By Jamie Gesell & Lizz Panchyk
It’s finally spooky season, the one mainstream holiday where we can actively dress up in costumes and ask strangers for candy. This is also the time of year to actively pose with pumpkins and apples at a local farm. Even though Covid-19 still lingering, luckily there are plenty of activities to be a part of this fall on Long Island, including haunted houses, spooky walks and more. With a little something for everyone, we highlight some local sites to give you ideas on what to do in your free time.
HAUNTED HOUSES
For anyone who loves haunted houses, the Haunted House of Hamlet Road in Levittown is for you. This scary house is for all ages with free parking. It has skeleton cemeteries, crazy special effects and a pumpkin patch picture area. Its opening day is Oct. 22. Visit www.skellittown.com for more information. It was started five years ago and has since been added on to. The idea is to someday make it a professionally haunted house and to increase business by including more walk throughs and props.
If you’re looking for a really good scare, try Bayville Scream Park. They actually have six different attractions all in one place. Don’t like zombies? Try the funhouse or the asylum. They have been open for “haunts” since Sept. 24, so go and get your scare on at bayvillescreampark.com. Each attraction includes real-life people dressed up in makeup and costumes scary enough to make your scream. You too can live as if you’re in a scary movie for a couple of hours. Grab those tickets and have the scare of your life.
If you want a festival kind of atmosphere, then Spooky Fest is for you. Located in Rockville Centre, the event is run by the Center for Science Teaching and Learning, a nonprofit that encourages STEM education. You can try out their “Maze of Horror” in a frightening mansion where, as they said on their website, “once you enter there is no turning back.” You can also go through their “Haunted Woods,” which is a quarter-mile hike through a cemetery with zombies hungry for brains. In addition, you can volunteer to help out by signing up on their website. Volunteers can help younger kids make arts and crafts or go on a non-spooky “Enchanted Forest Walk” through their woods. They are open Fridays through Sundays through Halloween from 6:30 - 9 pm. For more information, visit www.cstl.org.
In the mood to see some monsters after? Try the Long Island Monster Gallery in Mineola. This is a two-floor, eight-roomed building full of monsters made by local artists.
“This is a combination between art and horror. The intention behind the gallery was to design this immersive space that showcases some incredible work created by sculptors, special effects artists and painters who are truly passionate about horror Halloween movies,” said gallery creator Jason Kloos.
See artists sculptures of various monsters such as werewolves, vampires and zombies when walking around. The gallery is open through Oct. 31 on Fridays from 7-10 pm, Saturdays 4-10 pm and Sundays 5-9 pm and offers tours as well. You must make a reservation in advance to attend. For more information visit longislandmonstergallery.com.
HOLIDAY FUN
Still have some room for some more eye candy? Head on down to the Great Jack O Lantern Blaze in Old Bethpage. This is a walk through of more than 7,000 Jack o’ lantern pumpkins. This year marks the seventeenth anniversary of the Blaze since it’s opening in 2005. It also serves as a fundraiser for Historic Hudson Valley, a nonprofit organization supporting cultural and educational programs. Open through Nov. 7, you can purchase tickets and find more information on their website, pumpkinblaze.org.
Speaking of fall activities, you’re probably wondering what Adelphi students will be doing this Halloween. Candy is a big part of the holiday tradition, and it’s an important part for students, too.
Zach Zeller ‘24, said, “I buy a book, wait for my family to leave, grab the bowl of candy meant for the trick or treaters that never come, and quietly eat and read for a few hours.” Two of his personal favorites are Reese's Pieces and Twizzlers.
Sometimes a calm Halloween is the way to go. Try rewatching "The Nightmare Before Christmas" or maybe go trick or treating with friends or young family members.
“I take my little cousin trick or treating and then go home and gorge myself on candy,” said sophomore Krissy Piccolo.
She’s not alone. According to the National Retail Federation, consumer spending on Halloween-related items is expected to reach an all-time high of $10.14 billion this year, up from $8.05 billion in 2020. Expected expenditure for candy? Try $3 billion. That's sweet!
The main idea is to make this Halloween a much more memorable one, what with the pandemic taking away our family celebrations last year.
But whether you’re spending it with family or friends, dressing up to go out or staying in with a bowl of candy, chances are you’ll still have the Halloween spirit. This Halloween oughta be a thriller!