Make no Bones about it - Halloween is coming!

The First Day of Autumn has passed and there's this strange sensation that something is waiting to sneak up on you!  Halloween of course!   The Enchanted Mountains of Cattaraugus County has plenty of events and activities to get you feeling spooky or even downright scared.   

Here are the upcoming family friendly places to go and events to participate in:
1. Pumpkinville - A day at Pumpkinville is a fall family tradition for most families in this area.  Partnering this year with the 50th Anniversary of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", there are even more delights to add to your Autumn Adventures.    Peanuts Inc., which oversees the Charles M. Schultz estate and controls the use of images and characters from the beloved comic strip, has selected Pumpkinville as one of the designated “sincere pumpkin patches” for the 50th anniversary of “It’s a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.”  Pumpkinville was selected as one of the top ten pumpkin patches nationwide.  Pumpkinville is the state’s oldest, continuously working pumpkin farm.  There will be direct “Peanuts” tie-ins this year including the “Great Pumpkin Bingo” spread over Pumpkinville’s six-acre corn maze. The maze has a “Peanuts” theme including a Snoopy design in its middle.  Of course, Snoopy will be making appearances to help celebrate!  He will be at Pumpkinville for two afternoons, Saturday Sept 24 and Saturday Oct. 1. 

2.  Salamanca-Seneca Falling Leaves Festival - Salamanca's celebration of the changing leaves offers free entertainment for families including carnival rides!  The event goes all weekend long and includes a live wrestling event, a dance, bed races and a grand parade!  

3. Hollywood Theater Psychic Fair & Vendor Event - Check out this Theater that is in the process of being restored as you visit and have personal readings done by well known psychics.  There will be 25 Direct Sales vendors, artisans, food and crafters with admission to the event being only $5.  Readings have an additional cost.  Perfect for this time of year, get answers to your questions and check out the efforts of this really cool Theater!

4. "Get Ready for Halloween" Public Paint Classes with Handmade By Shelby - Create a beautiful piece of art that you can decorate with just before Halloween.  There are two options - one with an owl in a tree and another of a Sugar Skull.  No experience needed, there will be full instruction and supplies are included in the cost! 

5. Fall Foliage Weekends at Sprague's Maple Farm - Each weekend in October, Sprague's Maple Farms offers visitors even more fun with wagon rides up to the Ol' Sugar Shack!   There will be hot mulled cider, donuts and other samples to warm you up!  Plan on having one of their delicious meals, all with Maple Syrup as an ingredient! 

6. Ellicottville's Fall Festival - One of the largest Fall Festivals around, thousands of festival goes make their way to the Village for a lively weekend of food, crafts and night life!  Take part in the Mountain Bike Races, 5k up at Holiday Valley, Chairlift Rides, and so much more!  View all the details, schedules and alternate routes at Ellicottville's website. 

7. Rock City Park's Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show - Columbus Day Weekend you can view, purchase and learn about rare and common rocks from around the world!  Items for sale may include rocks, minerals, fossils, shells, jewelry, cut and uncut stones, mining paraphernalia, tools and more, all relating to our natural earth!   This event is not to be missed and in the perfect setting for watching the leaves change and fall from the trees onto the large rocks.   

8. Pfeiffer's Fall Festivities for families - Bring the kids or grandkids to this event that offers plenty of fun!  Decorating pumpkins, face painting, "train" rides, cider and donuts, arts and crafts and even trick or treating along a trail.  Bring your costume and prepare for an afternoon of Fall Fun!  Please Register by October 6th at Pfeiffer's website or calling 716-933-0187. 

9. Halloween Party at the Olean YMCA - Get your costume on and head over to the Olean YMCA on October 21st for Halloween fun!  Kids up to age 18 can participate in costume contests, sliders and games or laser tag and a dance party.  Members are free, public cost is just $2. 

10. Horror at the Gowanda Hollywood Theater - Is the Old Theater really haunted?  See if you can dare to make it all the way through the Theater, with ghosts and ghoulies waiting for you in very good hiding places.  This happens Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Halloween starting at 6pm. 

11. Cattaraugus County's SPCA Howl-O-Ween Cause for Paws Bash - Fantastic bands, great door prizes, costume prizes for best cat costumer and raffles!  All to benefit the no-kill shelter in Olean.  Tickets are available now and cost $20.  Presented by the Pulaski Club.

12. Besecker & Coss' Great Pumpkin Shoot - Get your team of three together and get ready to see the pumpkins soar as Besecker & Coss' Great Pumpkin Shoot returns to benefit the LEEK hunting and mountain preserve.  Register the day of at noon, then try and hit the targets with your team on a giant slingshot. 

Here are the upcoming scary places to go and events to participate in:
1. Haunted Hinsdale House - There will be plenty of Ghost Tours (with special guests), Public Hunts and even overnight stays at this real-live haunted house.  The haunted house in Hinsdale, perhaps the most famous haunted house in the area, has all the elements of a good ghost story: a mysterious history, strange sightings, unexplainable events and even an exorcism.  ​Clara and Phil Dandy lived in the house along with their children in the early 1970s.  During their time there, they were visited by many spirits.  Father Alphonsus, a priest from St. Bonaventure University was at the house more than once to perform an exorcism which worked for awhile but as time went by the Dandy family lost the battle and ended up leaving the house for good.  Events are happening September 30th, October 1st, 7th, 8th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, and 29th. 

2. Nightmare Hayrides on Sommerville St.  - Hop aboard the scariest hayride of your life!  Your path will be covered with creepy characters, but you're not out of the woods yet!  You will have to make your way through the Gothic Chamber, Haunted Wooden Maze and Haunted barn.  This operates Friday, Saturday and Sunday from September 30 through Halloween!  Come see why this attraction draws visitors from all over Western NY! 

3. Ray Evans Theater presents a showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" - Halloween Special at the Ray Evans Seneca Theater.  Come in Costume and audience participation is encouraged.  Screening happens at midnight, but doors open at 11:30pm!  All tickets are $5 and visitors must be 18 or over.