[Excalibur] Halloween happenings abound in the region

[Andy Steinberg]

http://www.masslive.com/living/republican/index.ssf?/base/living-0/113031289758190.xml&coll=1&thispage=1

As some readers may know, the origins of Halloween
come from the ancient Celtic festival known as
Samhain. 

According to Celtic mythology, one night before winter
saw the spirits of the dead mingling with humankind.
To appease the spirits, the Celtic people would put
out offerings on the doorstep. Others would dress up
in scary costumes, in hopes of deceiving these
spirits. 

So it's no wonder that Western Massachusetts - with
its large Irish population - has a bounty full of
Halloween events. 

But it's not just the Irish who celebrate this
ghoulish holiday, as witnessed by the lengthy list of
local events below. 

The Longmeadow Historical Society will present "All
Hallows Eve on Freaky Friday" tomorrow at 6:30 p.m.
The event will be held at the graveyard of First
Church and free cider and doughnuts will be provided.
Call (413)567-5904 for more information. 

The Northampton Center for the Arts will present "Face
the Music and Dance," a festive-attire ball Friday at
7:30 p.m. The evening will feature music by the Floyd
Patterson Band, food, a cocktail bar and, in keeping
with its theme, a unique raffle of facial products,
treatments and gifts. The gala is part of the push to
raise funds for a facelift of the center's ballroom.
The cost is $50 and reservations can be made by
calling (413) 584-7327 

Two local favorites are collaborating on a Halloween
event Sunday as WGBY-Channel 57 presents "Family
Funfest and Supernatural Sunday" at Historic Deerfield
between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Visitors will be able to
meet popular PBS characters, take a hayride, press
their own cider and meet an 18th century conjurer.
Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children 6-12.
Children under age 6 are admitted free. For more
information, call (800)781-9429. 

The Springfield Museums will get into the spirit of
Halloween on Saturday with "Hoot 'n' Howl Halloween"
starting at 11 a.m. Three of the four museums will
provide a bag full of family fun, from a Harry Potter
costume contest, to a scavenger hunt, to a program
about owls. Call (413) 263-6800 for more information
on each event. 

Springfield Central Library will kick off its
Halloween Happenings with a program for children
between ages 10-13 today at 4 p.m. Tomorrow, a 10 a.m.
program will be offered for children ages 2-4.
Saturday's program, at 1 p.m., will be for children
under 10. For more information, call (413) 263-6828.
The Forest Park Library will offer its own series of
programs and can be reached at (413) 263-6843. The
Liberty Branch will also feature its own programming
and can be reached at (413) 263-6849. 

Six Flags New England in Agawam will hold its annual
Fright Fest from Oct. 28-31, featuring ghoulish
creatures, scary rides and a Trick-or-Treat Trail. For
more information, call (413) 786-9300. 

"Boo at the Zoo" will again return Saturday from 1-3
p.m. at the Forest Park Zoo on Sumner Avenue in
Springfield. The event features entertainment and a
costume parade. Call (413) 733-3800 for more
information. 

The Belchertown Historical Association will present
"Witches, Graveyards and Ghosts: Halloween and
History" Saturday from 7-9 p.m. The evening will
feature lectures, a walking tour of the Hope Cemetery
and ghosts stories at the Stone House Museum.
Admission is $6; $4 for children, Call (413) 323-6573
for more information. 

The Monson Historical Society will present its annual
cemetery walk Friday at 7 p.m. in the Butler Road
District Cemetery. Parking is available at the Peaked
Mountain lot and attendees should bring a lantern or
flashlight. For more information, call (413) 267-5376.


McCray's Farm in South Hadley will wind up this year's
series of Haunted Hayrides tomorrow, Saturday and
Sunday. A less-frightening children's ride runs from
6-7 p.m. and is $3 for children and $5 for adults. A
"scary" ride starts at 7 p.m. and costs $9 for
children under 52 inches tall and $13 for those over
52 inches, and for adults. (413) 533-3714. 

Old Sturbridge Village will offer "Things That Go Bump
in the Night" on Sunday, featuring ghosts, goblins,
magic and a costume parade. Call (508) 347-3362 for
more information. 

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art will feature
a Halloween story time with author David Costello,
Sunday at 2 p.m. For more information, call (413)
658-1100. 

The Amherst Leisure Services will sponsor its annual
Halloween parade for trick-or-treaters on Oct. 31 at 6
p.m. The parade begins at Sweetser Park and ends at
the parking garage plaza. Call (413) 256-4065 for more
information. 

Garden Cinemas in Greenfield will show "It's the Great
Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" on the big screen on Oct. 31
at 7 and 8 p.m. The film is free of charge. 

Also in Greenfield, the Main Street businesses will
serve as hosts for two hours of trick-or-treating,
from 4-6 p.m. and a costume contest at the Town Common


The annual Haunted Train and Lights Display will once
again bring some fun-filled spookiness to Look Park in
Northampton. The final days of this yearly ride will
be tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
$2.50 for children; $3.50 for adults. (413) 584-5457. 

A Halloween Celebration with Roger Tincknell will be
held Saturday at Northfield Mountain Recreation
Center, The event will feature Halloween songs,
sing-a-longs and spooky stories by popular valley
entertainer Roger Tincknell Call (800) 859-2960 for
more information. 

The Rev Tor Band will present its 11th annual
Halloween Party Saturday at The Bousquet Ski Area in
Pittsfield. The show starts at 8 p.m. and costs $10 at
the door. For more information, call (413) 442-3316. 

The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round will hold its "Boo Bash"
Saturday and Sunday. Call (413) 538-9838. 

The Monson Rotary Club's annual Halloween Parade and
Costume Party will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 31. Costumed
children and parents will meet at the town office
building, to be escorted by Monson police officers
during their parade down Main Street to Memorial Hall.
Call (413) 267-9984 for details. 

Eastfield Mall will hold its annual "Mall-o-ween"
Spectacular Oct. 31 from 3-8 p.m. The event includes
trick-or-treating and a costume contest. (413)
543-8000. 

In Connecticut at Lake Compounce Family Theme Park in
Bristol, one of the largest Halloween events in the
state - The Haunted Graveyard - will contribute some
of its proceeds to Juvenile Diabetes Research. Open
tomorrow through Monday, the festivities feature six
haunted houses, terrifying trails, a fog-filled
Forgotten Graveyard, Castle Vampire and more. 

Also in Connecticut, The Noah Webster House will
present "West Hartford Hauntings" tomorrow and
Saturday. These cemetery tours at West Hartford's Old
Center Cemetery and North Cemetery, will feature
fascinating tales and encounters with West Hartford's
past residents in a series of theatrical vignettes.
Tours are approximately 60 minutes and depart every 20
minutes between 6 and 8:40 p.m. Call (860) 521-5362
for information.


	
		
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