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Take part in a pet parade in Port Jefferson during the annual Harvest Fest on Oct. 23. File photo by Bob Savage/TBR News Media

By Heidi Sutton

Halloween is such a fun time of year and celebrations have come early this year, with many events happening this weekend in addition to next weekend. Here are 31 Halloween events on the North Shore to enjoy with your family.

Centerport

Vanderbilt Fall Festival

The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport hosts a Fall Festival with lots of seasonal fun for visitors of every age to enjoy a safe Halloween on Friday evenings and on weekends through Halloween. Choose daytime events from noon to 4 p.m. with mini golf, face painting, pumpkin patch, Halloween games, a scavenger hunt or nightime attractions with a Wicked Walk, a haunted maze, and The Wicked Haunt, the museum’s version of a haunted house, plus a 9-hole Mini Golf from 6 to 10 p.m.  For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. 

Center Moriches – just added!

Magic of the Cauldron – adults only

The Ketcham Inn, 81 Main St., Center Moriches presents Magic of the Cauldron on Oct. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. As the veil of darkness appears … pull up a chair around the cauldron on Ketcham Inn’s front lawn and feel the warmth of the fire. Hear the cauldron story while sipping savory soup and enjoy warm freshly baked bread from the Inn’s c. 1693 hearth by historic cook Diane Schwindt. Tickets are $15 per person (adults only please). The tavern will be open to purchase an additional drink. All proceeds go toward the restoration of the Inn. Call 631-878-1855 or visit www.ketchaminnfoundation.org.

Cold Spring Harbor

Harbor Haunts Walking Tour

The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St. Cold Spring Harbor hosts a Harbor Haunts Walking Tour on Oct 23 at 4:30 and 6 p.m. Explore Cold Spring Harbor’s ghostly side with fascinating tales of mishaps and historic hauntings on Main Street. Recommended for adults and children ages 8 and up. All tours are held rain or shine. Fee is $12 adults, $8 children. Register for the tours at www.cshwhalingmuseum.org or call 631-367-3418.

Haunted Hatchery

Calling all ghosts and goblins, spiders and bones … Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor will host a Halloween event on Oct. 30 from 2 to 5 p.m. Families are welcome to join us for a not-so-scary Haunted Hatchery. Trick-or-Treat your way through their outdoor grounds. Admission fee is $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children ages 3 to 12. 516-692-6768, www.cshfishhatchery.org

Commack

Trunk-N-Treat

Commack United Methodist Church, 486 Townline Road, Commack presents a Trunk-N-Treat event on Oct. 30 from 3 to 5 p.m. Children can trick or treat for candy at festively decorated car trunks and truck beds. Stay for some games and activities. Free. 631-499-7310, www.commack-umc.org

Farmingville

Trick or Treat Trail

Join the Farmingville Historical Society on Oct. 30 and 31 for a Trick or Treat Trail at Farmingville Hills County Park, 503 Horseblock Road, Farmingville from noon to 3 p.m. Come in costume and trick or treat along a trail while learning about the history of candy. Fill your bag with real, full-size candy treats. The entry fee is $12 per trick or treater. Parents are welcome to escort their children without paying. Please note this is not a haunted trail. All Trick or Treaters must pre-register at www.farmingvillehistoricalsociety.org.

Dark Night: Halloween Trail

Long Island Community Hospital Amphitheater, 1 Ski Run Lane, Farmingville presents Dark Night: Halloween Trail, an outdoor extravaganza combining moderate scares with comedy that at the same time celebrates the nostalgia of vintage haunted trails through a post-modern twist on inspired characters from pop culture and horror movies of the 1990s, on Oct. 22 to 24 and Oct. 28 to 31. Hours are 7 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 7 to 10:30 p.m. on Sundays and on Thursday, Oct. 28. Tickets are $35 adults, $15 per child.  To purchase tickets, please visit, www.DarkNightLI.com.

Huntington

All Hallows Tour

Huntington Town Hall, 100 Main St., Huntington hosts an All Hallows tour at the Town Clerk’s archives every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through October from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The Halloween event will feature live interpretations of stories taken out of the archives vault. Free. Call 631-351-3216 or 631-351-3035.

Trick or Treat at the Heckscher

Families are invited to celebrate Halloween at the Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington on Oct. 28 from noon to 5 p.m. Create a spooktacular art activity, make a haunted Digital Action painting, and take home a festive treat! Free admission for kids in costume and their families! Reserve timed tickets at www.heckscher.org. 631-380-3230.

Kings Park

Seaside Lantern Walk

Join the staff at Sunken Meadow State Park, Route 25A and Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park for a Seaside Lantern Walk on Oct. 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. See the beach in a whole new light as you round the point of Sunken Meadow State Park with only lanterns to guide the way. The group will pause along the way for some Long Island historical scary stories! Reservations are required. To register, please visit Eventbrite.com and search for #NatureEdventures. For more info, call 631-581-1072

Lake Ronkonkoma

Halloween Pet Parade

The Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization hosts a Halloween Pet Parade in the Lake Shore Plaza parking lot on Portion Road in front of Shoprite on Oct. 23 from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Goodie bags for all participants, top prizes for scariest, original and cute, 50/50 raffle. www.lakeronkonkomacivic.org

Miller Place

Spooky Lantern Tour

The Miller Place Mount Sinai Historical Society presents its annual Spooky Lantern Tour, a not-too-scary walking tour of the haunted history of Miller Place, on  Oct. 22, 23, 29 & 30 at 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Walk the Miller Place Historic District with a guide from the MPMS Historical Society who will regale you with all the spooky stories surrounding this pre-Revolutionary War town. Bring a lantern or flashlight and wear comfortable shoes. For ages 10 and up. Masks are mandatory. Tickets are $15 per person. To register, visit www.mpmshistoricalsociety.eventbrite.com.

Mount Sinai

A Heritage Park Halloween

The Heritage Center, 633 Mount Sinai Coram Road, Mt. Sinai presents an outdoor Halloween event on Oct. 31 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and again from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enjoy pumpkin picking and decorating, unlimited game playing, and much more. Registration is $10 per participant. Parents and guardians are not required to register. Each registrant will receive a goodie bag and pumpkin to decorate and take home. Don’t forget to wear your costume! Advance registration only at www.msheritagetrust.org.

Nesconset

Halloween Pet Parade

The Nesconset Chamber of Commerce and Jennifer O’Brien of State Farm hosts a Halloween Pet Parade fundraiser for the Smithtown Children’s Foundation at the Nesconset Gazebo, across from Nesconset Plaza, 127 Smithtown Boulevard, Nesconset on Oct. 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Come in costume and trick-or-treat, enjoy ice cream, raffles, music, pet costume contest, vendors and more. Rain date is Oct. 31. Free.  631-724-2543, www.nesconsetchamber.com.

Northport

Children enjoy a hayride at Northport’s Halloween Hayride at Northport Village Park on Oct. 25. Photo by Victoria Espinoza

Halloween Hayride

The Village of Northport will host its annual Halloween Hayride in Northport Village Park on Oct. 24 from noon to 4 p.m. with hayrides, pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting, live music, petting zoo, costume contest & refreshments. Fun for the whole family! Admission is $5 per person. Call 631-754-3905.

Port Jefferson

Trick or Treat Halloween Party

Give Kids Hope, 1506 Main St., Port Jefferson hosts a Trick or Treat Halloween Party on Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Decorate a pumpkin, play games, take part in a costume contest and more. Free. Call 631-538-5287.

Harvest Fest

The Village of Port Jefferson hosts its annual Harvest Fest throughout the village on Oct. 23 from noon to 5 p.m. with live music, fall inspired beer tastings, children’s activities, costumed dog parade, Pirate Scavenger Hunt, pumpkin carving, cornhole, woodcarving demonstrations, chowder crawl ($10 fee) and much more. Rain date is Oct. 24. Visit portjeff.com for schedule of events.

Halloween at the Explorium

Drop by the Long Island Explorium, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson in costume on Oct. 30 and 31 between 1 and 5 p.m. and pick up a Halloween treat! Call 631-331-3277.

Riverhead

Festive Trunk or Treat

Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead presents a festive Trunk or Treat event on Oct. 30 from 3 to 6 p.m. Come in costume and enjoy a mummy wrapping contest, Mike the Silly Magician Show, Halloween crafts, pumpkin decorating, games, costume parade,Trunk or Treat (treat bags provided) and much more. Admission is $15 per person, $50 for a family of four, children under 5 free. For a full schedule and tickets, visit www.hallockville.org.

Rocky Point

Trunk Or Treat!

The North Shore Youth Council and the Rocky Point PTA present a Trunk Or Treat! event at the Joseph A. Edgar School, 525 Route 25A, Rocky Point on Oct. 30 from 2 to 5 p.m. with decorated cars and trunks, candy and non-edible treats, face painting, crafts and photo prop. Costumes encouraged. Join them for a scary good time! Register for this free event at trunkortreatnsyc.eventbrite.com.

Ronkonkoma

Ghosts, Goblins and Witches

Ballet Long Island, 1863 Pond Road, Ronkonkoma presents Ghosts, Goblins and Witches, a fun ballet that is full of dance tricks and treats, on Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. and again at 12:15 p.m. (indoors) and on Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. (outdoors).  Tickets are $18 adults, $9 children and seniors. To order, call 631-737-1964 or visit www.theballetcenter.org.

St. James

Halloween Parade 

The Community Association of Greater St. James will host a Halloween Parade along Lake Avenue on Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. Line-up starts at noon on Seventh Street. Email [email protected].

Deepwells Haunted Mansion

Just in time for Halloween, the Deepwells Farm Historical Society transforms the Deepwells Farm Mansion, 2 Taylor Lane, St. James into Deepwells Sanitarium, Home for the Criminally Insane on Oct. 22, 23, 29 to 30 from 7 to 10 p.m. Featuring 16 rooms of horror, wooded trail of terror, food vendors, photo-ops and more. Advance tickets are available at www.deepwellshauntedmansion.com for $20 per person, $25 at the door. For more information, call 631-862-2808. 

Setauket

Graveyard Walking Tours

In lieu of its annual Spirits Tour, the Three Village Historical Society hosts a series of one hour Graveyard Walking Tours through the Caroline Church and Setauket Presbyterian graveyards on Oct. 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 5 p.m. and again at 5:30 p.m. Hear the stories of the dearly departed including the Culper Spies that lay at rest in the Three Village area. Tickets are $25. To register, visit www.tvhs.org.

Shoreham

Halloween at Wardenclyffe

Join the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, 5 Randall Road, Shoreham in celebrating Halloween on Oct. 30 from 3 to 6 p.m. with electrifyingly eerie exhibits, educational activities and fun for all ages featuring music, food, vendors, pumpkin contest, costume contest, Monster Mash Robot Challenge and more. Tickets are $15 adults, $13 seniors and students, $5 for ages 5 to 17, free for kids under 5. Visit www.teslasciencecenter.org or call 631-886-2632 for more information.

Smithtown

Ghosts and Goblins event

*This event is for Smithtown residents only.

Ghosts and goblins will invade Smithtown all in the name of good fun when the Smithtown Recreation Department hosts its annual Ghosts and Goblins event on Oct. 23 at Browns Road Park, 72 Browns Road, Nesconset from 10 a.m. to noon. Enjoy games and prizes, pony rides, a balloon artist, and more. Free. Call 631-360-7644.

Halloween Spooktacular

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Ave., Smithtown hosts a Halloween Spooktacular event on Oct. 28 and 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. Calling all ghoulies, ghosties, and other Halloween creepies for an evening of fun and excitement. Enjoy eerie animal presentations, a ghostly graveyard, creepy games, scary music, and spooky night trails. Great for ghouls 7 years and up. Refreshments available for purchase. Tickets are $15 per person. Register at www.sweetbriarnc.org or call 631-979-6344.

Spooky Lantern Walk

Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, 581 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown hosts a Spooky Lantern Walk On Oct. 23 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Enjoy a fun evening of walking through the park with only a lantern to light the way. See Caleb Smith in a whole new way after dark, while your guide tells some spooky stories! Lanterns are provided. Advance registration is required by calling 631-265-1054.

Stony Brook

Halloween Family Fun

The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook presents its annual Halloween Family Fun Day on Oct. 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. Come in costume and enjoy some spooky family fun on the museum grounds with a Halloween-themed magic show by Magic of Amore at 1 p.m., pumpkin painting and outdoor activities. Rain date is Oct. 24. Free admission and free pumpkin/decoration kit for each child while supplies last. 631-751-0066, www.longislandmuseum.org.

Secrets and Spirits Walking Tour 

Ward Melville Heritage Organization hosts a Secrets and Spirits of Stony Brook Village walking tours on Oct. 28 at 2:50 p.m. and Oct. 29 at 10:50 a.m. Participants of the tour will hear the stories of the people who lived, loved, died…and still reside in Stony Brook Village! Stories include star-crossed lovers Mark and Sarah, who resided by the harbor in the 1800s; legendary 19th-century artist William Sidney Mount and his involvement in the “Miracle Circle” group of séance enthusiasts; the traveling ghost of Jonas Smith, the so-called “Lady in White,” who is said to suddenly appear at the Stony Brook Grist Mill, and more. $10 per person. To reserve your spot, call 631-751-2244.

Halloween Festival 

Join the Ward Melville Heritage Organization for its 31st annual Halloween Festival at the Stony Brook Village Center, 111 Main St., Stony Brook on Oct. 29 from 2 to 5 p.m. Enjoy trick-or-treating in the shops, dancing and games, music from WALK 97.5, scarecrow competition and a Halloween parade! Free. Call 631-751-2244.

Pumpkin Carving Contest

The Reboli Center for Art & History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook hosts a Pumpkin Carving & Mask Making contest on Friday, Oct. 22 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Participants must bring their own, finished, carved pumpkin or mask (or both) in order to enter the contests. First place winners in each age group will win a Reboli Center gift certificate. Costumes welcome. Rain date is Oct. 29. 631-751-7707.

 

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Pixabay photo

By Barbara Beltrami

If there’s one holiday that caters to the population’s sweet tooth, it’s Halloween. Candy corn and bite-size candy bars notwithstanding, some of the best treats are candy apples whether the ones with the red crackly coating for traditionalists, those with a caramel nut coating for caramel nuts, or those with a chocolate and M & M coating for chocoholics. All of them are pretty expensive if you buy them, but inexpensive, fun and easy to make yourself. And speaking of teeth, they’re all a dentist’s dream.

Old-fashioned Candy Apples

YIELD: Makes 4 apples

INGREDIENTS: 

4 wooden lollipop or popsicle sticks

4 Granny Smith apples, rinsed and dried

Nonstick cooking spray

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/4 cup corn syrup

1/4 cup water

1/2 teaspoon red food coloring

DIRECTIONS: 

Insert lollipop sticks into tops of apples, one-third to one half of the way. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with nonstick cooking spray. In a small saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup and water; over medium heat bring to a boil; add red food coloring; continue cooking; swirl pan but do not stir. 

When candy thermometer reaches 290-300 F after about 10 minutes, remove pan from heat and, twirling apple over pan to let excess liquid drip off, immediately dip each apple in coating. Place apples on prepared parchment to cool and let candy coating harden. Serve with peppermint stick ice cream.

Caramel-Peanut Apples

YIELD: Makes 6 apples

INGREDIENTS: 

2 cups sugar

1/4 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

6 Granny Smith apples, rinsed and dried

6 wooden lollipop or popsicle sticks

Nonstick cooking spray

1 cup finely chopped salted peanuts

DIRECTIONS: 

Combine sugar, corn syrup and half a cup of water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and give a quick stir to thoroughly combine. Attach a candy thermometer to the inside of the saucepan and bring mixture to a boil; cook until mixture begins to turn amber, then swirl it to even out the color. Continue to cook until it turns a deep amber and thermometer reads 375 to 380 F; remove from heat. Gently pour in cream, then whisk to combine; stir in butter, vanilla and salt till smooth. Let sit off heat but don’t remove thermometer. Pierce the apples’ tops 1/3 to 1/2 way with the sticks. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray. Place peanuts on a plate. When the thermometer reads 190 F dip each apple in caramel and twist and swirl to cover; let excess drip back into pan. (If caramel gets too stiff, gently heat and stir over low heat to liquify.) Immediately dip and roll apples in peanuts and place them upside down on parchment. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Chocolate-dipped Apples

YIELD: Makes 4 apples

INGREDIENTS: 

6 Granny Smith apples, rinsed and dried

1 pound semi-sweet chocolate, diced

1 cup  M&M’s, finely chopped

Nonstick cooking spray, 

6 wooden lollipop or popsicle sticks

DIRECTIONS: 

Insert sticks halfway into apple core. In a double boiler over medium-high heat, bring water to a boil; add chocolate to top part of double boiler and stir until chocolate is almost completely melted; remove from heat and continue stirring until chocolate is smooth and warm but not hot. Place M & M’s on a plate. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and coat with nonstick cooking spray. Swirl the apples in the chocolate and, coating them as much as possible, let extra drip back into double boiler. Immediately roll apples in M & M’s and place on parchment. Serve with chocolate ice cream.

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METRO photo

Much like Christmas, Halloween is no longer relegated to a single day. A number of Halloween enthusiasts now begin decorating at the start of October. Hijinks and autumn revelry fill the air as individuals eagerly count down to the end of the month. Though the lightheartedness of Halloween festivities, such as costumes and candy, garner the bulk of celebrants’ attention, it’s important to take safety into consideration as well.

According to the Mayo Clinic, children are twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween as other nights of the year. Cuts and burns also are more common on October 31. A good Halloween scare should come from costumes, not accidents or injuries. This Halloween, consider these safety measures, courtesy of Safe Kids Worldwide, the Mayo Clinic, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Make sure you’re visible when trick-or-treating. Reflective tape, glow sticks, flashlights, or camping lanterns can make pedestrians more visible to motorists.

• Pedestrians should walk on sidewalks if they are available. When sidewalks are not available, walk facing traffic and do so as far off to the side of the road as you can get.

• Drivers should be especially alert to pedestrians on Halloween. Drive slowly, as many kids scurry from house to house in search of Halloween candy.

• Pedestrians and drivers should follow the rules of the road, stopping at intersections and crossing in crosswalks.

• Consider alternatives to carving pumpkins, since the risk of being cut while carving is high. If you want to carve, leave the carving to adults. Utilize battery-operated flameless candles or glow sticks to illuminate jack-o’-lanterns.

• All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant. Make sure that costumes do not impede your ability to walk or see.

• Test makeup to check for skin irritation before application. Remove it promptly after returning home.

• Set up a buddy system so that no one is going it alone. Agree on a specific time children should return home. Adults should chaperone young children.

• While incidences of candy tampering may be minimal, no one should snack on candy until it has been inspected. Inspections also protect against food allergies.

• The candy bounty should be rationed so no one overindulges and feels ill later on. Halloween season is a fun time of year, but safety should go hand in hand with all the celebrating on this special day.

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Tree lighting at the Vanderbilt Museum.

Since 1987, the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport has placed a very large tree in the Mansion Courtyard, decorated it for the holidays, and held a tree-lighting event to inaugurate the holiday season.

For many years, the Museum was able to harvest large pines and spruces from the wooded areas of the 43-acre Vanderbilt Estate. But the Museum has run out of the right size trees.

This fall, the Vanderbilt is looking for a local family that can donate one of its own trees for this year’s celebration. It must be local, from family property, and from 20 to 25 feet tall. The donor will be acknowledged on a sign next to the tree, and the donation will be publicized to the media, along with other Museum holiday events and programs.

This year, the tree lighting will be part of the opening night of Bright Lights, the Vanderbilt’s outdoor holiday event, which runs for a few weeks in December.

Anyone who is interested to donate a tree may contact Jim Munson, the Vanderbilt Museum’s operations supervisor: [email protected]. For more information, call 631-854-5579.

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Photo from The Atelier

The Atelier at Flowerfield, 2 Flowerfield, Suite 15, Saint James presents a Pumpkin Painting Workshop for ages 6 to 12. Choose from Oct. 16 or Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. Join instructor Miss Linda for some pre-Halloween fun as she teaches you how to choose and prep the perfect pumpkin; then paint one of four designs with specially formulated outdoor paint. Pumpkins and supplies included! Cost is $55 per child. To register, call 631-250-9009 or visit www.atelierflowerfield.org.

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The cast of 'A Kooky Spooky Halloween' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
The cast of 'A Kooky Spooky Halloween' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
The cast of 'A Kooky Spooky Halloween' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'A Kooky Spooky Halloween'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'A Kooky Spooky Halloween'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'A Kooky Spooky Halloween'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
The cast of 'A Kooky Spooky Halloween' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'A Kooky Spooky Halloween'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'A Kooky Spooky Halloween'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
The cast of 'A Kooky Spooky Halloween' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.

By Heidi Sutton

October is such a great time of year with  the lovely weather, the changing leaves, mums, pumpkin and apple picking and trick or treating. It also means the return of the holiday treat A Kooky Spooky Halloween at Theatre Three. With emphasis on the power of friendship and the importance of helping others, the original musical, written by Jeffrey Sanzel and Steve McCoy, runs through Oct. 30.

The star of the show is a nice ghost named Abner Perkins (Steven Uihlein) who has just graduated from Haunting High School. Awarded a medallion of invisibility, he is given the coveted assignment of haunting Ma Aberdeen’s Boarding House, famously known for being the most haunted house in Harrison County U.S.A … and for serving the best toast! Abner must abide by two rules — he can only haunt at night and he can’t lose the medallion or he’ll become visible and lose his powers.

There’s only one problem — Abner is afraid of the dark, which is “like a vampire who’s afraid of necks!” according to his best friend Lavinda the Witch (Alanna Rose Henriquez). She gives him a night light as a graduation present and promises to help him adjust to his ghostly duties.

When Abner and Lavinda arrive at the boarding house, they find the Petersons — Paul (Liam Marsigliano), his wife Penelope (Stephanie Moreau) and son Pip (Darren Clayton) — and Kit Garret (Heather Rose Kuhn), who has just come “from a small town to the big city with a suitcase in my hand and hope in my heart,” in the kitchen helping Ma Aberdeen (Ginger Dalton), the finest toast maker in the land, prepare treat bags for Halloween.

In one of the funniest moments in the show, Abner casts a speed spell on the group, making them dance, sing, spin like a top, quack like a duck and do jumping jacks in fast motion. His final spell of the night is to have them “join together like birds of a feather.”

Things are going hauntingly well until fellow graduate Dora Pike (Beth Ladd) appears out of thin air. Filled with jealousy, (she was hoping to be assigned to Ma Aberdeen’s boarding house) Dora steals Abner’s night light and medallion and threatens to drop them into Black Ridge Gulch, the deepest, darkest gorge in the entire world (where it’s really, really dark).

Still stuck to each other, the group can now see Abner who must convince them to help him retrieve his medallion and undo the spell. What follows is a “Golden Goose” moment throughout the theater that will leave you in stitches!

Peppered with Halloween riddles and jokes, the show is wonderful on so many levels. Directed by Jeffrey Sanzel, the 8-member adult cast know their target audience well and deliver standout performances with special mention to Ginger Dalton as Ma Aberdeen, a character she has played since the musical originated in 2017. I can’t imagine anyone else playing that role. 

Accompanied on piano by Douglas Quattrock and choreographed by Sari Feldman, the song and dance numbers are the heart of the show, especially “Into the World I Go” by Abner, “A Witch Is a Person” by Lavinda, and the fun group numbers, “A Need for Speed” and “It’s Ma Who Makes the Toast.”

Jason Allyn’s gorgeous costumes are on fleek, from the ghosts dressed from head to toe in flowing white and the witch’s purple dress and pointy hat, to the Peterson’s coordinating orange and black outfits and the spooky lighting design by Steven Uihlein sets the mood and ties everything together perfectly.

Halloween is always such a fun holiday for children. This year, make it extra special and take them to see A Kooky Spooky Halloween. They’ll love you for it.

Snacks and beverages are available for purchase during intermission and costumes are encouraged. Souvenir cat, pumpkin, Frankenstein, Dracula and ghost dolls will be available for purchase before the show and during intermission for $5. Meet the entire cast in the lobby for a group photo.

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents A Kooky Spooky Halloween on Saturdays, Oct. 9, 16, 23 and 30 at 11 a.m. and Sunday, Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. Children’s theatre continues with Barnaby Saves Christmas from Nov. 20 to Dec. 26, Puss-In-Boots from Jan. 15 to Feb 5, and a brand new production, Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz, from Feb. 23 to March 26. All seats are $10 and COVID protocols are in place. For more information or to order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

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A scene from 'Poltergeist'

Featuring Exclusive Interviews With Actors Behind Iconic Horror Movie Characters  

Showcase Cinemas, a world leader in the motion picture exhibition industry, is excited to bring back its popular “Halloween Horror Month” event throughout the month of October at participating theaters in Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Ohio. 

Showcase Cinemas invites guests to get into the Halloween spirit with special screenings of Halloween cult classics and fan-favorite horror films. As a special add-on that can’t be found anywhere else, Showcase interviewed the actors behind some of the most iconic characters in all of horror history, including Alec Baldwin (“Beetlejuice”), Heather Langenkamp (“A Nightmare on Elm Street”), Nick Castle (“Halloween”), Patrick Wilson (“The Conjuring”) and Oliver Robins (“Poltergeist”).  

Exclusive interviews will accompany the films below:  

·         Oct. 13: “Halloween” (1978) at 7:30pm 

·         Oct. 19: “Poltergeist” at 7:30pm 

·         Oct. 27: “Nightmare on Elm Street” at 7:30pm 

·         Oct. 28: “The Conjuring” at 7:30pm 

“Back by popular demand, we’re thrilled to once again kick off October with Halloween Horror Month at Showcase Cinemas, complete with exclusive interviews with the actors who played Halloween legends, which can’t be found anywhere else,” said Mark Malinowski, VP of Global Marketing for Showcase Cinemas. “There’s nothing like the experience of watching a spine-tingling classic horror film in the movie theater, as you feel the adrenaline rush of fighting the monsters together with the characters on the big screen. We invite all horror buffs to join us and celebrate the spooky season with their friends and family this October.” 

Participating theaters include Showcase Cinema de Lux locations in Dedham, Randolph, Foxboro, Blackstone Valley and Lowell in Massachusetts, along with Showcase Cinema de Lux Warwick (Quaker Lane) and Showcase Cinema de Lux Providence Place in Rhode Island. Participating theaters in New York include Showcase Cinema de Lux locations in Holtsville (Island 16), Farmingdale, Yonkers (Ridge Hill), White Plains (City Center), and College Point Multiplex Cinemas, along with Showcase Cinema de Lux Springdale in Ohio.  

With movie theaters now open at full capacity, Showcase Cinemas continues to implement health and safety protocols from the “Be Showcase Safe” program implemented last year for all Showcase Cinemas locations, including the installation of air-purifying systems for all US theaters.   

For more information on Halloween Horror Month and to purchase tickets, please visit https://www.showcasecinemas.com/showcase-halloween-horror-month.  

About Showcase Cinemas 

Showcase Cinemas is a world leader in the motion picture exhibition industry, operating more than 828 movie screens in the U.S., U.K., Argentina and Brazil under the Showcase, Cinema de Lux, SuperLux and UCI brands. With 22 theater locations in the United States, Showcase Cinemas delivers the finest entertainment experience, offering the best in viewing, comfort and dining.  For more information about Showcase Cinemas please visit our website at www.showcasecinemas.com.

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'Oogie Boogie' scarecrow Photo from WMHO
‘The Groomery’ by The Groomery of Lake Grove. Photo from WMHO

Time to vote! 37 scarecrows of all shapes, sizes and characters have been erected throughout the Stony Brook Village Center for the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s 31st Annual Scarecrow Competition. 

Winning scarecrows will win cash prizes based on the number of votes they receive from the public — voting is free and is now open! Ballots can be found in all the shops. Once completed, ballots should be returned to any shop to be counted in for voting. Voting is open until Monday, Oct. 25.

The winners of the Scarecrow Competition will be announced at the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s 31st Annual Halloween Festival on Oct. 29 at 3 p.m.

The sponsors of the 31st Annual Scarecrow Competition are as follows: Main Event Sponsor – the Suffolk Center for Speech and Myofunctional Therapy, the Black Cauldron Sponsor – The RJG Consulting Group, the Ghosts & Goblins Sponsor – Dr. Robert Quilty and the Candy Corn Sponsor – Gold Fish Swim School.

To learn more about the Scarecrow Competition or the Ward Melville Heritage Organization, call 631-751-2244.

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Photo from Vanderbilt Museum

The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport will present a Fall Festival with lots of seasonal fun for visitors of every age to enjoy a safe Halloween. The event will open Friday, Oct. 15, and run on weekends through Halloween. On Halloween weekend, everyone is invited to attend in costume. Different areas of the museum will feature staff members dressed in costumes and giving out trick-or-treat items.

Daytime (Saturdays, Sundays) 

From noon to 4 p.m.

Recommended for children 2 and up, (No costumed actors present.) the festival includes general admission to the museum, mini golf, face painting, pumpkin patch, Halloween games, a scavenger hunt, and more. Festive drinks and snacks along with farm stand items will be available for purchase. Tickets are $24 adults, $20 children.

Nighttime (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays) 

From 6 to 10 p.m.

Haunted attractions with costumed actors (not recommended for children 12 and under) include the Wicked Walk, a haunted maze, and The Wicked Haunt, the museum’s version of a haunted house, plus a 9-hole Mini Golf. Also, the Bubbly Bar will be selling refreshments and snacks. Guests can purchase one haunt for $25 (choose the one you like when you arrive). Both haunted attractions plus 9 holes of mini golf are $45 per person. Just 9 holes of mini golf is $10 per person. 

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. 

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A scene from 'Scream'. Photo from Fathom Events

Do you like scary movies? Scream, the iconic 1996 thriller from director Wes Craven, returns to select movie theaters nationwide on Oct. 10 and 11 in celebration of its 25th anniversary, courtesy of Fathom Events and Paramount Pictures. 

Drew Barrymore in a scene from ‘Scream’

Featuring an all-star cast, Scream remains a wildly entertaining experience with its sly humor and sharp, suspenseful filmmaking.

After a series of mysterious deaths befalls their small town, an offbeat group of friends led by Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) becomes the target of a masked killer. As the body count rises, Sidney and her friends turn to the “rules” of horror films to help navigate the real-life terror they’re living in. The film also stars Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard, Jamie Kennedy, Rose McGowan, and Drew Barrymore.

Fans who attend the special event will also be treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the film featuring vintage interviews with the director, screenwriter and actors.

“When it comes to suspenseful horror films of the ‘90s, ‘Scream’ revitalized the genre and created a global franchise,” said Tom Lucas, Fathom Events Vice President of Studio Relations. “Film fans should get ready and buckle up for a fiendishly clever ride this Halloween season at their local theater!” 

Catch a screening at AMC Stony Brook 17, 2196 Nesconset Highway, Stony Brook on Oct. 10 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. To order tickets in advance, visit www.fathomevents.com.

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