Ulster County Real Estate Blog

Vampires, ghosts and witches, oh my!

Calling all ghouls and goblins! Ulster County has all the tricks and treats you could want to experience this Halloween; from one of the country's top rated Haunted House and Hayride Attractions to some much less frightening family fun, you’ll find your ideal Halloween activities right here in the heart of the Hudson Valley. Our Halloween Event Guides have been a major hit in the past, and this year, we’re bringing it back, with even more bone chilling fun!

You won’t find any tricks here, just a weekend full of Halloween fun & Ulster County treats for the whole family!

Woodstock Halloween Parade & Children’s Halloween Journey

Every year on Halloween, the village of Woodstock puts on it’s scariest costumes and takes to the streets for their annual Halloween parade. While created for children, families and adults of all ages will enjoy the parade and all the creative, imaginative costumes it brings out. After the parade ends, Woodstock is ready to entertain even the smallest of frights, aged 2 and up,  for its 3rd annual Halloween Journey, organized by the Woodstock Library. In this free event, taking place on Halloween night from 5:30-7:30pm, Mary Poppins will lead children from the Halloween Parade to the Woodstock Library green for a whimsical journey featuring non-scary stories, surprises, sandwiches, chili and apple cider!

Historic Cemetery Tours at the Old Dutch Church in Kingston

The Old Dutch Church of Kingston, located uptown on Wall Street is taking visitors on a step back in time to 1777 and telling the tales of all the church’s most famous and infamous residents, all of whom are no longer with us- or at least in the physical state. Tour the historic cemetery, listen to their chilling tales and maybe one of the church’s ghosts will make an appearance. Tours run through the month of October (on the 1st, 15th, 22nd and 29th at 7pm). Tickets are $10 per person and children under 12 are free. For more information and to get tickets, call 845-475-7973.

Howl-O-Ween Bash at the Ulster County SPCA

Are you one of those people that while shopping for Halloween costumes for the kids, finds themselves in the pet aisle wondering how to dress them up as well? The Ulster County SPCA in Kingston is putting together a Howl-O-Ween Bash on Saturday, October 29th, 2016 from 11:30am to 1:30pm at their center on Wiedy Road. Bring your pet, in full Halloween attire of course, get your photos taken and maybe even win the costume contest!

Hurley’s Ghost Walk

Take a stroll along Main Street and straight to the Hurley Reformed Church cemetery to meet the ghosts and ghouls of Hurley. Tours start at 6:30pm on Friday, October 28th and are recommended for ages 12 and up. Contact the Hurley Heritage Society at 845-338-7686 for more details and to make your reservation.

Lake Katrine’s Barn of Terror

For 14 years, the Barn of Terror in Lake Katrine has been scaring the public every weekend in October, straight on up to all-Hallows eve! The barn of terror features 8 rooms of barn-related frights, a ‘shocking Silo’, Double-Dare mineshaft and the ‘Freaks of Cornville.’ Not for the faint of heart, you can get more information and get your tickets at www.thebarnofterror.com

Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses

Headless Horseman, located on 9W in Ulster Park, holds a number of titles and awards under their belts for being one of the ultimate best haunted attractions in the United States, including the titles of #1 in America by HauntWorld Magazine (2 years running), America’s Scariest Haunted House in the Northeast by MTV, #1 Hallow Scream by the Weather Channel, and #1 on the Planet by New York Daily News. This attraction is an immersive, frightful experience (with a terrifying theme that changes yearly) that includes a one mile theatrical hayride, cornmaze, and 7 other haunted houses, attractions  and performances and of course, plenty of ‘monsters’ and other creepy creatures to interact with throughout the night. Headless Horseman is a 250 year old farm that sits on over 65 acres of ‘foreboding woods, surreal ponds and fruit orchards.’ Headless Horseman is not recommended for kids under 13 and children under 8 will not be allowed on most attractions, even if accompanied by an adult (this is rated one of the scariest Halloween attractions in the United States for a reason! ). If you want to bring the family, head out on one of their Children’s Days (they have one coming up tomorrow on October 22nd) called “A Tiny Taste of Terror’. For a full schedule, attraction and ticket information, visit www.headlesshorseman.com

7th Annual Zombie Escape Race in Rosendale

Williams Lake in Rosendale hosts the 7th annual UlsterCorps Zombie Escape Run on Saturday, October 29th (rain date is Sunday, October 30th). Runners of all ages are invited to ‘run for their lives’ from zombies, haunts and other spooks on a variety of 1K-5K races that will take place throughout the morning. Escape the zombies before you’re turned into one yourself! If you make it to the end, without becoming one of the undead, you’ll be treated to a bonfire and s’mores by the lake. You can register for the Zombie Escape Races here: http://www.active.com/kingston-ny/running/distance-running-races/7th-annual-ulstercorps-zombie-escape-2016

Halloween in the Hamlet of Highland

While we’re still waiting for more details about this year's event, in the past, Halloween in the Hamlet has featured a parade of ‘Lil Goblins,’ some great local food offerings, a pumpkin carving contest and costume contest. This year, the hamlet gets spooky on Saturday, October 29th from 5:30pm- 8:30pm. More details about the 2016 event can be found at the Town of Lloyd’s Community Events page as they are released.

Halloween Fun Festival at DuBois Farms

Dubois Farms in Highland has had various events and festivals taking place at the farm each weekend since the end of August, and the weekend leading up to Halloween is no different! October 29th and October 30th, head out to DuBois Farms for their Halloween Fun Festival- a day of fruit picking, contests, Halloween children's activities and more. In addition, the new Tavern at DuBois Farms is now open with some of the best local wine, hard cider and craft beer for you to enjoy. More specific details about the Halloween Fun Festival will be released on DuBois Farms website as the dates near.

New Paltz Events on Halloween Night

There’s quite a bit of fun, and spooky, events for the whole family going on in New Paltz on Halloween night! The annual Halloween Parade down Main Street kicks off at 6pm, traveling from Manheim Blvd down the the fire house in the center of the village. While that’s taking place, The Bakery hosts its 26th annual Night of 100 Pumpkins where pumpkin carvers of all ages are welcomed to bring their jack-o-lanterns to the Bakery on the 30th, to see them all light up in a gorgeous display Halloween night. Prizes are awarded for best in show categories and of course hot cocoa, cider and pumpkin bread is available. Also open on Halloween night from 6:00pm to 10:00pm (and for two nights prior) is the Haunted House at Teen Seen, an annual event organized by the New Paltz Youth Program.

Haunted Huguenot Street

Every year during the Halloween season, the tours of New Paltzs’ Historic Huguenot Street take a slightly different, spooky, spin. Hear the haunting tales and ghostly stories surrounding one of America’s oldest settlements, and maybe even experience an ‘otherworldly’ encounter firsthand for yourself in the rumored-to-be haunted Deyo house. Tours fill up quick, so it's recommended to reserve your spot in advance. Huguenot Street runs these tours on multiple October weekends, including the 21st-22nd and 28th-29th. Bring the kids by Huguenot Street on Halloween night from 4:00pm- 6:00pm for some not-so-scary trick or treating before the parade on Main Street kicks off.

Halloween Haunts and Happenings at Mohonk Mountain House

A plethora of activities are taking place the weekend before Halloween (October 28th-30th) at Mohonk Mountain house, including Haunted Houses, campfire singalongs, trick or treating, a Gala Halloween Costume Ball and more. While some events are reserved for overnight guests only, there are some that are open to the public, so be sure to call Mohonk’s information line at 845-255-1000 to get further event details.

Spooktacular Family Fun Night at Hurds Farm

Hurd’s Family Farm in Modena has great harvest-event themed weekends all throughout October, but on Saturday, October 29th they’re gearing up for a Spooktacular night of family fun and open back up from 6pm- 9pm at night. Tickets are $8 and include hayrides, a moon bounce house for the kids, a giant slide, bonfire and s’mores for great Halloween treat. Bring your flashlights and explore the farm like you never before!

Vampire Ball Halloween Party at Diamond Mills

Presented by the HealthAlliance Foundation and Tonner Doll Co, this 4th annual Vampire Ball will feature a night of dinner, dancing and a silent auction to benefit the HealthAlliance foundation, all at the stunning Diamond Mills Hotel in the heart of Saugerties. While costume isn’t required, this is a Halloween party, so don your best spooky attire on the night of October 29th and you may be leaving the ball with a prize.

Were you ‘sweetly’ surprised with these Halloween treats? Are there other Ulster County Halloween events that didn’t make our list? Let us know about them in the comments below! And as always, be sure to like Taft Street Realty on Facebook to stay in the loop about lot of great Ulster County events throughout the year.