By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Walk down any street and turn any corner and you’re likely to find a Halloween event over the next three weekends.The Chester County History Center (225 North High Street, West Chester, mycchc.org) is presenting two Halloween flavored walking tours this weekend.
On October 17, it will be “Plagues and Pestilence: A Walking Tour” at 6 p.m.
In the early 1800s West Chester billed itself as an elegant and healthful place, but the reality was very different. Words like cholera, typhoid, diphtheria, rabies, and smallpox struck fear into the heart of every West Chestrian, especially those with small children. Treatments were almost worse than the diseases–bloodletting, blistering, and mercury were all part of the early medicinal arsenal. This tour will explore how diseases impacted families, how they changed burial practices, and how the borough’s medical and scientific minds worked to overcome the King of All Fears–Death.
This walking tour will last approximately 90-100 minutes and covers 1.5 miles. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes before scheduled start time to check in. Though we will be staying predominantly on sidewalks, the terrain may be uneven in places. Subject matter may not be appropriate for younger audiences; use parental discretion.
Tickets are $16.
“Chilling West Chester: A Dark History Walking Tour” will be presented on October 18 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
From the horrors of the Chester County Prison to the cold-blooded killers tried at the courthouse, to explosions and other disasters that have wrought havoc in the borough, West Chester’s streets and alleys have witnessed two hundred years of spine-chilling history. The historians and educators at the Chester County History Center will share these stories–and more–with visitors on this 90-minute walking tour. These are not ghost stories; these are true tales of terror pulled from our own archives.
Tour is entirely outdoors; sidewalks and terrain may be uneven. Event is rain or shine, so please dress for the weather. Service dogs are welcome; pets are not permitted on our public walking tours.
Tickets are $18.
The Great Pumpkin Carve
One of the most popular Halloween events in the area is “The Great Pumpkin Carve” (Chadds Ford Historical Society, 1736 Creek Road, Chadds Ford, 610-388-7376, www.chaddsfordhistory.org) which is running now through October 18.
Every year at the Great Pumpkin Carve, more than 70 carvers — amateur and professional — gather to sculpt, saw and chisel giant pumpkins in front of crowds of enthusiastic onlookers.
This well-attended Chadds Ford tradition is one of those events which has a history of its own.
It began in the early 1970’s when artists Jimmy Lynch, Andrew Wyeth and his son Jamie Wyeth were convinced to carve pumpkins to decorate the inside of the Chadds Ford Inn. Other Chadds Ford artists joined in the carving, and, within a few years, the event spread from the Inn’s front porch all the way across the lawn of the Chadds Ford Gallery.
As the Pumpkin Carve grew, it moved to larger venues and in 1992 arrived at its current venue — the meadow behind the Chadds Ford Historical Society. This annual event, still held on the Historical Society’s grounds, is a major fundraiser that raises funds to support the CFHS’ educational programs, historic preservation of their historic sites and more.
Food, local craft beer and wine are available for purchase.
Admission is $15 for adults (18 and older) and $5 for children (ages 7-17).
Chaddsford Winery (Route 1, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, www.chaddsford.com) is presenting its “Adult Trick or Treat” event every Saturday and Sunday through November 2 from noon-7 p.m.
Visitors will be able to “Trick or Treat” for wine and seasonal snacks at Chaddsford’s wildly popular, adults-only Halloween program as they visit a variety of Halloween-themed pairing stations located throughout the Winery grounds.
The “Pairing Menu” features Greeting Wine – Fall Sangria Spritz
Station 1 – The White Standard with Kernel Clark’s Old Bay Kettle Corn
Station 2 – Dry Rosé with Calkins Creamery Hop & Spicy Cheese Curds
Station 3 – Harbinger with Churro Cinnamon and Chocolate Cookie from Oso Sweet Bakery
Station 4 – Good Vibes Only with Éclat Chocolate Hazelnut Mondiant
Station 5 – Spiced Apple with a Pumpkin Spice Cake Pop.
Tickets are $42.
On October 19, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200,
www.laurelhillphl.com) will present “Dearly, Yet Oddly Departed” from 1-3 p.m.
Sometimes the dearly departed are darkly departed. Join us for a walking tour to uncover those interred in the cemetery who took a darker path to the great beyond, whether by murder, mystery, or tragedy. Meet killers and their victims, beheaded train passengers, and a witch who promised to return from the dead. Meet those who embezzle, others who drowned, and sisters nicknamed Vampire and Viper. Not everyone buried at Laurel Hill West is resting in peace. Come along to uncover their dark past.
Tour Guide will be Sarah Hamill.
Tickets are 7/General Admission (Ages 13 and up), $15/Seniors (Ages 65+) and Students with ID, $8.50/Youth (Ages 6-12) and Free/Ages 5 and under.
When autumn arrives, “Pumpkinland” returns to Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com). “Pumpkinland,” which runs through November 2, features fairy tale characters from nursery rhymes along with a huge scarecrow and a really tall storybook.
Other activities include train rides, a straw bale maze, hayrides, pick-your-own apples and pony rides.
There will also be “Harvest Hayrides” and “Autumn Moon Hayrides” starting later in September along with “Straw Bale Maze,” “Train Rides,” “Corn Maze” and “Pony Rides.”
Pumpkinland is open from mid-September through early November and takes center stage at Linvilla Orchards.
Larger-than-life figures and scarecrows illustrate the legends and lore of the harvest season, featuring local history and some of the many stories of pumpkins and apples.
Linvilla Orchards will have piles of pumpkins in all colors, shapes and sizes — more than 100 tons on display.
The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, phillyexpocenter.com) hosts the Tons of Fun Great Philadelphia Pumpkin Festival on October 16-19 and October 23-26.
Hours are Thursday and Friday, 6-10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 2-10 p.m.
The event includes rides, games and food. As an added attraction, there will be a free pumpkin with each admission.
Admission is $5 per person.
The Expo Center will also host an antiques show on October 17 and 18.
What formerly was known as “Antiques at Kimberton” has changed to “Antique & Collector Fair.”
The rebranded event offers a more diverse selection of merchandise for the antique and collector enthusiast.
With this new approach, it will have offerings for the seasoned antique collector as well as the newcomers to the exciting field of collecting.
Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on October 17 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on October 18.
Admission is $10.
Greenbank Mills & Philips Farm (500 Greenbank Road, Wilmington, www.greenbankmill.com) will host “Folklore Friday: Tales of Mayhem in the Red Clay Valley” on October 17.
The site’s most popular fall event of the year returns with new presenters and stories as well as returning fan-favorite tales
Greenbank Mills & Philips Farm is a living history museum with tours and programs focusing on a variety of aspects of the Early Republic (1790-1830): the gristmill, the textile factory, and daily life at the 1794 Philips House and 19th century farm with heritage livestock.
Admission to this program is free but donations are encouraged.
October 18 is the date of the “All Hallows Eve Fall Festival at Pennypacker Mills” (5 Haldeman Rd, Schwenksville, 610-287-9349, www.montcopa.org/pennypackermills). The event is free but there is a suggested donation of $2 per person.
The annual event, which is slated to run from 1-4 p.m., features tractor-pulled hayrides, pumpkin painting for kids, fall crafts, an apple cider press, corn shucking, a “Hay Pile Jump” and a bean bag toss.
Masks are required for all craft booths, pumpkin painting and the hayride.
It’s time to welcome autumn and one of the best ways to do this is by checking out the corn mazes at Ramsey’s Farm (Ramsey Road, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-477-1499, www.ramseysfarm.com).
Corn mazes, along with hayrides, a pumpkin patch and scarecrows, will be featured at Ramsey’s Farm, which is located in northern Delaware on Route 92 just south of the Pennsylvania-Delaware state line. The new season runs on weekends now through October.
Ramsey’s “Pumpkin Patch” has been in operation since 1995 and the farm’s varied mazes have been delighting and baffling visitors who return each year for the popular annual event. The owners of Ramsey’s Farm raise pumpkins, gourds, ornamental corn, popcorn, feed corn and hay.
The farm’s pumpkin field stretches over 12 acres and yields approximately 20,000 pumpkins each season. Hayrides around the farm will be offered from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Visitors will be able to shop for pumpkins and other items at the farm store. There will also be hot food and beverages available for purchase.
This is the time of the year when farms in the area become a bustle activity — a time for harvest.
But it is not harvest matters that are causing a bustle of activity at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm in Ronks (150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks, 717-687-6843, www.cherrycrestfarm.com).
The farm’s popular annual “Flashlight Maze” is now underway and will continue every Friday and Saturday night through November 2. Cherry Crest Adventure Farm has reserved several weekends during the autumn months for Flashlight Maze.
This special activity allows visitors to experience the Amazing Maize Maze in total darkness. All you need are flashlights and a few friends.
The Flashlight Maze is a nice, non-scary, Halloween alternative that has appeal for people of all ages. The Flashlight Maze, which has a $12 admission fee, is open from 6:30-10 p.m. with the last entrance into the Maze at 9 p.m.
The main attraction is Cherry Crest’s “Amazing Maize Maze,” which is billed as “the world’s most dynamic and interactive corn maze.” It is a five-acre corn maze with over two-and-one-half miles of paths, scenic bridges, and clues.
Participants can walk at their own pace as they encounter the “Kernels of Knowledge” along with a variety of clues, tunnel slides, and watering stations. They can also check out a bird’s eye view from the two bridges and watch everyone’s flags waving high above the corn.
The average time to complete the “Amazing Maize Maze” course is one hour. Ticket prices start at $19.
This weekend, it’s time once again for the Annual Scarecrow Festival at Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com). The festival, which is celebrating its 46th anniversary this year, will run now through October 26.
It is the perfect time to visit and take in the bright, brilliant hues of fall and admire the more than 100 spectacular scarecrows on display. These larger-than-life, colorful, creative scarecrows will line the red brick paths throughout the village’s 42 picturesque acres.
Peddler’s Village’s Scarecrow Making Workshops on the Street Road Green have been a family favorite for decades. The workshop fee of $35 (maximum group of 4 people) includes step-by-step instructions and building materials.
Participants can choose from a variety of clothing decorations and use plenty of straw to construct their very own life-size scarecrow to take home.
On October 18 and 25, the Betsy Ross House (239 Arch Street, Philadelphia, http://historicphiladelphia.org/) will present “Bloodletting & Burials.”
The tours will transport participants back to Philadelphia in the 1700s to learn about the city’s gruesome history of infection and inoculation – and hear true tales of bloodletting, smallpox, yellow fever and other gross experiences. They will be able to learn what it was like to live in the ghastly 18th century and discover why Philadelphia was an infectious place to be.
After that, participants can head into the House for a spooky, shadowy after-hours tour. Hours are from 6-9 p.m. and the tour is not recommended for small children.
Tickets are $25.
For “Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place” (100 Sesame Place, Langhorne, 215-752-7070, www.sesameplace.com), which runs now through November 2, the popular amusement park has been converted into a Halloween-themed safe venue for kids with trick or treating, pumpkin decorating, hayrides and a hay maze.
Guests will enjoy trick-or-treating around the park, Halloween-themed shows, participating in our interactive Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt, and unique photo opportunities with everyone’s favorite furry friends dressed up in costume on their Halloween-themed floats!
Featured attractions, which will continue until November 6, are “Neighborhood Street Party Halloween Parade,”
“Halloween Light Show,” and “The Not-Too-Spooky Howl-O-ween Radio Show.”
Admission to the park starts at $44.99.
“Elmwood Park Zoo” (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) is presenting “Boo at the Zoo” on weekends now through October 26.
“Boo at the Zoo” features live entertainment, costume contests, costume parades, trick-or-treat stations with candy, prizes, crafts and educational pieces.
Children are encouraged to bring their own treat bags for trick-or-treating. The zoo will not be providing any bags.
“Boo at the Zoo” is free with zoo admission, which starts at $14.95.
The Philadelphia Zoo (3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, www.philadelphiazoo.org) is presenting “Boo at the Zoo” on October 18, 19, 25 and 26.
Families are invited to bring along a trick-or-treat bag and come dressed in costumes to celebrate the spooky season among their favorite animals. Guests will enjoy a trick-or-treat safari with candy stations, seasonal decor, boo-tiful fall leaves, Howl-oween children’s activities, themed animal enrichments, pumpkin feedings and more.
“Boo at the Zoo” is free with admission. Zoo admission is $25 and $20 for children (ages 2-11).
Brandywine Zoo’s “Boo at the Zoo” (Brandywine Zoo, 1001 N. Park Drive, Wilmington, 302-571-7747, www.brandywinezoo.org) will be held on October 17, 18 and 19 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. each day.
The popular annual non-scary family event features games, animal enrichment programs, live critters and trick-or-treating. Children (and their grown-ups) are encouraged to wear costumes.
Guests are invited to celebrate Halloween Brandywine Zoo-style with this merry, not scary, event. Come see all the zoo’s spooky decorations, enjoy socially distanced activities, and meet some of the zoo’s favorite animals.
Admission is $8.
“
Halloween Haunt at Dorney Park” (3830 Dorney Park Road, Allentown, 610-395-3724, www.dorneypark.com) is running now through November 2.
The event features scary creatures roaming the park and scarecrows lining line the walkways while frightening activities take place at the following attractions – “Ghost in the Machine,”
“FrightFeast,” “Port of Call,” “Necropolis,” “Roadside Stop and Chop,” “Blood on the Bayou,” “Black Out,” “Tourist Trap,” and “CarnEvil” along with a variety of mazes and “Creepy Scare Zones.” Admission prices start at $42.99.
The “33rd Annual Fright By Night” (Six Flags Great Adventure, Route 537, Jackson, NJ, 732-928-2000, www.sixflags.com), which is running now through November 2, features family-oriented activities during the day and much scarier attractions after dark for teens and adults.
The attractions include “Big Top Terror,” “Blood Shed,” “Aftermath,” “Hell Fest,” “The Manor,” “Fears,” and “Reflections of the Dead.”
Tickets start at $75.
Six Flags will also be hosting a “Kids Boo Fest” and “Oktoberfest” now through November 2.
The annual “Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride at Arasapha Farm” (1835 N. Middletown Rd., Gradyville, 610-459-0647, www.thebatesmotel.com) will be scaring visitors through November 2.
The haunted hayride through the woods features monsters, special effects and actors. The Bates Motel has haunted rooms with special effects and computerized lighting.
One of the most popular attractions is the “Haunted Hayride.”
Another attraction is the “Revenge of the Scarecrows Haunted Trail.” A haunted trail is cut through a cornfield inhabited by monsters.
Another popular attraction this year is “Double Edge Axe Throwing.”
Admission prices start at $45.
Pennhurst Asylum (100 Commonwealth Drive, Spring City, 484-866-8964, www.pennhurstasylum.com), which is open through November 2, is on the site of a former mental asylum which has been shuttered for over a quarter of a century.
It has been transformed into a haunted attraction with huge sets, detailed rooms and live actors. Visitors can also explore the labyrinth of underground tunnels.
Tickets are $55 for a combo pass valid for all three Haunted Attractions at Pennhurst: Pennhurst Asylum, The Morgue & The Tunnels.
“Lincoln Mill Haunted House” (4100 Ridge Avenue, Manayunk, www.lincolnmillhaunt.com) is running now through November 2.
Lincoln Mill Haunted House is Philadelphia’s newest haunted attraction. The attraction takes guests on a journey through an interactive living story featuring more than 40 live scare-actors, production quality sets, props, animatronics, and breath-taking special effects.
The attraction is intended to be very scary during evening hours. The owners want it to be the scariest haunted house in the greater Philadelphia region. Mission accomplished — it is scary.
While most haunted house attractions have a lot of room for props and actors, Lincoln Mill has a limited area. As a result, the 20-minute walk through the attraction features many tight spaces, sharp turns, sections that are pitch black, scary props and a slew of live-scare actors doing what they do best.
The attraction’s backstory emerged from a tragic event that occurred in 2021. On September 2, 2021, Hurricane Ida struck Philadelphia and flooded the Mill to historic water levels.
The flood significantly damaged the mill’s interior and revealed a hidden chamber located below the basement level. Countless bodies were found, and a dark truth was discovered about the mill’s past.
Local authorities determined that during the 1930’s, Viktor Kane, the mill owner, tormented and experimented on his workers. Countless workers lost their lives, and their spirits continue to haunt the mill. Construction has since been halted and the mill will open up for guests to experience its dark past for themselves.
Lincoln Mill Haunted House has issued a challenge — explore the Chamber, if you dare.
The main haunted house event will run at night Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday now through November 2. Tickets are sold in hour time slots from 6-11:45 p.m.
Ticket prices start at $35.
Now through November 2, Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania (100 E. Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, www.morrisarboretum.org) is hosting its 18th annual “Scarecrow Walk.”
Visitors will be able to make their own scarecrows, paint a pumpkin and sample different varieties of apples. Weaver’s Way Coop will be on hand with the season’s best local apple varieties.
Morris Arboretum’s Scarecrow Walk is back for another year.
Visitors will be able to wander through the Arboretum and see scarecrows in honor of beloved superhero characters, essential workers, or best friend heroes.
Throughout the month of October, more than 30 scarecrows will be on display throughout the Arboretum. Visitors will vote for their favorite scarecrow online to determine the winners. The top three scarecrows win a cash prize with a top prize of $250.
Admission to Morris Arboretum is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for youth (ages 3-17).
Grim Philly’s “Dark Philly History Tour” (www.grimphilly.com) will be held every evening throughout the summer.
Participants can walk with tour guides from the grounds of America’s first White House, Congress, and Liberty Bell to homes and sites of Hamilton, Washington, Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and more than 10 other Founding-Fathers. The surprising dirt of espionage, murder, sexual license and blackmail highlight the secrets of 1776 with a ghost story or two along the way. This tour is highly researched. And your guide is a historian.
Tickets are $35.
Ghost Tour of Philadelphia (215-413-1997, www.ghosttour.com), Ghost Tour of Lancaster (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) and Ghost Tour of Strasburg (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) operate throughout the winter and offer an eerily entertaining evening of true ghost stories and real haunted houses.
The Ghost Tour of Philadelphia, which is based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Philadelphia, PA.,” is a candlelight walking tour along the back streets and secret gardens of Independence Park, Society Hill, and Old City, where ghostly spirits, haunted houses, and eerie graveyards abound.
Participants can discover the ghost lore of America’s most historic and most haunted city with stories from the founding of William Penn’s colony to present-day hauntings.
The activity is open year-round – weekends, December-February; every night, March-November. Tickets are $24.
The Ghost Tour of Lancaster and the Ghost Tour of Strasburg are based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Lancaster, PA.”
Participants in the Ghost Tour of Lancaster explore the long-forgotten mysteries of one of America’s oldest cities, with haunting tales of otherworldly vigils, fatal curses, and star-crossed lovers. The tour provides the opportunity to experience 300 years of haunted history from Red Rose City’s thorny past. Tickets are $20.
The Ghost Tour of Strasburg is a candlelight walking tour of the quaint and historic town of Strasburg in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Visitors will experience an entertaining evening with a costumed tour guide spinning tales of haunted mansions, eerie graveyards, and spirits that roam the night … in a town lost in time. Tickets are $20.
“Candlelight Ghost Tours” (Fort Mifflin, Fort Mifflin and Hog Island roads, Philadelphia, 215-685-4167, http://fortmifflin.us) are scheduled for October 17, 18, 23 and 24.
Visitors can tour historic (and haunted) Fort Mifflin by candlelight from 7-10 p.m. each night and hear true stories of ghostly encounters.
This event is billed as an “authentic experience” and “Philly’s most authentic Halloween event.” There are no decorations and no hype — just, you, a few candles, and real ghosts.
The popular candlelight walking tours through the site depart every 20 minutes beginning at 7 p.m. and last approximately one hour.
Tickets are $22 for adults and $15 for children (12 and under).
For years, Eastern State Penitentiary (2124 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, www.easternstate.org) presented one of the premier Halloween attractions in Philadelphia — “Terror Behind the Walls.”
A few years ago, the venue tried something different – a new attraction called “Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary.”
The truly scary attraction, which is running through November 8, takes place at a penitentiary site that was once was an active prison and is now a National Historic Landmark.
It is a scream-inducing event featuring laser and special-effect lighting, digital sound, sinister scents, animatronic creatures and 3-D illusions.
The attractions are “Nightmares,” “Dark Tides,” “Big Top Terror,” “Machine Shop,” “Hospital Flashlight Tour,” “The Crypt,” “The Bloodline Lounge,” “The Speakeasy at Big Al’s Cell” and “Kaleidoscope Hall.”
Ticket prices start at $49.
The “40th Annual Jason’s Woods” (99 Stehman Road, Lancaster, 717-872-5768, www.jasonswoods.com), which is running through November85, is a horror show complex that features a combination of live actors, impressive animation and scary special effects.
Popular attractions include “Horrifying Hayride,” “Chamber of Horrors,” “Zombie Apocalypse,” “Lost in Jason’s Woods,” and “Carnival of Fear.”
Admission prices for combo tickets are $35 for three attractions and $45 for five.
“Valley of Fear” (300 W. Bristol Road, Feasterville, 215-942-9787, www.valleyoffear.com), which is open through November 2, features three “heart pounding attractions” — “The Original Haunted Hayride,” “Miles Manor Haunted House,” and “EscapeShipwreck Cove.”
There will also be live music every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The attraction is billed as “America’s Most Horrifying Woods.” Admission prices start at $25.
The “33rd Annual Field of Screams” (109 College Avenue, Mountville, 717-285-7748, www.fieldofscreams.com), which is open now through November 15, features four world-class Haunted Experiences and an impressive Midway Area.
Top attractions include “Horrifying Haunted Hayride,” “Den of Darkness,” “Nocturnal Wasteland” and “Frightmare Asylum.”
Ticket prices start at $55.
Shocktoberfest (94 Park Avenue, Sinking Spring, 610-375-7273, shocktoberfest.com) features an array of natural and genetically engineered Zombies in a safe and controlled habitat.
“Schockfest Zombie World” is celebrating its 35th year with six “Killer Experiences” — “Zombie Safari Hayride Tour,” “Prison of the Dead,” “The Unknown 3.0,” “Ground Assault,” “Zombie Experience,” and “Midway Massacre.”
The attraction will close on November 8. Ticket prices start at $30.
“The 29th Annual Frightland” (309 Port Penn Road, Middletown, Delaware, 302-838-0256, www.frightland.com) features eight special themed areas — “Zombie Town,” “Ravenwood Cemetery,” “Horror Hayride,” “Idalia Manor,” “Fear,” “Zombie Prison,” “The Attic” and “Haunted Barn.”
Frightland Haunted Attractions has been named a Top 10 Scariest Haunted Attraction in the country by Travel Channel, Forbes and Huffington Post.
The venue includes a variety of haunted attractions including a two-mile Haunted Hayride, four indoor haunted houses and more. The nationally acclaimed Halloween attraction also features live entertainment, carnival amusements and a daytime fall festival.
The venue will remain open until November 8. Ticket prices start at $40.
