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Great Halloween Events for the Family in Rochester, NY
2009

Halloween Celebrations Weekend By Weekend

Note changes from last year!

Note: "Fear at Frontier" seems to be defunct. But we'll keep checking to see what the status is!

Note: The popular McCracken Farms Pumpkin Patch in Brockport is now closed; the founders, who hosted this for many years, making a fall tradition for thousands of happy Rochester families, have retired. We wish them the best!!!

Note: The annual Valentown "Spooktacular" is no more. They are now doing Spiritfest. See below for details.

Note: The Boy Scout Troop 292 Haunted House, AND the annual Halloween event at the George Eastman House, will NOT be held in 2009. Check back in 2010, this seems to be a temporary hiatus for both!

Note: There is a new haunted house in town, a mixture of a maze and theatrical event called Caverns Deep from Fright Night Rochester, in Panorama Plaza. There is another one in Caledonia, The Wadsworth Haunting. See below for more information.

Note: For great Halloween fun on the big day itself, go to the FREE Gates Halloween Festival, sponsored by WARM 101.3. The perfect event for those itchy hours before trick-or-treat time!

October 2-4, 2009

See all events for: October 2, October 3, October 4

Scary

Historical

Fun


October 9-12, 2009

See all events for: October 9, October 10, October 11, October 12

Scary

Historical

Fun


October 16-18, 2009

See all events for: October 16, October 17, October 18

Scary


Historical


Fun


October 23-25, 2009

See all events for: October 23, October 24, October 25

Scary


Historical


Fun


October 29-November 1, 2009

See all events for: October 29, October 30, October 31, November 1

Scary


Historical


Fun


Descriptions: Halloween Festivals

  • Holiday Hollow, Route 5, Pembroke (just off exit 48A from the Thruway, click here for directions.) (585) 762-8160. The U.S.'s only venue dedicated exclusively to the celebration of Halloween. A fun (not scary) experience for all ages. The Captain Hook & Mr. Smee Pirate Show; The Haunted Forest Adventure; The Talking Pumpkins Show; The Haunted Library; Madame Stromboli’s Fortune Telling Show; Hook’s Hideout; Cricket Cottage Gifts and Crafts; Admiral Portley’s Galley; creative and hysterical games of skill; and, of course, pumpkins for sale!

  • FrightFest at Darien Lake FrightFest kicks off Friday, Sept. 25, 2009 and continues Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 18, 2009. This spooktacular event has Halloween festivities for all ages. Spoil your tiniest ghouls and boys in the Trick or Treat Trail. Paint pumpkins and find your way through the hay maze in Booville for some good family fun. And for the bravest guests, get scared in thehaunted house or take the most terrifying bus trip you’ve ever been on through the haunted campgrounds on the Fright Night Field Trip. Once you’ve had all the terrifying fun you can handle, stay for the LaserBlast Spooktacular with laser show and fireworks display.

    Note: Holiday Hollow and Darien Lake are very close to each other! Combine the two experiences for an awesome family trip!

  • TreatFest- A Halloween party for the family! At the Fair and Expo Center (Dome Arena) in Henrietta. TreatFest Features two days of: trick-or-treating, face painting, balloon creatures, a haunted house, fun-filled activities. Friday AND SATURDAY, October 30 and 31, 2009. Friday, October 30 - 6pm-8pm, will feature a DJ playing Halloween tunes and giving away prizes. Saturday, October 31 - 9am-4pm, will feature shows from Gary the Happy Pirate (between 11am and 3pm).

  • Spirits of the Past Tour, Fridays and Saturdays, 6-9pm, at Genesee Country Village in Mumford. October 17, 18, 24, and 25, 2008. (This needs to be updated for 2009) Take a guided tour of scenes of murder and superstition. Tours leave every 15 minutes. Because of program content, not suggested for children under 10. Walking tours last approximately one hour. Reservations required.

  • Tinker Nature Park’s Annual Halloween Event, Saturday, October 17, 2009, 6pm-9pm. Children meet friendly woodland animals on a guided walk in the woods (Woodland Wander, 7pm), visit the haunted barn and Tinker Homestead displaying a Victorian funeral setting. FREE. Call 359-7044 for more information. Located at Tinker Nature Park, 1525 Calkins Rd, Henrietta.

    Descriptions: Haunted Houses/Stadiums/Jails

  • Fear At Frontier is not operating in 2009. Scary event, meant for ages 9 and up. See their FAQ page for tips, rules, and guidelines. (This is also called HauntedRochester.com.)

  • Haunted Rochester, and Fear at Southtown are no longer operating in 2009.

  • The Wadsworth Haunting, on West River Road in Caledonia, starting at 6pm Fri-Sun weekends in October, Thurs-Sun the last weekend. Watch the haunted grounds and house come alive with many ghosts from the estate's past. Experience a journey through the dark and terrifying woods that are the domain of the estate's Caretaker. Afterwards, dare to enter the Caretaker's barn and be lost in a labyrinth of damp and dark passageways.

  • Nightmare Manor Western NY's Scariest Haunted House is Back! Opening September 25th, 2009 at Southtown Plaza. Two haunted attractions: "Dr. Limon's Manor" with all-new scares around every Corner and the all new "Dark Abyss" (Escape if you can from this dark pit of your Worst Nightmares!) Note from KOA Editor: Clearly, this is only for adults and older children.

  • Haunted House of Rochester (formerly the Haunted House of Horrors): Indoor haunted house located in Brighton/border of Penfield on Qualtrough. Participants go through in groups of two or three. Scary. The Haunted House of Horrors has a lot of surprises! It can be toned down for younger audiences, but it is not recommended for young kids, people with heart conditions, women who are pregnant and persons who are prone to seizures. No one will be touched. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting October 2, 2009 and continuing until Halloween. 6pm until the last guest leaves, at least 10pm. Maxie's Ice Cream is right there; they also have apples, cider, hot cider, balloons, a bounce house, costume contest, cotton candy, face painting, gourds and pumpkins, and pumpkin painting.

  • The annual Valentown Spooktacular. The Spooktacular is currently on hiatus; they're doing Spirit Festivals now (see above) at Valentown Square. Haunted Hayride from Entercom

  • Boy Scout Troop 292 of Chili will NOT be holding their annual Haunted House in 2009; they're taking a year off.

  • The Museum of Wayne County History's Haunted Jail is back this year and scarier than ever! On Friday, October 23, and Saturday, October 24, 2009, from 6 to 9 p.m., the old jail cellblocks at the Museum of Wayne County History will be transformed into a frightening trail of terror. Who knows what is lurking behind the cell doors or just around the corner? Those who dare to find out will be treated to cider and donuts at the end of their trip. Cost for a stroll through the haunted jail is $3. Visitors are encouraged to bring friends -- to have a hand to hold! For more information, call the Museum of Wayne County History, 21 Butternut Street, Lyons, at 315-946-4943.

  • The George Eastman House - The George Eastman House will NOT be hosting its annual Halloween Haunted House in 2009; it usually does so the last Sunday of the month. This “frightfully” fun day for young ghouls and goblins has typically included spooky organ music and trick-or-treating on the house’s third floor, and was FREE for children under age 12 with an adult admission (up to two children per adult). This is not a permanent suspension, though; check back in 2010!

    Haunted Hayrides/Walks

  • Haunted Hayrides, from Entercom Marketing Results Group, Eddy Road, off 104 in Williamson, NY, (585) 423-2991 for the Haunted Hayride Hotline. 16 nights of fright starting in late September! (In 2009, last day is Oct 25.) This annual event takes you down a desolate road, winding through eerie acres of apple orchards into the deep, dark woods. Attracting over 20,000 people each year, this frightful adventure will keep you on the edge of you seat -- and screaming! Live entertainment nightly. 35-minute ride. Advance purchase at Wegmans Video Depts, or a bit more (about $15, $20 Sat) at door. Schedule: Friday-Sunday starting 9/25/09, Thursday-Sunday starting 10/15/09

  • Landmark Society Ghost Walks: Resurrected Rochesterians will make their annual appearance on the historic porches of Arnold Park on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16, 17, 23 & 24, 2009. Lantern-bearing guides lead participants under the cloak of darkness to meet each "ghost" and hear their all-true tales from Rochester's less-rosy past. Tours embark from the The Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word (new location this year!), 597 East Ave., every 10 minutes from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Advance tickets are $15 ($10 for Landmark Society members) If available, day-of-event tickets are $18. Tickets may be ordered by calling 546-7029 x10; coming into The Landmark Society offices at 133 S. Fitzhugh Street; online using the Landmark Society's secure server or at Parkleigh, 215 Park Ave. Groups of 8 or more can reserve specific tour times by calling 546-7029 x15.

  • Haunted History Ghost Walks.The streets of Lyons will never look the same! The ghosts will walk on Saturdays at 7pm, September through October! Arrive about 6:40p.m. by the Wayne County Courthouse on the Park. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 7-11. For more information, visit http://www.waynehistory.org/calendar.html or call the Museum of Wayne County History at 315-946-4943.

  • Rochester Candlelight Ghost Walks. Held at locations throughout Rochester in October. Click on the link to find out Walks and locations.

  • Powers Farm Market - 161 Marsh Road, Pittsford, NY, 585-586-4631 F map
    Powers has three enormous teepee structures that are corn husks on the outside and fun on the inside. As you walk in, it is dark until you see the illumination of hundreds of decorated pumpkins. There are so many different faces, shapes and sizes. The teepees are also decorated with black lights and skeletons and the like. After that, stroll into the store to pick up a pumpkin or two. They also have a petting zoo.
        Note from reader: Powers Farm market is famous for the hamily friendly free tee-pees each year, their magnificent farm market, and kid-pleasing petting farm, but they also have a great hayride, that has a few "haunted" surprises, but for ALL ages! All pulled by a tractor, driven by fun, participatroy drivers, and with honest to goodness bales of hay for seats. $3.00 per person, kids 1 and under free. (Yummy homeade donuts too!)

    Halloween Parties

  • Seneca Park Zoo's "ZooBoo", Rochester, NY, 585-336-7200. ZooBoo is a Rochester tradition. Dress up in your favorite costume and come on out for merry-not-scary trick-or-treating at ZooBoo on October 17, 18, 24, & 25 2009 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  • The town of Brighton has a Family Halloween party on October 24, 2009, 10-11:30am, at Brookside Recreation Center. Trick or Treating from 10:00 - 10:30 am ONLY! Cost: $5 / child if registered by noon on Thursday, October 16. $6 / child at the door .

  • The town of Pittsford has a Family Halloween Fest on October 25, 2009, at St. John Fisher College from 2pm-5pm.

  • Strong Museum, Rochester, NY, 585-263-2700 - typically has Halloween parties the weekend before Halloween, and special trick-or-treat fun for preschoolers. Family Halloween Celebration is Saturday & Sunday, October 24 & 25, 2009. Come in costume and trick-or-treat with storybook characters. Friday, October 30, 2009 is the Tots Halloween Party, with Halloween activities and goodies for the littlest trick-or-treaters, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

  • The Niagara Power Project Power Vista in Lewiston hosts a Halloween Spooktacular on Saturday, October 24, 2009. Held at the Niagara Project's visitors center. Put on your costume and join the fun! 10 am - 4 pm

  • Monster Mash Bash at the Northwest Family YMCA on Long Pond Road in Rochester, Saturday, October 25, 2009, from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm. Haunted Locker Room, land inflatable, Dancing, Crafts, Carnival Games, swimming, trick or treating and lots more. Wear your costume, there will be a costume contest for the young and the young at heart. Lots and Lots of door prizes!! Price: Family (up to 5) $25. Individual $10. Benefits "Invest in Youth."

  • Fall Family Fun First Four Weekends in October at The Garden Factory, 2126 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, 585-247-6236
    Mostly for ages 2-10. All weekends include Rides, Carnival Games with prizes and Arts and Crafts! Kids come in your costumes! You will get a free Trick-or-Treat bag with candy! Parents, don't forget your cameras!

  • Webster Christian School - 675 Holt Road, Webster, NY, 585-872-5150F map
    Almost every year, Webster Christian School has a Harvest Party on Halloween with inside carnival type games for the kids (they win candy!). From 6:00 - 7:30 pm. (And YES, wear your NON-scary costumes!) Admission price: One bag of candy per family. Call to make sure that they are having it this year.

    Other Events

    Moonlight Maze at Long Acre Farms in Macedon



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    Please click here to email us if you know of another Halloween event here in the greater Rochester area!

    And don't forget your kids' teeth! Click here for some helpful Halloween candy tips from dentist Jay Parnes, DDS, of Fairport.

    Please click here to email us if you know of another fall or Halloween event here in the greater Rochester area!