No One Does Halloween Like Sleepy Hollow

Written by | Things to Do

Where in New York State is there a better place to celebrate Halloween than Sleepy Hollow Country? The town awakens each fall when it becomes Halloween Central, attracting visitors braver than Ichabod Crane to cross its bridge and celebrate the season.

Photo by Tom Nycz

Photo by Tom Nycz

This year’s festivities stretch all the way into November, with its signature event running weekends through November 15. That would be The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze, wherein a team of artists comes together to carve more than 7,000 jack-o-lanterns. The elaborate constructions light up the wooded walkways, orchards, and gardens of historic Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Other events include Horseman’s Hollow, an interactive haunted attraction at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.inspired by Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow; Irving’s ‘Legend,’ which has storyteller Jonathan Kruk offering a dramatic retelling of the Irving tale in the historic, candlelit interior of Sleepy Hollow’s circa-1685 Old Dutch Church; and The Legend Behind the ‘Legend,’ a daytime experience at Washington Irving’s Sunnyside in Tarrytown, N.Y. that highlights the author of the famous story.

All events are held rain or shine. Proceeds support Historic Hudson Valley. See a couple shots from the Blaze below, and visit hudsonvalley.org for info, times and tickets (which often sell out!).

This is a view of the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson on October 12, 2015.  (Photo by Tom Nycz)

Photo by Tom Nycz

Photo by Tom Nycz

Photo by Tom Nycz

Last modified: April 17, 2018