Scaring Up Halloween Fun on the East End
Halloween is almost upon us here on the East End, and both the Hamptons and the North Fork are filled with spooky events leading up to October 31—and there’s plenty of fun to go around for kids and adults alike. So grab your broom, your witch hat, your black cat and your ghost-hunting gear and get head out to these thrilling and chilling Halloween hotspots.
Spooky Walk at Camp Paquatuck in Center Moriches is a great, family friendly event for a good cause. This fundraising event benefits the camp, which is for children with disabilities and special needs. The walk lasts for about 45 minutes and contains fun, “spooky” attractions. The scares aren’t too intense, as this is a kid-friendly event, and there are vendors and food stands along the way. Spooky Walk will be open on October 18, 19, 25 and 26, 7–9 p.m. and costs $15 per person. There are also volunteer opportunities; go to spookywalk.com. Free busing is provided. 2 Chet Swezey Road, Center Moriches (right off Montauk Highway)
For more outdoor fun, head to the Quogue Wildlife Refuge’s 20th Annual Spooky Walk on October 19, 25 and 26 from 6:30–9:30. This guided walk lasts about 40 minutes and is appropriate for adults and families with children ages 7 and up. Reservations are required and fill up fast, so head to quoguewildliferefuge.org for more information. Admission is $15 per person. 3 Old Country Road, Quogue
For an extravagant haunted house experience, try Gateway’s Haunted Playhouse of Horrors. Every year, the Gateway Playhouse transforms its entire space into an elaborate haunted mansion complete with a backstory and characters, with ghoulish twists at every turn. Gateway’s Haunted Playhouse of Horrors is open through November 2. Tickets cost $25 for general admission and $30 for a fast pass, which lets you bypass the extremely long line. Tickets at the door are $30 for general admission and $40 for a fast pass. The main attraction is very scary and not intended for children (though there are usually quite a few kids there accompanied by parents), but there’s a Not So Scary Adventure for kids on October 19, 20, 16 and 27 from Noon to 4 p.m. The fun event has several activities, including face painting, balloons, a guided walkthrough of the kid-friendly haunted house and more. Admission is $10 per person. For more info, go to pacsc.org/hauntedhouse. 215 South Country Road, Bellport.
If you want to check out some real haunted places in the East End, there’s the Southampton Historical Museum Ghost Hunting series, led by paranormal investigators Oliver and Colleen Peterson. On October 12, the Petersons will take participants on a tour of a lost Indian fort and seaport located at the Conscience Point Historical Marker and Nature Walk. On October 19, follow the Petersons on a journey into the old Halsey farmhouse, located at 249 South Main Street. And on October 16, investigate Rogers Mansion, located at 17 Meeting House Lane. All properties are located in Southampton. Tickets are $18 per person; participants are encouraged to dress comfortably, bring flashlights and tape recorders. For tickets and more information, go to southamptonhistoricalmuseum.org.
B. Smith’s Restaurant in Sag Harbor has a high-end, adults-only event on Saturday, October 26 with their “A True-ly Blood-y Horror-ween Party.” The exciting costume party appears to have a True Blood theme and will feature guest DJ Karin Ward. There’s a $25 cover charge, and the best costume wins $500! For more info, go to facebook.com/bsmithssag. B. Smith’s is located on the Long Wharf in Sag Harbor.
Go to the beautiful Suffolk Theater for their First Annual Halloween & Masquerade Party on Saturday, October 26, beginning at 8 p.m. Costumes and reservations are highly recommended. Enjoy the “Bewitching Hour” from 8–9 p.m. with half-price wine, beer, specialty cocktails and appetizers, and stick around for music, dancing, contests and giveaways all night long. An a la carte menu will be available throughout the evening. Admission is $20 cover charge in advance, $25 cover charge at the door. For more information, go to suffolktheater.com. 118 East Main Street, Riverhead.
Voodoo Field of Horrors at Patty’s Berries & Bunches in Mattituck is looking to be one of the most intense haunted attractions of the year. The field will be open Friday–Sunday, October 11–27, with select family-friendly days. For more information, go to facebook.com/TheDarkMansion. 410 Sound Avenue, Mattituck.
For a totally kid-friendly Halloween treat, see Stages Workshop’s Frankenstein Follies musical review at Bay Street Theatre on October 25, 26 and 27. For more information, go to stagesworkshop.org. Bay Street Theatre, the Long Wharf, Sag Harbor.
The Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center’s annual Tricks, Treats, Tentacles ’n More runs October 26, 27, 28 and 31 and features a Fun Zone with crafts, games, interactive story time, slime lab and more. Kids who go to the aquarium in costume on Halloween from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. with a paying adult can get half-price admission ($16.75). For more information, go to longislandaquarium.com. 431 East Main Street, Riverhead
Head to the Lodge at Squiretown Park for the Zombie Dance Party for all ages on Friday, October 25 from 7–8:30 p.m. A&G Dance Company will be there to teach a cool “zombie dance” – dressing the part is encouraged. Register at the Parks & Recreation office through October 24. 62 Red Creek Road, Hampton Bays
Sagtown Coffee’s first annual Pumpkin Carving Contest is Saturday, October 26 from Noon–5 p.m. Participants should submit their pumpkin by Noon and receive four tickets with any purchase to vote for all four age groups. Winners will be announced at 5 p.m. All ages are welcome. For more information, call Julia at 631-725-8696. 78 Main Street, Sag Harbor Shopping Cove, Sag Harbor
For more pumpkin-carving fun, head to Guild Hall on Saturday, October 6 for a Pumpkin Decorating Workshop. Pumpkins are included and there’s no carving, which make this an ideal project for kids ages 6 and up. Admission is $12 per child for nonmembers, and $10 for nonmembers. For more information, go to guildhall.org. 158 Main Street, East Hampton
The Hampton Library in Bridgehampton will host their Halloween Story Time & Parade on October 26 from 10 a.m.–Noon. Children and their families are welcome to come in costume. For those “too cool or too old” for the parade, there’s the Monster Pizza and Movie Marathon at Noon, also at the library. Make your own monster pizza and watch classic monster movies. Registration requested. For more information, go to hamptonlibrary.org. 2478 Main Street, Bridgehampton
The Southampton Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the annual Rag-A-Muffin Parade & Pumpkin Trail on Sunday, October 27 at 1 p.m. Kids in costume get free treats! For more information, go to southamptontownny.gov. Begins at Agawam Park
The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation is hosting a Halloween Bash at the Southampton Animal Shelter on Sunday, October 20. Tickets are $20. Paint some pumpkins and eat some “Ghoulie Treats.” Meet Vamp Dog Doodle and Cat Woman (they’re friendly!). Proceeds go to the shelter. For more information, go to southamptonanimalshelter.org. 102 Old Riverhead Road West, Hampton Bays