As September brings an air of excitement to the city after a sweltering summer, we can look forward to apple picking, corn mazes and beautiful fall foliage.
And though meteorologists predict a hotter fall than normal, that won’t stop us from sipping on pumpkin spice lattes and swapping our black summer clothes for our black autumn wardrobe.
To really get in the spirit of spooky season, you can visit an actual Halloween town just an hour from NYC. Thrill seekers can hop on the Metro-North – Hudson Line from Grand Central to Sleepy Hollow.
In this town, awaits Gothic mansions, haunted taverns and the Headless Horseman himself. Sleepy Hollow goes absolutely all out in October with even more events, including haunted hayrides, glowing pumpkins, a 5K run, and a Halloween parade.
The town is the setting for Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” The iconic legend following Ichabod Crane is now more than two centuries old.
Those traveling to the historic town can even visit the actual church mentioned in the story, the Old Dutch Church, that was constructed in the late 1600s.
If you want to get real spooky, don’t miss out on a trip to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Visitors can take evening lantern tours through the gravesites to learn about the spirits that wander the 90-acre grounds.
Still want to take part in the festivities, but you’re a bit of a scaredy cat? You can check out one of the town’s farmer’s markets or street fairs instead!
You can keep track of all the town’s events here. And if you’re not feeling like leaving the city, you can embark on your own spine-chilling adventure across these 15 haunted sites located around NYC—if you dare!