Halloween New England Top Picks for October 6th - 12th, 2016

Happy October everyone! We couldn't be more thrilled that our favorite month is here and from the sight of the turning leaves, it both looks and feels like October ought to. With the long weekend upon us, there is plenty of night activities, attractions and events that are open for you to take full advantage of the season.

Top Event picks for the upcoming week:

We're sure you already have it circled on your calendar but Salem's Haunted Happenings kicks off this Thursday, October 6th with the Salem Grand Parade--an annual tradition that begins at Shetland Park and ends at Salem Common. Bring your favorite costume and enjoy the revelry! Parade details.

We can't resist mentioning that this weekend is also the annual Cockroach Eating Contest during Fright Fest at Six Flags New England in Agawam, MA. We desperately wish we weren't too chicken ourselves to participate (or frankly too chicken to even watch) but don't let us stand in your way of snacking your way through some hissing, crunchy Halloween treats! Even better you have three days to start a new tradition as it will be held this Saturday, Sunday and Monday--lucky you!
Details on the Cockroach Eating Contest at Fright Fest.

The Haunted Graveyard is host to a Magic: The Gathering tournament on Saturday, Oct 8th but be sure to pre-register by Thurs Oct 6th if you plan to enter. Details and tourney rules here.

The Graveyard Shift Ghost Tours begin this weekend in Hartford, CT and you've got 10 nights this month to check them out for some creepy tales and haunted stories at the Mark Twain House. Details.

Pumpkins Pumpkins Pumpkins
By this point in October, pumpkins are front and center with dozens of pumpkin festivals large and small. Here are a new notable events among many pumpkin fests across New England.

Tonight (Thursday, Oct 6th) is the Opening Night for the annual Jack O' Lantern Spectacular at the Roger Williams Park and Zoo in Providence, RI! This pumpkin festival features a jaw-dropping number of jack o' lanterns on display fitting a different arching theme every year. It is 7 nights a week from October 6th through Nov. 6th. 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 here.

One of our favorite family-friendly pumpkin events is the Pumpkins on the Pier festival in Milford, CT which has everything from pumpkin games, pumpkin crafts, giant pumpkin auctions, a pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving, an a wonderfully entertaining contest for best jack o'lantern displays which are lined up and down along the pier. It's a free event but anything "extra" you buy serves as a fundraiser for the Milford CT Boys and Girls Club so it's worth every penny.

We wrote an article on our sister website New England Fall Events which is worth a read if you are thinking of heading down to Pumpkins on the Pier.

In Maine you'll find the multi-day Damariscotta Pumpkin Regatta which culminates with a competition involving giant pumpkins converted into boats (motorized and paddle categories) racing one another. we love the craziness and absurdity of it all and we're pretty sure you won't be disappointed!
Damariscotta Pumpkin Regatta details.

Other fests to consider include PumpkinFest at DeMeritt Hill Farm in Lee, NH and Edaville USA in Carver, MA will keep young kids entertained with their Pumpkins Aglow October event which is back again this year. Details.

While we're talking pumpkins, this Halloween season marks the debut of a huge new Jack O'Lantern event in Boston called Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns. This much-anticipated event will feature thousands of carved jack o'lanterns on display and four carving stations to observe the skills from these master pumpkin carvers. You'll find combination displays, giant pumpkins, 3D scuplted pumpkins, and a mini carving factory. Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns will only be open for FOUR nights over the weekend leading to Halloween (Thurs Oct 27th - Sunday 30th) so we recommend buying tickets early as this will most certainly sell out.
You can find links to sign up for discount ticket codes on our Rise event page.


Looking for a Guide to Which Haunted Attractions are Open Sundays?
If you are looking ahead to plan your October weekends but want to check out haunted attractions on an off-peak night, we have your Guide to Haunted Attractions Open on Sunday Nights.

Where is Halloween New England headed this weekend?
We've got an ambitious weekend lined up as we swing through Connecticut and have plans to see Fright Haven (Stratford, CT), Creeperum (Hamden, CT), Legends of Fear (Shelton, CT), Dark Manor (Baltic, CT), The Haunted Graveyard (Bristol, CT), and Night Fall (Hartford, CT). We also hope to pop in at Ghost Ship Harbor in Quincy, MA if we can!

We've got five NEW contests right now on Halloween New England. We've got a new contest up to win tickets to experience Fright Fest at Six Flags New England and you can enter to WIN a pair of tickets to the Sun Oct 23rd show at Haunted Overload in Lee, NH. Last chance to win a pair of Speed Passes to Haunted Acres in Candia, NH! Enter to win a pair of tickets to check out Haunted 20,000 Leagues at 5 Wits in Foxborough, MA, and we're giving away tickets to the Jack-o-lantern Spectacular at the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, RI. Visit Halloween New England's home page for contest details.

Congrats to Ryan Churilo who won a pair of Speed Pass tickets to Haunted Acres, Eric Smith and won a four-pack of tickets to the Jack-o-lantern Spectacular, Jaime Ferrer is headed to check out Haunted 20,000 Leagues at 5 Wits, Nicole Pesino and Rob Rogers both won a four pack of ticket to The Haunted Graveyard,  Sabrina Desy, Nicole Eng, Rob Matthews, Matt Kozak, and Scott Santos won their way into the special invite-only night at Haunted Overload!

Haunted houses and trails opening Thursday, October 6th:

House of the Dead / Morbid Productions (ME)

Haunted houses, haunted hayrides, and haunted corn mazes opening Friday, October 7th:

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

Harvest of Haunts (NH) – Haunted Hayride and Haunted Corn Maze 

Davis Farmland MegaMaze (MA) – Haunted Corn Maze

Find a complete guide to which haunted attractions are open and which will be opening soon by checking out our Opening Night Guide to Haunted Attractions, Haunted Mazes, and Hayrides.