Boo! It's time for costumes, candy, thrills and chills. While Halloween will look different this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, some attractions are back. Special safety precautions like advance reservations, masks, distancing and an all outdoor experience have been implemented. Sadly, some of our favorites like The Haunt at Rocky Ledge, Scared by the Sound and White Plains Zombie Walk are cancelled this year.

Important: since distancing, masks and limited capacity is a must, it's important to purchase tickets well in advance for these attractions as they will sell out.

Check out our list of upcoming frightfully fun Halloween events in and near Westchester County, NY in 2020. Wishing all of our readers a safe, fun and healthy Halloween!

You can also check out or add additional upcoming events on our Community Calendar.

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze
Dates: September 18- October 31; November 1; 6-8; 13-15; 20-21, Just added Nov 5, 12 & 22.  Advance reservations required. No tickets will be sold on site.
​​Location: Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 S Riverside, Croton-on-Hudson, NY

A local favorite, experience the glowing magic of fall in the beauty of Van Cortlandt Manor, Walk through an 18th-century landscape and discover a breathtaking display of more than 7,000 illuminated jack o’ lanterns—all designed and hand-carved on site by our team of artisans. New for this year, a fire truck—making a special rescue—and witches stirring up a spell. Tour the Museum of Pumpkin Art, where classic paintings get the gourd treatment, see who let the (pumpkin) dogs out, listen for the Headless Horseman—and watch out for swooping jack o’lantern bats. Learn more about "The Blaze"  in our blog. Suitable for all ages.
​

Autumn Changes Lasdon Park Train Show
​Dates: Thursday through Sunday, October 9th-31st  
Location: Conservatory at Lasdon Park, 2610 State Rte 35, Katonah, NY

Youngsters can learn that change can be a good thing during a new fall exhibit and train show at the Conservatory at Lasdon Park. The exhibit features a fallen little Tupelo Leaf, who doesn’t want to change his colors and sets off on a journey to understand why it is so important for leaves to change color in fall. Built with 300 feet of track, visitors will stroll the winding path inside the Conservatory viewing miniature landscapes with animated characters, all tucked within an array of colorful plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees.

​Home of the 'Legend
Dates: September 18-20, 25-27, October 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 23-25, 30-31, November 1, 6-8, Advance reservations required. No tickets will be sold on site.
Location: Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, 3 W Sunnyside Lane, Irvington, NY 

​Take a spooky tour on the historic grounds of Washington Irving’s estate and then go on a literature-themed scavenger hunt. Check out the special exhibit highlighting how the Legend has lived in the imagination of popular culture through the centuries since its publication.
​

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Tours
Dates:
The Original Knickerbocker: Washington Irving & “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”- Monday through Friday in October from 11:00 a.m. – 12 noon and 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
The Classic Evening Lantern Tour- Friday and Saturday nights from September 18 – November 21, plus Sunday evenings in October and early November.
Location: Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, 540 N Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY 

For the suspense loving crowd, what's more "Halloween" than a tour of a Sleepy Hollow Cemetery? Whether you are a history buff, love sculpture, interesting cemetery symbolism, or just want to enjoy the pretty scenery, a visit to historic Sleepy Hollow Cemetery’s 90-acre grounds is a treat.  Select from either The Original Knickerbocker: Washington Irving & “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” or The Classic Evening Lantern Tour to unlock some of the secrets behind the stones!

Pumpkin Carving Contest for Kids
​Dates: October 30th & 31st
Location: Conservatory Plaza at Lasdon Park, 2610 State Rte 35, Katonah, NY

Calling all kids between 6 – 12 years of age! Try your hand at carving or decorating a pumpkin for a chance to win cash prizes! FLPA will donate all proceeds which benefit Basecamp Westchester for homeless veterans. Drop off dates are 
Friday, October 30 between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday, October 31 between 9 a.m – 11 a.m.

Virtual Ghost Tours of The Music Hall
Dates: October 16th - October 31st
Location: Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main St, Tarrytown, NY

Ever wonder if the 135-year-old Tarrytown Music Hall is haunted?  Find out at the Virtual Ghost Tours of The Music Hall. The tour dives into the unexplained happenings and paranormal activity that has been experienced at the 135-year-old historic theater. Lights mysteriously turning back on after closing. The eerie sound of an unknown singer performing vocal scales in the wings after hours. High-profile artists refusing to stay in one particular dressing room because they “sensed a presence.”

Halloween Drive In Movie at Cross County
Dates: October 24th & 31st

The Cross County Shopping Center is hosting Halloween themed outdoor drive-in movie nights! These include:
Saturday, October 24, 2020- 6pm-8pm: Hotel Transylvania & 8pm-10pm: Ghostbusters 
Saturday, October 31, 2020- 6pm-8pm: Hocus Pocus & 8pm-10pm: Beetlejuice

Guests will be provided with a radio station to tune into in their car for better sound. Different food trucks will be at each event. Distancing and other safety requirements are in place.
​

Boo at the Zoo
Dates: Thursdays-Sundays October 1st - November 1st including Monday, October 12
Location: Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Boulevard Bronx, NY
​
The Bronx Zoo's annual Halloween tradition is back- it's time for Boo at the Zoo! Costumes are welcome while children travel around the vast Bronx Zoo and take part in safe, family-friendly activities. Some highlights include Magic & Mind Reading, Extinct Animal Graveyard, Scavenger Hunt, Pumpkin Caring Demos and a Wildlife Theatre.  Suitable for all ages, especially young children.

​

 Kevin McCurdy's Haunted Mansion
Dates: October 1 - 31
Location: 38 Sheafe Rd, Wappingers Falls, NY

The Wicked Woods are coming! This year, the Haunted Mansion event will be held all outdoors on a newly expanded trail. There will be close to a full mile of Halloween chills and thrills. Some of the frightening experiences include The Killer Clown Carnival, The Mummy's Tomb, Dinousaurs, Aliens and Scary Tale Land. This is a scary yet entertaining experience and is not recommended for very young children.

Headless Horseman Hayrides & Haunted Mansion
Dates: Fridays-Sundays Oct 2- 31, Childrens' Days: Oct 10th and 24th with rain dates of Oct 11th and 25th.
Location: 778 Broadway, Route 9W Ulster Park, NY
​
The mature crowd can take part in suspense and fear with a Drive Thru Haunt Experience - "Dare to Ride the Horseman's Trail".  You can walk through the Corn Maze Attractions and Haunted Houses. The attraction is not recommended for children under the age of 13.

​However, the little ones can enjoy Children's Day, when the park tones down its scare level, offering a daytime in-car Drive Thru "I Spy Halloween Game Experience". Children will visit friendly characters along the drive. Afterwards you can park and walk thru the Magic Moon Maze, Haunted Gardens, Witch Hazel's Halloween House, enjoy music, and other surprises. This is a great attraction  for families with young children.

More Articles You May Enjoy

JUST ADDED:  The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is now extended to include November 5, November 12, and November 22.
​

Original Publish Date 8/24/20
​Good news, The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, is a go for fall 2020!

Tickets are already in pre-sale for members and Twitter followers. Tickets officially go on sale tomorrow, August 25. The Blaze is a very popular event that typically sells out and requires advance purchase tickets so if you are interested this is the time to reserve yours.  Tickets are $32 per child (3-17) and $40 per adult.

Located at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, NY, The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is a breathtaking display of more than 7,000 illuminated jack o’lanterns. This year the event runs from September 18- October 31; November 1; 6-8; 13-15; 20-21.
​

​The Blaze is operating in strict compliance with New York State-issued “Low-Risk Outdoor Arts & Entertainment Guidelines.” To ensure the safety and enjoyment visitors, Historic Hudson Valley is limiting capacity. By purchasing a ticket, visitors agree to follow our COVID Courtesy Code, which includes wearing a mask and maintaining at least six feet of social distance. 

New this year, tickets are exchangeable to another date/time slot if that date/time has availability, up to 72 hours in advance of your reserved time slot. There is a $2 per ticket exchange fee. 

If you have not been to this before, you could equate it to the New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show in the sense that this is a seasonal display of sculptures built out of plants, in this case pumpkins. What makes this event even more spectacular is the nighttime ambiance, featuring synchronized lighting and thousands of glowing pumpkins. Amazingly, all of the displays, including 7,000 hand-carved jack o’lanterns, are designed and hand-carved on site.  New for 2020, a fire truck—making a special rescue—and witches stirring up a spell.

​Unlike many other Halloween spectaculars and events, this one is very family friendly and appropriate for kids and adults of all ages-- assuming your children can handle staying up. For the early birds, you could consider going later in the season when the sun sets earlier and show times begin as early as 6:00pm. There are no scary zombies or haunted creatures lurking in the shadows. You can walk through the entire display in about 30-45 minutes. Enjoy!
​

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze 2019 

More Articles You May Enjoy

​SPECIAL OFFER: Kids Plus is now offering Westchester NY Moms readers 10% off any in-store purchase, just mention Westchester Moms at checkout!

There's something new on Mamaroneck Avenue in Mamaroneck, NY. Welcome Kids Plus, a new store specializing in personalized gifts!

I am a total fan of personalized items, especially for my kids.  I love filling their rooms with customized trinkets and decor, from their fanciful name on the wall to their hand painted pencil boxes and enchanting jewelry boxes. When friends and family give us personalized gifts, it feels special. And I always remember exactly who gave it to us and when.

So I am really excited that Kids Plus is here. For years I have struggled to find a go-to place to get reasonably priced personalized gifts in Westchester County. The only way to find a broad selection of unique and customized novelty items was to drive elsewhere or go online. For years I have been getting loads of personalized gifts like piggy banks, chairs, hair bow holders and apparel from family and friends from a shop in Long Island, but never could find a store comparable here.

So it was with great delight I discovered that in fact the same store where so many of the baby and birthday gifts my daughters received over the years opened its doors right here in Mamaroneck!

Established in Long Island, the owners of Kids Plus have been creating personalized gifts for for over 25 years. They make gift buying easy and personal. Their large store has a variety of items that can be personalized or designed based on your personal preferences. You can select the colors, style and theme of any item they carry. Sky is the limit. What does your child or gift recipient love? Sports? Unicorns? Emojis? The Yankees? 

Their focus is on baby and children's gifts but also have some nice housewarming gifts as well. They carry all kinds of novelty items like water bottles, step stools, rocking chairs, toy chests, book ends, picture frames, jewelry boxes, clipboards and so much more. They can create custom, personalized baby bibs, shoes, hats and other apparel as well. They also carry items that are not personalized like communion dresses, toys, jewelry, dolls, hair bows and stuffed animals. Quite the selection!
​ 

KIDS Plus
366 Mamaroneck Avenue, Mamaroneck, NY 10543
kidsplusweb.com
914-630-0037

HOURS
Tuesday - Friday: 10am - 6pm
Saturday: 10am- 6pm 
Sunday: Closed
Monday: Closed

You will be able to hit the slopes this winter after all. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced yesterday that ski resorts can reopen with 50 percent indoor capacity and with strict health and safety protocols under state-issued guidance starting Friday, November 6.

The Governor stated "Beginning next month, Ski resorts will be allowed to reopen with limited indoor capacity, which will allow New Yorkers to have some outdoor activity this winter without having to quarantine when they come back."

The state will require that ski resorts take the following precautions when reopening:

• Masks required at all times, except when eating/drinking or skiing.
• Social distancing between parties required at all times.
• Restrict gondolas/lifts to members of the same party.
• Limit ski lessons to no more than 10 people.
• Thorough cleaning and disinfection of shared/rented equipment.
• Shuttles, food & beverage, retail service must conform to State-issued guidance.
• Reduce outdoor capacity on mountain by 25% during "peak" days or if multiple trails are closed due to unseasonable conditions.

The state is encouraging people to stay in New York if they want to ski or snowboard to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. "If you ski in New York, not only do you have the best skiing in the United States, but you don't have to quarantine when you come back," Cuomo said. "Go ski in these other states, then you have to quarantine for 14 days."

Skiing can get expensive so check the SKI NY Ski & Ride Passport Programs website for updates. In the past 3rd or 4th graders could take advantage of the Learn to Ski Passport program and the Kids Ski Free Passport program to ski for free at participating locations! Right now the status of the 2020-21 Passport Program is to be determined soon. 

More Articles You May Enjoy

Moviegoers can start watching at local theaters starting October 23rd. Yesterday Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that movie theaters outside of New York City can reopen at 25 percent capacity under state guidance. 

This comes after many local independent theaters were pressuring the state to allow them to reopen to improve the economy and help these local businesses survive.  Just a few weeks ago Regal Cinemas announced that it will close all 543 of its theaters in the United States as a result of continued revenue losses from the coronavirus pandemic. The chain had 44 New York locations, two in Westchester County. In addition the Bow Tie Cinema in Mount Kisco has also permanently closed. In late 2019, iPic Theater in Dobbs Ferry closed for good.

New rules for theater reopening include a maximum capacity of 50 people per screen in each movie theater at once. Theaters can only open outside of New York City in counties that have COVID-19 positivity rates of less than 2 percent on a 14-day average and do not have any cluster zones. Theaters will be subject to rigorous state guidance and enforcement.

Additional conditions from the state include:

• Masks will be required at all times except when seated and eating or drinking. 
• Assigned seating will be required in all theaters.
• Social distancing between parties will be required at all times.
• Additional staffing will be required to control occupancy, traffic and seating to ensure compliance.
• Enhanced air filtration, ventilation and purification standards must be met by theaters. 

​

More Articles You May Enjoy

Westchester's Winter Wonderland is back this year with a Drive-Thru Light Extravaganza. Unlike prior years where there was skating, rides and circus shows, this year will be an experience from the safety of your car.

This year's Westchester’s Winter Wonderland will be a festive 1.2-mile drive through Kensico Dam Plaza, filled with dazzling exclusive light displays that will thrill youngsters of all ages. See your favorite holiday characters. Jovial music right on your car radio, wave to Santa and other surprises all seen from the safe and controlled environment of your car. 

Tickets are on sale now at wwinterwonderland.com. Open select nights, Friday, November 27th through Sunday, January 3rd! Tickets are available for specific dates and time slots by reservation only beginning today, October 14th. 
​
Winter Wonderland, presented by Westchester Medical Center, is an original program partnership between Westchester Parks Foundation and the Westchester Parks Department. Proceeds from this event directly benefit WPF and allow us to advocate for and invest in the preservation, conservation, use, and enjoyment of the 18,000 acres of parks, trails, and open spaces within the Westchester County Parks system. Visit www.theWPF.org for more information on our other program offerings.
​

More Articles You May Enjoy

The Bronx Zoo’s Holiday Lights, a family-favorite holiday light experience, is returning to the Bronx this year to bring light and joy to the holiday season. The event will take place on select dates from November 20 to January 10 with a WCS member preview November 17-19. Tickets for Holiday Lights must be purchased in advance and are available online. 

For safety, this year’s experience will be more spread out to accommodate social distancing and better organized to eliminate bottleneck areas. Even bigger and better this year, the zoo will have nearly 50 more animal lanterns this year and five geographically representative lantern safaris that include species from around the world.

During your safe, and leisurely tour, you can also enjoy holiday-themed music, ice carving demonstrations, costumed characters, stilt walkers, souvenirs, and seasonal sweets like hot chocolate and s’mores. 

“2020 has been a trying year for all of us and has once again shown the resiliency of New York City and New Yorkers,” said Jim Breheny, Bronx Zoo Director and WCS Executive Vice President for Zoos & Aquarium “The city has always been the center of the holiday universe, and The Bronx Zoo’s Holiday Lights will help bring a sense of normalcy to the city. The experience is all outdoors and appropriately designed to accommodate social distancing."
​

 
For safety, all events and activities have been modified to meet all safety guidelines as directed by the State of New York. All guests over 3 years old are required to socially distance and wear face coverings, and all tickets are date-specific and must be purchased in advance online. For a full list of COVID-19 protocols, visit the zoo’s Know Before You Go page.​

Visit the Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights website for details, tickets and the full schedule of activities.

More Articles You May Enjoy

Today is the last day for can’t-miss savings from Amazon's Prime Day, which ends tonight. Prime Day kicked off yesterday, Tuesday, October 13 at 12am PT and runs for 48 hours, delivering two full days of shopping on more than a million deals worldwide for Prime members.

If you are not already a Prime Member, now is the time to join for 50% off! Joining was the best thing I ever did because it is convenient, cost efficient and a true lifesaver. During the pandemic I have been getting groceries from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods delivered straight to my door at a great price, watching free TV shows and movies from the Prime Video library on my Fire Stick and ordering must-have items of all kinds (without a trip to the store). 

Right now there are thousands of deals so it is worth checking if something you had your eye on is discounted-- or to stock up before the holidays are here.

Today members can ‘Spend $10’ to ‘Get $10’ while shopping in store at Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh, Amazon Go or Amazon Go Grocery, Amazon Books or Amazon Pop Up and Amazon 4-star stores and earn up to $50 in credits to use on Amazon.com during Prime Day.

We have highlighted some of our faves below. If you are looking for more toys, books, electronics, home goods, sports equipment, home office needs or anything else, head to their website and you will see tons of deals!

Note: This article contains affiliate links that are tied to commissions in Amazon's Affiliate program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

More Articles You May Enjoy

As many of our reader's know, I am a big fan of Amy McCready's Positive Parenting. She has taught me tons of tips and tricks to help me enjoy these long pandemic days with my children. Better behavior means a better time for all, more laughing, more fun, more enjoyment. After discovering her common sense, easy-to-implement, research-based tools, I learned how to: 

• Easily get kids to listen – the FIRST time. No yelling or reminding...not even once! 
• Put an end to daily power struggles. Bedtime became a breeze, and all the dawdling, chore wars, sibling rivalry, and mealtime meltdowns disappeared.
• Reduce backtalk by HALF! It’s simple once you know the secrets of these two ‘buckets.’
• Say goodbye to punishments that DON’T work. There’s a 5-step formula that works WAYYY better than time-outs.  
• Feel amazing, confident, and empowered as a parent, every day. I NEVER go to bed feeling guilty anymore! (Okay, well maybe sometimes…’mom guilt’ is still a thing.)

​

Check out these 5 positive parenting tips for better behavior for a happier, stress-free household.
​

1. Model Good Behavior

Little eyes and ears are watching! So why not be the example you want your kids to see. Believe it or not, the behavior we see in our children is a direct reflection of the behavior they see in us as parents.  

Tip: use the same respect and tone of voice with your child as you would use with friends and co-workers. ​Your children hear much more from your tone than from the words themselves. Do you raise your voice? Have you been complaining, negotiating, melting down? Lead by example. If you don't want to hear backtalk from your kids then don't talk back to them.

As a first step, try smiling more and using a calm voice. Doing so will help you relax in times of stress, and your kids will notice and keep their behavior more positive, too.

Don't fall in the trap of arguing with your kids. You can avoid escalating a situation by simply walking away (or hiding in the bathroom). This ensure you don't lose your cool and start raising your voice. Take a breath and calm down. If necessary, count to ten before responding. Don't fight fire with fire. Keep calm and carry on.

​2. Ignore Bad Behavior

This may come as a pleasant surprise, sometimes the best thing you can do is just ignore it. When annoying habits like nose picking, hair twirling, talking back, and the like occur, don't pay attention. The less attention you give to the bad behavior, the less likely your child will keep doing it (because it's your attention that they really want).

Tip: just ignore it, it is never helpful or effective to scold or nag a child about behavior that’s not harming anyone. The last thing you want to do is reward any bad habit by paying attention to it. 

​Of course this approach won't be instant since established habits can be hard to break, but once the attention disappears, the behavior will usually too. Try focusing instead on positive behaviors and encouraging those.

Another time to ignore bad behavior is sibling fighting. While this sounds counter-intuitive and goes against every parental instinct you have, stay out of your kids fights. Tip: ignoring sibling fights removes the payoff, which is to get the parent’s attention. If it’s a simple case of name-calling or a toy dispute, avoid playing referee–instead, simply walk to another room. By doing this, you’ll remove any attention pay-off your children are seeking, and give them an opportunity to resolve the conflict on their own. Of course if the fight escalates or becomes physical, you will need to step in. But try giving them a chance first, not only will it help them learn to resolve their own conflicts, it will relieve you of having to step in every time. 

3. Give Them More Choices

Just like adults, children want to feel in control. Kids don't have a ton of choices on a daily basis and that can be frustrating. A great way to stop over-parenting is by allowing your kids to make their own choices as much as possible. This will empower them, build their sense of significance and teach them critical decision making skills. Plus, when your child has a couple options to consider, it focuses them on the decision itself rather than any objections they may have.

​Tip: provide your child with two choices for positive behaviors so that your child feels empowered and in control. Offering choices instead of making demands can be very effective. Letting them choose little things can have a huge impact. For younger kids you may want to provide them with two options. For example, you might say would you rather do your reading homework in your room or at the table? Or would you rather use the Batman toothbrush or the Spiderman toothbrush tonight? Older children can handle open ended questions like, what sport would you like to do this spring? Or what colleges would you like to visit?

​

4. Spend Quality Time Together

How much uninterrupted time do you spend with your child(ren) doing what they like do every day? I'm not sure about you but my phone is often getting more attention than my kids. 

​One foundational belief of Positive Parenting is that kids have an innate need to feel significant. This means they need to be reminded of their self-worth, capabilities, and the value they bring to the family. Now more than ever, our kids need these reassurances.

Tip: to feel truly valued, kids need daily one-on-one time with us where we engage in something they want to do. Carve out 10 minutes of special time for each child, every day, where you do whatever they choose (within reason) and there are no distractions (no phones). This consistent quality time has been proven to reduce negative attention-seeking behaviors.

This special time will offset the ordering, correcting, and directing parents do, help build emotional bonds and fill your children's attention buckets. Plus, it's fun.

​5. Encourage

Encouraging good behavior and effort can make a world of difference. Phrases that inspire a child to find his inner courage can help him develop the skills so he can realize his full potential. Although this may sound easy, the key is to focus on internal motivation and not praise. It doesn’t matter that you think your child is smart. They need to know they can work hard and take specific actions to achieve the results they want.

Tip: focus your words on the positive action, behavior, or improvement you’d like to promote, rather than on the result. 

For instance, when you see your child struggling to control her emotions, perhaps say, “I can tell you are working hard to stay calm.”

It can also help reinforce better choices. “I appreciate you not getting upset when your brother took your truck. That must feel so good!”

It may be hard to get into the habit, but give it some time. I promise, the more encouraging phrases you use with your child, the more naturally they will come.

Hope you found these tips helpful. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and want serious help for parenting during this pandemic and beyond, try Amy McCready's free online class. ​Amy’s class will work for you, no matter how old your kids are! Cheers to a happy home and enjoying life with your kids.

More Articles You May Enjoy