Pumpkin Patches and Parades:
Where To Find Pumpkins & Halloween Events Near Beacon in the Hudson Valley

Pumpkins and Parades - Find Them in October

This Pumpkin Guide *used* to start off talking about the fall crisp in the air - but there is no crisp! And the leaves have just started turning - it's hot in October! Regardless, pumpkins are out and so are Halloween decorations. This Pumpkins and Parade Guide points you in the right direction for the myriad of options you have in the Hudson Valley near Beacon.

Need pumpkin decorating ideas after you collect all of these pumpkins? Consider a couple of our favorites - covering a pumpkin in go ld leaf, or using a power drill to make beaded designs.

Stony Kill Foundation's Country Fair
2017 Dates: Saturday, September 16, 2017 (rain date Sunday, September 17)
Time: 11 am to 3 pm
Location: Stony Kill Farm, 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY
Kick off fall festivities with Stony Kill Foundation's free Country Fair, just up Route 9D a little ways. Head inside the barn to meet the fuzzy residents, head outside for hay rides (and don't forget the Benadryl just in case the hay is too itchy-scratchy), and see local artisans in the mercantile. Feeling competitive? Enter the apple pie contest or chili cookoff, and see how your skills stack up.
Information >

Headless Horseman Hayrides & Haunted Houses
2017 Dates: Sept. 16, 23, 29, 30, Oct. 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, 26-29, Nov. 4, 2017
Children's Days: Saturdays, Oct. 14 and 28 (rain dates Sundays, Oct. 15 and 29), 2017
Time: Varies by date
Location: 778 Broadway (9W), Ulster Park, NY
Headless Horseman Hayrides & Haunted Houses has received numerous awards and honors:

America's Scariest Haunted House in the Northeast by MTV
#1 in America two consecutive years by HauntWorld Magazine
#1 Hallow-Scream by The Weather Channel
World's Best Haunted Hayride by AOL News
#1 on the Planet by New York Daily News
"One of America's Best Hometown Haunts" by Fangoria Magazine
#1 Outdoor Attraction by American Airlines
#1 Scream Park and Hayride in America by HauntWorld Magazine
#1 by USA Today

In addition, Headless Horseman is consistently named in the Top Ten Haunted Attractions by CNBC and AOL. It has been featured on The Travel Channel, Comedy Central, Emeril Live, Good Morning America, Nightline, CBS Evening News, The Today Show's segment "Sara in the City" and several national magazines.

The 250 year-old farm incorporates over 65 acres of naturally landscaped property including foreboding woods, surreal ponds, fruit orchards and more. Headless Horseman Hayrides & Haunted Houses is a unique, immersive experience with a theme that changes each Halloween season.
Information >

The Great Jack-O'-Lantern Blaze 2017
Time: 7 to 9 pm or 10:30 pm (varies by date)
Location: Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 S. Riverside Ave., Croton-on-Hudson, NY
2017 dates: Sept. 29-Oct. 1, Oct. 5-9, 12-31, Nov. 2-5, 9-12, 17-18, 24-25
The tri-state area’s biggest, most electrifying Halloween event returns with more pumpkin power than ever before! Meander through a historic, 18th-century riverside landscape and discover a breathtaking display - all made of jack-o'-lanterns!
Information >

Ghostie Fun for Kids
Day: Friday, October 6, 2017
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY
Meet Red and Twist, the real GhostBusters of Beacon, NY! Hear about their experiences and see the equipment they use for ghost-hunting. There will be some surprises and giveaways... The event is free! You can register at the library, but walk-ins are also welcome! For kids 8 and up, with an adult.
Information >

4th Annual Halloween Parade and Festival
Date: Saturday, October 14, 2017
Time: 11 am to 4 pm
Location: Mesier Park, Wappingers Falls, NY
The fourth annual festival, held in the heart of the village just up Route 9D, will feature a parade, festive food, face-painting, music and a pumpkin patch, among other activities for the whole family.
Information >

Beacon Sloop Club Pumpkin Festival
Date: Sunday, October 15, 2017
Time: Noon to 5 pm
Location: Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park, 1 Red Flynn Drive, Beacon, NY
Volunteers from the Beacon Sloop Club will serve chili, while pumpkin pie and a host of other treats will be available from vendors. In Pete tradition, there will be music. The club will also host free sails on the Sloop Woody Guthrie, so head out and get a new perspective on the mighty Hudson. Farm-fresh pumpkins will be for sale, too!
Information >

Thrills and Chills
Day: Friday, October 20, 2017
Time: 4 to 5 pm
Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY
Boys and ghouls ages 7-10 are invited for some Halloween fun, filled with spine-chilling tales told by the glow of the jack-o-lantern. Revolting refreshments will be served! Costumes welcome! Strictly for older children. No registration necessary.

Pumpkin Carving Party
Day: Sunday, October 22, 2017
Time: Families in afternoon; adults-only in the evening
Location: 2 Way Brewing Company, 18 West Main St., Beacon, NY
2 Way Brewing Company is reviving the pumpkin carving party! Join them for pumpkins and pints on October 22. $12 gets you a beer and a pumpkin - take care with both. Kids and parents are welcome during the afternoon. The evening is devoted to more competitive carvers.
Information >

Pumpkins in the Park Jack-o'-Lantern Lighting Event
Day: Monday to Friday, Oct. 23-27, 2017
Time: Monday to Thursday, 3 to 6 pm, pumpkin carving; Friday, 6 to 8 pm, jack-o'-lantern lighting and display
Location: Scenic Hudson River Center, 8 Long Dock Road, Beacon, NY
Show off your pumpkin-carving artistry and see Long Dock Park ablaze with jack-o’-lanterns—including yours. Please join Scenic Hudson at their River Center to help carve the pumpkins on Monday through Thursday afternoons. Pumpkins are supplied by Scenic Hudson and must be carved on site. Friday evening, the pumpkins will be lit and displayed throughout Long Dock Park. Please dress for the weather. Flashlights are highly recommended. The event is free!
Information >

Boscobel Ghost Tours
Days: Wednesday to Friday, Oct. 25-27, 2017
Time: 6 pm
Location: Boscobel House & Garden, 1601 Route 9D, Garrison, NY
Join Boscobel once again for spellbinding ghost stories told by popular paranormal investigator and author, Linda Zimmermann. Linda will be accompanied by her ghost-hunting partner Michael Worden, a police detective and author of Ghost Detective, as well as psychic and psychometrist Barbara Bleitzhofer. Barbara will be using her sixth sense to determine what spirits are present and why they are there. Recommended ages 12+.
Information >

Children's Museum Not-So-Spooky Fun House
Day: Friday, October 27, 2017
Time: 5:30 to 8 pm
Location: Mid-Hudson Children's Museum, 75 North Water St., Poughkeepsie, NY
Fun activities, mini hay maze, trick-or-treating, and more! Purchase tickets! Can't make it Friday? Then visit the Not-So-Spooky Fun House in the Pavilion from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, October 28, 2017.

Stony Kill Farm's Not-So-Haunted Barn and Hayride
Date: Saturday, October 28, 2017
Time: 4 to 7 pm
Location: Stony Kill Farm, 79 Farmstead Way, Wappingers Falls, NY
Peek into the barn's nooks and crannies during a tour and learn about the creatures who live there. Animal Embassy will host a special type of meet-and-greet in the barn classroom at 5 pm. Space for the Spooktacular Animal Adventure is limited, so get there early! Don't miss the hay rides.
Information >

Dogwood's Halloween Spooktacular
Day: Saturday, October 28, 2017
Time: 8 pm
Location: Dogwood, 47 East Main St., Beacon, NY
Autumn is finally here, and you know what that means... It's almost Halloween! Come celebrate everyone's favorite creepy day with us! Rogue Brewery is sponsoring the event and Dogwood will be showcasing some of their best beer, including some you can't get anywhere outside of Oregon! There will be costume contests, live entertainment and fortune tellers! There'll be more details as the day gets closer, so check back with Dogwood. Don't forget to dress up!!
Information >

Storm King Art Center's Pumpkins and Painted Faces
Day: Sunday, October 29, 2017
Time: Noon to 4 pm
Location: Near the north parking area at Storm King Art Center, 1 Museum Road, New Windsor, NY
Storm King Art Center is world-renowned for the earth art and mega-sculpture installations on its 500 acres. Draw inspiration from the landscape, and make your own art by carving pumpkins and consulting on face-painting at this pre-Halloween shindig across the river from Beacon. Registration is required. Reserving your pumpkin online guarantees it will be held for you at the event site until 3 pm. Storm King encourages participants to come anytime between noon and 3 pm to avoid overcrowding. Be sure to wear your costume to get a special treat! This program will take place rain or shine. Pumpkins not claimed by 3 pm will be available for purchase by the general public. ***ALL SALES ARE FINAL. May not be used with any other offer.***
Information >

"A Very Beacon Halloween" Psychic Fair
Day: Saturday, October 28, 2017 (new date!)
Time: 12-5pm
Location: Notions-n-Potions, 175 Main St, Beacon, NY
Congratulations Sheryl of Notions-n-Potions on her feature in the Poughkeepsie Journal's feature on Adults Who Love Halloween. Mike Burdge of Story Screen was also featured.
Information >

"A Very Beacon Halloween" Ghoul's Night Out Show from the Beacon Chamber of Commerce
Day: Saturday, October 28, 2017
Time: Doors open at 6pm. Show starts at 8pm.
Locations: Clove Creek Dinner Theater, 18 Westage Business Center Dr #7, Fishkill 12524
Details: A murder mystery, "Ghouls Night Out," is a play performed at the Clove Creek Dinner Theater in Fishkill (near the movie theaters). Tickets are $70 and $65 for seniors. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to the Beacon Chamber of Commerce.
Information >

"A Very Beacon Halloween" 21st Annual Children's Halloween Parade aka The Hocus Pocus Parade from the Beacon Chamber of Commerce
Day: Sunday, October 29, 2017 (new date! See our article about it here)
Line-up Time: 12:30 pm at the Visitors Center
Parade Marching Time: 1 pm
Locations: Costumed kids start lining up at Polhill Park (South Avenue/9D and Main Street) for a parade all the way down Main Street stopping at Teller Avenue.
Rain Date: There is no rain date, according to parade committee member Sheryl Glickman of Notions-n-Potions. She is hoping for shine! Watch A Very Beacon Halloween's Facebook Page for any updates.
Parade Information >
Questions: This parade is organized by A Very Beacon Halloween, a committee of the Beacon Chamber of Commerce.
Read about last year's parade to know what to expect. Kids can dress in costume. Trick-or-treating at businesses is fun for the whole family. For all of the years this parade has been held, it happens on the weekend before Halloween. So mark your internal calendar for years to come.
Watch For It: A Little Beacon Space (291 Main St., in the historic Telephone Building) will be handing out treats from 10 am to 4 pm. Stop in!
Watch For It: Do check in at the Beacon Flea on Henry Street behind the post office, too! They'll have some treats for the little goblins.
Watch For It: Boutiques and shops on the far east end of Main Street like The Blushery and Style Storehouse may be handing out candy, so continue on around the bend to trick or treat even more!

After Halloween Parade Gathering at The Roundhouse Patio
Day: Sunday, October 29, 2017
Time: After parade
Rain Date: If the Kids Halloween Parade is canceled, then so is this event.
Location: The Roundhouse Patio, 2 E Main St, Beacon, NY
have free cider, bottled water and treats. We’ve opened the patio as an end gathering point for paraders for the last few years and people love coming down and taking advantage of the open space to meet up, talk and take pictures in front of the waterfall.

Rascal's Monster Bash
Day: Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Time: 4-6pm
Location: Dutchess Stadium, 1500 NY-9D, Wappingers Falls, NY
Join Hudson Valley Renegades mascot Rascal on Halloween for some trick-or-treating, treats, activities & more. And its FREE!

WHERE TO PICK PUMPKINS

Select your perfect pumpkin from patches at these farms. It's always a good idea to call before you go, to confirm hours, prices and availability.

Fishkill Farms has pumpkins in their Pick-Your-Own patch set on the 20-acre farm. Fall Harvest Fest weekends include hayrides, food and music. Open daily, 9 am to 6 pm, rain or shine ($5 per car admission on weekends and holidays).
CROWD ALERT! There are many, many people at Fishkill Farms during this season.

Lawrence Farms in Newburgh has pumpkins in their Pick-Your-Own patch, as well as at their farm stand. You'll also find apples and other seasonal produce, as well as a hay bale maze and a mini-village for kids to play in. Lawrence Farms is on many, many acres of beautiful Hudson Valley land, so you have plenty of space to run and play despite the number of people who are there. Open daily, 9 am to 4 pm.
AFTERNOON CLOSING ALERT! Lawrence Farms closes at 4pm, so get there during the first part of your day.

Overlook Farm Market, also in Newburgh, promises "no razz a ma tazz" at their fourth-generation farm stand and Pick-Your-Own area. Open daily except Tuesdays, 8 am to 6 pm.

DuBois Farms in Highland is a pick-your-own farm, open every day from July 31 through November 5 from 10 am to 5 pm, where you can enjoy the peace and tranquility of picking fresh fruit and vegetables on the farm. Enjoy your lunch on one of their beautiful picnic areas, where you can sit, relax and enjoy the tranquility of a beautiful fall day on the farm. And don’t forget to take home a delicious pie, fresh from the oven, and a dozen warm, freshly made apple cider donuts!

WHERE TO PURCHASE PUMPKINS

In a pinch? These markets usually have an easy grab-and-go selection of pumpkins and other colorful winter squash, often locally grown!

Key Food, 268 Main St., Beacon
Adams Fairacre Farms, 160 Old Post Road (Route 9), Wappingers Falls
Hannaford, 1490 Route 9, Wappingers Falls
Pumpkins have not usually been available at Beacon Natural Market.