For the 2014 Halloween Fun Guide, click here!

Boo!!!! Halloween is a time best known for for dressing up in costumes and receiving candy from our neighbors and friends and scaring our loved ones senseless - all in good fun of course. The traditional holiday has become a part of American culture and sure has remained to be a fun day.  
 
It is believed that Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, where the Celts would light bonfires, and wear festive costumes that mimicked the evil spirits to ward off roaming ghosts. The Celts thought that on October 31st, the portal between the dead and the living worlds was weak enough for the undead to travel through and cause havoc, especially on the living’s harvest. In addition, Christians observed All Saints Day, also known as All Hallows Eve, on November 1st and their rituals impacted Halloween.

Gradually, the influence of American culture shifted and evolved Halloween to how we celebrate the holiday today. Children dress up  in elaborate costumes, and get to be whoever or whatever they want to be. The little ghosts and ghouls or mini Supermans, Batmans, and princesses take on the persona of their costumes and show them off to everyone as they collect candy from door to door of their neighborhoods. Trick-or-treating is now a custom to the holiday. Homes are decorated with scarecrows, Jack O’Lanterns and other scary props. Kids decorate pumpkins with paint and a variety of faces.

If your favorite holiday is Halloween, then you’re in luck - there’s plenty of scary-good fun happening this Halloween Season right here on Long Island. Celebrate the day of the dead by attending one of the many haunted houses or spooktacular events - this guide is packed with all of the thrills & chills you’re looking for this year.

Whether you’re looking for ghostly and hair-raising horrors, or a day of family-friendly Halloween fun, we’ve got you covered in with our 2013 Halloween Guide!

Haunted Houses
With numerous haunted houses on Long Island filled with ghost, ghouls and goblins, practice your screaming before hitting up one of these scream houses.

• Zombieworld Attack of the Killer Clowns (DPCC)
  41 Homer Avenue, Deer Park, NY 11729
  631-667-6665
  October 4th - October 27th
  $15
  Spook yourself up with a 15 to 20 minute walk while the undead lurks in the dark shadows. Don’t let your eyes fool in the dark. The haunt is open every weekend in October. See event website for specific times.

• Bayville Scream Park
  8 Bayville Avenue, Bayville, NY 11709
  516-62-Ghost
  September 13th - November 3rd
  Bayville Scream Park features 5 thrilling haunted attractions which include Bloodworth Haunted Mansion, Uncle Needle's Fun House of Fear, Temple of Terror, Zombie Pirates and Evil in the Woods! The park opens September 13th and will remain open until November 3rd. See website for specific dates, times and prices.

• Darkness Rising
  10 Brooklyn Avenue, Massapequa, NY 11758
  516-799-4747
  October 4th - October 31st
  $15
  As night falls, your worst nightmares come to life. Are you afraid of the dark? See event website for details on times.

• HV Asylum
  426 Mill Road, Coram, NY 11727
  631-242-2096
  October 11th - October 27th
  Watch your step! The undead are lurking in every corner! HV Asylum offers fresh actors and routines keeping returning and new visitors on their toes with 13 acres of terror. The haunt is open every weekend in October starting October 11. See website for specific times.

• Fright Night Haunted House at Karts
  701 Union Parkway, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
  631-737-5278
  With 13 rooms of shear terror, beware of your mind taking you to the dark place it should never go as live monsters roam in the shadows. See event website for specific dates and times.

• Slim Chances Chamber of Horrors
  1745 Express Drive, Hauppauge, NY 11788
  516-710-1845
  October 4th - November 2nd
  Feel chills go down your spine and keep your eyes open as you walk through the haunted house of evil featuring a dark collection of mazes and rooms. Where will your imagination take you? The haunt is open every weekend in October and the first weekend of November. See website for other days and times.

• Spooky Fest - The Woods are Haunted!
  1 Tanglewood Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570
  516-764-0045
  October 19 - October 28
  $10
  The 4th annual Spooky Fest is held by the Center of Science Teaching and Learning and features something for everyone. This spooky fest is held on the weekends of October. See website for specific times.

• The Darkside Haunted House
  5184 Route 25A, Wading River, NY 11792
  631-369-SCAR(E)
  October 4th - November 3rd
  Experience the movie quality sets, bone chilling special effects and heart pounding scares. This haunt is open every weekend in October and some days during the week. Family Friendly hours 1pm to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. See website for information on specific times and days.

• Gateway’s Haunted Playhouse
  215 South Country Road, Bellport, NY 11713
  631-286-1133
  Friday, September 27th - Saturday, November 2nd - 7 pm
  $30 General Admission
  Have every bone in your body chill as gruesome creatures roam in the dark night and souls haunt all who dare to walk in their path.

• Blood Manor New York City
  163 Varick Street, New York, NY 10001
  212-290-2825
  October 4th - November 2nd
  $35 General Admission
  Blood Manor has over 15 themed rooms of horror with a pitch black maze and the all new haunted 3-D maze , where guests receive 3-D glasses to view ghastly images as demons, monsters and ghouls stalk them. The haunt is open every weekend in October and various days during

• RISE of the Jack O'Lanterns at Old Westbury Garden
  71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury, NY 11590
  516-252-1030
  October 4th - November 3rd
  $10
  Take a walk in the night through the trail of RISE of the Jack O'Lanterns featuring carvings from dozens of local artists and sculptors. Admission cost varies between $10 - $26. See website for more specific days and times.

• SpookyWalk at Camp Paquatuck
  Chet Swezey Road, Center Moriches, NY 11934                    
  631-878-1070
  October 18th - October 26th
  $15
  The Spooky Walk is a fundraiser for Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck directed towards children and adults with disabilities. Enjoy halloween with hamburgers, hot dogs, pretzels, candy apples and other refreshments to celebrate the camp’s 25th year of haunting. Don’t get squeamish! The walk takes place October 18th, 19th, 25th and 26th. See event website for specific times.

• Family Fun at Woodside Nursery
  134 E Woodside Ave, North Patchogue, NY 11772
  631 758-1491
  Opens September 29th
  FREE Admission
  Halloween is not all about being scared so enjoy a day of family fun Halloween at the Woodside Nurser with the “Octobercation" outdoor exhibit featuring face painting, scarecrow making and much more. There will also be the Haunted Tunnel with moving props and special effects perfect for those who are easily scared but still need a little scare.  

• Tiki's Trail of Terror
  1878 Middle Country Road, Centereach, NY 11720
  631-471-1267
  Dare to walk the trail of terror without jumping, screaming and running. With caves and blood-filled creeks, ponds and waterfalls, will you make it to the end? Find out and check out the event website for information on dates, times and pricing.

Trick-or-Treating
Trick-or-treating is the perfect way to get free candy! Of course, it is important to remember to stay safe and be cautious of the goodies that children are getting. Here are a few tips on staying safe while out on the streets:

• Parents should check all the candy children receive - THROW AWAY ANY OPENED PIECES OF CANDY
• Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Try not to eat homemade treats made my strangers.
• Kids should be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight to help you see better as well as helping others see you.

Friendly Tricks and Treats
Many schools offer special programs known as Safe Halloween for the community where young kids can come together, dressed in their costumes, and go trick-or-treating door to door of classrooms inside the school.

Spooktacular Events

• Spooky Fest at Center for Science Teaching and Learning
  1 Tanglewood Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570
  516-764-0045
  Friday, October 18th - Sunday, October 27th - 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
  $15
  
  Spooky Fest at CSTL inlcudes a scary walk in the woods, live animals, a haunted maze of madness, merry monsters and so much more! Admission for adults is $15 and kids are $10. See event listing for specific dates.
   
• Halloween Festival
  111 Main Street, Stony Brook, NY 11790
  631-751-2244
  Thursday, October 31st - 2 pm to 5 pm
  FREE
  Come out to Stony Brook Village for its Halloween festival featuring a costume parade, trick-or-treating and a display of scarecrows created for the annual scarecrow competition.

• Haunted Halloween
  1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage, NY 11804
  516-572-8400
  Saturday, October 19th - Sunday, October 27th
  Have a haunted Halloween with a monster scavenger hunt, tales from the local grave digger, jack-o-lanterns, the legend of Sleepy Hollow, broom making and so much more! Call for more information.

• Halloween Family Day
  246 Old Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station NY 11746
  631-427-5240
  Saturday, October 26th - 1 pm to 3 pm
  $8
  Bring the kids out for a day filled with free candy, face painting and raffles. Bring your Halloween spirit because a prize will be given for best costume.
   
• Halloween Costume Party
  390 Terry Boulevard, Holbrook, NY 11741
  631-513-8775
  Saturday, October 26th - 7 pm
  $35
  The Holbrook Fire Department is hosting their annual Halloween costume party fundraiser featuring a costume contest with prizes, DJ entertainment, raffles, buffet dinner and  drinks.

Other Things To Do
Halloween is not for everyone but there are still other scary and fun things to do to stay in the spirit of Halloween.

• Watch a scary movie
• Stay at home and give out candy to trick-or-treaters

Are you in the Halloween spirit?! What will you be doing this Halloween? Share it below in the comments!

Want to share photos of your Halloween costumes and fun with us? Email them to photos@longisland.com, and we’ll add them to 2013 Halloween Gallery!