Ever dreamed about joining Marnie and escaping on an adventure to Halloweentown? Well, we don’t know of any portals that can take you there, but the Metro-North can get you straight to one of the spookiest Halloween towns in the state: Sleepy Hollow.
Now that October festivities are in full swing, we’re busy with the usual seasonal happenings: apple picking, corn mazes, pumpkin picking, and admiring beautiful fall foliage.
If you want to add some spooky vibes and history to the mix, hop on the train (the Metro-North – Hudson Line from Grand Central) to this famed destination — you won’t be sorry.
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 so much more. Its annual fall festival typically draws in close to 200 vendors and roughly 5,000 visitors, including the Headless Horseman. (He never misses a beat.) The 2024 event took place on October 5th.
The Hudson Valley Halloween hotspot 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 location can even visit the actual church mentioned in the story, the Old Dutch Church (430 Broadway, Sleepy Hollow), which was constructed in the late 1600s.
If you want to get real spooky, don’t miss out on a trip to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (540 N Broadway, Sleepy Hollow). Visitors can take evening lantern tours through the gravesites to learn about the spirits that wander the 90-acre grounds. Moreover, you can explore a glass pumpkin patch, take a ghost tour or dare to enter the Rock & Roll House of Horror.
Unsplash / Chris BoeseStill want to take part in the festivities, even if you’re a bit of a scaredy cat? You can check out the town’s farmer’s market, on Saturdays starting at 8:30am. And don’t forget about the nearby Tarrytown Halloween Parade on October 26th. We’ll go as far as to say it’s the Village Halloween Parade’s younger cousin.
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!