Brittany L. Morgan
October may very well be my favorite month of the year. I love seeing all the leaves change colors, breathing in cool crisp air, and of course indulging in pumpkin spice EVERYTHING! October also ushers in the influx of agritainment and craft festivals, both of which I love to enjoy with my family. This month is chocked full of great events happening right here in the Hudson Valley. Hang on to this list for the next time your kids come to you crying, “I’m SOOOO BORED.”
1. Taking the tale of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to its darkest extremes at Horseman’s Hollow! Become a HVParent VIP before October 28 and automatically be entered to win a family-four pack of tickets (for ages 10+) Click here to become a VIP.
2. See over 7,000 individually hand-carved, illuminated jack o’lanterns at the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze! We’ll be giving away a family-four pack of tickets to this great event as part of our Fall Fun Giveaway Days, so bookmark our CONTEST PAGE and check back often to enter to win!
3. Explore the haunted houses and haunted trails at Kevin McCurdy’s Haunted Mansion! Little ones can stop by on Monday, October 10th for a special Kid’s Day event sans scare-actors.
4. Can you and your teen tolerate the fright that lives in the mind-boggling maze of the Slaughterhouse in the Forest of Fear? Not suggested for kids under 12.
5. Take a walk through the corn maze and haunted gardens after listening to a friendly storyteller at Headless Horseman’s Children’s Day.
6. Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk brings the classic tale of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to life. Not recommended for children under 10.
7. Get on track to a healthier lifestyle by joining MVP Health Care’s Striders Club.
8. Tour the historic Mount Gulian home, Dutch barn and restored garden.
9. Indulge in a plethora of German-American food and entertainment for all ages at Hunter Mountain’s Oktoberfest!
10. Meet over 50 authors and illustrators and celebrate children’s literacy at the Warwick Children’s Book Festival.
11. Celebrate German and Swiss heritage with a parade, food, games, live music and more at Jeffersonville’s Founder’s Day Oktoberfest.
12. Visit Beacon for a city-wide celebration of the arts.
13. Visit the Newburgh Free Library Town Branch and learn how to make a pumpkin out of a book.
14. Come taste delicious corn-cakes made right on the hearth at Museum Village. Then be sure to check out the Mid-Hudson Historic Destinations website for other Hudson Valley Historical sites participating in the Taste of History Weekend.
15. Visit the animals in Story Kill’s barn free of charge.
16. Learn creative ways to make Jack O’Lanterns with master carver and artist Deane Arnold.
17. Enjoy live Celtic music while apple picking at Hurd Family Farm’s Fresh Air Concert featuring Dylan Foley & Friends.
18. Travel back in time and create a sculptural field of cornstalk bundles out of natural materials, plastics, and fabric.
19. Enjoy live music, arts and crafts, Martial Arts demonstrations, face painting, and an art contest at the 51st Annual Mum Festival.
20. Check out find art, music, galleries, restaurants and more in the picturesque hamlet of Callicoon during the Callicoon Artwalk.
21. Gather around a blazing bonfire at Boscobel for some good old-fashioned fun.
22. Watch Zootopia at Goshen Public Library’s Family Movie Afternoon.
23. Watch pumpkins fly through the sky at the Old Rhinebeck Pumpkin Bombing & Fall Festival.
24. Run amok at the 13th Annual Autism Move-A-Thon of Orange County.
25. Take part in games, entertainment, and rides at the Forsyth Nature Center Fall Festival.
26. Have a blast at Sugar Loaf’s Fall Festival and enjoy live music, food, crafts and family fun.
27. Picking your own apples and pumpkins at the beautiful Minard Family Farm.
28. Climb aboard hayrides, go apple picking, tap your toes to live music, and grab some grub from the open grill at Fishkill Farm’s Harvest Festival.
29. Learn about Washington Irving, the literary legend behind the story. Suitable for all ages.
30. Head over to the Walkway Over the Hudson for relaxation, entertainment and dining at the Highland Hudsonfest.
31. Enjoy Italian music, specialty foods, desserts, Italian beer and wines at the Ulster County Italian Festival.
32. Have a ghoulishly good time at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Westchester’s Brick-or-Treat!
33. Enjoy activities for the kiddies, vendors and more at the 24th Annual Apple Harvest Festival in Cairo.
34. Tweens and Teens in grades 6-12 can learn basic sewing skills by making a simple, fun pumpkin out of felt and ribbon at Monroe Free Library.
35. Drop-in to Tuxedo Park Library’s Children’s Room for a self-guided craft.
36. Celebrate fall with the family at the 8th Annual Pumpkinfest at Pine Island Park.
37. Jam out to live music, nosh on delicious foods, and celebrate fall at the Sugar Loaf Fall Festival.
38. View a spooky double feature of 1922’s Nosferatu and House on Haunted Hill at St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
39. Check out Tymor Park for games and activities for all little ghosts and goblins to enjoy in a non-scary environment.
40. Learn basic astronomy concepts and find real constellations in the night sky at Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum.
41. Pet and feed chickens, ducks, turkeys and pigs at Root ‘Roost Farm.
42. Party on with a DJ, magician, face painting and more aboard the Kreepy Kids Kruise.
43. Adopt a rubber duck and race down the river at the 3rd Annual Great Extension Duck Derby.
44. Introduce your kids to yoga!
45. Nosh on cupcakes of every flavor at Safe Harbors of the Hudson’s Cupcake-a-Palooza.
46. Let the kids enjoy pizza, games and Halloween themed crafts while you enjoy a yoga session.
47. Browse jewelry, ceramics, candles, knitwear and more at the 29th Annual Miller Craft Fair.
48. Sing-along around a campfire and enjoy the farm animals, maze and more at the Pumpkin Fiesta.
49. Have a blast at Paws & Pumpkins Halloween photo shoot for your children and pets with our live scare crow.
50. Pumpkin decorating, ghoulish games, spooky snacks and a frightening fun time for kids at the Catskill Recreation Center!