Major Milestones for Sleepy Hollow Country’s Biggest Halloween Events

Horseman's Hollow by Tom NyczSleepy Hollow Country’s biggest Halloween events are celebrating special occasions this year, as The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze® marks its 10th anniversary and Horseman’s Hollow its fifth. The fun kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 4, opening night of the tri-state area’s largest Halloween-inspired celebrations.

At right, Horseman’s Hollow photo by Tom Nycz

Continuing for 25 selected evenings through Nov. 9, The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze® at Van Cortlandt Manor in nearby Croton-on-Hudson is the Hudson Valley’s biggest all-ages Halloween extravaganza. A small team of artists comes together to carve more than 5,000 jacks, many fused together in elaborate constructions such as life-size dinosaurs and eight-foot-tall working jack-o’lanterns-in-the-box, all lit up throughout the historic site’s wooded walkways, orchards, and gardens.

Elaborate single-pumpkin carvings and huge multi-jack- o’lantern constructions line the historic landscape. Favorite themes such as the Undersea Aquarium and Skeleton Emergence are joined this year by new installations including a life-size Headless Horseman and a huge pumpkin cake!

Washington Irving’s macabre tale, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” inspires Horseman’s Hollow, a 13-night interactive haunted attraction at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, recommended for ages 10 and up. Stocked with professional actors and state-of-the-art special effects, Horseman’s Hollow has a high fear factor. Selected nights from Oct. 4 to Nov. 1.

Haunted house professional Lance Hallowell leads a crew of award-winning makeup and costume designers and a 40-member-strong cast of experienced actors to create an immersive, interactive, pleasantly terrifying experience, with state-of-the-spooky-art
special effects.

Irving’s “Legend,” recommended for ages 10 and up, brings the master storyteller Jonathan Kruk into the historic, candlelit interior of Sleepy Hollow’s circa-1685 Old Dutch Church, where for 13 evenings he offers a dramatic re-telling of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” accompanied by live organ music. Selected nights from Oct. 4 to Nov. 1.

The Legend behind the “Legend” is a daytime experience at Washington Irving’s Sunnyside in Tarrytown that highlights the author of the famous story. Tours of Irving’s home – a colorful blend of architectural styles – will showcase numerous objects related to Irving’s famous story. Visitors can also enjoy a shadow puppet performance of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and experience one of Irving’s spooky tales on a walk through the woods.

Historic Hudson Valley produces these events and all proceeds support the Tarrytown-based private, non-profit educational organization. These events sell out in advance! Tickets can be purchased online at www.hudsonvalley.org or by calling 914-366-6900. ©

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About the Author: Rob Schweitzer