Halloween - that spooky time of year when the ghosts come out to play, the pumpkins glow in the night, and the candy consumption reaches alarming levels. It’s officially spooky season — and for those who look forward to Halloween all year long, LivCo offers plenty of spooks and scares to keep you on your toes. Whether you're a hardcore Halloween enthusiast or just in it for the free candy, navigating the haunting festivities can be a daunting task. From guided spirit walks to a beastly ball, here are some of the county’s witchy and wild events worth traveling for.
GET READY FOR ALL TYPES OF HAUNTED HAPPENINGS
If you like your horror on the historic side, make tracks for Genesee Country Village and Museum, a living history museum set on 600-plus expansive acres that depicts life in the 1800s. On October 12th, the museum welcomes visitors for Spooky Saturday. Pack your costume and get ready to snap some Instagram-worthy pics of the fall foliage contrasted against the historic buildings — a charming fall scene if we’ve ever seen one!
Be sure to stick around to check out the museum’s newest exhibit as well, an apt addition for the season: Everybody’s Going to Be There! The American Rural Cemetery Movement, where you can explore how 19th-century Americans managed public health concerns, developed an appreciation for green space and wildlife and ensured memorialization in a newly established public space: the rural cemetery. A special talk will also be given on the history of rural cemeteries.
In the John L. Wehle Gallery at the museum, find local maker RocBlock Prints who will be selling a wide variety of spooky-themed hand pressed prints and seasonal items. Don’t forget to wander through the Historic Village to enjoy the exuberant fall colors as you smell fires burning in historic hearths, watch the last of the summer harvest in the fields, and learn about how the change of seasons affected life in 19th-century New York. Make sure to stop by the Settlement Farm to see historical farmers constructing a scarecrow!
Won’t be in town on October 12th? Throughout all of October, you can join guides at the Genesee Country Village and Museum for Spirits of the Past: A Walk in the Dark, a spooky experience that takes you throughout the historic village, where shocks and scares await around every corner. Tickets are available on the museum’s website, gvc.org, and the guided walks take place the weekends of October 18th through 20th and October 25th through 27th.
For more historic haunts, head to Temple Hill Cemetery in Geneseo, founded in 1807 and a prime example of the rural cemetery movement. Learn more about the cemetery and its supposed spirits, during a one-night-only spirit walk that happens mid-October and is led by the Temple Hill Cemetery Association.
In Geneseo on October 11th? Celebrate the season at the Scarecrow Stroll and Bash. Explore local vendors, small businesses, and select eateries along Main Street while voting for your favorite scarecrow display. Continue the party on Chestnut Street next to the Wisdom mural with craft beverages, bites, and live music. As the sun starts to set on Halloween night, dress up in your best costume and wander down Main Street for the Annual Geneseo Halloween Parade.
In Mount Morris, Backyard Barnyard, a petting zoo and family fun center, offers two Halloween parties that you won’t want to miss. A family-friendly party takes place on the last Saturday in October, with food, music, dancing, a costume contest, and lots of kiddo-approved spooky activities. The last Friday in October, though, is for the adults, with a 21-and-up shindig called the Backyard Barnyard Beastly Ball. Food trucks, a DJ, breweries, wineries, and tons of fun activities like corn hole and tarot card readings are all on tap. Make sure to wear your best costume; the costume contest comes with cash prizes!
Prefer a classic Halloween experience? Don’t miss the haunted hayrides from Livingston County Moonlit Acres, in Dansville. All throughout October, you can take a ride on the hay wagon and put your bravery to the test. Or make a visit to the restored Avon Park Theater on Genesee Street for Eric Carlin's Half Dead Halloween Bash, which returns for another year of fun on October 26th. Dance to the songs of the Grateful Dead, then during the set break, the band will host a costume contest with super cool Dead-themed prizes.
SPOOKY SPOTS IN THE REGION
Whatever time of year you visit LivCo, if you’re always up for a good scare and constantly tracking down haunted hotspots no matter where you travel, you’ll want to book a stay at one of these paranormal places.
Built in 1848, this historic, Greek revival-style bed and breakfast is home to two ghosts: Karen and Raymond. Both have been recorded by paranormal investigators, but never fear — both are friendly. You might spot Karen on the staircase, or even hear a word or two from Raymond. Keep your eyes peeled for a furry phantom during your stay as well. Ghost cat Sammy has been known to wind around guests’ legs and even snuggle up for a nap.
Similarly, the American Hotel in Lima is a historic property nearly 200 years old. However, while some might know the property for its fantastic dining (the kitchen churns out more than 400 varieties of soup, perfect for the season!), others know it for its ghosts, with guests reporting sightings ranging from friendly past residents, long-deceased, to specters floating through their rooms.