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?

Top Picks for Friday the 13th Weekend 2019

We wait all year for this moment - the start of our favorite season and with the notorious Friday, the 13th Weekend upon us, we can't think of a more suitable marker to welcome the first weekend of Halloween thrills and even a few haunt openings!

Massachusetts
You can choose from two "Friday the 13th" film screenings in Massachusetts on its namesake date.
Coolidge Corner Theatre has lined up a super creepy evening outdoors along the woods with a double-feature screening of the1980 original and the 2009 remake enjoyed under the stars at Rocky Woods in Medfield in conjunction with their After-Midnite film program.

If Salem is your jam for horror movies, there is an indoor screening of "Friday the 13th" at the Deacon Giles Distillery and co-hosted by Speakeasy Donuts who conjured up this amazing Jason Voorhees donut you see in the picture! Count us in!

If you haven't already heard, the Harvard Square Ghost Tours are BACK! With Thursday through Sunday night tours every week from now through Nov 2nd.
Better yet, you'll be able to ring in Friday the 13th weekend with expert story-telling of "gruesome murders, bloody battles, untimely death, and plenty of irreverent humor" during your 90-minute tour of Harvard Square and local burial grounds. Suitable for all ages but parental discretion advised. More details.

Plus, the debut of Rob Zombie's new film "3 From Hell" has 3 special nights of screenings early next week all across New England. Here are the details for locating screenings in Massachusetts.
Click for your complete list of Halloween Events in Massachusetts.

Connecticut

Friday the 13th is Opening Night at Fright Haven haunted house in Stratford, CT! One of the largest indoor haunted attractions in CT, check them out for their first of twenty-three nights of screams and scares this Halloween season.

What better way to observe Friday, the 13th from the deck of a boat when you hope on the Revolutionary War Ghosts Haunted History Boat Tour along the Thames River. Taking place 238 years after Benedict Arnold’s notorious attack on New London and Fort Griswold, you can travel the route of the Red Coats as Seaside Shadows Haunted History Tours shares haunting tales of 1781 and the spirits that roam the port cities. Click for more upcoming events and ongoing history tours from Seaside Shadows throughout Halloween season.

Saturday, September 14th marks the return of CT HorrorFest, a one-day expo for horror fans in Naugatuck featuring horror celebrities and horror-themed vendors- plus zombie laser tag!

Rob Zombie's new film "3 From Hell" will be screened over three nights of special events on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Sept. 16-18th. Click for screening info in Connecticut.

Click for your complete list of all upcoming Halloween Events in Connecticut.

New Hampshire
Another outdoor screening of "Friday the 13th" (1980) being hosted in Portsmouth at the Liars Bench Beer Company which doubles as a fundraiser for the upcoming Portsmouth Halloween Parade.

"Friday the 13th, Part IV: Jason Lives" (1986) is playing at The Strand Theatre in Dover on Friday night.

Wrapping up the weekend, Costumania in West Lebanon, NH is hosting a FREE Mehron FX Makeup Tutorial with Gene Flaherty with two sessions to choose from which should be circled on the calendar on anyone who is looking for excellent character makeup tips from a professional FX Makeup artist.

New Hampshire is also screening 3 nights of Rob Zombie's new film "3 From Hell" Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Sept 16-18th. Click for screening info in New Hampshire.
Click for your complete list of all upcoming Halloween Events in New Hampshire.

Rhode Island
You may have seen "Friday the 13th" before but have you ever seen "Friday the 13th" in 3D? PVD Horror has hooked you up with this retro version of this horror classic at the Revival Brewing Company and they've got a limited supply of the old-school 3D glasses so you'll want to reserve your spot (or bring your own glasses).
Even better, it's a fundraising event for Providence Animal Rescue League which gives you a reason to feel good about watching the horror unfold at Camp Crystal Lake!
Click for your complete list of all upcoming Halloween Events in Rhode Island.

Maine
More events are coming Maine's way as the season gets rolling. The highlight of the week for Mainers is catching one of the three special screenings of Rob Zombie's new flick "3 From Hell" next week on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, Sept. 16-18th. Click here for Maine screening info.
Click for your complete list of all upcoming Halloween Events in Maine.

Vermont
Vermont is also taking it up a notch Monday through Wednesday with three special screenings of Rob Zombie's new flick "3 From Hell." Click here for Vermont screening info.
Click for your complete list of all upcoming Halloween Events in Vermont.

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

We'll got nine contests live on Halloween New England by Friday the 13th plus more coming over the weekend! Find ALL the contests that you can enter here.

Enter to WIN a pair of VIP Passes to the brand new trail and maze Ravenwood Haunted Farm in Haverhill, MA. We're giving away a pair of tickets to two lucky winners to see Fear Town Haunted House in Seekonk, MA this season and you can try your luck to wing Opening Weekend combo tickets (haunts + rides) for The Haunted Graveyard in Bristol, CT. Contest link.

Legends of Fear in Shelton, CT is also treating a winner to a pair od VIP SpeedPasses to their haunted trail and haunted hayride which will deliver a full night of thrills. Contest link.

We've posted your first chance to win entry to the special invite-only night at Haunted Overload in Lee, NH on October 10th too which is a bucket-list experience--especially with zero long lines or crowds! Contest link.

We have three amazing chances to win a four-pack of tickets right now which would be the most memorable night out for your and friends if you won the contests to Barrett's Haunted Mansion in Abington, MA, The Dark Manor in Baltic, CT, and another to 13th World Haunted Trail in Cumberland, RI. Contest link.

It's harder to find a more magical Halloween atmosphere than the one enjoyed at the Jack-O'-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Zoo and you can win a four-pack of tickets right now with our first contest of the season for them!  Contest link.

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