We could not resist a trip to the infamous Sleepy Hollow at the spookiest time of the year! This event is coined the “tri-state’s biggest, most electrifying fall event” and we would definitely agree.
The town of Sleepy Hollow is what you would expect for a rural area. It’s quaint with a few eateries, some necessary stores, and cute shops that all close early. If you want to include the town in your visit, make sure to plan ahead. You can find the business directory here: Shops & Galleries, Eateries, & Places to Stay. There’s an entire world built around the Legend of Sleepy Hollow in this area. You could not pick a better area to celebrate Halloween, All Hallows’ Eve, friendship, or just plain family fun!
The Blaze
A pre-designed trail takes you through an 18th-century landscape. The setting here is what separates this jack-o-lantern display from the rest. Artisans have designed and hand-carved these beauties to put together the best display of illuminated jack-o-lanterns we have seen to date (and we’ve seen quite a few!). More than 7,000 pumpkins create themed scenes with atmospheric music, sound effects and professional lighting!
Our favorites from last year are too numerous to mention. We loved seeing a sloth in a circus train, a field of dinosaurs, a Pumpkin Sea Serpent, and “dancing” skeletons! Don’t miss the Pumpkin Zee Bridge (Tappan Zee for the visiting tourists), the Pumpkin Planeterium, and the lit up, musical, spooky manor! (This year they have a carousel!)
Dates:
- September 15th- November 19th
(Blaze Long Island at Old Westbury is another location for this show with ticket availability.)
They now offer timed tickets and “flex” tickets. (Flexible time)
Quick Link to Buy Tickets These tickets are already selling out!
Adults: $52
Children 3-17: $44
Members + Children under 3: FREE
GPS address:
Van Cortlandt Manor
525 S Riverside, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
All proceeds from Blaze and our other Halloween events support the programs of Historic Hudson Valley, a non-profit education organization.
Spooky events that scare and entertain…
In Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow Cemetary Tours– April through November, Evenings, Tours available for all ages in October- Horseman’s Hollow– only offered for 15 terrifying evenings in October, not for children or faint of heart, 300 year old Philipsburg Manor haunted trail
- Irving’s Legend– 45 minute performance of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, master story teller
- Haunted Hayride– Scary, Not for everyone
In Tarrytown
Jay Ghoul’s House of Curiosities– journey through the Lyndhurst mansion for a murder mystery- suitable for all, more humor than scare- Sunnyside– Home of the ‘Legend”- tour of Washington Irving’s home
So much more to do in Sleepy Hollow!
Historic Sites (ie: Headless Horseman Bridge, Old Dutch Burying Ground, SLeepy Hollow Cemetary, and more)
Community Events & Tours (Jay Ghoul’s House of Curiosities, Haunted Hayride, Tarrytown Halloween Parade, and more)
More Family Friendly Halloween Fun
It’s no secret that our family loves to travel and check new things out. Here are a few other options we have enjoyed to help you with your Spooky celebrations.
Roger Willams Zoo, Rhode Island– Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, Brew at the Zoo, Spooky Zoo
Bronx Zoo, New York– Boo at the Zoo, Brew at the Zoo (Bootober), Haunted Hayride
Old Westbury Gardens, New York– Rise of the Jack-O-Lanterns
Family Adventure Rating ♥♥♥♥
Update:
Since our original post this adventure has more than doubled in cost. Our rating stays the same, but less families will be able to enjoy this fun night out due to cost. Our family would not have considered paying $162 plus travel and incidentals for three people to walk through this light show. We hope they lower the pricing for next year, if not for adults, at least the child and senior pricing. New Yorkers of all backgrounds should be able to enjoy good hometown haunt entertainment.
Cost– This has become a more costly event since my original post, but you can adjust how much you spend by planning out your events. Most, if not all, of the events will have a cost between $8-$54 each. A family of five just looking to attend The Blaze will spend about $261 for tickets alone. I would “guess-timate” that a family of five enjoying the Blaze along with another featured item, adding a quick dinner, and leaving some room for souvenirs would make this an adventure that not everyone can afford.
Parking & Transportation– We found plenty of free parking at the events. The small villages have street parking with some small public lots. We found a spot easily, but leave some time to look around if you’re going during a busy time. Mass transportation will be difficult to find since most of these events are centered around the late evening time. Tarrytown has a train station and bus to get you most of the way there.
Day Trip or Overnight– Our family did this as a day trip. If you’re coming from a great distance, you can find accommodations at a nearby town, but there’s nothing directly in Sleepy Hollow.
Experience– This is a great event to spend some quality family time. We’ve had this on our bucket list for a couple of years (mostly because it sells out so fast). There’s a very specific energy here that you won’t find anywhere else. The history, architecture, and stories of the area really help put you in the moment.
Combination– The events in this area are enough to fill everyone’s needs. You can combine many of them for a full day experience of festivities and scary fun or just pop in for one event and a stroll through town.
This sounds like so much fun, and these pictures are fantastic! I’ll have to go check it out sometime. So glad I came across this post! 🙂
It is definitely a great adventure if you love Halloween and the Spooky!