Halloween 2012 things to do

Mother Nature pulled the cruelest trick of all on trick-or-treaters last year by delivering a powerful snowstorm that caused massive outages and scuttled Halloween plans in many communities. Barring another freak autumn snowstorm, Halloween revelers have much to look forward to in the next few days. A new attraction has been added to the annual Halloween madness – a...

Mother Nature pulled the cruelest trick of all on trick-or-treaters last year by delivering a powerful snowstorm that caused massive outages and scuttled Halloween plans in many communities.

Barring another freak autumn snowstorm, Halloween revelers have much to look forward to in the next few days.

A new attraction has been added to the annual Halloween madness – a haunted cornfield at Warner Farm on 23 South Main St. in Sunderland, home to the famous Mike’s Maze.

Mike’s Haunted Maze, an additional maze on their large farm grounds, features two acres of paths that wind through cornstalks, some as high as 10 feet, filled with dioramas and personal interactions of mystery and terror.

“Mike Wissemann, the farm’s owner, sent me to the National Haunters Convention in Philadelphia this summer so I could learn how to create his new haunted maze. The convention was exactly as you would imagine a ‘Star Trek’ convention would be, only ours had zombies walking around and people teaching you things like how to make prosthetic limbs, how to startle people more effectively, and how to make good, cheap fake blood,” said Scott Salus, co-creator of the new maze with Robin McLean.

“We do have our own sound effects, but part of the joy of having an outdoor corn maze is that you are able to hear things before they happen and people reacting to them with their own sound effects,” he laughed.

The Haunted Maze is open from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and costs $15 for adults and $11 for students. The maze in not recommended for kids under 12. Guardians may bring children at their own discretion.

For more information, visit www.mikesmaze.com/haunted or call (413) 665-8331.

Agawam


It wouldn’t be Halloween without Six Flags New England once again unearthing several new haunted attractions among its cadre of spooky haunts and frighteningly creepy creatures as part of its annual Fright Fest.

Fright Fest tickets can be purchased at a discount online at $36.99 for Friday, and $41.99 for Saturday or Sunday. Tickets purchased at the park are $51.99 general admission, $41.99 for children under 48 inches, and free to those age two and under. Park hours on Friday are 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. For more information on all the special Halloween attractions at Fright Fest, visit www.sixflags.com/newengland.

Amherst


Amherst has a Halloween Fest planned for Sunday. It all begins with trick or treating downtown from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. when young trick or treaters can show off their silly or scary costumes while collecting treats from downtown businesses. At 12:45 p.m., there will be a gathering at Sweetser Park on Main Street where a Halloween Parade will step off. After the parade, revelers are invited to the Bangs Community Center on 70 Boltwood Walk, where there will be a haunted house, carnival with games and prizes, magic shows, food and more. Games and activities cost 1 to 3 tickets priced at 25 cents each. For more information, call (413) 259-3065.


East Windsor, Conn.

From haunted fields and pumpkin patches to the trolley tracks, Rails to the Darkside at the Connecticut Trolley Museum at 58 North Road in East Windsor offers a fun ride for daring thrill seekers. As the story goes, one of their members snapped a photograph as a trolley departed from Station 9 – a black figure appeared on the edge of the tracks glaring at the camera. The museum volunteer did a little research and found out a cemetery once stood where the tracks are located. Brave riders can climb aboard that trolley on Friday and Saturday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $13 for adults and $8 for ages 2 to 12. For more information, call (860) 627-6540.

Hadley

There is Mall-O-Ween madness at Hampshire Mall in Hadley, where kids under the age of 12 can go trick-or-treating at participating stores on Tuesday. Kids can also enter a costume contest in the Food Court and must be registered prior to the 5:30 p.m. event. For more information, call (413) 586-5700.

Hartford

The Mark Twain House on 351 Farmington Ave. in Hartford will offer Graveyard Shift Ghost Tours of the home and its surroundings tonight, tomorrow and Saturday at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Hear creepy tales of ghostly apparitions, mysterious bangs, cigar smoke and other unexplained phenomena – and learn more about Twain’s own interest in the supernatural. The tours routinely sell out in advance and reservations are required by calling (860) 280-3130. Tickets are $20 or $16 for members, and $13 for children 16 and under. Tours are not recommended for kids under 10.

Also, at the Mark Twain House on Saturday where there will be a Halloween Tea Party with the Countess. The 2 p.m. event is designed for younger kids who can don their Halloween finery for a tea with “Countess” Cynthia von Buhler, author and illustrator of “But Who Will Bell the Cats?” Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. Reservations may be made by calling (860) -280-3130.


Holyoke

Holyoke is calling upon the spirits from its past to make this Halloween more chilling than ever. It all begins on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Wistariahurst Museum on 238 Cabot St. with Mysteries of the Mansion, designed mainly for adults, which includes a scavenger hunt through the elegant Skinner Mansion. Reservations are required by calling the museum at (413) 322-5660. Registration is $20 per team of four or $6 for individuals who will be placed on a team.

On Saturday, the museum, in conjunction with Holyoke’s Park and Recreation Department will offer Jeepers Creepers: Ghouls & Goblins! from 1 to 4 p.m. featuring music, magic performances, games, storytelling, crafts, goodie bags and more. Admission is $2 per child or $10 for families of five or more children. All are encouraged to come dressed in costume for a parade and contest led by the Holyoke High School Marching Band. Registration is suggested for the event – held rain or shine – by calling (413) 322-5620.

Also on Saturday, there will be a Candlelight Tour of Wistariahurst. The first tour is sold out, but there is another at 8 p.m., which requires reservation by calling (413) 322-5660. Tickets are $10 per person.

The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round, located at Holyoke Heritage Stage Park on 221 Appleton St. will have its horses decked out for its annual Boo Blast! on Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. For more information, call (413) 538-9838.

The Boo Blast! continues on Sunday as part of the larger Halloween in the Park, supported by the Parks and Recreation Department, set for noon to 4 p.m., which also includes special events at the park’s Visitors’ Center and Children’s Museum at Holyoke on 444 Dwight St. For more information, call the museum at (413) 536-KIDS.

Also, on Sunday, the Children’s Museum will hold its 2nd Annual Monster Dash and 5K Run/Walk at 11 a.m. around Ashley Reservoir beginning at the Elks Lodge on 250 Whitney Ave.. The fun Kids Dash will be held at the Elks around noon following the 5K run/walk. Following the healthy run, walk, and dash, there will be food, games, and a DJ playing music at the Elks Lodge.

Registration for the museum fundraiser is $20 for individuals and $40 for families, including up to two adults and two children.

Wistariahurst Museum will offer its Historic Cemetery Walks on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the safe light of day or on Monday evening at 6 p.m. for braver souls. Reservations are required for the tours, which are $7, by calling (413) 322-5660.

There’s a Halloween Mall-O-Ween for little ghosts and goblins under the age of 12 on Wednesday at participating stores at Holyoke Mall at Ingleside from 4 to 6 p.m. There will also be a costume contest held at 5:30 p.m. in JC Penney Court. Contestants must register prior to the start of the event. Prior to trick or treating, there will be a spooky story time led by Jenn Couturier at 2:30 p.m. on the upper level near Pottery Barn. Kids are invited to wear their costumes. For more information, call (413) 536-1441.

Lenox

Ghost hunters might want to head to Lenox on Friday night for a Fright Tour of The Mount at 2 Plunkett St. in Lenox, home to author Edith Wharton. For over a century, the historic site has been home to writers, actors, wealthy families, hard-working servants, and teenage girls, some of whom might be lurking the halls of the most haunted parts of the estate during the tours at 5:45 and 7 p.m. The 7 p.m. tour is already sold out, but a few tickets remain for 5:45 p.m. Tickets – priced at $20 general admission and $15 for ages 13-18 – can be purchased online at www.edithwharton.org. For more information, call (413) 551-5111.

The nighttime frights continue at The Mount on Saturday night with Chilling Tales – a hair-raising recounting of some of Wharton’s most horrific tales. Participants can also explore the house, including several areas where paranormal activity has been reported by former inhabitants and visitors. The fee to attend the special event is $15 for the general public and $10 for members. Reservations are required by calling (413) 551-5100.

The ghost hunting continues in Lenox on Tuesday at Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum on 104 Walker St. Beginning at 4 p.m. Chicopee Paranormal Investigators (CPI) will present evidence they have captured during some 18 investigations at Ventfort Hall. Admission is $16 for non-members and $14 for members. For more information, call (413) 637-3206.

Longmeadow

The Longmeadow Historical Society will offer a graveyard tour where visitors will be met by the “ghosts” of those buried below who will tell their stories. The tours, which begin at 6:30 p.m. and run until about 8 p.m., take place in the cemetery behind First Church, located at 763 Longmeadow St. There is a suggested donation of $5. Although lit by lanterns, visitors might want to consider bringing along their own flashlights to light their way.

Monson

The Monson Library on 2 High St. in Monson will hold a free Boo Bash with storyteller Mary Jo Maichack will perform a show with ghost stories, songs and jokes from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call (413) 267-3866.

Northampton

The rails are also haunted at Look Park at 300 North Main St. in Northampton where their Haunted Train gets rolling on Friday and Sunday from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. The event features a night ride through the spookily decorated Look Park train tracks. Throughout the ride, daring riders are spooked by ghouls and goblins amidst the trees and creatures chasing the train as it goes by. But, witches also greet the young riders with treat bags filled with goodies. There are also Halloween lighting displays to ogle.

Adults are $4.50 and children are $3.50. The event is recommended for children age four and older. Vehicle entry into the park is free, but donations are accepted on the way out.

Also, the Northampton Recreation Department will hold a Monster Mash Bash on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Florence VFW, Post 8006, on 18 Meadow St. Music will be provided by a disk jockey, and there will be snacks, crafts and trick or treat bags. Participants are encouraged to dress in costume and bring a friend. The family event is designed for children ages 9 and under who must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call (413) 587-1040 or visit www.northamptonma.gov/recreation.

Inspired by this summer’s Olympic Games, the Gymnastics Team at Hampshire Regional YMCA on Friday will hold a spooky Halloween Show at 6 p.m. Admission is $2 and $5 for a family of four. Visitors can purchase their tickets at the front desk beginning at 5 p.m. They will also be selling ghoulish treats. The YMCA is located on 286 Prospect St. in Northampton. For more information, call (413) 584-7086.

Also in Northampton at the Academy of Music on Sunday, popular international children’s music artist Mister G will hold a Halloween Fiesta – a combined Halloween costume party that doubles as a CD release concert for his new, bilingual album “Chocolalala,” which blends Latin rhythms, traditional instruments, and some catchy tunes.

Ticket prices for the Halloween Fiesta are $8 for children and $10 for adults. They can be purchased at the Academy of Music Box Office or by calling (413) 584-9032, ext. 105. Online tickets are available at www.academyofmusictheatre.tix.com.

And, the Toasted Owl in Northampton is mixing a little healthy Halloween fun into the cauldron on Sunday with its third annual “Give a Hoot Halloween Fun Run.” The 5K race and 2K fun run/walk will benefit the Cutchins Programs for Children and Families. The race starts at 10:30 a.m. at 23 Main St., with registration beginning at 9 a.m. Registration fees are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for juniors. Families of four can register for $40. On the day of the race, fees increase by $5. For more information, visit www.cutchins.org.

South Hadley

McCray’s Farm and Country Creamery at 55 Alvord St. in South Hadley also has a long and popular history of scaring the heck out of its visitors for Halloween with its Haunted Hay Rides. Their 45-minute, hair-raising, blood pressure-elevating Monster Mash Haunted Hayride, definitely for adults, offers scares and screams around every corner with its true-to-life frights along with eerie music and other scary effects. Fees for the Monster Mash Hayride – which begins at 7 p.m. and ends when there is no more line often as late as 11 p.m. – are $20 on Friday and Saturday and $15 on Sunday. And for little ones who may not be so brave, there is a shorter Munchkin Hayride which begins at 5 p.m. with the last ride going out at 6:45 p.m. The cost is $5 per person. For more information, call the farm at (413) 533-0775.

There’s also a graveyard tour in South Hadley where the South Hadley Historical Society will host a Village Cemetery Lantern Walk on Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. The event, all about South Hadley’s local history, will be staffed by Pioneer Valley Performing Arts students dressed as historical men and women from town. The program is for all ages.

The cost for the tour – with a rain date of Nov. 3 – is $5 and first responders and anyone under the age of 18 are free. Free parking is available at the Barchgrounds on Main Street.

At the Odyssey Bookshop on 9 College St. in South Hadley on Wednesday at 11 a.m., kids can put on their costumes and listen attentively at a special holiday storytime featuring readings of “The Monsters’ Monster” and “Creepy Carrots.” The event is appropriate for ages 3 and. Kids must wear a costume to receive a prize. For more information, call (413) 534-7307.


Springfield

Music lovers on Friday can experience “A Little Nightmare Music: A Halloween Concert for Organs, Voices and an Odd Assortment of Instruments,” at 7 p.m. at South Congregational Church, 45 Maple Street, Springfield. Performers include Larry Picard and Grant Moss on organs; singers Anita Cooper, Carol Wrobleski, and Marco Bonilla; and the Dead Ringers Handbell Choir. There is a free will donation. For information, call (413) 732-0117 or email lpicard@sococh.org

The Springfield Museums will present a Halloween Spooktacular on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free with museum admission. There will be spooky art activities, laser show, family science adventures, a chance to explore the world of nocturnal animals and more. Some activities may require an additional fee. The museums are located at 21 Edwards St. For more information, visit www.springfieldmuseums.org.

For young readers, the Springfield City Library on 220 State St. in Springfield will offer its free Slightly Spooky Storytime on Monday at 6:30 p.m. Children are invited to wear their pajamas or holiday costumes and listen to some “slightly Spooky” stories and songs. For more information, call (413) 263-6828, ext. 201.

Eastfield Mall in Springfield will once again hold its annual Mall-O-Ween Extravaganza from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. All young ghosts and goblins have to do is bring their own bags and the mall will supply the treats. There’s also a costume contest with prizes beginning at 6 p.m. in Center Court. Age categories are 6 and under, 7-17, and 18 and over. For more information, call (413) 543-8000.

Sturbridge

Ghosts and other supernatural happenings date back, well, forever, and were a part of early New England life in the 1830s, which Old Sturbridge Village celebrates around Halloween with its annual “Things That Go Bump in the Night.” Set for Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m., the event features “spooky but safe” trick-or-treating from house to house around the Village Common, and the scarier Trail of Terror through the OSV countryside for ages 11 and older. “Things That Go Bump in the Night” is usually a sell-out, so advance registration is encouraged. If tickets are still available on the day of the event, they will be sold at the door for $17. “Tickets for the “Trail of Terror” are an additional $8. For more information, call (800) SEE-1830 or visit www.osv.org.

West Springfield

Popular children’s performer Roger Tincknell will provide the music as part of the West Springfield Park and Recreation Department’s Halloween party for town children at the Rotary Pavilion in Mittineague Park on Friday. The show will start promptly at 6:45 p.m. Parents must accompany their children and invited to come dressed in costume. The program will be held rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, it will be moved indoors to the Middle School. Call (413) 781-3020, or visit the Park and Recreation Dept. website at www.west-springfield.ma.us to verify program location.

A hauntingly good time is promised at First Congregational Church Fellowship Hall on 20 Lathrop St.,where older children and adults can take a walk through a haunted house on Saturday, while younger ones can enjoy a party and where their costumes, too. The event is held from 3-5 p.m. Admission fee is a can or box of food for the Parish Cupboard. For more information, call (413) 739-6608.

Westfield

A new tradition established last year at Amelia Park Children’s Museum on 29 South Broad St. continues Sunday with the 2nd Annual Haunted Halloween Bash. Kids and their parents can celebrate the fun holiday amidst spooky decorations and enjoy a costume parade with prizes. Treats will be served in the new picnic grove where “haunted” punch and “spooky” sweets will be on the menu. Admission to the museum is $7 for children and adults with a $5 discount for member children. Member adults are free. The event runs from 1-4 p.m. For more information, call (413) 572-4014.

Wilbraham

Picking apples has always been a fun, family experience, but among the apple orchards of Echo Hill Orchards and Winery on 101 Wilbraham Road in Monson, plenty of frights abound during the Halloween season.

Billed as “fun for families” with “parental discretion advised,” their haunted hayrides take unsuspecting visitors on a spooky, tractor-driven jaunt into the “deepest, darkest part of the orchard where ghouls wait in the shadows.” There are spooky scenes filled with campfires and torches and a cast of some 30 live actors dressed in costume who appear as zombies with chainsaws, witches and other creepy characters. Haunted hayrides on Friday and Saturday depart every 20 minutes beginning at 7 p.m. with tickets being sold from 6:30 to 9 p.m.. Rides are $10 for adults and $8 for those under 18 years of age. For more information in case of inclement weather, call (413) 267-3303.

Families can head to Fountain Park on 883 Tinkham Road on Saturday for a Spooktacular Halloween Costume Party in the newly renovated barn. There will be spellbinding snacks, creepy crafts, a spirited storyteller, batty balloon art and ghostly goodie bags. The event costs $5 per car. For more information, visit www.explorefountainpark.com