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Mostly Cloudy Historic Halloween hauntings at Old Bethpage Village and other weekend happenings
Get ready for some goblins, ghouls and ghostly fun
The Halloween spirit abounds in the area. There’s much to see and do, before the candy-fest arrives next Sunday. Whether you want to step back in time to celebrate Halloween the way Long Islanders did over 120 years ago, bring the family to Long Island Children’s Museum for its annual Halloween party, stop by Cradle of Aviation museum for a ride on the spooky carousel, or explore a country fair, there are plenty of activities to choose from.
Here’s a roundup of some places to go this weekend and next.
Rock Hall Country Fair
This year, Rock Hall celebrates the “Golden Age of Piracy.” Join ‘Ye Pyrate Brotherhood,” for a weekend of pillaging, pirate shows and treasure hunts. Visitors are even encouraged to wear their best pirate garb. The event includes a harvest market, scarecrow making and entertainment, and activities for the kids, along with demonstrations and hands-on displays of 18th Century cooking, games, music, and craft making. And then there’s that ubiquitous pumpkin patch to keep the kids happy.
Visit the fair on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 23-24, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Rock Hall Museum, 199 Broadway, Lawrence. (516) 239-1157.
A Haunted Historic Halloween
It’s always an enjoyable experience to celebrate Halloween at Old Bethpage Village Restoration, as it was done over 120 years ago, with ghost stories, magic lantern shows and pumpkin carving. “During the 19th century, Halloween celebrations involved ghost stories and mischief like removing gates and tipping over sheds and outhouses,” said OBVR Site Director Jim McKenna.
The village’s Halloween festivities include a broad range of family-friendly activities:
• Readings of Irish and American ghost stories.
* Recounting the tales of the local grave-digger (who often fired his musket in the air to keep away spirits)
* Carving Jack-O-Lanterns.
* Participating in a 19th century “monster hunt.”
* Touring the haunted habitats during a village ghost walk.
* Meeting the local tombstone cutter. In addition, see a magic lantern show that makes use of a 19th-century lantern and beautiful and humorous hand-painted antique lantern slides.
The fun takes place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 23-24 and the following weekend, Oct. 30-31, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: $10 adults, $7 children 4-14 and seniors. Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage. (516) 572-8400.
Ghostly Gala
Long Island Children’s Museum opens its doors for its annual Ghostly Gala. Everyone is encouraged to visit the museum in their most creative and dazzling costumes
(adults too).
The mood will be set with creepy music heard throughout the museum. Get your face painted, make some spooky craft projects and even meet “Skippyjon Jones,” the beloved character from Judy Schachner’s series of books. If you’re brave enough, stop by the Mad Lab to touch and feel different creepy items – in the dark! Also, don’t forget to stop in to decorate your own Ooey-Gooey Spider and then eat it.
Be sure to join Professor Hackensneeze in the LICM Theater at his crazy wizard academy. Explore the world of magic and learn how to cast spells, make potions and much more. Performances will take place at 6:15, 7, 7:45, and 8:30 p.m. Theater tickets are required and are priced at $4 ($3 members).
Now in its ninth year, the Ghostly Gala is a popular Halloween tradition for area families and enables everyone to celebrate Halloween in a fun, safe and spooky (not scary) way. Just be sure to buy tickets beforehand. The gala consistently sells out and tickets will not be sold at the door. Tickets are $9 per person ($7 members); available at the LICM box office and by phone.
Be part of the fun on Saturday, Oct. 30, 6-9 p.m. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5802 or www.licm.org.
Creepy Carousel
The Cradle of Aviation Museum, Long Island Children’s Museum’s neighbor, invites families to visit its “creepy carousel.” Along with rides on the festively decorated historic Nunley’s Carousel, kids can also create various Halloween-related craft projects.
Venture on to that creepy carousel, Saturday, Oct. 30, 6-9 p.m. Cradle of Aviation Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 572-4111 or www.cradleofaviation.org.
