Pumpkins the kids painted! Photo via historicrichmondtown instagram.
Photo via historicrichmondtown instagram
As the temperature drops, the excitement rises! Since it is nearly time for spooky season, we can finally put on our flannels and pumpkin pick our hearts out! And what’s more exciting than fall? It’s fall with friends, which is finally possible as COVID-19 restrictions ease and vaccines are readily available! Let’s take a look at what’s in store for us in October!
Starting off the month strong is the Greenside Up Garden Center! Beginning October 1st, Greenside will have a variety of pumpkins to pick and attractions to see. Their pumpkin patch is open every single day, on weekdays from 12-6pm and on weekends from 10am-6pm. Their weekends also include the return of their Haunted Attraction and Corn Maze, featuring face painting, pumpkin painting, bouncy inflatables, and more from 7-11pm on Friday & Saturdays and 6:30-10pm on Sundays. Admission is $30/pp, but $25 with a High School Student ID. You can find Greenside Up Garden Center at 2777 Arthur Kill Road, right across from Lowe’s. Head to their Greenside Up Garden Center for more details.
Decker Farm, in Historic Richmond Town, is also hosting their own fall festivities. Beginning Saturday October 2nd, and continuing every Saturday and Sunday throughout October, the farm is set to feature pumpkin picking, a children’s hay maze, pumpkin painting, pumpkin chucking, a snack wagon, and a variety of fall food & shopping vendors to choose from! Alongside, Decker Farm is hosting a few other educational events, featuring Apple Cider Pressing & Soap Making (10/2, 10/3, 10/10, 10/24, & 10/31), Indigenous People Living History Presentation (10/23), and a Spooky Storytelling session on Halloween night! Ticket prices vary and can be purchased on the Decker Farm via Historic Richmond Town’s website.
Decker farm! Photo via historicrichmondtown instagram.
Photo via historicrichmondtown instagram.
Photo via historicrichmondtown.
After you’ve picked your pumpkins and carved them too, you can head on over to the annual Staten Island Zoo Spooktacular! Each year, the zoo never fails to give the island pumpkin to talk about! This year, the zoo’s Spooktacular is set to feature live music, scare zones, interactive costumed characters, light shows, contests, skits, & giveaways! Head to the Staten Island Zoo on October 15th, 16th & 17th from 5:30pm – 9pm to join the fun! Admission is $25/pp and must be purchased in advance on their Staten Island Zoo’s website. PLEASE NOTE: all attendees must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination upon arrival.
Photo via from statenislandzoo instagram.
Beginning that same weekend, St. Andrew’s Cemetery is hosting Poetry of the Dead: Cemetery Tours. The church has been around for 3 centuries and the tour will expose you to the haunting stories that the gravestones hold. Step into the cemetery on October 15th (4pm, 5pm, 6pm), October 22nd (4pm, 5pm, 6pm), or October 29th (4pm, 5pm, 6pm) and trick or treat yo’self.. If you dare! The cemetery is located at 40 Old Mill Road, and tickets can be purchased on Poetry of the Dead.
The week after has lots of fun in store as well! On October 23rd, Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve Nature Interpretive Center is hosting their 7th Annual Harvest Festival! Activities include scarecrow building, pumpkin carving, apple bobbing, face painting, live animals, a puppet show, a guided hike, live animals, crafts, games, and more! Masks are required for individuals without a COVID-19 vaccine. Located on 2351 Veterans Road West you can purchase tickets for the Annual Harvest Festival.
Then, on Halloweekend, the island has lots in store! On October 30th, Richmond Republic will have events for the whole family! In the afternoon, the restaurant is set to host a Halloween Family Brunch, with a $25 meal for kids and a $35 meal for adults. There will be two time slots to choose from: 12pm-2pm & 2:30pm-4:30pm. The event will feature a DJ, pumpkin painting, games, giveaways, and a magic show! Tickets available for Halloween family brunch. Later that evening, Richmond Republic will have a Haunted Mansion, featuring a live performance by VERONICA. The event will be DJ’d by Johnny Budz & Eric Rivera and will have a costume contest with up to $1000 in cash prizes, as well as live performers, professional sound and lighting, and more! What’s not to enjoy! You can purchase tickets for Haunted Mansion, and you can find Richmond Republic at 4459 Amboy Road.
If you’re looking for more of a chill and elegant evening, The Historic Old Bermuda Inn is hosting a Halloween Dine & Dance event. A $45 ticket will get you dinner off of their pre-fixed menu, dessert, coffee & drinks, with gratuity and tax included! Unfortunately, no walk-ins will be welcomed, so call (718)-948-7600 to reserve your tickets today!
And of course, you don’t need any sort of ticket to treat or treat around the island and check out the community’s cool costumes on Halloween itself! So make sure you’ve got your costume picked out, your plans made, and your tickets purchased- and creep it real and safe this Halloween!
xoxo,
SIL