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‘Horseman’s Hollow’ Kicks Off Halloween Season In Sleepy Hollow

SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y. – More than 1,800 visited Sleepy Hollow’s Philipsburg Manor Saturday night, Oct. 5 for the opening night of one of Westchester County’s most popular fall events: the Horseman’s Hollow.

The ambiance of Sleepy Hollow in October is tough to beat.

The ambiance of Sleepy Hollow in October is tough to beat.

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella
A long lantern path entrance is provided at Philipsburg Manor.

A long lantern path entrance is provided at Philipsburg Manor.

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella
Some Sleepy Hollow scenery before the sun goes down.

Some Sleepy Hollow scenery before the sun goes down.

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella
Halloween decorations on Philipsburg Manor.

Halloween decorations on Philipsburg Manor.

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella
The Horseman’s Hollow is a "haunted walk" that takes place in the heart of Sleepy Hollow and aims to take "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" to “its darkest extremes.”

The Horseman’s Hollow is a "haunted walk" that takes place in the heart of Sleepy Hollow and aims to take "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" to “its darkest extremes.”

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella
Philipsburg Manor is filled with a natural spookiness -- and a pond.

Philipsburg Manor is filled with a natural spookiness -- and a pond.

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella
Waiting for the Horseman's Hollow to begin.

Waiting for the Horseman's Hollow to begin.

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella
Award winning actors know how to scare their visitors.

Award winning actors know how to scare their visitors.

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella
Enter at your own risk...

Enter at your own risk...

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella
He was warning on-goers about what lied ahead.

He was warning on-goers about what lied ahead.

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella
A good looking jacko-lantern.

A good looking jacko-lantern.

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella
Just a skeleton playing a violin.

Just a skeleton playing a violin.

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella
Headless in Sleepy Hollow.

Headless in Sleepy Hollow.

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella
Where's the body?

Where's the body?

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella
Not a school you want your children attending.

Not a school you want your children attending.

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella
Happy Halloween season from the Daily Voice!

Happy Halloween season from the Daily Voice!

Photo Credit: Michael Nocella

The Horseman’s Hollow is a "haunted walk" that takes place in the heart of Sleepy Hollow and aims to take "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" to “its darkest extremes.”

Led by haunted house professional Lance Hallowell and a crew of award-winning makeup and costume designers, the interactive, state-of-the-spooky-art special effects have become the go-to spot for local residents and tourists this time of the year.

“We came to spend the whole day in Sleepy Hollow with this (Horseman’s Hollow) being our grand finale,” Rockland County resident Charles Bronson said. “Hopefully we’ll run into a headless horseman – that’s what I want to see. We want to be scared witless.”

Chances are, Bronson and his family were not disappointed.

The haunted house experience, which runs a little over a half hour, sold out on its opening night – and for good reason. For those who enjoy spooky ambiance and the occasional scare, it doesn’t get much more authentic.

“Everything about Sleepy Hollow lends itself to mystery,” Robin Bolson, Historic Hudson Valley digital marketing associate, said. 

Horseman’s Hollow’s opening night even attracted visitors from out of town based off its reputation.

“I had a friend who came here and said it was really neat,” Penn State student Jessica Patton said. “I love stuff like this, so I had to check it out for myself.”

While Horseman’s Hollow kicked off the fall festivities in Sleepy Hollow Country, it is only the beginning of 25 evenings spanning through Nov. 11, including “The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze,” considered by many to be the Hudson Valley’s ultimate Halloween extravaganza.

That event brings a small team of artists together to carve more than 5,000 jacks, many fused together in elaborate constructions such as life-size dinosaurs and 8-foot-tall working jack-o’lanterns-in-the-box. All of them are then lit up throughout the wooded walkways, orchards, and gardens of historic Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.

‘Blaze’ dates are Oct. 5-6, 11-14, 17-20, 24-31, Nov. 1-3, 8-11. The first reservation is 7 p.m. on Oct. 5-6 and 6:30 p.m. for the other dates. Tickets are $16 for adults ($20 on Saturdays), $12 for children 3-17 ($16 on Saturdays), and free for children under 3 and Historic Hudson Valley members.

Horseman’s Hollow dates are Oct. 5-6, 11-13, 18-20, 25-27, Nov. 1-2, with the first reservation at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 ($25 on Saturdays). Historic Hudson Valley members receive a $5 per ticket discount.

Irving’s ‘Legend’ dates are Oct. 5-6, 11-13, 18-20, 25-27, Nov. 1-2. Seating is very limited, and there are three performances each evening on the hour, beginning at 5 p.m. (6:15pm Fridays). Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for children under 18. Historic Hudson Valley members receive a $5 per ticket discount.

Buy tickets online at www.hudsonvalley.org or by calling 914-366-6900 ($2 per ticket surcharge for phone orders).

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