Halloween in the Adirondacks: Eat, Drink, and Be Scary
Your guide to the best Halloween events in the Adirondack Park.
Trick-or-treating on the trail: Adirondack Halloween events to die for.
This week marks the beginning of the Spooky Season in the Adirondacks. Halloween is just around the corner, and towns across the Adirondacks have a diverse range of fun things to do for anyone seeking tricks or treats this October. From ghost tours to community celebrations, there's something for everyone.
ADK Taste shares our top recommendations for upcoming ghoulishly good Halloween events. To see our complete list, visit our Fall Festivals and Halloween Events page.
Witch way to Lake George? Navigating Halloween frights and fun in Lake George.
Fort William Henry Museum in Lake George is not only a significant American historical site but also a significant place for paranormal activity.
We recently wrote about all the paranormal activity in the Lake George area, making it the perfect destination for Halloween. If you are interested in ghost hunting, visit Fort William Henry Museum in Lake George Village for a Haunted History Ghost Tour. Learn more about the area’s bloody history and take a tour with an expert guide through the museum’s haunted corners on Fridays and Saturdays in October.
Lake George’s thrill capital, the Great Escape, provides a spectacularly spooky experience on weekend evenings at its Fright Fest. This annual event, held on weekends in October, includes Halloween-themed attractions, costume contests, and trick–or–treating (Snickers is a sponsor).
Speaking of tricks and treats, Up Yonda Farm in Bolton also offers its annual Trunk-or-Treat family event on October 26. Costumed Lil’ ADKers roam the decorated grounds, trick-or-treating at various creatively themed vehicles, each offering a delightful assortment of treats.
In addition to candy, families can engage in festive activities such as pumpkin decorating, allowing children to unleash their creativity while getting into the Halloween spirit.
Pumpkins, parades, and the paranormal in the Adirondacks’ Tri-Lakes and High Peaks region.
Lake Placid’s annual Halloween Day parade.
Lake Placid, Tupper Lake, and Saranac Lake are great destinations for Halloween adventurers. Lake Placid’s annual Halloween Parade is the centerpiece of a day of fun events on October 31. The action takes place in the town center and is a must-see, family-friendly event.
There will be trick-or-treating in the afternoon at downtown Lake Placid businesses and a Halloween Dance for Lil’ ADKers in the early evening.
Saranac Lake has plenty of Halloween fun to offer. The Saranac Laboratory Museum hosts Scare-anac Lake, an afternoon of history, haunts and hands-on activities for Lil’ ADKers on October 31.
While you're in Saranac Lake, drop by Hotel Saranac, considered one of the top haunted hotels in the United States. Enjoy a cocktail in their Great Hall, where rumors of ghostly activity, unexplained footsteps, doors shutting, and flickering lights are commonplace.
Looking for some outdoor adventure? Check out Tucker Farms Corn Maze in Gabriels, NY (less than 10 miles north of Saranac Lake). Open Thursdays through Sundays until the end of October, the maze is fun for young and old.
On Saturday evening, October 26, they host a special fright night. The maze takes on an eerie atmosphere with plenty of unexpected surprises.
Tupper Lake hosts a Monster Dash for kids on Halloween day, the ultimate trick-or-treat warm-up. Ghouls and goblins of any age can show off their creative costumes as they dash, skip, and scamper along a 1K route.
Where the wild things go boo: Halloween in the Central Adirondacks.
They keep things pumpkin-spicy for Halloween in towns like Inlet, Newcomb, Old Forge, and Indian Lake.
The Town of Inlet hosts their annual Halloween parade, costume contest and lots of treats on Friday, October 25.
If you’re trying to “Creep it Real” this Halloween, we suggest visiting the Adirondack Interpretive Center in Newcomb on October 26 for an engaging Halloween-themed nature event, “Skulls, Skins and Spooky Things.”
Get up close to real animal skulls and pets from local animals, enjoy a scavenger hunt on the AIC’s scenic trails, or get crafty with their hands-on activity creating bats with natural materials.
Adults can enjoy View Arts Center’s 5th annual Halloween Party, The Monster Mash, on Saturday evening, October 26. The party features a cash bar featuring Halloween-themed specialty cocktails and delicious appetizers. Be sure to dress to impress for the costume contest.
Thrills and chills in the Gore Mountain region.
The Inn at Schroon Lake is hosting a Spooky Flicks Movie Night on their front lawn on Sunday, October 27. Bring your gang of ghouls and goblins to the Lodge at Schroon Lake for a PG-rated, spooky classic film that’s fun for all ages. Get cozy with warm blankets, enjoy fresh popcorn and delicious snacks, and sip on hot cocoa or cider as you watch the big screen come alive.
Boos and Brews is what’s on tap at Paradox Brewery on October 26.
Stop by Paradox Brewery on Saturday, October 26, for Halloween events. They will have hayrides, live ghosts, and a scavenger hunt.
Their outdoor taproom will be open, serving tasty beverages and pizza slices. In the evening, their Halloween party commences with awesome drinks, a costume contest and all manner of spooky treats.
If you’re in the area, visit Barkeater Chocolates for their fantastic hand-made treats. It’s also a stop on New York State’s Haunted History Trail. Barkeater Chocolates set up shop in 2013 in an old farmhouse near Gore Mountain. Since that time, many employees report experiencing unexplained sounds and movements. Staff heard footsteps and banging, and on one occasion, an employee came in to find various objects in the middle of the workroom floor.
Warlocks and waterways: Halloween casts a spell over Lake Champlain’s shores.
Towns and Villages along historic Lake Champlain on the northeastern edge of the Adirondacks offer up fantastic Halloween events.
Haunted ruins at Crown Point State Park overlooking Lake Champlain.
On October 25, embark on an enchanting twilight adventure with a seasoned storyteller as you wander through the ancient ruins of Fort St. Frederic and His Majesty's Fort at Crown Point.
As the sun dips below the horizon, immerse yourself in spine-tingling tales of mysterious drownings and shadowy figures that have haunted the barracks for centuries. Revel in the chilling legends of rumored sea monsters lurking beneath the waves. This captivating tour offers a unique and eerie history of these historic grounds.
One of our favorite towns on Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Coast is picturesque Essex, NY, full of history and beautiful architecture. On Saturday, October 26, they will put on their annual Haunted Hamlet.
Halloween festival in Essex, NY.
The village is transformed into a Halloween wonderland. Main Street is closed for a town-wide carnival featuring s’mores around campfires, local craft and food vendors, pumpkin painting, and seasonally appropriate music. The historic municipal center building becomes a Haunted Town Hall. And local shopkeepers and restaurants take part, too, opening their doors to visitors.
While you’re in the Lake Champlain area, be on the lookout for Champ, the Adirondacks' enigmatic aquatic beast. For centuries, this cryptid, like Sasquatch and the Loch Ness Monster, has captured the imagination of locals, tourists, and cryptozoologists alike, spawning numerous sightings, legends, and a thriving subculture of Champ enthusiasts. Be on the lookout if you’re in the area.
These are just a few of our recommended Halloween happenings this year in the Adirondacks. For the complete list, check out ADK Taste's Fall Festivals page.
And, if you’re interested in learning more about the best of the Adirondack’s haunted places, check out this article.
