By Darlene Brace
As the leaves turn into a kaleidoscope of colors, Halloween in Western New York is an enchanting season. Families will enjoy a variety of activities that including costume parties and contests, haunted trails, spooky fun, and lots of candy treats. Here is a selection of some of the family fun Halloween activities around Western New York.
The Fireside Frights at the Peek’n Peak Resort in Clymer will take place on October 23rd. Starting at 6pm, there will be trick or treating in The Gallery, along with a costume contest and snacks. This will also include the showing of Casper the Friendly Ghost on the Gazebo Grill lawn at 8pm.
The Ellicottville Memorial Library will be having their 5th annual Escape the Haunted Library, taking place from 6-9:30pm on October 23rd and 24th. Get your team together to see if you can escape in thirty minutes. This event is free to attend, but you must make a reservation by calling (716) 699-2842.
Enter the Haunted House and Terrifying Walk in the Woods if you dare. This scary event is an all-ages free event located at 851 West Road in Cherry Creek. They will be there to scare you rain or shine from 7pm-10pm on October 23rd and 24th. Join them to see what’s lurking in the shadows.
The City of Jamestown will be having its 5th Annual Halloween Riverwalk Trick or Treat Trail. This community event will take place on October 24th, from 5-7pm on the river trail near South Main and Harrison Streets. Area businesses and organizations will be handing out candy along the trail.
In Olean, the Southern Tier Catholic School is hosting an all-ages Halloween event called The Mysterious Outbreak-A Haunted House Experience from 7-9:30pm. Enter this spooky event being held at 921 N. Union Street in Olean (formerly St John’s School). There will also be crafts, face painting, music, a bake sale, and raffles.
Falconer Power Sports is having a Fright Fest from 10am-2pm on October 24th. This fun Halloween event will have a costume contest, prizes, a selfie station, refreshments, and trick or treat stations handing out candy. Live music will be performed by Russ Delong from 11am-1pm.
The Chautauqua County Safety Village in Ashville invites you to join them at their annual Halloween Fun Fair on Wednesday, October 28th from 4-7:30pm. Children can go trick or treating at over 20 “businesses” throughout the village. There will also be a kid friendly ghost house, a bounce house, train rides, and other fun activities, rain or shine. For more information, visit chautauquasafetyvillage.com.
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown will be having its first Halloween Party from
6-7:30pm on Thursday, October 29th. You will get a prize for wearing a costume, and you can decorate your own mask. There will be pumpkin painting, a scavenger hunt, treats, and a cash bar. You must register at rtpi.org to attend this festive party.
The Bemus Point Golf Club and Tap House is having its annual Halloween Party on Friday, October 30th from 6-9pm. There will be food specials, Halloween themed cocktails, a costume contest with prizes, and DJ Felix playing tunes from 6-9pm.
A Spooktacular Gathering will be taking place on October 31st at the Neighborhood School of Dance Event Center on Union Street in Olean from 12-5pm. There will be free admission, a door prize, local vendors, and a costume contest with cash prizes as well as other activities for kids.
The New York and Lake Erie Railroad in Gowanda is having a special Halloween Train Ride on Halloween day. Enjoy a two-hour round-trip ride from Gowanda to South Dayton and back. Your ticket includes a costume contest, a candy counting contest, Halloween treats, and plenty of fun. There are two trips scheduled, with the first from 11am-1pm and then again from 2-4pm. Visit nylerailroad.com to purchase your tickets. They’re expected to sell out quickly, so be sure to get yours as soon as possible.
In addition to special events, most communities in the area will continue the traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating on Halloween evening. The hours typically range from 5pm to 7pm or 6pm to 8pm, but they can vary from one town to the other. To find out the specific hours for trick-or-treating in your town, please check with local sources. It’s always encouraged that adults supervise this annual activity to ensure the safety of children as they go from door to door. Have a safe and Happy Halloween.