Weekly Top Picks for September 26th- Oct 2nd, 2019

With October arriving after the weekend, we are thrilled that our favorite month of the year has finally arrived! Bring on the 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 season.

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

Don't miss buying advance tickets for a one-of-a-kind event coming up next Saturday, October  5th!! The Haunted Graveyard's "Behind the Screams Experience" return for 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.

Massachusetts Halloween Events (full guide)

On Saturday, September 28th, swing into Salem for Endless Night: Salem Vampire Salon at the historic Hawthorne Hotel. Complete with music, mystery, entertainment, performances, and ritual--including a midnight howl--revel in the elements of the Vampire Mythos in an intimate, dark salon setting.

Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA returns with their fourth season of an immersive outdoor theatrical production of The Sleepy Hollow Experience 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.

Also in Salem on Friday and Saturday nights--this time in the Hawthorne Library - is Clue Live! presented by Haunted Dinner Theatre billed as a family-friendly spooky evening complete with suspense, mystery, and dinner!

Haverhill Library hosts a series of weekly free horror flicks during Classic Spooky Tuesday Matinees throughout October starting Oct 1st Check out the 1963 "The Haunting" for their morning matinee.

Friday and Saturday, September 27th and 28th, join “Ghost Writers” author Sam Baltrusis for MASS ParaCon a two-day paranormal experience at the Berkshire’s Seven Hills Inn located in Lenox.
John Zaffis, armed with more than 40 years of studying and investigating the paranormal, will co-headline the MASS ParaCon along with John E.L Tenney from "Ghost Stalkers" who is also known for his signature "Weird Lectures."

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

Connecticut Halloween Events (full guide)

This Saturday, September 28th, Courtney Reardon of Seaside Shadows is sharing an afternoon of Tarot and Tea Leaf Readings in East Haddam.  Tarot and Tea Leaves provide us insight on who we are, what we are going through and what's to come. Tea Leaves are an ancient Celtic form of divination passed through generations. Your spirit guides and angels want the best for you -- so have a reading at a local coffee shop and find out what's in store.

It's also the 2nd weekend of festivities at Pumpkintown USA in East Hampton. This family-friendly, non-scary adventure takes you through a town with a saloon, jail, country store, post office, and a fire department--each a different scene throughout the "village". Take a hayride through Pumpkintown forest and catch a glimpse of more than 30 pumpkin-headed characters and their dwellings!

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

Rhode Island  (full guide)

In scenic Portsmouth, RI you'll find Escobar Farm hosting their annual Pumpkin Festival at Escobar Farm on Saturday, September 28th (rain date Sept 29). With pumpkin games, crafts, face painting and scarecrow making fun for everyone--plus, who can resist getting "lost" in their expansive corn maze! Michael Higgins may even be on-site to amaze you with his chainsaw skills!

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

Maine  (full guide)

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.

Vermont  (full guide)

Sunday, September 29th is the annual Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival in Stowe where you can cheer on the thrilling display of engineering during the pumpkin trebuchet competition while noshing on entries to the chili cookoff in a scenic area. What better way to enjoy a fall day!

New Hampshire  (full guide)

While you're in NH leaf-peeping, haunt-going, or pumpkin picking, take the scenic route through Rte 120 and 12A in Plainfield where
the locals have set up a unique seasonal presentation of Plainfield Pumpkin People. In recent years the number of pumpkin people has grown to nearly 300 displays along the route! The displays are available to enjoy daily between September 28th and October 31st.

What has Halloween New England been up to? What's next?

Last week we took in a screening of Rob Zombie's latest flick 3 From Hell for some mid-week gore and wrapped up the weekend at the Harvard Square Ghost Tour in Cambridge, MA on what might have been the most perfect fall evening. Huge thanks to our very entertaining tour guide Stewart who wove tales of mystery and lore through scenic landmarks such as the gates to Harvard Yard and the Old Burial Ground. We popped into the Holliston, MA Historical Society for an hour-long retelling of the famous double homicide with Lizzie Borden: The Mystery Continues presented by local history teacher Christopher Daley. Held at the Holliston Library.

This Friday you'll find us screaming through Barrett's Haunted Mansion in Abington, MA!

Looking for info on which haunts are open on Sundays? Did you know that SEVEN haunted attractions are open this Sunday, September 29th including Evidence of Evil (Southington, CT) and  The Haunted Graveyard (Bristol, CT)? 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.

Ending Soon: We're closing out our first-ever Haunt on Eden ticket contest to visit their haunted house in Plantsville, CT so enter by 9/28 to give it a shot!.  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 2nd so enter ASAP!
It's your final week to enter as often as you like to win a pair of tickets to Haunted Overload's special Invite-Only night on Oct 10th--be sure to enter by 10/3.
Enter all contests right from the home page of Halloween New England.

New Contests:
Earlier this week we posted our first contest to win a four-pack of tickets to experience DementedFX Haunted House in Holyoke, MA and a brand new contest for a pair of tickets to see what Fear Town Haunted House has in store for you this season. The Haunted Graveyard has a contest running for combo tickets to see them during their 2nd weekend of haunting but you'll need to enter by 10/5. VIP Tickets will be a dream this October when you win them through the Ravenwood Haunted Farm (Haverhill, MA) contest. We've got a new round of four-pack tickets we're giving away through our contest for the Jack O' Lantern Spectacular (Providence, RI) and be sure to enter often to win a four-pack of tickets to The Dark Manor (Baltic, CT) haunted house.
Keep your eyes peeled for more Barrett's Haunted Mansion (Abington, MA) and  13th World (Cumberland, RI) contests posted soon!

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

Haunted Houses, Haunted Mazes, and Haunted Hayrides Opening Friday, September 27th

Evidence of Evil (Southington, CT)
The Haunted Graveyard (Bristol, CT)

Fear Town (Seekonk, MA)

DementedFX (Holyoke, MA)
Ravenwood Haunted Farm (Haverhill, MA)

Haunted Labyrinth (RI)

13 Nights at Jiminy (MA)

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

Monster Mash Haunted Hayride (MA)

Marini Farm (non-haunted) Corn Maze (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)
Legends of Fear (Shelton, CT) Haunted Hayride and Trail

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

Weekly Top Picks for September 20th- 25th, 2019

We wait all year for this moment - the start of our favorite season!

Though the calendar reads September, devoted Halloween New England fans know the spirit of the Halloween season kicks off with the change in the temp, the turning color of the leaves, and the arrival of pumpkins at every local farm stand. Salem's Haunted Happenings Grand Parade is two weeks away and haunt-fans across New England are thrilled to welcome the first weekend of haunt openings this weekend!

Halloween New England always has your back all season long with hundreds of upcoming events listed to help you stay on top of new Halloween experiences and alerted to new attractions. Tune in each Thursday for our Top Picks, highlights for the weekend, special events not to be missed, incredible contests, and other essential info to keep you on top of everything this Halloween. Our event calendars grow every year and you'll never find more Halloween events in a single place than at Halloween New England.

If you are looking to narrow down our events listings to all-ages experiences, try our Family-Friendly Halloween Event Guides in several states will help you spot wonderful Halloween and pumpkin events for making memories and starting new traditions this year.

So many ways to celebrate Halloween, so little time to do it....that's why we start celebrating eight weeks early--and so should you.

At this point in September, there is just a smattering of Halloween themed and seasonally inspired events. As we get closer to October 31st you'll see more highlighted events to consider across New England...and of course, we always have more listings--plus events in the future--listed on the website. To whet your appetite for the season, here are a few worthwhile events for this weekend.

Massachusetts

With so much going on in Salem, MA every October, it couldn't be a better time to check out the many tours and attractions the city has to offer before the crowds kick in! Salem Historical Tours is currently serving up five different daily walking tours every afternoon plus they add their Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour nightly starting in October. Look for tours on Salem Haunted History, Cemetery Tours, Salem Movie Site tours, a midday Ghost Tour and a Witchcraft Walk.  It's always wise to book early and they even offer discounts when you book multiple tours during your visit to the Witch City.

For the best of Salem planning, we have bookmarked the website and social media pages for Haunted Happenings Magazine for the most updated special local Salem events and new attractions.

This Saturday, September 21st is also the 12th annual Salem Wicked Half Marathon and walkers are welcome too!

The Medfield library is serving up a half-day Teen Costume Making Workshop this Saturday, Sept 21st where grades 5 and up can learn how to work with heat-moldable Fossshape to build costumes, armor, and more.

On Monday, September 23rd, the Holliston Historical Center is hosting a lecture called Lizzie Borden: The Mystery Continues featuring an hour-long retelling of the famous double homicide by historian Christopher Daley who'll be highlighting his researching using archival materials, period newspapers and period photographs.

Connecticut
The Monster Bash Halloween Party is coming to Whiting Mills in Winsted, CT this Saturday, September 21st! This free family-friendly event is designed to "spark creativity with hands-on workshops, make-up demos, celebrity guest performances" plus raffles to win incredible prizes! It's open to all people (children and adults) who have the drive to show their creative side and who are looking for hands-on workshops for every age to learn new ways to make their own Halloween costumes, decor, and more.

In Branford, this Saturday is Cosplay 101: Intro to Costuming and Cons for Teens at the Blackstone Library. Veteran cosplayer, Denny McDermott, will host a discussion on costuming for your everyday life--from conventions to renaissance faires, and everything in between. Teens and adults are invited to join us for this hour-long presentation, followed by a Q&A.

Rhode Island
It's going to be a gorgeous weekend of weather and what family wouldn't enjoy the annual Harry Potter Day festivities at Escobar Farm in Portsmouth, RI or the annual Great Pumpkin Festival in North Smithfield.
The Hearthside Museum in Lincoln will be hosting Validating the Afterlife presentation with spiritual medium Roland Comtois in the intimate setting of Hearthside's drawing room on Monday, September 23rd.
On Wednesday, September 25th Providence Ghost Tours invites you to join them for the Haunted Boat Tour "surrounded by the moon-lit bridges, cobblestone walkways and century-old parks of downtown, you will learn of Providence's dearly-deceased-but-not-so-departed residents; local literary giants and humble servants alike; their restless souls still stirring among the living." 

New Hampshire
Three fantastic events are lined up for this Saturday, September 21st in the Granite State. It'll be Kids Day at Costumania's superstore in West Lebanon. Open 10:00am-8:00pm, every child who walks through the door gets a goodie bag and a very special discount towards merchandise. Between 11:00am-3:00pm Kids can also enjoy complimentary face-painting and pizza!

In Portsmouth at dusk on Saturday is the first-ever Spooky Ride Portsmouth which is an all-ages group bike ride to benefit the Portsmouth Halloween Parade and proposes to "appease the undead at the same time". Ride will last about an hour and will take you past cemeteries, oddities, and possibly a haunted house. 

At the Strand in Dover, NH you won't want to miss the interactive film screening of "Jaws" (1975) complete with special adult cocktails.

Vermont
In Springfield, this Saturday, and Sunday, September 21st and 22nd treat yourself to the weekend-long Springfield Steampunk Festival where you'll find steampunk vendors and artists with their wares on display and for sale, food trucks, a beer tent, and a large Children's Program. Hartness House Inn will offer live music along with related workshops and panels and even a private absinthe tasting right before the headliner!

The always popular Giant Pumpkin Weigh-in at Sam Mazza Farms is lined up for this Sunday, September 22nd which is accompanied by plenty of outdoor harvest activities and family fun at one of the biggest pumpkin events of the season!

Contests: Opening Weekend Giveaways, Ticket 4-packs,
 VIP Passes, and Tickets Galore!

We've got ten contests live on Halloween New England by the end of today plus more posted over the weekend! Find ALL the contests that you can enter here.

Enter to WIN a pair of tickets to Fear Town Haunted House in Seekonk, MA, win a four-pack of tickets to Barrett's Haunted Mansion in Abington, MA, win a four-pack of tickets to 13th World haunted trail in Cumberland, RI, and another chance to win entry to the special invite-only night at Haunted Overload in Lee, NH.
For an entire night of haunt-going, enter to win VIP Speed Passes to Legends of Fear in Shelton, CT where you'll be treated to their haunted hayride and haunted trail with reduced wait time!
If you've been anticipating the debut of Ravenwood Haunted Farm in Haverhill, MA we've got your chance to win a pair of VIP Passes to check them out!

Opening Weekend welcomes more winners! Enter to win Opening Weekend combo tickets (haunts + rides) for The Haunted Graveyard in Bristol, CT and Opening Weekend tickets to The Haunted Speakeasy vintage Halloween party at the Bull Mansion, in Worcester, MA.

We're also running ticket contests for Haunt on Eden in Plantsville, CT, and you won't want to miss out on the chance to win admission for four to the Jack O' Lantern Spectacular in Providence, RI where you will experience the magic of over 5,000 carved pumpkins in a (gently) spooky atmosphere!

Visit Halloween New England's home page for contest details and links for entering to win!

 Haunted Houses, Haunted Mazes, and Haunted Hayrides Opening Friday, September 20th

Barrett's Haunted Mansion (Abington, MA)

The Haunted Isle (CT)

Click for the complete Opening Night Guide

Haunted Houses, Haunted Mazes, and Haunted Hayrides Opening Saturday, September 21st

Sonny's Place (CT) Haunted Hayride

FrightFest at Six Flags New England (MA)
Screeemfest at Canobie Lake Park (NH)
Coppal House Farm (NH) – non-haunted Flashlight Corn Maze
Hathaway Farm Moonlight Maze (VT) - non-haunted Corn Maze

Click for the complete Opening Night Guide

We're thrilled to have teamed up again with the uber-talented The Pixel Perfection: After Dark whose incredibly creepy and inspiring haunt photos populate the guides again this year. As always, we know you love their photos...just please don't steal their photos! Why not just follow them on Facebook or Instagram or hire them to capture your Halloween attraction or event?

Weekly Top Picks for October 10th - 16th, 2018

Halloween New England is absolutely LOVING this Halloween season so far! Our website is humming with new events being added every day and thousands of New Englanders checking it constantly for guidance about what incredible events and attractions are serving up thrills in their area.

It's is always gratifying to see the response of activity on the website, the Facebook responses, and blog feedback because it is just a reminder that tens of thousands of New Englanders share our obsession with Halloween. We know we are not the only ones plotting and scheduling our night tours and haunted attraction adventures each and every weekend (and during the week too). Stay informed with all the details through our guides and event listings so you won't miss a thing!

Massachusetts 

Thursday and Sunday, Barrett's Haunted Mansion in Abington features their incredible $40 Bite and Fright Deal which includes a meal and admission to the Mansion and The Sanctuary.

Friday and Saturday are the first two vintage Halloween parties of The Haunted Speakeasy's five-event season where you can sport your ghastly or Gatsby-inspired costume in the historic Bull Mansion in Worcester where you will be treated to Prohibition-era cocktails, live entertainment, a burlesque show, and dancing! Advance tickets are a must for The Haunted Speakeasy (Oct 12th, 13th, 19th, 26th, and 27th).

On Friday, the 12th it's a community affair at Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary in Attleboro which will be hosting a Pumpkin Carving in advance of the Halloween Spooktacular at Attleboro Springs on Saturday the 13th.
Also on Saturday, you can enjoy lantern-lit stories at Longmeadow Cemetery during Ghosts in the Graveyard and check out An Evening with Edgar Allen Poe at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge on Saturday night.

Massachusetts is hosting some pretty excellent horror film screenings and horror film-related events this week.
The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem has two interesting presentations lined up--"It Takes Many Forms: Horror as Resistance" on Sunday at noon and you can find "Abandon All Hope: Cinematic Descriptions of Hell in Horror" at 4pm.

Our top screening picks of the bunch include "Rosemary's Baby" on Sunday in Salem, "Shaun of the Dead" on Monday at The Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, and "The Wolf Man" (1941) in Haverhill on Tuesday. Those are just a few of the many horror film screenings happening in Mass during this week. Click for the full list of horror film screenings.

Connecticut Thursday kicks us off with spooky candle-lit stories at Things that Go Bump in the Night at the Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry. and starting Saturday you will find the return of the annual Ballet Spooktacular in Old Saybrook. 

All weekend long you families will enjoy pumpkin fun at the CT Trolley Museum's Pumpkin Patch and on Sunday in Lebanon, the CT Renaissance Faire invites you to their Kids Costume Contest in Lebanon. For spookier fare,  Saturday and Sunday brings lantern-lit graveyard walks with A Haunting at Mill Hill in Norwalk.

New Hampshire 
This weekend is a perfect time to head to Lee, NH where Halloween is in full swing! You can visit Haunted Overload which opens their evening haunted trail for the season on Friday, October 12th complete with actors, scares, haunted mansion, giant scenes, and their famous treetop tall characters built deep in the woods.

In addition to their nightly show, during the day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday you can also see what their artistry looks like in the daylight. Visit the Haunted Overload Daytime Haunt between 10:00am-2:00pm!

On this Saturday, October 13th, Haunted Overload's daytime haunt is hosting Howl for the Animals fundraiser for the Cocheco Valley Humane Society. Featuring a bouncy house, crafts, raffles and special trick-or-treat through the (non-scary) haunt, this special event is also fido- friendly so be sure to bring your doggie along to enjoy the festivities!
While you are there for the Daytime Haunt / Howl for the Animals, you can enjoy the Halloween Storybook Hayrides at DeMeritt Hill Farm (where Haunted Overload is located) -- a family-friendly event for younger children to enjoy on Saturday and Sunday.
This weekend is also the annual Goffstown Pumpkin Weigh-off (Saturday) and Pumpkin Regatta (Sunday) where everyone will find something they love including a doggie costume contest, hayrides, pumpkin slingshots, pumpkin pie eating contests, pumpkin seed spitting contest, and culminating with the regatta where race their giant pumpkin boats down the river!

Rhode Island

It's Children's Fairy Tale Night  on Thursday, October 11th at the Roger Williams Zoo where kids can take pictures with Peter Pan, Cinderella, Snow White, Robin Hood and favorite Dr. Seuss characters such as the Cat in the Hat and the Grinch. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes for this special night and tickets include admission to the Jack O'Lantern Spectacular.

For a historical twist, on Sunday in Kingstown at the South County Historical Center you might check out Gone But Not Forgotten: Victorian Mourning Customs which is offered as part of the Center's series "Eternal Rest: Death, Mourning and Memorials." 

Vermont
If you happen to be leaf-peeping in southern Vermont this weekend, swing through the Townshend Pumpkin Festival coming up this Saturday, October 13th featuring a costume parade, live entertainment, games, rides, pumpkin pies, and more!

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

Over Columbus Day Weekend ventured to CT for the first of our annual haunt trips where you might have run into us at Legends of Fear (Shelton, CT), Fright Haven (Stratford, CT), and Trail of Terror (Wallingford, CT). On our way back to MA we stopped in at DementedFX (Holyoke, MA) and Monster Mash Haunted Hayride (South Hadley, MA). What an incredible weekend it was!

It's another busy weekend for us as we are headed to Field of Screams (East Greenwich, RI), and more CT haunt trips with a stop in at The Haunted Graveyard (Bristol, CT), Rails to the Darkside (East Windsor, CT), Evidence of Evil (Southington, CT) and  Nightmare Acres (Windsor, CT). 

If you are looking make the most of your October weekends and you love to plan ahead, check out which haunted attractions will be open on an off-peak night. Find out who'll be waiting in the dark for you in our Guide to Haunted Attractions Open Sunday Nights.

There are TWENTY-THREE haunts open this Sunday, October 14th including Haunted Overload (Lee, NH), Ghost Ship Harbor (Quincy, MA), Fear Town (MA), DementedFX (Holyoke, MA), Barrett's Haunted Mansion (Abington, MA), Fright Haven (Stratford,CT), The Haunted Graveyard (Bristol, CT), Trail of Terror (Wallingford, CT), 13thWorld (Cumberland, RI), Scary Acres (Hope, RI), and Field of Screams (East Greenwich, RI).

Ending Soon: We're closing out our 3rd Jack O'Lantern Spectacular 4-pack of tickets contest this Friday along with our 3rd Barrett's Haunted Mansion contest to win a 4-pack of tickets to their haunt in Abington, MA.
If you haven't yet entered, our one and only contest to win tickets to see DementedFX in Holyoke, MA is open now. There's still time to win tickets to see what Fear Town Haunted House has up their scaring sleeves this season so enter soon!

Enter all contests right from the home page of Halloween New England.

New Contests:  You'll also be able to enter contests for a 4-pack of tickets to 13th World Haunted Trail in Cumberland, RI, a $25 certificate in merchandise from Costumania in West Lebanon, NH, and we'll be wrapping up the 2nd contest for Ghost Ship Harbor in Quincy, MA.

Try your luck at winning a pair of tickets to our final Vengeance in the Valley contest to see their Haunted Hayride and Maze in Guilford, VT and it's your final chance to win combo tickets to The Haunted Graveyard in Bristol, CT.

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

Congrats to Rebecca Rudgers and Wesley Demelo who each won a 4-pack of tickets to the Jack O' Lantern Spectacular, Jenna Awley and Sara Johnstone won a pair of tickets to The Haunted Speakeasy, Ryan Lee and Amy Bettencourt won tickets to the invite-only night at Haunted Overload Yahaira Cruz and Rick Cyr won a 4-pack of tickets to Barrett's Haunted Mansion!

Haunted Houses and Haunted Trails Opening Friday, October 12th, 2018

Haunted Overload (Lee, NH)

Harrybrooke Haunted Trail (CT)

Fortress of Nightmares (RI)

Hammond Castle (MA)

Lakeville Haunted House (MA)
Click for the complete Opening Night Guide

We're thrilled to have teamed up again with the uber-talented The Pixel Perfection: After Dark whose incredibly creepy and inspiring haunt photos populate the guides again this year. As always, we know you love their photos...just please don't steal their photos! Why not just follow them on Facebook or Instagram or hire them to capture your Halloween attraction or event?

Weekly Top Picks for October 4th - 10th, 2018

Happy October everyone! 

After 11 months of waiting and counting down the days, our favorite month is here at last! Even better, it both looks and feels like October ought to. There's a chill in the air and our wool sweaters came out this week along with the scarves. 

With the long weekend upon us, there are plenty of activities, attractions, festivals, and events for us all to enjoy day and night. Take full advantage for making this October in New England your most memorable yet!

The Jack O'Lantern Spectacular Delivers 32 Nights of Glow Starting Oct. 4th

Tonight--Thursday, Oct 4th-- is the Opening Night for the annual Jack O' Lantern Spectacular at the Roger Williams Park and Zoo in Providence, RI! This annual pumpkin festival features a jaw-dropping number of carved jack o' lanterns on display fitting a different arcing theme every year.
Held 7 nights a week from October 4th through Nov. 4th, you'll be treated to a breathtaking display of carved pumpkins and pumpkin displays, It's a perfect way to spend a crisp fall evening and you still have time to try your luck at winning a pair of tickets on the Halloween New England website. Details about the Spectacular.

Buy Tickets Now for The Haunted Speakeasy's Costume Party of the Season!

This Halloween Season, Worcester, MA's historic Bull Mansion turns into The Haunted Speakeasy--the over-the-top 1920's Haunted Mansion Party of your vintage dreams!
The veil lifts at 140 year-old Bull Mansion to reveal scenes from Worcester's ghostly past--specters from the final Halloween before the end of prohibition haunt the halls for five memorable nights this Halloween season!
Lindy hop or foxtrot your way across the beautiful Bull Mansion ballroom. Dance and enjoy spirits (booo!) as 1920s music (and a few contemporary songs reVAMPed for that flapper feel) play in the ballroom by resident Speakeasy Spectacle Niki Luparelli and the Gold Diggers!

The Haunted Speakeasy is held five nights:
Friday and Saturday, October 12th and 13th
Friday, October 19th and
Friday and Saturday, October 26th and 27th, 2018
Interspersed with just the right amount of floor performances by some of New England’s best burlesque and variety acts, the themed dress for the night is 1920s & 30s, vintage, opulent, retro, ghastly Gatsby, horrific.

Options for general admission tickets and VIP admission tickets (includes VIP cocktail hour, a glass of champagne upon entrance, appetizers, and choice of a vintage dance lesson or a guided tour through the spooky haunted Bull Mansion). Event note: 18+ to Enter / 21+ to Drink. Event details and links to tickets.

Rhode Island

Saturday, October 6th marks the return of Frerich's Farm annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off which includes live music, a morning pumpkin drop, day-long farm activities, and the weigh-off takes place at noon.

Next Wednesday and Thursday, October 10th & 11th is Fairy Tale Night at the Jack O' Lantern Spectacular where kids can meet their favorite children’s fairy tale characters and take pictures with Peter Pan, Cinderella, Snow White, Robin Hood, the Cat in the Hat, and the Grinch at the Roger Williams Park and Zoo in Providence, RI. Costumes for kids and adults are encouraged but masks are not permitted for teens/adults over age 12y. Fairy Tale Night is included with the regular admission to the Jack O'Lantern Spectacular.

Connecticut

This Friday through Monday, the CT Trolley Museum's Pumpkin Patch is a family fun-filled adventure where you ride on a trolley car out to the pumpkin patch field where each child can pick out a free pumpkin. On Saturday and Sunday, there is also pumpkin decoration and face painting. Admission includes unlimited trolley rides, and access to the Fire Truck Museum located on the same property.

Saturday, October 6th is the return of Nightfall Hartford where at dusk the giant puppet creatures deliver a magical performance under the stars in the park during this family-friendly annual event.

In Lebanon this 3-day weekend, stop in at the CT Renaissance Faire where on Sunday they'll be hosting a Doctor Who Cosplay Contest. On Monday, they will feature another costume contest with a Heroes and Villians theme. All contestants are invited to enter 15 minutes before on the day-of and participation is included in regular admission.

Little Witches is a Halloween-themed children's musical held at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport. Afternoon performances begin Saturday, October 6th and run every weekend through October 28th.

Massachusetts 

Salem offers up their famous Haunted Happenings all October long and the seasonal festivities officially kick off with the Salem Grand Parade this Thursday, October 4th.
Starting Friday, October 5th Salem's House of the Seven Gables will open their play "The Legacy of the Hanging Judge" which is held inside the historic property and has multiple performances each weekend through the end of the month.

Friday night at Cinema Salem you can partake in a screening of the horror flick "Return of the Living Dead" featuring none other than legendary Scream Queen Linnea Quigley who will also be at Cinema Salem all weekend long for a VIP Meet & Greet! Tickets are required.

While in Salem on Saturday, the Peabody Essex Museum will be home to "Fun Deadtime Stories" which will be a theatrical telling of horror tales followed by the documentary film screening at the PEM of "Scary Stories" which explores author Alvin Schwartz’s gothic children's tales Scary Stories.

Salem travel tip: If you're not already familiar with taking the train (MBTA commuter rail) into Salem then you are missing out--it's the easiest way to get in and out and save yourself any parking drama. We like to park at the Swampscott MBTA station and take the train 1 stop into Salem. It's a quick walk from the Salem station into the downtown area and the MBTA even adds extra trains during the last weekend of October.

There are SIXTEEN horror-film screenings going on across Massachusetts this week alone! Our top five picks for this week are "The Exorcist", "28 Days Later", "Creature from the Black Lagoon", "Day of the Dead",  and the aforementioned "Return of the Living Dead",

Barrett's Haunted Mansion in Abington, MA also begins offering their October Bite and Fright Deal which you can take advantage of any Thursday or Sunday Night in October. For $40 you get admission to both Barrett's Haunted Mansion haunts PLUS dinner (with tax/tip included!) at the Abington Ale House next door to the haunt.

Maine

All weekend long Damariscotta welcomes visitors from every corner for their annual Pumkinfest and Pumpkin Regatta. With pumpkin dessert contests, pumpkin drops, giant pumpkin parades and more, and pumpkin catapults, and more! One highlight will be Saturday morning's Zombie 5K and Kids Fun Run takes place but the star of the weekend is sure to the Pumpkin Derby on Sunday where participants paint, decorate, theme-out, and engineer giant 400-700 Lb pumpkins into boats to race one another in the harbor. With two racing categories--motorized and non-motorized, this is always a highlight of the long weekend every year in Maine.

Monday, October 8th in Bangor is the start of a Special FX Makeup Class for ages 15+ where you can learn and explore the world of SPFX Makeup Design at Queen City Arts.

New Hampshire

Pumpkin festivals abound in New Hampshire this weekend! Top picks include Saturday and Sunday at PumpkinFest at scenic DeMeritt Hill Farm in Lee, NH, the weekend-long Pumpkin Festival in Milford and Charmingfare Farm's Pumpkin Festival in Candia will be ready for you Saturday through Monday.
The pumpkin-free walking tour of Spirit Encounters at Canterbury Village where you can hear firsthand accounts of otherworldly encounters as seen through a Shaker lens.

Vermont

Cedar Circle Farm is celebrating our favorite squash with their annual Pumpkin Festival! Here you'll find horse-drawn wagon rides, pumpkin picking, educational activities, self-guided farm tours, and a super tasty seasonally inspired food options at the concession stand. Join in the fun on Sunday, October 8th at their East Thetford farm.

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

We enjoyed a weekend fueled by screams and adrenaline thanks to our recent visit to Barrett's Haunted Mansion in Abington, MA and to Scary Acres Haunted Hayride and Corn Maze in Hope, RI!
As it's Columbus Day Weekend we're lined up for our annual CT haunt trip and you will find us at Legends of Fear (Shelton, CT), Fright Haven (Stratford, CT), and Trail of Terror (Wallingford, CT). We'll wrap up our haunt weekend with a stop at DementedFX (Holyoke, MA) and Monster Mash Haunted Hayride (South Hadley, MA).

Plan ahead for your October weekends by checking out haunted attractions on a Sunday night! This weekend there are TWENTY-FIVE haunted attractions open this Sunday, October 7th.
Be sure to check out Trail of Terror (Wallingford, CT), The Haunted Graveyard (Bristol, CT), Fright Haven (Stratford, CT), Legends of Fear (Shelton, CT), Scary Acres (Hope, RI), Field of Screams (East Greenwich, RI) and 13th World (Cumberland, RI), Fear Town (Seekonk, MA), Ghost Ship Harbor (Quincy, MA), Barrett's Haunted Mansion (Abington, MA), Fear Town (Seekonk, MA)  and DementedFX (Holyoke, MA).

Sundays often offer shorter lines and a more personal experience so what are you waiting for?

Ending Soon: We're closing out our 2nd Jack O'Lantern Spectacular 4-pack of tickets contest this Friday along with our 2nd Barrett's Haunted Mansion contest to win a 4-pack of tickets to their haunt in Abington, MA. It's also your LAST chance to win Oct 11th invite-only tickets to Haunted Overload in Lee, NH.
Enter all contests right from the home page of Halloween New England.

New Contests: Since last week we've added a brand new chance to win tickets to the costume bash of the year - The Haunted Speakeasy at the Bull Mansion in Worcester, MA! You'll also be able to enter contests for a 4-pack of tickets to 13th World Haunted Trail in Cumberland, RI, a $25 certificate in merchandise from Costumania in West Lebanon, NH, and we'll be wrapping up the 2nd contest for Ghost Ship Harbor in Quincy, MA.
If you haven't yet entered, our one-and-only contest to win tickets to see DementedFX in Holyoke, MA is open now as is our brand new contest for VIP tickets to Legends of Fear Haunted Hayride and Haunted Trail. There's still time to win tickets to see what Fear Town Haunted House has up their scaring sleeves this season so enter soon!
Try your luck at winning a pair of tickets to Vengeance in the Valley Haunted Hayride and Maze in Guilford, VT and it's your final chance to win combo tickets to The Haunted Graveyard in Bristol, CT.

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

Congrats to Britney Defazzio and Julie Olson who each won a 4-pack of tickets to the Jack O' Lantern Spectacular, Rowan Hershberger won a pair of tickets to The Haunted Speakeasy, Sarah Lemoine and Samantha Pasciuto won tickets to the invite-only night at Haunted Overload tickets to Barrett's Haunted Mansion, Joann Hoxho won combo tickets to The Haunted Graveyard, and Tammy Murray won a $25 gift certificate to Costumania!

Haunted Houses, Haunted Mazes, and Haunted Hayrides Opening Friday, October 5th, 2018

Vengeance in the Valley (Guilford, VT) Haunted Hayride and Haunted Corn Maze 

Field of Screams (East Greenwich, RI) Haunted Hayride and House

The Dark Crop (NH) - Haunted Corn Maze

Elwood Orchards (NH) - Non-Haunted Night Maze

Nightmare Acres (CT)

Nightmare on Wolcott Street (CT)

Dark Manor (CT)

Century Hayride and Spooky Walk (MA)
Hanson's Farm Haunted Hayride (MA)

Hicks Family Farm Haunted Corn Maze (MA)

Hysteria Danvers (MA)

Factory of Terror (MA)

Nesralla Farm (MA) - non-haunted Flashlight Maze
Click for the complete Opening Night Guide

Haunted Houses, Haunted Mazes, and Haunted Hayrides Opening Saturday, October 6th, 2018

Factory of Terror (RI)

Salisbury Farm Flashlight Maze (RI) - non-haunted

Trombly Gardens Flashlight Maze (NH) - non-haunted
Click for the complete Opening Night Guide

We're thrilled to have teamed up again with the uber-talented The Pixel Perfection: After Dark whose incredibly creepy and inspiring haunt photos populate the guides again this year. As always, we know you love their photos...just please don't steal their photos! Why not just follow them on Facebook or Instagram or hire them to capture your Halloween attraction or event?