If you’re the type who starts a Halloween countdown the second you feel a cool autumn breeze, you’re going to want to make your holiday plans in New York State. From the seriously scary haunted houses to Jack O’Lantern wonderlands, choose the right level of fright for you (none at all is an option!). Read on and find something fun that will get you into the holiday spirit—no tricks, all treats!

Originally published: 10/04/2018 | Updated 09/26/2025

1. New York has horrifically exciting haunted houses

If you’re a person who enjoys being frightened, we know just where to go. Head to the 65-acre Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses in the Hudson Valley and put your scare tolerance to the test. Explore seven different haunted houses, each with its own backstory and unique characters, such as a motel, greenhouse, tomb, and slaughterhouse/diner (good luck enjoying your next burger). You can also take a haunted hayride, dare to enter a swamp shack, try to survive the corn maze (also haunted, of course), and enjoy a totally creepy circus sideshow. Normally, these attractions are no place for kids but on Saturday, October 4 and 18, the park holds Children’s Days with only “a tiny taste of terror” until 4pm. The day includes a Magic Moon Maze, Dino Zone, a Halloween house, and entertainment.

2. New York is packed with history—and lots of ghosts

Credit: Haunted History Trail of New York State

What’s one of the best parts of being a really, really old state? All the ghosts we’ve accumulated over time! Okay, that’s a bit macabre, but New York is basically heaven for anyone who loves history, ghosts, and historical ghosts. You can take advantage of that thanks to the Haunted History Trail of New York State. Many different locations and events, each creepier than the next, are awaiting your discovery. Check out ghost hunts, cemetery tours, haunted hotels, and more. You can research the background of all the participating locations on the website, just remember to plan ahead. Certain events book up faster than you can say boo!

Credit: @angelavtorbus on Instagram

Halloween has a funny way of bringing out people’s creativity, and not just in their costumes! A beloved tradition since 2005, the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze is back to light up Van Cortlandt Manor with 7,000 uniquely hand-carved and illuminated pumpkins. Spot iconic New York landmarks, stroll the Pumpkin Promenade, step into the world of Wicked in a storybook dreamscape, hang out at the Headless Horseman’s Hideaway or relax in the Gourd & Goblet Tavern, and more as you enjoy one of the Hudson Valley’s best events of the season.

4. New York pumpkins make the perfect blank canvas

Now that you’re inspired, head on over to Pumpkinville in Great Valley to select your Jack O’Lantern-to-be! Not only is pumpkin-picking super fun, but when you get to choose from literally thousands of options, your imagination is free to roam wild. It’s almost like cloud-gazing—one pumpkin might look like Frankenstein, another might look like a minion, or even a brain-eating zombie (pumpkin innards make for a great brain-like effect). Pumpkinville also has 10 varieties of winter squash for sale and you can use a wheelbarrow so you can dream big. This popular festival also has a beer garden, farm animals, cider, farm fresh treats, and baked goodies.

5. Even the nature in New York gets sinister

Credit: @nyziplineadventure on Instagram

Ready to face your fear of heights AND zombies? NYzipline in Schenectady has an extra special way to get into the scaring spirit with its Zombie Zip. It starts with a tour of the grounds led by a corpse—beware, the woods are filled with (fake) serial killers. Once you’re strapped in, you’ll be zipping through the trees in complete darkness, left to the mercy of roaming zombies hungry for your brain! This is not for young children or the faint of heart, ages 14 and up only, and beware of jump scares! The terror occurs every Friday and Saturday night through October from 7 PM-10 PM.

6. New York animals are ferocious—but also really cute

Let’s ease up from the extreme fright for a moment, because Halloween is not just about giving yourself the heebie-jeebies. It’s also about funny costumes and eating massive amounts of candy! Mix things up this year by heading to the annual Halloweekend at the campus of Ross Park at the Ross Park Zoo and The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier in Binghamton, where kids and parents can celebrate Halloween along with all animals. The park will be dressed up with fall and Halloween decorations, and will feature games, crafts, and treats around the zoo and the Discovery Center, along with a DJ, costume parade, and more.

7. In fact, Halloween was made for New York dogs in costumes

Credit: Fort Greene PUPS

Turning the “cute” dial ALL the way up, get into the festive mood at the Annual Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest at Brooklyn’s Fort Greene Park! Organized by PUPS, the Fort Greene Park Users and Pets Society, the contest will be judged by an online audience, and prizes will be awarded to a number of winners. Pooches and their parents will also get to strut their stuff for a chance to win prizes at the Fall Dog Parade and Costume Contest at Old Westbury Gardens on Long Island.

8. New York is the pump-king of fun

Half an hour outside of Buffalo, the Great Pumpkin Farm isn’t a Halloween-exclusive attraction, but it is a perfect place to celebrate. Not only do they sell pumpkins and fresh-baked pumpkin and apple pies, they also offer a ton of fun and unusual activities that will get the family having a blast outside in the crisp autumn weather. Conquer the corn or hay mazes as a team, make some festive fall crafts, or try your hand at the apple cannons. 

9. In New York, the fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down

Movies like The Shining and the 2010 slasher flick The Maze certainly reflect the fact that there is something creepy about mazes. And trying to solve a maze in the dark? Even better! Long Acre Farms in the Finger Lakes offers an incredible, intricate Moonlight Maze open for exploring on Friday nights in October (except on Halloween night). Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, but it’s okay if you’re not looking to be scared silly; there won’t be anything jumping out at you. Just bring a flashlight and your wits about you! 

10. All aboard for the pumpkin patch!

Photo courtesy of Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum

Get on over to the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum to enjoy a ride aboard a restored vintage train to a Pumpkin Patch where kids can choose a small pumpkin to take home to decorate. There will be complimentary juice, cookies, and coloring books and the chance to take self-guided tours of historic trains, the restoration shop, and a special exhibit on Lionel trains. Also, don’t forget to stop by the petting zoo!

Don’t forget to post photos of your New York adventures on Instagram and Twitter with #iSpyNY and tag us on Facebook!