Whether you want to be scared so badly that you can’t sleep at night, or you’re looking for some festive fun this Halloween season, you will find lots of both in Ulster County.

Pick your poison. Maybe you’re looking to shriek in a haunted house, grab a treasure trove of treats, show off your Halloween decorations or enjoy the fall harvest season. Whatever it may be, you won’t have to drive far or spend too much money at some local attractions. The Shawangunk Journal compiled a short list of some of the fun folks can find with their friends and family this month.

Haunted Attractions

You can’t talk about haunted excursions in Ulster County without mentioning Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses, located at 778 Broadway, off Route 9W, in Ulster Park. Instead of its acclaimed hayride, this year the company is hosting the Haunting of Pumpkin Jack walking tour on its grounds. Local folklore says that Pumpkin Jack is summoned by witches each fall to seek vengeance for his companion the Headless Horseman. Visitors will tread down the eerie Horseman’s Trail, where Jack and the Horsemen wait in the darkness to claim their next victim. Folks can enjoy a few more haunted houses, including The Lunar Hotel, Glutton’s Diner, and Mama Rose’s Swamp Shack, each with their own terrifying delights inside. For tickets and a schedule of events, visit Headlesshorseman.com.

The Pine Bush UFO & Paranormal Museum will host The Crop Circle haunted attraction, located at 86 Main Street in Pine Bush. Aliens are landing in Pine Bush, ready to cause unusual experiments and mayhem this October, and visitors will experience a unique walk through the spooky scene. The event will be held on the weekends of October 15, 22 and 27 through 31, with an entry fee of $15. You can buy tickets at Pinebushmuseum.com and send questions to organizers via email at pinebushmuseum@gmail.com.

Parades & Parties

The Rosendale Theatre Collective is hosting a number of Halloween-themed screenings and parties towards the end of the month at the Rosendale Theatre, located at 408 Main Street. On October 29, at 7:30 p.m., BeetleJuice will be shown, followed by a teens-only dance party until 10 p.m. The movie and dance for teens will cost $10 if they are in costume or $15 if they are not. Adults can see the screening for $8 if they wear a costume and $12 if not. On October 30, at 8:30 p.m., Rocky Horror Picture Show will be screened, with $10 general admission tickets and $8 for theater members and those in costume. Prop bags will be sold for $5. On October 31, at 2 p.m., Kiki’s Delivery Service will play, with $8 general admission tickets and $5 tickets for members and those in costume. There will also be a costume parade and a photo booth at this event. That same day, at 7:30 p.m., Creepshow will play, with $10 general admission tickets and $6 tickets for members. Visit Rosendaletheatre.org for tickets and more information.

The Town of Mamakating will host its annual Halloween party on October 29, starting at 6 p.m., at the town park, located at 27-29 Mamakating Road in Bloomingburg. Folks can enjoy a large haunted house and a haunted hayride, both of which will be socially distanced. Visitors will also be able to fill their stomachs, dance to tunes by a DJ, and sit by a roaring bonfire in the evening. There will also be a special guest this year, but town officials are keeping their lips sealed. This is a free event for all.

The YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County and MyKingstonKids (MyKK) will host a free Halloween Fest & Parade' on October 30 from 3 to 8 p.m. This Ghostbusters-themed event will include a MyKK Dance Party, children's costume fashion show, vendor trick or treating, live performances, family games and activities, music, food and a special live Ghostbusters performance. Parade lineup will last from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Kingston Plaza parking lot, and will kick off at 3 p.m. To participate in the parade, contact Krystal at kbulluck@mykingstonkids.com. To register for this event, visit Bit.ly/3izca21.

The Murder Cafe is hosting the Halloween dinner party classic “A wedding in Transylvania,” on October 27 at 7 p.m., at the Best Western in Kingston, located at 503 Washington Avenue. “Witness the marriage of your distant cousin Frankie Alucard to Jane Dough, a mysterious girl from the mortal side of the tracks. You'll join Count Alucard, his monstrously medicated wife Elsa, and Frankie's brother Jeckyl (or is it Hyde?) as they celebrate this cursed event. Beware Renfield, the caterer to the undead, and Vampira, who spills the family’s secrets,” the event page read. Make sure to come in costume and get ready to dance, dine and solve this thrilling mystery. The event includes a three-course dinner and a cash bar. You can choose from either chicken, fish and a vegetarian dish for the entrees, and all meals include salad and desert. You can visit Bit.ly/2YoolY0 to buy tickets and email murdercafe.ny@gmail.com to pick your meal. For extra questions, call 845-475-7973.

Join the Kingston Elks Lodge for its annual “Germanfest,” showcasing German foods, desserts and drinks. The event will take place on October 16, from 1 to 5 p.m., and 143 Hurley Avenue in Kingston. To grab tickets, visit Bit.ly/3lcxwnt.

Trunk-Or-Treating

The Town of Marbletown will host a drive-thru trick-or-treating session at the town park, located at 350 Tongore Road on October 31 from 3 to 5 p.m. Cars will be festively decorated and folks can grab their candy stash without leaving the car. To sign up for this free event, you can call 845-687-7500, extension 170, or send an email to Youthandrec@marbletown.net.

The Rosendale Youth Program will hold a Haunted Pavilion and Playground event on Halloween Day, from 3 to 6 p.m. Stop by the Rosendale Recreation Center, located at 1055 Route 213, for some trick or treating, walk through the haunted pavilion, and receive your trick or treat bag. For more information you can call the Rosendale Youth Commission at 845-658-8982 or send an email to Youth@townofrosendale.com.

The Town of Rochester also plans to host a drive-thru trick-or-treat session on October 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Main Street, Accord. The event will likely be complimented by a virtual costume contest as well. Join the Town of Rochester Youth & Community Center Facebook page for more details as the event develops. Before that, the town is hosting a free pumpkin carving class for youths at the Town Park, in Accord, on October 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. Folks must register beforehand if they want their little ones to join and can do so by calling the recreation department at 845-626-2115.

The Town of Shawangunk will host a drive-thru trick-or-treat event on October 31 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Verkeerderkill Park, located at 3232 Route 52 in Pine Bush. Last year, folks from the fire and police departments, along with other local organizations, decorated their cars and handed out candy to passing cars. This year the event will include a haunted house, costume contest, games, food, music and more. For more information, you can send an email to Recreationdept@shawangunk.org or call the recreation department at 845-895-2611.

The Town of Wawarsing recreation directors are hoping that the town board will approve their proposal for a trunk-or-treat event. If approved, the event would kick off on October 31, from 3 to 5 p.m., at the Joseph Y. Resnick Airport, located at 199 Airport Road in Napanoch. More information will be made available on the recreation department Facebook page if the event gets the green light.

Your typical house-to-house trick-or-treating will be allowed in the Town of Crawford this year, between 5 and 8 p.m. On Halloween day, the Crawford Police Benevolent Association (PBA) also plans to host a free hayride at LLOYDZ Motor Workz, located at 25 Railroad Avenue in Pine Bush. The event will run from 5 to 8 p.m. and folks can enjoy refreshments, hot dogs, candy, and other snacks. There will also be prizes for the best costumes. For more information, visit the Town of Crawford PBA Facebook page as the date approaches.

Walks & Runs

Murder Cafe is hosting “Boom Town” living history cemetery tours at The Old Dutch Church, located at 272 Wall Street in Kingston, on Saturdays in October at 7 p.m. There, visitors meet seven influential characters who made Kingston “roar” during the 1920s. Murder Cafe will also host a few “Tales from the Underground'' living history cemetery tours, at the same church, where folks will walk with six characters who contributed to Rhinebeck’s rich past. This walking tour will take place at 3 p.m. on October 9, 10, 23 and 24, with an accessible tour at 1:30 p.m. on October 9 as well. Visit Friendsofrhinebeckcemetery.org for more information and to buy tickets.

UlsterCorps is hosting its 11th annual Zombie Escape at Williams Lake, located at 424 Williams Lake Road in Rosendale, starting at 11 a.m. The event includes a 5K timed trail run, 2K walk, and a free 1K “fun run” for kids. Enjoy the beautiful fall foliage on the beautiful trails of this historical resort site, while passing socially distanced zombies and other spooky surprises lurking in the wilderness. Top finishers will receive awards in gender and age group categories, while all kids will receive a prize. The team rate is only $17 per person if you sign up with a team of five or more by October 27. For more information you can contact the organizers via email at Zombies@ulstercorps.org or call 845-481-0331.

Contests

The Town of Wawarsing is hosting its second annual Autumn Home & Business Decorating Contest, which will kick off on October 18. This year, folks will be able to vote on their favorite decorated buildings with a one-time visit to a Google Drive page that will be posted on the town website and recreation department Facebook page. Prizes for first through third place will be awarded, but the prizes themselves are still a mystery. Send an email to sam.bugna@wawarsingny.gov to sign your property up for the contest!

Festive Farms

“Hallowoodstock'' returns to the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, located at 2 Rescue Road in High Falls, providing mid-day farm animal fun for families. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., visitors can come meet rescued farm animals, enjoy vegan meals and celebrate Halloween. A Halloween costume contest will be held, with a chance to win a merchandise bundle from the Sanctuary store. Masks must be worn inside the store, and any extra COVID-19 restrictions will be announced if they are mandated before Halloween. Money collected from tickets will go to support the 400 rescued farm animals at the sanctuary. Sanctuary members can enter for free, as long as they message Jennifer@woostocksanctuary.org to reserve their spot, while non-members can sign-up on their website: Woodstocksanctuary.org. Unfortunately, the event will be cancelled if there is rain and no refunds can be given. You can email Info@woodstocksanctuary.org with any questions.

Join Kelder’s Farm, located at 5755 Route 209 in Kerhonkson, for its annual Fall Harvest Celebration, which will end on October 31. In addition to apple picking and thousands of pumpkins in the patch, visitors can enjoy the jumping pillow, corn maze, farm animals, mini-golf and more. You won’t want to miss the pumpkin cannon either. The farm’s Ice Cream Barn will offer food and drinks, while the new “Loading Dock” will offer wine, beer and ciders for adults on Sundays from 12 to 5 p.m. The celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., every day, with 5 p.m. being the cut off for new admissions. Visit Keldersfarm.com for tickets and more information.

Stone Ridge Orchard, located at 3012 Route 213 in Stone Ridge, offers pick-your-own peaches and applies this month (call for availability) and hosts both a farm stand and farm bar. The farmstand is open Friday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with produce, apple and hard cider, baked goods, and other locally sourced items. On weekends, the farm bar tasting room is open for adults to sample ciders, local beer, wine, and cocktails. The farm will host the “Upstate Vintage Antique Show” on October 23 as well. For contact and other information, visit Stoneridgeorchard.com.

You will find plenty of apple and pumpkin picking at Saunderskill Farm, located at 5100 Route 209 in Accord, along with a free corn maze for visitors to explore. Flower lovers will adore the over 4,000 chrysanthemums grown on the farm too. On October 10, the farm will host the “Antique Tractor Pull,” where folks can enjoy a variety of tractors, food, a 50/50 raffle and, of course, the tractor pull which will test the strength of the machines and the skill of their drivers. Visit Saunderskill.com for more information on the events and call David Lawrence, at 845-626-0917, for details on the tractors.

At Seed Song Farm, located at 160 Esopus Avenue in Kingston, there are plenty of fall fun activities through October. You can pick pumpkins, enjoy live music, hayrides, farm food and refreshments. The farm also offers a “hay bale scramble activity,” a farm scavenger hunt, and more games. A corn maze and haunted trail will be open (weather permitting) on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit Seedsongfarm.org to RSVP and for more information.

Maynard Farms & Orchards, located at 342 River Road in Ulster Park, offers another apple and pumpkin picking opportunity. The pick-your-own end of the business is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit Maynardfarms.com for more information.