Halloween is the perfect time of year to do something spooky in Syracuse! With the weather getting cooler and the nights getting eerier, here are five things you can do off-campus this Halloween season.
Fright Nights
This 82,000-square-foot attraction consists of five different houses: Penny’s Playhouse, Lady Lamson’s Cursed Voyage, Burgen Manor, Jurassic Dark and The Devil’s Dungeon Slide to Hell. Each haunted house transports you into a completely different setting. Tickets are only $30 for all five houses, so you get a lot of spook for your buck! (If you’re looking for an even cheaper way to attend Fright Nights, Orange After Dark is hosting a trip to Fright Nights for only $3 on Oct. 28 from 9 p.m. – midnight.) Fright Nights is open Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. – midnight and Sundays 7-11 p.m. Fright Nights is a great event to attend with friends or family.
Spooktacular Stroll
If you aren’t feeling a haunted house and want to enjoy the Halloween season peacefully, go for a Spooktacular Stroll at Long Branch Park in Liverpool! Every Thursday-Sunday from 5-9 p.m., the park offers a not-so-scary Halloween light display to wander through. Each section offers LED light displays, wooden structures and different props to add to the overall experience. Food trucks are also available at the venue, so you can grab some food on your way out!
Haunted Hayride
Feeling like an eerie night outdoors? Head over to 13th Hour Rising in Fulton for a haunted hayride. Once the sun goes down, immerse yourself in a seemingly innocent hayride that quickly turns dark. 13th Hour Rising was awarded the best haunted house in Central New York and has been operating for over 30 years. The hayride runs every Friday and Saturday until Halloween, so make sure to check it out!
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” will be shown this year at the Palace Theater on Oct. 29 and Oct. 30. This event is interactive with water thrown, props and loud noises. Bring your best costume and listen to the band; the movie will start about an hour later. Tickets are $20 online or $25 at the door. Enjoy this classic movie with friends and have fun!
Zoo Boo
The Rosamond Gifford Zoo offers Zoo Boo every year during the daytime on Saturdays and Sundays throughout October. The zoo turns into a fun, spooky destination for people of all ages to enjoy. The zoo will add mysterious fog and spooky music to enjoy as you check out the animals, and tickets for Zoo Boo must be purchased in advance online. Bring your friends or family and enjoy a day at the zoo!
I hope one of these ideas generates a fun night for you and your friends! Get festive, Halloween is only once a year.
Written By Tessa Hodinger G’23, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications