Embark on a journey through Utica's most haunted corners with our meticulously researched Halloween guide, featuring the most terrifying events and eerie attractions to discover. From local legends to visiting specters, this guide is your portal to the paranormal side of Utica.
Popular events during the holiday season include the Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Attractions, where visitors navigate spooky trails filled with unexpected thrills. The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze showcases over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins that create a stunning display illuminating the night. And the Utica Zoo Spooktacular is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring family-friendly activities and enchanting decorations. For more details on these and other fun events and activities, check out the rest of the page below!
Please contact us if you have suggestions or corrections!
Join the Utica Discussion!
See the Latest Halloween News for Utica!
Top Halloween Events In and Around Utica
- Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Attractions (Ulster Park)
- Utica Zoo Spooktacular
- The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze (Croton-on-Hudson)
- The Spirits of Sleepy Hollow Country (Sleepy Hollow)
- Night Terrors Haunted Farm (Schoharie)
- Double M Haunted Hayrides (Ballston Spa)
- Twilight Village (Sleepy Hollow)
- Family Halloween Train (Holland Patent)
- Slaughterland Screampark (Binghamton)
- Demon Acres Haunted House & Hayride (Hannibal)
See these and even more events listed below!
Utica Area Haunted Experiences
The Spirits of Sleepy Hollow Country
What to Expect:
An immersive and interactive experience featuring original illusions and communication with legendary spirits.
Description:
Join master illusionists Mark Clearview and Nick Wallace for an unforgettable night of magic and mystery at The Spirits of Sleepy Hollow Country. This spooky supernatural spectacle features original illusions that will leave you spellbound as they communicate with legendary spirits like Hulda, Major Andre, and the Headless Horseman. With premium seating options and an immersive experience, this event is not to be missed.
Where: Sleepy Hollow | More Info: The Spirits of Sleepy Hollow Country
Night Terrors Haunted Farm
What to Expect:
Experience a combination of outdoor trails and an indoor blackout haunt with Bezerkus Circus.
Description:
Night Terrors Haunted Farm in Schoharie, NY, offers a terrifying Halloween experience with attractions like Maize Mayhem, Sleighed, and the new Bezerkus Circus indoor blackout haunt. Guests can enjoy a haunted hayride and walk-thru corn maze, creating a spine-tingling adventure through the farm.
Where: Schoharie | More Info: Night Terrors Haunted Farm
Double M Haunted Hayrides
What to Expect:
Immersive journey through various themed areas including a post-apocalyptic compound and a sinister farm.
Description:
Double M Haunted Hayrides is a premier haunted attraction in Upstate New York, offering a terrifying experience that has been thrilling visitors for over 30 years. The event features a haunted hayride through dark woods, followed by immersive experiences in post-apocalyptic compounds, sinister farms, and eerie inns. The journey culminates in a dangerous bayou environment filled with interactive frights.
Where: Ballston Spa | More Info: Double M Haunted Hayrides
Slaughterland Screampark
What to Expect:
Slaughterland Screampark offers five terrifying attractions, including indoor and outdoor mazes, 3D experiences, and a deadly carnival setting.
Description:
Slaughterland Screampark is Upstate New York's most thrilling Screampark, featuring five terrifying attractions including Dark Magic, Wendigo Woods, Frightmares 3D, Cirque de Mort, and The Bloodshed. The event promises an immersive and frightening experience that will leave visitors in their nightmares.
Where: Binghamton | More Info: Slaughterland Screampark
CAYO Industrial Horror Realm
What to Expect:
A post-apocalyptic themed haunted house with a new one-room escape room experience.
Description:
CAYO Industrial Horror Realm is a seasonal staple in Rome, New York, marking its 22nd and final Halloween season in 2024. This post-apocalyptic themed haunted house attraction features a labyrinth of horrific encounters, twisted halls, and thought-provoking imagery within an old industrial warehouse railyard location. The event includes elements like Archana Asylum, Revelations, Biotech, and Biowar, representing horror, conspiracies, conflicts, and pandemics. A new one-room escape room experience is also available this season.
Where: Rome | More Info: CAYO Industrial Horror Realm
Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Attractions
What to Expect:
Immersive haunted experience with a new theme each year.
Description:
Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Attractions is a renowned haunted event in Ulster Park, New York, named #1 Haunted Attraction in America. It features a haunted hayride, walking trail, corn maze, haunted houses, gift shops, and eateries. The event is themed around Samhain, with a focus on ancient rituals and the veil between the living and the dead. It offers a thrilling experience with new themes each season.
Where: Ulster Park | More Info: Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Attractions
Demon Acres Haunted House & Hayride
What to Expect:
Immersive haunted experiences with high-tech special effects and Hollywood-quality sets.
Description:
Demon Acres Haunted House & Hayride is a thrilling Halloween event located on 25 rural acres in Hannibal, NY. The attraction features three haunted experiences: Jail Break, Demon's Den, and Depths of the Dark Forest. Visitors can enjoy a terrifying hayride through the woods, interactive sets, and high-tech special effects. The event also includes a food shack, bonfire, and SkeleBall Carnival Game.
Where: Hannibal | More Info: Demon Acres Haunted House & Hayride
Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near Utica
The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze
What to Expect:
Immersive pumpkin art installations with synchronized lighting and an original soundtrack.
Description:
The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is a spectacular fall event at Van Cortlandt Manor in the Hudson Valley, featuring over 7,000 hand-carved, illuminated pumpkins. Visitors can stroll through an 18th-century landscape, enjoy synchronized lighting and an original soundtrack, and explore various themed areas including a pumpkin-ified classic movie monsters display and a giant Kraken rising from the Croton River. The event also includes a new VIP experience, the Gourd & Goblet Tavern, offering exclusive cocktails and treats.
Where: Croton-on-Hudson | More Info: The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze
Family Halloween Train
What to Expect:
A decorated train ride with activities like a pumpkin patch and hay ride, offering a fun Halloween experience for families.
Description:
Experience a festive Halloween adventure aboard the Adirondack Railroad's Family Halloween Train. Departing from Holland Patent Station, this decorated train travels to historic Remsen Depot, offering a fun-filled round trip with activities like a pumpkin patch and hay ride. Children in costume receive a free pumpkin, making it a perfect family tradition.
Where: Holland Patent | More Info: Family Halloween Train
Twilight Village
What to Expect:
An immersive Halloween experience featuring fortune tellers, live music, and a Halloween night market.
Description:
Experience a night of folklore, fortune, and festivities at Twilight Village in Sleepy Hollow. Discover delightful and mysterious creatures who will tell your fortune, croon creepy tunes, and share tall tales of legends and lore. Enjoy shopping for Sleepy Hollow swag at the Halloween night market, sipping cocktails and mocktails, and indulging in tasty snacks. Watch out for the Headless Horseman himself!
Where: Sleepy Hollow | More Info: Twilight Village
Painting Pumpkins
What to Expect:
A free, family-friendly festival with a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, musical entertainment, and pumpkin-themed games.
Description:
ARToberFEST is a free admission, family-friendly festival featuring a variety of activities for all ages, including free kids' arts and crafts, musical entertainment, pumpkin painting and carving, and pumpkin bowling. The event also includes costumed characters and workshops, making it an enjoyable day for the whole family.
Where: Johnstown | More Info: Painting Pumpkins
This is Halloween Downtown Market
What to Expect:
A day filled with Halloween-themed vendors and festive activities in a downtown setting.
Description:
This is Halloween Downtown Market is a festive event taking place at City Hall Commons Atrium on October 20, 2024. The event features Halloween-themed vendors, delicious treats, and festive activities. Visitors are encouraged to come dressed in their best costumes to enjoy the Halloween spirit.
Where: Syracuse | More Info: This is Halloween Downtown Market
Autumn in the Park
What to Expect:
A weekend packed with off-road adventures and spooky fun, including a haunted trail ride and the chance to win a brand new Yamaha Wolverine X2 1000.
Description:
Windrock Park's Fall Jam is a thrilling event that combines off-road adventures with spooky fun. The event features vendors, guided rides, and a haunted trail ride. It's a weekend packed with activities for all ages, including the chance to win a brand new Yamaha Wolverine X2 1000 on Saturday night.
Where: Unknown | More Info: Autumn in the Park
BOOtanical Costume Party
What to Expect:
An immersive botanical experience inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Description:
Step into the enchanting world of Wonderland: Curious Nature at the New York Botanical Garden. Inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, this exhibition transforms the garden with vibrant flower displays, mind-bending artworks, and fantastical tea parties. Explore larger-than-life mushrooms, an outdoor game of chess, and a shimmering looking glass. Join us for tea parties, live music performances, and whimsical pop-ups throughout the garden.
Where: Unknown | More Info: BOOtanical Costume Party
Utica Zoo Spooktacular
What to Expect:
A Halloween celebration in a zoo setting with various activities for all ages.
Description:
Utica Zoo Spooktacular is a family-friendly Halloween and harvest celebration featuring trick-or-treat stations, food trucks, vendors, live entertainment, keeper talks, and animal meet-and-greets. This year, it will be held on October 19 and 20 from 10 AM to 3 PM each day, with the zoo remaining open until 4:30 PM both days. Costumes are encouraged, but inflatable costumes are not permitted. The event includes 13 trick-or-treat stations, live music, dancing with the Happy Haggs Dance Troup (Saturday only), and more.