Love to participate in Halloween festivities but too old to trick-or-treat this year?
For those of you who are past the stage of dressing up and begging strangers for candy, there are lots of fun ways to celebrate this Halloween in the surrounding area. But beware; some suggestions are not for the faint of heart.
The "Valley of Fear" in Feasterville, Pa., is about 25 minutes away from the College and boasts "The Original Haunted Hayride," a tour of two haunted houses including "Miles Manor" and "One Eyed Willie Mind Shaft" and a haunted forest maze.
The Web site labels the forest maze as the scariest of the three, describing it as "unconstrained fright! No wagons or walls to protect you. The moonlight is your only guide!"
On Halloween night, there is also a Halloween party with a DJ for patrons after experiencing the frights of the "Valley of Fear." The complex is open from 7-10 p.m. and passes are only $27 for all three attractions or $13 each for a single attraction. Call (215) 942-9787 or go to the "Valley of Fear" Web site at valleyoffear.com for more information about dates, times and rates.
Another attraction offered this Halloween is "Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary" in Philadelphia. Considered one of the most famous prisons in America, Eastern State Penitentiary is now a huge, decrepit edifice that is allegedly haunted by ghosts of its former prisoners. "Terror Behind the Walls" offers five attractions from 7-10 p.m. or 7 p.m. - 12 a.m. to patrons including "Intake," "Lockdown," "13 Rooms," "The Experiment" and "Night Watch."
People who participate in "Intake" will board a bus that takes them through the processing center where they can journey through delousing, finger printing and mug shot rooms and even see the warden.
Attendees can look through the cell bars and see what conditions were like for prisoners in "Lockdown." In the "13 Rooms" attraction, individuals can explore the mess halls, kitchens, laundry rooms and the morgue.
The Eastern State Penitentiary Web site claims "with roaming guards, unruly inmates and shocking surprises, each room is more terrifying than the last!"
Guests can volunteer to help with a doctor's experiment, but soon see that the patients are overtaking the madhouse in "The Experiment." Finally, those that are feeling very brave can choose to explore the cells with only the light of a flashlight in "Night Watch."
Persons taking part in the attractions in this frightening prison can see footage of paranormal activity while they await their tours. After the tour they can also peruse the small prison museum which contains information about the National Historic Landmark.
The Web site promises, "the prison might be abandoned, but you're not alone."
For more information on attraction dates and times and to pre-order tickets online, go to Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary at easternstate.org/halloween.
The "Field of Terror" in East Windsor, N.J., is another attraction about 25 minutes from the College. Besides a wide array of pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn available to pick during the day, the field offers two horrifying nighttime events: the Five-Acre Corn Maze and the Terror-Ride Into the Unknown.
The corn maze has surprises at every turn while you try to find your way out and the haunted hayride brings patrons deep into the woods where terrifying creatures await.
The events are offered from 7-10 p.m. and the maze is $12 while the hayride is $13, but one can experience both for $20. For more information on dates and offered daytime activities, and a coupon for the nighttime events, go to its Web site at fieldofterror.com.
There are other attractions available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania if you do not mind driving over a half hour to partake in the haunting. Some of these include the Bates Motel in Glen Mills, Pa., the Haunted Barns and Junkyard in Southampton, N.J., and the Slickshills Cemetery of Horror in Clark, N.J., which is free of charge, but accepts donations for the homeless of St. Joseph's Social Services Center.
This Halloween, you can scream your way through haunted mazes, houses and hayrides, or just pick pumpkins and attend costume parties. If you love Halloween, like spending time with your friends or just want to be scared out of your wits, consider these options and hop in the car for a short ride to Halloween fun.
