Halloween shenanigans around Long Island

The Halloween spirit is afoot. There’s much to see and do, before Monday’s candy-fest. Whether you want to step back in time to celebrate Halloween the way Long Islanders did over 120 years ago, take a creepy walk through Tanglewood Preserve, visit the grounds of Nassau County Museum of Art for all multi-cultural celebration, or find some scary thrills at one of the haunted houses in the area, Halloween lovers of all ages can partake of many thrills and chills this weekend. Here are some highlights.

A Haunted Historic Halloween
It’s always an enjoyable experience to celebrate Halloween at Old Bethpage Village Restoration, as it was done days gone by, with ghost stories, magic lantern shows and pumpkin carving.
“Nineteenth century Halloween celebrations involved ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds, like removing gates and tipping over sheds and outhouses,” said Old Bethpage Site Director Jim McKenna. “Taking from the Irish and English traditions, Americans also began to dress in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money. This practice eventually became our “trick or treat” tradition.” Young women believed that on Halloween, they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings or mirrors.
The village’s Halloween festivities include a range of family-friendly activities:

     Hear readings of Irish and American ghost stories, including the tale of Washington Irving’s “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and its famous Headless Horseman.    
     Listen to the tales of the local grave-digger (who often fired his musket in the air to keep away spirits).
      Carve Jack-O-Lanterns, actually an old Irish custom.
      Participate in a 19th century “monster hunt” throughout the village.
      Tour the haunted habits during a village ghost walk.
      Meet the local tombstone cutter.
The fun takes place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 29-30, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: $10, $7 children 4-14 and seniors. Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage. (516) 572-8400.

Spooky Fest
Creatures of all kinds will inhabit the woods, while ghosts and ghouls come out to play at Tanglewood Preserve, home to the Center for Science Teaching and Learning, in Rockville Centre. The event, now in its third year, is fast becoming a Halloween weekend tradition for area families.
This year’s festival is bigger than ever, according to organizers. The wooded paths on the preserve are transformed for Halloween, with eerie lighting, special effects and creepy characters along the way.  It’s perfectly spooky and a little scary. Of course, a not-so-spooky walk through the ‘Friendly Forest’ is also available, for the younger set. There are live animals to see, along with arts and crafts, and The Mystic Den, the newest attraction.
Find out what’s lurking in the woods, Friday through Sunday, Oct. 28-30, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Admission: $10, $5 children. Center for Science Teaching and Learning at Tanglewood Preserve, 1 Tanglewood Rd., Rockville Centre. (516) 764-0045 or www.ctsl.org.

Day of the Dead
With Halloween around the corner – and in conjunction with the current exhibit of Francisco Goya’s Los Caprichos prints – Nassau County Museum of Art offers its version of a Latin American Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration on Saturday. Families can enjoy interactive tours of the galleries, traditional Dia de los Muertos arts and crafts and music, along with a parade (starting at 1 p.m.). Visitors are welcome to come in costume!
The program, on Oct. 29, 11 a.m- 2 p.m., is free with museum admission, plus $3 per child art materials fee. One Museum Dr. (off Northern Blvd.), Roslyn Harbor.
(516) 484-9337 or www.nassaumuseum.org.

Ghostly Gala
Long Island Children’s Museum opens its doors for its annual Ghostly Gala on Saturday. Everyone is encouraged to visit the museum in their most creative and dazzling costumes (adults too). Meet up with some special guests – live bats – in the LICM Theater, courtesy of the Organization for Bat Conservation.
Advance ticketing is required for this extremely popular event. Admission: $9 per person ($7 members).
Be part of the fun on Oct. 29, 6-9 p.m. Long Island Children’s Museum, 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 ride on its “creepy carousel.” The festively decorated historic Nunley’s Carousel is ready to share in some Halloween fun, with carousel rides and crafts.
Venture on to that ghoulish carousel, Saturday, Oct. 29, 6-9 p.m. Find it at Cradle of Aviation Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 572-4111 or www.cradleofaviation.org.