I love the fall. Its my favorite season and being in Upstate NY I get to see the seasons change right before my eyes. Fall means sweater weather, football games, pumpkin spice everything and apple picking. Heres a list of some of my favorite things to do in the community this time of year and how you can get in on it too!
1. Fright Night at The Fair
Fright Night at The Fair is a local favorite. It runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the month of October right at the NYS fairgrounds. Its for all ages even though the recommend 9 and up. This years attractions are Zombie Paintball Hunt, Hostel, The Haunted Mansion and Clown Prison. For more information, visit http://thefrightnights.com/.
2. Pumpkin Picking
I love to go Pumpkin Picking. A great place to go is Abbott Farms. Their U-pick pumpkins is open now. Some other things to do there are wagon rides, a corn maze, tube slides, bounce house and an apple cannon. The farm also has chickens, pigs, goats, rabbits and beef cattle. For more information, visit www.abbottfarms.com.
3. Apple Picking
Beak & Skiff is the best place to go apple picking. A wagon takes you out into the orchard and brings you back in to pay. They also have a winery, bake chop, and a kid zone where kids can slide and ride ponies. Visit their website to see the picking schedule at http://www.beakandskiff.com/.
4. Lafayette Apple Festival
Lafayette Apple Fest is October 8th and 9th. There is free parking and entertainment, a pie contest, scarecrow contest and a king and queen contest. Admissions is $5 and kids 12 and under are free. For more information, visit http://www.lafayetteapplefest.org/
5. Zoo Boo
Rosamond Gifford Zoo celebrates Halloween all month with the annual Zoo Boo series. Kids and parents can wear Halloween costumes to the zoo, and see the entire zoo and animal collection. Activities include trick-or-treat stations, creepy crawly encounters, games, tattoos, a mega raffle, inflatable activity center and professional face painting for $3 per child. For more information and to buy tickets, visit rosamondgiffordzoo.org/zoo-boo.
6.Critz Farms Fall Harvest Celebration
The Zoo and Friends of the Zoo team up with Cazenovia's Critz Farms for the farm's annual Fall Harvest Celebration which runs until Oct. 25. The theme for the corn maze this year is the "Giant Zoo-Tastic Octopus's Garden." The maze design includes an octopus, seahorse, fish, anemones and the letters "RG ZOO." The Fall Harvest Celebration also includes apple and pumpkin picking, wagon rides, live music, cider-making demonstrations, an animal area, a cow train and a tasting room. For more information, visit http://www.critzfarms.com/.
7. 'Friday the 13th' Film Festival
The Palace Theater will host a Halloween film festival will multiple "Friday the 13th" screenings, plus a feature showing of "Hack-O-Lantern" on October 23rd. All films will be shown on 35 mm prints. There will be vendors and special guests in the lobby, and alcohol for guests 21 and older. All films are rated R. See the schedule below:
5:30 p.m. - Camp Crystal Lake Haunted Walk (theater lobby)
6 p.m. - One Last Shot (Upstate N.Y. Punk Rock Band)
6:30 p.m.- Hack-O-Lantern
8:15 p.m. - Friday the 13th PT 4: The Final Chapter
9:45 p.m. - One Last Shot
10 p.m. - Friday the 13th Pt 5: A New Beginning
11:45 p.m. - Friday the 13th Pt 6: Jason Lives
You can get tickets from Modern Pop Culture in Armory Square.
8. Enchanted Beaver Lake
From Thursday, Oct. 22 to Sunday, Oct. 25, Beaver Lake Nature Center transforms into Enchanted Beaver Lake and features two trails lit by over 500 jack-o-lanterns and 500 luminaria. Visitors can enjoy face-painting, fortune telling and autumn treats. For more information, call the Nature Center at 638-2519 or visit OnondagaCountyParks.com.
9. 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'
This is my favorite of all! Filming of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" movie began in October 1974, but the movie officially hit U.S. theaters in August 1975, making this fall the 40th anniversary of the film's release. See the cult classic on the big screen at the Palace Theater, where there will be a Halloween costume contest and cash bar. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
10. FrightMare Farms
FrightMare Farms is a haunted house attraction located in Fulton. It features three spooky attractions this year. Discounted prices are available when you buy two or more attractions. For dates and prices, visit http://frightmarefarms.net/
11. Park After Dark Ghost Tours
Park After Dark is an attraction at the haunted Sylvan Beach Amusement Park. The tour begins with a brief walk through of the park while discussing the legends of who still roams the park after death has taken them. Once the park closes, the tour becomes an investigation. We enter the secured empty buildings and conduct a ghost hunt. Cameras, recorders and your participation are welcome and encouraged. When you keep an open mind, anyone can be a CasperCop. It begins at 9:30PM. Once the walkthrough is complete, the park will be closed. For more information, visit http://hauntedhistorytrail.com/event/parkafterdark... or http://www.sylvanbeachamusementpark.com/park-after....
Happy Fall!
