By Jill Baker, Editor–in-Chief
As temperatures drop, leaves change color and spooky season is upon us, you may be looking for ways to celebrate autumn in Pennsylvania. Regardless of how old you are or how many people you want to travel with, there are a variety of things to do in the area.
SIPPING THE NEW SEASON: Selin’s Grove Brewing Co. – <5 minutes away
The brewpub located on Market Street in Selinsgrove officially have their Pumpkin Ale back on tap. According to Heather McNabb, Co-owner of Selin’s Grove Brewing Co. the popular annual fall ale is made with locally grown pumpkin and pumpkin spices.
The brewpub has seasonal dishes and desserts in addition to a special Halloween menu from Oct. 10 through Nov. 4 featuring five spice heart beet soup, pumpkin pretzel roll sandwich and coffin lining red velvet cake.
The establishment opens at 11 a.m. and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
SPOOKY THRILLS FOR ALL AGES: Knoebels – 35 minutes away
America’s largest free-admission amusement park transforms into a “spooktacular place for ghost and ghouls of all ages” during weekends in late October, according to their website.
Hallo-Fun highlights include haunted antique cars and a haunted mansion, along with a fully decorated park and zombie elimination laser tag on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays. All of the spookiness adds to the parks 60 rides, games and multiple rollercoasters advertised on their website.
Hallo-Fun will continue from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday over the weekend of Oct. 26 through 28.
FALL ON THE FARM: Ard’s Farm – 20 minutes away
Whether it be pushing your friends down the 95-foot slide or making your way through the corn maze with your date, Ard’s farm provides an array of festivities to get you in the fall spirit.
The farm also provides a hayride to a pumpkin patch for visitors to pick their own pumpkins to bring home and carve, cook or smash. There is also a market on the premises offering fresh produce and locally sourced products as well as a restaurant serving fall favorites.
Towering next to the main facility and the yard of farm animals is a monster truck offering rides around the grounds.
The farm is listed on their website to open at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday at and 8 a.m. Friday through Sunday and closed on Mondays. The corn maze has differing hours: 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Hayrides round the park on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. and the festival will be concluding for the season on Oct. 28.
THANKSGIVING APPETIZER: Oct. 27 McClure BaconFest – 30 minutes away
80 vendors will fill the street of McClure featuring handmade crafts and various bacon creations. Their website listed a variety of bacon dishes including as bacon cupcakes, chocolate covered bacon, bacon sandwiches, bacon funnel cakes, bacon pancake dippers, loaded bacon potato soup.
The festival will run for six hours starting at 9 a.m. on Oct. 27. in the heart of McClure on Railroad Street, next to the post office.
FRIGHT NIGHT: Terror Behind the Walls – Eastern State Penitentiary – 2.5 hours away
Test your nerves at a historically terrifying abandoned prison in Philadelphia. Eastern State Penitentiary, a massive gothic style prison, takes on “Terror Behind the Walls” each year offering guests six different terrifying attractions inside the ten acres of castle-like walls, according to their website.
The tours highlight upon common fears including maniacal surgeons, deranged prisoners, zombie guards and much more as the actors grab you in the full haunted house experience. They advertise that they are constantly ranked in the top haunted attractions in America.
The complex also hosts over 300 performers interacting with Hollywood-quality special effects and lighting, digital sound, animatronic creatures and custom props. The experience is offered until Nov. 10 and tickets are available for cheapest on their website.
HISTORICAL HORRORS: Gettysburg Ghost Tours – 1.5 hours away
Allow yourself to be guided through the streets and sites of Gettysburg, filled with ghost stories and history. Choose from among 14 different ghost tours across different assets of the city, including a cemetery tour, an Abraham Lincoln tour and a craft beer and spirits tour.
According to their website, the candle lit tours are led by authentically dressed actors who have been trained in the art of storytelling. Storyteller profiles and a list of the available tours is also available on their website. Tours are available 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The organization also offers Ghost Hunts partnered up with the Gettysburg Paranormal Association where they will provide equipment to explore a location not highlighted on the walking tours.
LIGHTLESS LABERYNTH: Rohrbach’s Pumpkin Fall Festival & Flashlight Night in the Maze – 40 minutes away
Explore through the twists and turns of a corn maze by the light of only a flashlight at Rohrbach’s Flashlight nights from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 and 27.
Take the wagon over to the maze to find your way out using your own flashlight. The accompanying fall festival will provide hayrides, pick your own pumpkins, playland, and apple slingshot along with Pony Party Paradise (Friday Petting Zoo Only; Saturday Pony Rides and Petting Zoo), Big Dan’s BBQ, Gross’ French Fries, and Grilled Cheese Café, according to their Facebook event.
The festival will be 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. The farm market and winery will be open until 8 p.m. Sunday Oct. 28 will present a 21 and over event called Wine in the Corn Maze with Freas Farm Winery offering Freas wine and Rohrbach’s fall deserts and hosting the maze, a scavenger hunt and event prizes from 1 to 5 p.m.
CHILLING CINEMA: Halloween in theaters October 19 – <10 minutes away
Revisit the classic Michael Myers in the new movie Halloween now in theaters. Whether you still are haunted by the
original John Carpenter movie or this is your first experience, the slasher movie adds suspense to an already spooky season.
The movie portrays the infamous serial killers escape from jail exactly forty years after his 1979 killing spree. Jamie Lee Curtis takes on the role of the paranoid survivalist, Laurie Strode, who has been preparing for the day of Michael’s return.
FINDING FALL FOLIAGE: Raymond B. Winter State Park – 35 minutes away
The state park offers easy to moderate hikes through Bald Eagle State Forest, giving the perfect opportunity to walk among the trees as they change color. The park also features Halfway Lake which is filled by mountain streams and collects in a recreational area with a notable sandstone dam as visitors pull in.
Sand Bridge State Park is located on the way and provides a picnic area with water features. The parks are open every single day of the year.
If braving the chilly days of late October does not sound appealing, there are plenty of ways to get in the spirit of the season from the comfort of your own home. Some forgotten favorite movies include Sleepy hollow, A Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, Beetle Juice, Fantastic Mr. Fox and Coraline. So, put on a fall film, pull up a recipe for spiked apple cider and sit back and relax as November rolls around