By Gillian Tarry
Love fall and all the related events? There’s plenty to do on Long Island this season just a short drive off campus. Here are five events to visit this month.
At Gateway’s Haunted Playhouse in Bellport, you can experience scary in a new way—with their multiple scenes throughout their haunted house, like clown and jester rooms.
Paul Allan, theater producer at The Gateway, said, “Our haunt starts in our barn, which was the beginnings of Gateway Playhouse in the 1950s. During the haunt, the barn is really creepy and we draw upon everything that it already has going for it. Add in sound, lighting and fog and just that first room is too much for a lot of people.”
Allan added that what makes their site unique is that it’s not a pop-up haunted house. “It feels like you’re in a haunted location.”
This year's theme is Camelot and features actors dressed as famous characters such as Sir Lancelot, Merlyn the Magician and Guinevere.
This month Gateway’s Haunted Playhouse is open Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. With the purchase of a $40 admission ticket, you can visit the Playhouse and the midway for drinks and snacks. For more information visit www.gatewayshauntedplayhouse.com.
Bayville Scream Park is a Long Island must see. It features six haunted attractions across the whole park, which can be experienced with the purchase of an admission ticket. Each attraction has a different theme, including Bayville’s Asylum, Uncle Needle’s Funhouse of Fear and the Temple of Terror. Tickets can be purchased online from $34.75 to $56. Bayville Scream Park also has options for food and drink, including three hidden bars for guests 21 and over. To gain access to these bars, guests need to buy an extra VIP Bar Creep Pass. Bayville has special offers like the “glow stick fright nights” on Nov. 8 and 9.Visit bayvillescreampark.com for more details.
Over the years, Schmitt’s Farm Haunt in Melville has become a popular spot to visit during October. With a $47.11 general admission, you get to experience The Haunt, which features seven sections of terrifying movie quality sets and actors ready to scare the guests. There’s also a Haunted Corn Trail, which is the only one on Long Island and now features a new 3D experience. Schmitt’s Farm Haunt is open Friday through Sunday from 7 pm to 10:30 pm. For all other inquiries, go to schmittsfarmhaunt.com.
If you're not interested in scary fall events, other options include pumpkin patches. There are many on Long Island, including Schmitt’s Family Farm also located in Melville, which offers hayrides, a corn maze (which is not haunted), pumpkin picking and their farm stand. It’s open Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. The admission fee is $23 per guest. For more information, go to schmittsfarm.com.
Another option for pumpkin picking on Long Island is Brightwaters Farms in Bay Shore. The farm is open from Tuesday to Friday, from 11 am to 5 pm. On Saturday and Sunday, hours are 9 am to 5 pm. During the weekdays, admission is free but during the weekends, admission costs $20. That gives you access to pumpkin picking, shopping in the country store and visiting their farm animals. They also have activities for extra charge like hayrides, animal feeding and a full concession stand on the weekends. Learn more at www.brightwatersfarms.com/fallharvest.
One tip for planning your trip to one of these events is that lines are shorter during the weekdays. Allan of Gateway suggested going to their events during the week for that exact reason. With all of these options for fall events, there should be no problem creating a fantastic experience for college students while you conquer your difficult studies.
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