Posted in Events, Holiday, News & Updates, Seasonal
New York’s Capital Region is an annual hotbed of fall activities, particularly during Halloween, when the area’s long tradition of spooky folklore and haunted happenings drives a month’s worth of celebratory events and activities. Whether you’re a parent in search of family-friendly Halloween fun or a thrill-seeker looking to push your threshold for fear, there’s something for everyone in the Albany region once September fades into October.
This year, highlights include multiple haunted hay rides, ghost tours, Halloween parties, pumpkin walks and festivals so massive, entire business districts will be transformed. All of this fun is within a reasonable distance of your Albany, NY apartment! Here are some can’t-miss suggestions for a fright-tastic North Country Halloween.
2021 – For some real-life chills, try the Ghosts of Albany Walking Tour, which takes you through some of the region’s legendary paranormal hot zones. Tour guides will give you goosebumps with stories of ghosts, scandals, haunted places, mysterious apparitions and other strange and unusual accounts, combining elements of human interest with historical fact. Tickets can be purchased online, and tours start in front of the Hilton Albany Hotel, 40 Lodge Street, Albany, NY.
2021 – Experience the spooky family-fun of Halloween at the Hollowed Harvest! The Hollowed Harvest brings to life more than 7,000 incredible Jack-O’-Lanterns creating stunning landscapes and larger-than-life displays designed to amaze audiences of all ages! This event is held at The Altamont Fairgrounds. General pricing is $16 for kids, $20 for adults and children under 3 are free.
2021 – There’s no shortage of farm fields in upstate New York. Fortunately, though, there’s only one Field of Horrors, which offers several different haunted attractions for the price of one admission. This year guests venture into an ancient Egyptian temple in Return of the Mummy’s Curse, take a trip into a backwoods nightmare on the Trail of Terror Hayride, make their way through the maze of horror known as Death Trap, and explore an underground toxic waste spill in Toxic Terror. You’ve been warned. Tickets cost $27 and can be purchased online. Fridays & Saturdays and some Sundays through November 1. Field of Horrors, 100 Farrell Road, Brunswick, NY.
2021 – Only Halloween can turn something as seemingly quaint and relaxing as a country hayride into a trip filled with terror. Double M Haunted Hayrides in Ballston Spa has been scaring visitors for more than 25 years, and is back this season for a Dead-End Road Drive Thru experience! Ticket prices are $25.00+. Double M Haunted Hayrides, 678 New York 67, Ballston Spa, NY.
2021 – Fort William Henry is offering Haunted History Tours daily. There are spirits still roaming the grounds of Fort William Henry. Join this walking tour and learn about some of the spirits still calling the grounds home. This tour is not recommended for anyone with medical conditions as there are stairs involved. Adults $19.95, Seniors $15.95, Children ages 5 to 14 $9, Students $16.95.
2021 – A quick car ride north to Queensbury is well worth the mileage to spend the day at Fright Fest, an annual tradition at the Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom amusement park. From October 2 – October 31, the park is transformed into a Halloween haven that’s kid/family-friendly by day (complete with trick-or-treating for the youngsters), and then becomes extra spooky by night, including hordes of roaming undead and haunted houses to explore. And of course, all of Great Escape’s popular rides will remain open throughout. The Great Escape, 89 Six Flags Drive Queensbury, NY.
2021 – Another great option for family-friendly (and free!) Halloween fun is the New York State Museum’s Halloween Spooktacular, featuring virtual crafts, games, dancing, storytelling and spooky science, amid the museum’s excellent assortment of ongoing exhibits. Halloween Spooktacular is only offered online this season.
2021 – Downtown Saratoga Springs will be a hub for free Halloween happenings on October 23-24 AND October 30-31, when it hosts its 2021 Saratoga Downtown Business Association Fall Festival, which is chock-full of events and activities throughout the days. This year, festivities will include a costume-friendly Festive Fun Run, the Great Saratoga Pumpkin Hunt, fall festive downtown window decorations, street performers, and more!
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