The Halloween tradition of trick-or-treating was started in Northeast Philadelphia in 1950 and became nationally recognized in 1952. Since 1952 many events, from hay rides, haunted houses, costume competitions and much more, have been derived to make Halloween a holiday to remember year in and year out. SUNY campuses and community leaders have also incorporated their ideas and traditions to make Halloween as extravagant as possible for everyone in New York State.
So to give you some frightening options, here are some of the spooky Halloween events that will be taking place this upcoming week at and around SUNY:
1. SUNY Cortland Halloween Parade: Cortland, NY- this year is the first year that the parade has been “resurrected” since 1997. The procession includes ghosts, junior firefighters, celebrities and comic book heroes down Cortland’s Main Street ending at the Lynne Parks ’68 SUNY Cortland Alumni house, for a “Halloween Extravaganza”. It will include spooky tours, Halloween activities, and a costume contest for students and the community. This event is free.
2. Field of Horrors: Brunswick, NY-only 20 minutes away from the University at Albany, Hudson Valley Community College, and Schenectady County Community College, this event features four scary attractions. They include the “Trail of Terror” Hayride, Reapers Revenge Haunted House, Death Trap, an underground maze, and Sector 6, a paintball game where you fight the zombie apocalypse!
3. Halloween Bowling at SUNY Oswego— Strike the pins while wearing your favorite costume! This event includes a costume contest, games, prizes and more.
4. Bayville Scream Park: Bayville, NY- close to SUNY Old Westbury and Stony Brook University on Long Island this park boasts 5 terrifying attractions including : Bloodsworth Haunted Mansion, Evil in the Woods, Temple of Terror, Zombies and Pirates and Uncle Needles Fun House of Fear. Be prepared to be frightened as you walk through these attractions and figures pop out at every turn!
5. FrightWorld Screampark: Depew, NY- near the University at Buffalo, Buffalo State, and Erie Community College, FrightWorld has 5 attractions with a new and improved one called Insanity built just in time for the 2014 season! Insanity tries to push its patrons literally to the brink by messing with their minds as they make their way through its labyrinth. Other attractions include the Erie State Asylum, Grindhouse, Condemned, and Phobiaz.
6. Haunted Halls of Horror: Binghamton NY- close to Binghamton University and SUNY Broome, this haunt is the only fully accessible haunted house in the area. Proceeds from the profit made every year go to help people in the area with disabilities, so it’s definitely for a great cause.
7. Night Terrors Haunted Farm: Schoharie, NY- close to SUNY Oneonta this terrifying experience includes a haunted walk through corn maze and haunted hay ride. Ride throughout the woods and encounter the “Harvester”, the master of the creatures in the woods. Can you escape?
8. Halloween Costume 5K Run at SUNY Plattsburgh– Run off all that candy you consumed the night before at this post-Halloween run on November 1st. Not only do you get to run for a good cause, which is to help raise money for SEFA (State Employees Federated Appeal), but you get to wear a costume while doing it! Family friendly costumes are encouraged.
9. Headless Horsemen Hayrides and Haunted Houses: Ulster Park,NY- close to SUNY New Paltz is this massive haunted experience. It has a haunted hayride, a corn maze, and 7 haunted attractions including: The Lunar Motel, Glutton’s Diner & Slaughter House, Slither’s Pet Shop, Dark Harvest Corn Maze, Night Shade Nursery & Greenhouse, Dr. Dark’s Black Spider Sideshow, The Feeding, Dahlia Blood’s Manor. Only the strong can survive the entire trip!
10. XScream Haunted Woods and Zombie Invasion: Freeville, NY- Prepare for a journey literally into the woods! 15 minutes away from Cornell’s NYS colleges and Tompkins Cortland Community College, this event features a dark and twisted trail through a forest that is filled with all kinds of scary beings. If one makes it past that then they can try their luck at defending themselves against a zombie invasion, with paintballs!
