thrilled that our favorite month of the year has finally arrived! Bring on the scares, thrills, pumpkins, traditions, lights, decorated yards, haunted trails, costume contests, Halloween displays, and yes, bring on the candy too!

Halloween New England has the bases covered for you all season long with our Top Picks, highlights for the weekend, special events not to be missed, contests, and other essential info to keep you on top of everything this Halloween.

Haunt Seminars, Demos, Backstage Tours, Unlimited SpeedPass Haunt Admission, Food, and Rides at The Haunted Graveyard's Behind the Screams

Don't miss this one-of-a-kind event coming up this Saturday, Sept 29th!! The Haunted Graveyard's "Behind the Screams Experience" is an incredible backstage tour and seminar opportunity for haunt fans, home/yard haunters, and every kind of Halloween enthusiast! Event Details. 

Tour behind the scenes, access to special FX makeup and airbrush demos, seminars for learning haunt construction, lighting and sound FX, animatronics, and more.

Behind the Screams ticket *includes* admission to The Haunted Graveyard (including unlimited walk-throughs with speed pass!), access to Lake Compounce rides, 1 free Sky Coaster ticket, food, drink, t-shirt, and entry to win a Haunted Graveyard prop!
Save $$ when you buy tickets online. Limited ticket availability.

Saturday is Kids Day at Costumania's Superstore in West Lebanon, NH

New Hampshire's own year-round costume store Costumania has their special Kids Day coming this weekend. 

Pop in at Costumania's West Lebanon, NH superstore for Kids Day this Saturday, September 29th! Open 10:00am-8:00pm, every child who walks through the door gets a goodie bag and a special discount towards merchandise! Between 11:00am-3:00pm Kids can enjoy complimentary face-painting and pizza!

Situated right off Rte 89 and very close to Rte 91, their huge new store in West Lebanon has everything from wigs, makeup, costume props, character supplies, and thousands of costumes for kids, adults, and any character you can dream up. Costumania is a small family owned business in West Lebanon, NH which operates as a year-round costume store since 1994. If you do decide to shop at Costumania this season you can use the Halloween New England exclusive in-store coupon for $10 off any $40 Costumania purchase! Click here for the $10 off coupon.

Connecticut Halloween Events (full guide)

We know haunt-fans, novice haunters, and home haunters wouldn't miss the Behind the Screams event at The Haunted Graveyard coming up this Saturday, September 29th. (See more details in the feature above).

Wednesday, October 3rd kicks off a new 8-week Sculpting for Beginners course taught by Tyler Green two-time finalist on SyFy's Face Off at his studio in Litchfield, CT. Students will get an introductory to character design in 3D form by using a non hardening clay to develop skills and techniques in creating a character in clay.

Also, check out our Family-friendly Halloween Event Guide for all-ages fun in CT.

Massachusetts Halloween Events (full guide)

For the third year, Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA will host the immersive outdoor theatrical production of The Sleepy Hollow Experience which is back for a 6-week run on the grounds of this living history museum. Check them out Wednesday through Sunday nights and advance tickets are a must.

Lizzie Borden: The Mystery Continues is billed as a "one-hour, in depth retelling of the famous double homicide" by local history teacher Christopher Daley. Held at the Blackstone Library, this is a free event but it does require pre-registration.
Details and registration info.

Haverhill Library hosts free horror flicks during Terrifying Tuesday Nights and Classic Spooky Tuesday Matinees nearly every week in October starting Oct 2nd. Check out the 1932 "The Mummy" for the classic matinee and the 2017 Stephen King's "It" this Tuesday, October 2nd.
At Vampfangs' new Salem store this weekend you can book an appointment with Tyler Green of SyFy's FaceOff for Custom FX Teeth Consultations as he rolls out his new line of custom teeth products for zombies and monsters. You must pre-book a time by contacting Vampfangs directly and Tyler will be taking appointments on both days between noon and 6pm. Details.

Plus, check out our Family-friendly Halloween Event Guide for all-ages fun in MA.

Rhode Island

In scenic Portsmouth, RI you'll find Escobar Farm hosting their annual Pumpkin Festival at Escobar Farm on Saturday, September 29th (rain date Sept 30).

Also, on Saturday, Sept 29th (rain date Sept 30) Frerich's Farm in Warren will host their Halloween Party for Individuals with Autism and their families with a pirate ship, scavenger hunt, western town, bubble table, and food (advance registration required).

Find more kids activities on our Family-friendly Halloween Event Guide for all-ages fun in RI.

Maine

Bangor is the place to be this week where you can find two very special events lined up!
Queen City Arts kicks off a new Special FX Makeup Class for ages 15 and up. Held on Monday nights over a series of 6 weeks, this teen and adult course includes weekly instruction by a makeup professional and a makeup kit for easy home practice.

Haunted History is the name of the game at the "Darker Side of Mt. Hope Cemetery" in Bangor this Tuesday, October 2nd. This cemetery tour explores local history and is the first of three dates for this tour this October.

New Hampshire

Saturday, September 29th is the perfect day to go searching and shopping for your Halloween costume and decor needs--and the timing couldn't be better than during Kids Day at Costumania in West Lebanon, NH. Every child gets a goodie bag and a special discount towards merchandise and there's complimentary face-painting and pizza between 11:00am-3:00pm.

Vermont

Sunday, September 30th is the annual Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival in Stowe where you can cheer on the pumpkin trebuchet competition while noshing on entries to the chili cookoff!

What have we been up to? Where are we headed?

While it's early in the New England haunting season, Halloween New England packed in two trips to Salem on Saturday alone--first we dropped into Salem, Massachusetts for a few hours to check out Vampfangs new brick and mortar store, eat a slice from Flying Saucer Pizza, and visit HausWitch. Then we hit the road headed to our second Salem of the day - this time to Salem, New Hampshire-- to celebrate opening night of Screeemfest at Canobie Lake Park!

This weekend we've got plans to swing through Barrett's Haunted Mansion this week and we'll be heading to Scary Acres in Hope, RI. We just can't wait!

Looking for info on which haunts are open on Sundays? Did you know that SEVEN haunted attractions are open this Sunday, September 30th including The Haunted Graveyard (Bristol, CT) and Scary Acres Haunted House and Hayride (Hope, RI). If you love to plan your October weekends ahead like we do and want to check out haunted attractions on an off-peak night, we've compiled our essential Guide to Haunted Attractions Open on Sunday Nights.

We've got seven contests right now on Halloween New England.

Ending Soon: If you haven't yet entered, The Haunted Speakeasy is delivering the costume party of the year in Worcester, MA and we're wrapping up their ticket contest on Oct 1st so enter ASAP!
Enter all contests right from the home page of Halloween New England.


New Contests: Since last week we've added a 2nd chance to win a $25 in merchandise from

Costumania in West Lebanon, NH and a contest for a pair of tickets to Vengeance in the Valley Haunted Hayride and Maze in Guilford, VT. Ghost Ship Harbor in Quincy, MA kicked off their 2nd contest this week and look for the 2nd round to win Jack-o-lantern Spectacular tickets in Providence, RI.
The Haunted Graveyard has a contest running for combo tickets to see them during their 2nd weekend of haunting and there's still time to enter for tickets to see what Fear Town Haunted House has in store for you this season.
Barrett's Haunted Mansion is giving away a four-pack of tickets to see them in Abington, MA and another 13th World Haunted Trail ticket contest are now up for your visit to Cumberland, RI!

Visit Halloween New England's home page for contest details.

Congrats to Deltra Kroemer who won a pair of Opening Weekend tickets to The Haunted Graveyard, to Christen Clery who won Opening Weekend tickets to Ghost Ship Harbor, Ryan Lee, Sabrina Desy, and Shane Bergevin won a four-pack of tickets to Barrett's Haunted Mansion, Craig Miranda won a four pack of tickets to 13th World and Sean Burke and Ian Dincuff each won tickets to Fear Town!

Haunted Houses, Haunted Mazes, and Haunted Hayrides Opening Friday, September 28th

The Haunted Graveyard (Bristol, CT)

Legends of Fear (Shelton, CT) Haunted Hayride and Trail

Fear Town (Seekonk, MA)

DementedFX (Holyoke, MA)

Ghost Ship Harbor (Quincy, MA)

Haunted Labyrinth (RI)

The 7-1-5 Haunted House (MA)
13 Nights at Jiminy (MA)

Witch's Woods (MA) - House and Haunted Hayride

Monster Mash Haunted Hayride (MA)

Haunted Hale Corn Maze (CT)

The Haunted Isle (CT)

Fright Kingdom (NH)
Click for the complete Opening Night Guide

Haunted Houses, Haunted Mazes, and Haunted Hayrides Opening Friday, September 28th

13th World (Cumberland, RI)

Trail of Terror (Wallingford, CT)
Click for the complete Opening Night Guide

Salem's Gallows Hill Witchcraft and Ghost Experience Offers Thrills this October

Halloween New England recently took a jaunt up to Salem, MA for dinner and a show. Our trip was an impromptu one and really, we never need much of an excuse to pop in to one of our favorite cities in Massachusetts.

Gallows Hill Museum in Salem, MA

After a wonderful meal at Tavern on the Square we took a short 3 minute walk up the street to Gallows Hill for the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience.

We met up with owner Erik Rodenhiser, a Salem native, owner of the theatre space, and creative mind behind the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience.
He welcomed us and shared a bit about the history of the theatre as we waited for a large group to arrive. The theatre is the home base for the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience as well as a number of tours and special events including the Ghosts and Legends Trolley (October only). 

The gift shop with Gallows Hill tees

The main lobby doubles as a small gift shop and a visual display of different memorabilia related to Salem’s history and traditions. Set between two open rooms, the museum features photos, short videos, and a number of plaques showcasing the important people and timeline of Salem’s Witch Trials.

There was plenty of posted material explaining aspects of the Witch Trials and debunking myths about witchcraft, especially as it is practiced in modern day Salem.

The museum, which is only open before and after scheduled shows, was a nice, clearly presented educational diversion while we waited to take our seats. We both noticed how spotlessly clean and well-taken care of the whole theatre was—a testament to the care Erik gives to the space and attention paid to the complete customer experience.

Nine women who figure prominently
in the Witch Trial history timeline

Outside of October, the theatre opens just for booked groups. The night we attended there was a large group that was kind enough to allow us to tag along.

Being the end of summer, it was no surprise that the group turned out to be about sixty middle-school aged campers! The moment they arrived en masse the level of energy in the lobby reached a buzz of epic levels—it was truly something to behold! We could overhear some of the preteens who were nervous about seeing the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience—they didn’t know what to expect and were anxious about what was to come.
The counselors were very reassuring to the kids but we knew that there were a number of audience members who were headed in already feeling jumpy. As it happened, you couldn’t ask for a better audience.  

As much as we tried to read up on the Experience, we couldn’t quite get a handle on what exactly we were about to see. We had imagined it would be somewhat like Disney’s The Hall of Presidents show—interesting, but more about sitting in your seat listen to a historical presentation.

Some audience members are seated
right in the center of the action.

It turns out “Experience” is really the right way to describe this evening—and it is nothing like the Hall of Presidents which frankly I think is a good thing. 

With only two performers handling all responsibilities onstage and backstage, it is a non-stop ride of storytelling, startling surprises, interactive props, costumes, smells, sensations, (did I feel something on the back of my neck or did I imagine it? I still honestly don’t know…), scares, and laughs from start to finish.

It is the kind of performance that you cannot help but become a part of -- yet not in get-up-on-stage kind of participatory way which will certainly come as a relief to some. It would be impossible at any age to simply sit back aloofly during a show like this. From the moment the lights turned down for the show it was a whirlwind of fun right to the end.

The show is a careful choreography of special effects, costumes, story-telling, diversions, exhilarating surprises/scares (depending on your perspective) with historical facts and local legends presented in a way to keep the story moving along at a swift pace. 

A creature in the Witchcraft and
Ghost Experience at Gallows Hill

The campers, we can’t resist mentioning, were completely hilarious. They weren’t obnoxious in the least (which I’ll admit we’d secretly feared being that the adults that night were roundly outnumbered) but instead the kids were just the right age to still get legitimately spooked.

They were the right mix of jumpy and fun. They clutched onto their friends at the slightest surprise and spontaneously shrieking—every single one of them—at a sudden special effect or unexpected noise.

It really was a treat to have enjoyed the show in their company and it added to the wonderful time we were already having. Their energy established the atmosphere right from the get go and made for a really memorable time.

There was a brief post-show Q&A which was equally fun, entertaining, and interesting. The length of the show typically runs just under 25 minutes and it felt like we’d only been there for 5—the time simply flew by.

So, you ask, what IS the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience?

Was a performance? Yes. Was it historical? Yes, mostly fact-based to move the story along, not as a re-enactment.
Was it scary? Yes, but in more of a surprising, thrilling way (see my notes below about age). Was it funny? Absolutely.
Was it predictable or cheesy? Not in the least!  Was it original? It definitely felt like we’d never seen a show like this before.

The spooky setting for the Experience 

The closest way to describe the performance is that it was interactive, exciting, surprising, and immersive in the way going to a haunted house would be yet this was NOT anything like a haunted house nor is it intended to be frightening. However, it will surprise you and make you jump—at any age. Just to be clear, you are not walking through anything. The only “conventional” part of this show is that you enjoy it as a proper audience member in a seat taking in the show on the stage.

Nothing about this show feels like it is catering to the lowest common denominator of tourist activities. It would be wholly unfair to lump it as “just another” way to spend your time in Salem. Instead, we’d like to emphasize how much we appreciated the effort to give the audience an original, fun, and memorable experience in a clean, well-kept space.

If you are headed to Salem this fall, book your tickets early to lock in a chance to see the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience at Gallows Hill. They also offer an opportunity for the nighttime Ghosts and Legends Trolley during October –with special combo ticket prices for attending the two events in the same evening.

Gallows Hill offers a Tales and Ales Tour and a "Grave Hopper Pass" which is a combo ticket to the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience and the Nightmare Gallery.

Tips for your visit to Gallows Hill

• Book your tickets EARLY for the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience and the Ghosts and Legends Trolley. These events are offered to the public in Salem in October only (and to booked groups year round). As you are not going to be the only one in the city looking for something memorable to do, don’t even think about taking your chances…just book in advance and early. 

• There’s a small gift shop where you can buy t-shirts and other small items.

• Arrive early so you can take in the museum portion of the lobby.

• There are two individual bathrooms so we could see there being a line at the last minute—arrive early if you need them.

• This show is a thrilling 25-minute sensory adventure without an intermission.

• Tickets available online.

Family Tips for your visit to Gallows Hill 

As we didn’t attend with children on that night, we debated over what the youngest age would be for a child to find this fun and at what age a child would be too scared to enjoy himself.

On every level the show is entertaining, well-paced, and full of historical facts and fun so a 6 or 7 year old wouldn’t be bored in in the least—neither would your middle schooler, as we witnessed first-hand. The content was suitable for kids but some kids are going to be upset by the sudden darkness while others will find everything exciting. We’ve seen older teens standing outside a haunted attraction and cry and this is not intended to be frightening in the way a haunted attraction is. It’s pure entertainment. One person’s scare is another person’s thrill so it really comes down to your child.

Our consensus is that 6-8 years old is probably about the youngest that would be ready for this show. Mostly it will depend on how sensitive your child is for your younger or older child is game. Will getting surprised be scary or fun for them? You decide.

• The Ghosts and Legends Trolley Tour and the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience are family friendly and suitable for kids.

• This is not designed as a “kids show” per se but it is certainly is intended to be a family-friendly one. The adults will enjoy it and, if you have kids in tow, they will have fun too.

• We think 7-8 years old is a suitable age to start bringing your child to the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience. If your child is frightened by surprises or even brief moments in the dark, they may not be ready for this yet. See our notes about age earlier.

• It’s a swift show that will hold your child’s attention the entire time. Even older kids and teens have a blast, as we witnessed. 

• There are two individual unisex bathrooms—they are large enough to comfortably fit more than one person if you are accompanying your child.

• If you are concerned about your child being too afraid to stay through the show, we suggest sitting at the very back of the theatre and leaving during an illuminated moment. If you sense your child is very nervous, perhaps hold off for now.

Haunted Overload – An Imaginative, Captivating, Haunting World

One of Haunted Overload's
iconic giant carved pumpkins

With designer and artist Eric Lowther at the helm, a visit to Haunted Overload in Lee, NH is truly an original experience both in its artistry and its presentation. Eric’s stage manager Tom Sadowski was gracious enough to take time out to give Halloween New England a behind-the-scenes preview of the upcoming season. As anyone who has visited Haunted Overload can attest, words are sure to fall short in trying to accurately convey this mesmerizing haunted trail but I will try my best.

Haunted Overload is situated deep in the woods on the DeMerritt Hill Farm property in what is a busy PYO apple orchard for families during the fall replete with hayrides and a pumpkin patch. It’s almost funny to consider how the family-focused daytime farm activities and the Overload nighttime activities land on entirely different ends of the spectrum.

For one, I didn’t arrive during daylight hours so by the time I’d pulled into the pitch black parking lot the farm was closed and the minivans were long gone. I’d never been here before so although I was unsure exactly where to go but I simply followed the ominous sound of working chainsaws to know where Haunted Overload was. (Yes, I realize in horror movies, when you follow the sound of chainsaws into the woods nothing good ever happens). As it turns out, once I saw the scale and size that Eric works in, I couldn’t help imagining that the screaming wail of chainsaws must impart a kind of soundtrack to their building season. Chainsaws are what are needed to carry out the ambitious structures that Eric and his crew build here—nothing less would accomplish the task.

My visit was in September so the construction and detail for the season was in full swing. Tom’s tour took place at night which brought its own kind of spookiness—no crowds of customers, no scene lighting, no environmental music, save for the aforementioned chainsaw. Just Tom and me walking the trail and, had it not been for the flashlight, we’d be in complete darkness in the NH woods. Credit to Tom for keeping the flashlight on the whole time as I would have been an easy mark—the thought of being in the woods in the pure darkness even for 5 seconds would have terrified me!

Tom shared the history of Haunted Overload including details about the year they moved their entire attraction to the current property at DeMerritt Hill Farm—no easy feat when you see how gigantic many of these scenic pieces are. He discussed their current approach to the new season, which changes they were implementing, and showed me how they were adjusting many sections of the trail to reverse the customer flow for a new feel. Haunted Overload is primarily an outdoor haunted attraction but there are several small buildings, thematic tent structures, and huts that you either walk through or are brief scenes. However, Eric is an artist who doesn’t think small—he approaches design in terms of scale, using proportion to his advantage to create a specific atmosphere—so most of what makes Overload stand out can’t really fit inside a building at all.

Ethereal scarecrow-like ghost
creatures are tall as the treetops

Perhaps it’s Eric’s commitment to using as much organic building material as possible—reclaimed wood from fallen trees, strapping scraps from a NH lumber yard, the texture of the leaves and trees all around--that allow the various creatures to paradoxically feel both of the earth and yet not of this world.

Whether it is the enormous imposing skull staring you down as you wait in the queue or the towering ghostly scarecrow-like creations that hover twenty feet above your head as you walk through the trail, the magic of Haunted Overload is how very, very small you feel. It’s clear you have entered in another world where nothing is human-sized and these magnificent, ethereal creatures are the ones who inhabit this fantastical land. 

This pumpkin-headed sculpture
exemplifies Eric Lowther's love of
texture and use of organic materials. 

The artistry of the various props, creatures, giant carved pumpkins, ghostly skeletons are completely custom built for this event—these are not props or animatronics that can be bought which allows the customers to have a wholly unique experience—they have never seen these types of things anywhere else—and why Haunted Overload is a destination with a devoted return customer base. 

As colleague Mike “Tattoo” Krausert of 13th Floor Entertainment Group explained “there is just nobody in the haunted attraction industry doing what Eric is doing. He is a true artist with a one-of-a-kind vision.”   

It only seems fitting to be greeted
by a chainsaw-wielding maniac!

When I returned to Haunted Overload for the live experience, everything was ratcheted up to a whole new level. This time, there were actors and customers who brought an energy and life to the night and yes, there was still the sound of chainsaws (judiciously used I might add). Right from the start, the customers are immersed in this phenomenal world of rich colors, stylized sinister pumpkins, and scarecrow-like ghosts glaring down at you from the tree-tops. My fellow patrons stood agape looking up and craning their heads, taking it all in. The secondary queue line serves a useful purpose to allow the customers to acclimate to the new, almost magical environment before heading out on the trail. This also is the only area where photos are permitted and Eric has smartly created an impressive wooden skull centerpiece flanked by a pair of giant wooden cow skulls for the photo ops.  On the misty night I attended there was a haunting layer of natural fog suspended in all corners of the woods which certainly added to the special atmosphere.

This photo doesn't convey the enormity
of the 3-story tall skull at the trail head.

The groups enter the trail and the experience is self-guided--there are bridges and graveyards and plenty of small shacks where actors could be hiding (or are they?) which certainly add to the thrills and tension. There seem to be plenty of ways for actors to cover some ground—being able to surprise or stalk multiple groups in a short period of time.
I felt lucky that the group I tagged along with didn’t race through the event too quickly since I was eager to progress slowly so I could thoroughly observe the careful detail of the creatures and the enchanting scenic design. Eric’s trail design takes everything into consideration—I particularly appreciated how the back-side of a scene or a giant creature was seamlessly contributed to a scene in a different part of the trail--something difficult to accomplish in a conventional, indoor, walled attraction.

This is a well-organized event with a dedicated group of volunteers supporting the event by taking tickets taking to conveying emergency exit procedures. Eric’s association with The Cocheco Valley Humane Society is an important one as the CVHS as Haunted Overload contributes a portion of their proceeds each year to support the great work these folks are doing. In 2013 alone, Haunted Overload raised $16,000 for the CVHS which is a very impressive and impactful kind support.

Haunted Overload opens for the haunting season mid-October and you can buy tickets for night-time events (full show), daytime events (no scares/actors, photos permitted), and two Fright Lite Night events (no scares/actors, photos permitted on this night too).

Find details about Haunted Overload, links to online ticketing, a slideshow of their trail, watch their video, find contact info, map with directions, and more here.

Ten Tips for Visiting Haunted Overload this October

• Buy your tickets in advance. Their night shows regularly sell out and there are a very limited number of tickets sold at the door.

• The event has timed ticketing which means you purchase your ticket for a particular entrance time. This doesn’t mean you won’t have a brief wait in the queue but it does mean you need to arrive in advance of your scheduled time. Your timed arrival has as much to do with managing the parking lot flow as it does the crowds so be considerate and arrive early!

• The trail itself takes about 45 minutes depending on the pace of your group and those in front of you. Factor in a little extra time for waiting in the queue and for parking.

• A nice perk of this event is the ability to plan your night—the timed ticketing allows you to have an idea about how much time you will spend there which very helpful if you are making plans before or after.

• This show has a recommendation of 12y + but as always, parents should exercise their own best judgment as to what their child finds scary or frightening. There are definitely surprises, as well as creepy and scary moments. I don’t recall seeing any gore.

• Haunted Overload offers a Fright Night Lite which is the full night show minus the actors and scares. This is also the only night show where photos are permitted throughout the event. Check their schedule for details. 

• Those looking to really soak up the artistry and scenic detail of Haunted Overload are encouraged to return for one of the daytime shows where photos are allowed and the walk-through pace is more relaxed to allow you to really appreciate the trail in full daylight. The daytime events are actor- and scare-free.

• This is an outdoor event that takes place rain or shine (except in the case of extreme weather) so dress appropriately for the nighttime weather in NH, including rain and cold temps. Be sure to wear shoes that are safe and suitable for walking on an outdoor trail.

• There are light refreshments at the farm stand near the parking lot—hot cider, etc.

• Haunted Overload has made the effort to be wheelchair accessible but there are some uneven trails. They can accommodate you with some trail adjustments if needed but it is appreciated if you call ahead to let them know you’re coming.

New and Improved Halloween New England - A Bigger, Better, Interactive Guide for 2014

I've learned that no matter how early you start a big project, things will always come down to the wire. Haunted house builders are notorious for planning new scenes and rooms in December yet they find themselves 10 months later squeaking in those final details on opening night. In our quest for delivering the best product or experience, it's just what happens. Website upgrades are certainly no exception...and yes, we've been planning since last December too.

With the ambitious plans we have for the 2014 Halloween season, including the addition of a new companion website New England Fall Events, we've been working feverishly to have all  the various inter-working pieces come together. We've got a few left to integrate but it's hard to miss how drastically improved the site is already.

This fall, Halloween fans have much to look forward to. Here are some of the the highlights:

More. When it comes to planning your nighttime fall activities, having all the information you need in one place is essential. That's where we come in. 

Salem Attraction Guide on
Halloween New England

Easy. It's a snap to find what you need on Halloween New England. You already know where you plan to be (state) you have an  idea of what you want to do (haunted hayride) and in two clicks you have all the places where you could spend your evening right at your fingertips. 

Useful. Every single attraction on Halloween New England has a special page with a list of features about their business along with a map, their contact info, and website if they have one. When you make your plans, you can get directions in one click right from their page on Halloween New England.

Maps. Click on the state where you plan to spend your time and you find a map with all the attractions available in any region. Click on the dot and you've got a link to their page on our website where you can find more info. It's a democratic system at Halloween New England--everyone is included--not just the biggest places around.

Halloween New England's new
 Interactive Attraction Map

Plan well. If you're like us, you spend your September and October adventuring to as many nighttime and seasonal activities as you can while they are open. There's just one all-too-short season to squeeze it in and get your thrills. We know it's essential to be able to plan carefully and well. How else can you fit in a flashlight corn maze and a haunted trail in a single evening? Our state attraction maps are the key to helping you know which activities are within driving distance and which you can reasonably accomplish in the same night.  

Inspiration. We'll send out weekly updates to make sure you know about events and special activities coming up for the weekend. If you are more of the spontaneous type, we've got your back.

Sample Attraction Page
for Amity Road Horror

Focus. This year Halloween New England is more, well, Halloween-y. We've moved most of our daytime events over to New England Fall Events in order to focus on nighttime attractions, haunted houses and trails, ghost tours, Salem attractions, pumpkin patches, costumes, and Halloween events. The new site is less family-focused yet it's an invaluable tool for families planning which events and tours are suitable for their kids or teens and which night attractions are simply held at night and are non-scary. 

Pride. Really, where else would you want to be during the Halloween season than in New England? New Englanders know how to do Halloween right and our website gives you hundreds of ways to support your local small businesses and seasonal attractions. These are your neighbors and many of them spend the entire year dreaming up new and innovative ways to give you a kickass October. 

Geek out. Halloween New England allows you to be the Halloween superfan you always wanted to be. Go ahead, surrender.

We can't wait to hear your thoughts and feedback about the new site. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the season!