Haunted Halloween Happenings 2015

Fright fests and seances and headless horsemen, oh my! When it comes to spooky haunts, the Empire state has plenty of creepiness to choose from.

From the Headless Horseman to the Montauk Monster, there is something to scare everyone. You’ve heard of the Headless Horseman but what about the Montauk Monster? The Awl says it’s a hairless beaked creature that washed up on the shores of Montauk, New York, an experiment gone wrong. In UFO circles, Montauk is the place where wicked experiments took place at the Brookhaven National Laboratory.

And in nearby Monroe, Connecticut lives Annabelle’s evil doll that came to life in the movie The Conjuring.

• Click here for more haunted happenings in the Nutmeg State.

Below are some scary, spooky events geared to give adult and teen ghost hunters goosebumps. We’ll bring you a separate kid-friendly list for the wee ones real soon!

Dutchess County

Poughkeepsie: Kevin McCurdy’s Haunted Mansion

• Gruesome and gory ghouls terrorize any who dares to step food inside their mansion. Travel back in time to 19th-century London where Jack the Ripper, Mr. Hyde, and Sweeney Todd will frighten unsuspecting tourists. Admission: $25. 85 Sheafe Rd., Poughkeepsie. 845-297-2288. thehauntedmansion.com.

Red Hook: Grim’s Mortuary

• A haunted and mysterious attraction that is open weekends in October. Fridays and Saturdays 7 p.m. - 11 p.m., Sundays 7 p.m. -10 p.m. Admission: $12. Greig Farm. 216 Pitcher Ln., Red Hook. grimsmortuary.com.

Westchester County

Rye: Playland’s Scared by the Sound

• Scared by the Sound Haunted House gives haunted house lovers a thrilling and terrifying experience. Experience the Crypt Walk, Haunted Wine Cellar, Creepy Morgue, Tunnels of Doom and more. Open weekends in October and also on Thursday October 29. Parking is free. Amusement park rides are not open for this event. Admission: $16. scaredbythesound.com. Playland Parkway, Rye, NY, 1-877-SCARY-FUN. 914-906-0818

Sleepy Hollow: Horseman’s Hollow

• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is kicked up a notch in this shriek-worthy attraction. Visitors walk along a haunted trail, with gruesome scenes of a town gone mad, courtesy of the Headless Horseman. Creatures, spirits and zombies lurk in the darkness, ready to terrify passersby. Enter the terrifying maze inside Ichabod’s Schoolhouse if you dare. Admission: $20. 100 Continental St., Sleepy Hollow, NY. 914.366.6900. hudsonvalley.org/events/horsemans-hollow.

Tarrytown: Jay Ghoul’s House of Curiosities

• Explore Gothic Revival mansion, made famous in the 1970s Dark Shadows movies. The haunted tour is led by the Mummy, the Phantom of the Opera, Frankenstein and his Bride. Friday through Sunday: October 17-November 2. Times vary. Visit the website for the complete schedule. Admisison: $25.

White Plains: The Haunt at Rocky Ledge

• Westchester County’s frightening attraction features horrifying haunted houses, a terrifying walk through the woods, and a haunted cornfield. Admission: $20. 1446 Old Orchard Street, North White Plains, NY. hauntatrockyledge.com.

Did we miss any? Have no fear! Email wendy.mitchell@patch.com to add it to the list.

Photo: William Warbley, flickr creative commons