BOO! Halloween is right around the corner and the Rochester region is getting in on the fun, fright-filled festivities. You won’t have to wait for October 31 to get in the spirit of the season. Here’s five local Halloween activities to experience before the holiday arrives.
Powers Farm Market — This Pittsford farm is bustling year-round, but in autumn is when it really comes alive! Few places can capture the essence of Halloween like Powers Farm Market. Take a walk through the "world’s largest teepees," illuminated inside by amazing jack-o-lanterns, pick the perfect pumpkin at a patch with hundreds to choose from, take a hayride through the haunted forest or feed the farm animals right from the palm of your hand! Once you’re done with the fun, head inside the store for some delicious seasonal pies, breads, cider, cider slushies, fried cakes, candied apples and everything pumpkin!
Fright Fest at Darien Lake — Thrills by day, fright by night: Darien Lake Theme Park becomes the horror home of Halloween every year. Fright Fest runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from September 28 through October 28. There's always plenty to do at Darien Lake, but even more for families this month. During the day, young children can take part in the trick-or-treat trail and other kid-friendly activities. By night the theme park turns into a screme park with zombies roaming around, new scare zones and haunted mazes, two new haunted houses and a new laser light show, Laser Spooktacular, performed every Friday and Saturday at 10:30 p.m.
Haunted Hayrides of Rochester — If you're looking for a good scare, this is your best bet. The Haunted Hayrides of Rochester in Williamson New York is back and spookier than ever. Take a ride ride on the Hellevator, try to decipher the puzzling Hall of Mirrors, courageously conquer The Screamatorium, make your way through the 3D Maze, watch the Fear Cam to see how others handle the horror and, of course, ride the Haunted Hayride. The full schedule is available online, including some days with buy-one-get-one discounts.
Gro-Moore Farm Market — Fall is family fun time at Gro-Moore Farms in Henrietta. Peruse through Pumpkin Hollow, enjoy the petting zoo, ride the pumpkin slide and try your best to make it through one of the two corn mazes. There's also live entertainment, wagon rides and many contests for some wholesome family fun for the Halloween season.
Castle of Horrors — The Main Street Armory will transform into the Castle of Horrors for the sixth straight year. With more than 40,000 square feet, it's the largest haunted house in the Rochester region. It's not just a pop-up-tear-down horror house either — each room is desiged as a permanent structure, down to the last detail. New features include redesigns and expansions to classic areas as well as eight new rooms including the supply debot, the waiting room, the lab, the morgue, the gilly suit room, the vaccination room, the meat locker and the catacombs.
These attractions stretch from Wayne County to Genesee County, so refer to our map to find the Halloween attraction for you: