Holidays – Page 17 – Columbia County Current

State Capital’s Christmas Tree Comes From Claverack

This year’s State Capital Christmas tree is a 45-foot-tall Colorado blue spruce grown by the Bowman family in Claverack. The tree will be the center piece of the holiday display at Empire State Plaza, and the annual tree lighting ceremony on December 4th.

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The spruce, which was planted by the Bowmans in 1994 when it was six-feet tall, will be cut down on Monday, and transported to the capital plaza. The Bowmans will be on stage at the December 4th tree-lighting ceremony, which begins at 1:00 PM and goes to 8:00. The day’s festivities culminate with the tree lighting and fireworks. The Bowmans plan to grow a new tree, after the current conifer is removed.

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Barn of Terror at the Boice Farm

barb_of_terror Every year, to celebrate Halloween, the Boice Family Farm in Lake Katrine, NY, creates a haunted walkthrough with The Barn of Terror! This annual Halloween attraction features a haunted barn, and surrounding frights.

The theme for 2016 is “The Corn Master is not alone…” The attractions include
8 Rooms of of unnatural Barn frights, the shocking Silo, double-dare mineshaft, and the Freaks of Cornville and the Kobbe family…

The Barn of Terror attraction began in 2002, and has been growing ever since. USA Today named The Barn of Terror one of the “Top Ten Haunted Houses in New York State.” Food and refreshments are available, if you have the stomach for them.

DATES:

Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday thru October 30th

HOURS & ADMISSION:

7:00 pm – “no bodies left…”

$33 per person.
$25 per person for groups of 20 or more.
$30 per person for police, firemen, EMS, military and reserve military and veterans with their photo ID.

ADDRESS & CONTACT:

25 Thru View Farm Road
on Old Kings Highway. Lake Katrine, NY

Visit TheBarnofTerror.com for more info.
Phone: 845-336-5242
E-mail: info@thebarnofterror.com

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Chatham Schools Ban Clowns

In response to the recent “creepy clown” hoax that is currently scaring the country, Chatham Central School District has decided to not allow clown costumes at school, school events or on school buses this Halloween. This ban applies to students, employees and visitors to upcoming school events. Although there is little evidence that anyone dressed as a creepy clown has broken any laws, Superintendent Cheryl Nuciforo, said that the school district had received reports of clown sightings. In a letter to parents, Nuciforo wrote that the district had spoken with law enforcement and were assured that there was no credible threat.

Nuciforo informed parents that the district’s safety procedures had been reviewed, and that police would be paying close attention to the campuses. “I want to assure you that the safety of our students is of the utmost importance to us here in Chatham and that makes school one of the safest environments for our children,” Nuciforo wrote. “All outside doors are locked throughout the day, our staff is on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary and we work very closely with our school resource deputy and other local law enforcement agencies to make sure our students stay safe and secure.”

As of now, there is no ban on clown costumes in the New Lebanon Central School District, including the Trunk or Treat event at Walter B. Howard Elementary School on October 31. The event, which takes place from 5-6 p.m., invites adults to decorate their cars and fill the trunks with treats. Kids in costume can then go from car to car, trick or treating. The district asks parents and students to avoid scary or gory decorations and costumes.

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13 Nights of Terror Returns to Jiminy Peak!

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Every October, Jiminy Peak, the ski resort in Hancock, Massachusetts, celebrates Halloween by creating an awesome haunted house and outdoor walk. I went a few years ago, and loved it. The lodge is decorated as a creepy prison with multiple displays, and costumed people providing scares. After walking through the lodge, visitors hop on the mountain’s ski lift and head to the summit for a creepy, outdoor wooded walk.

DATES:
13 Nights of Terror is open every Friday & Saturday night through the month of October as well as Sunday, October 9, and Thursday October 27th – Monday, October 31.

HOURS & ADMISSION:
6:30 pm – 10:30 pm (Groups of 6-8 leave every couple of minutes. Space is limited. Last tour leaves at 10:30 pm). Tickets can be purchased in advance, or at the door. The cost is $25, and takes about 4o minutes from start to finish. 13 Nights is recommended for ages 10 and up.

Visit 13nightsatjiminy.com for more info, and to purchase your tickets in advance.

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Hudson Opera House Winter Walk

Every year on the first Saturday in December, Warren Street becomes a winter wonderland for the Hudson Opera House Winter Walk. The street is closed to cars and people are invited to stroll up and down the street for the annual holiday celebration.

The fun begins this Saturday (December 1, 2012) at 5 pm with the Santa Parade and continues until the fireworks show begins at 8:15.

Here is some info from HudsonOperaHouse.org:

Winter Walk transforms the City of Hudson’s main commercial street into a festive thoroughfare with twinkling lights, brightly decorated shops, horse-drawn wagons offering rides, stilt walkers and marionettes, bagpipers and live reindeer. Look for Frosty the Snowman on the street, as well as Marley’s Ghost and Scrooge, the walking Grandfather Clock, the Tin Soldier, and a host of angels, snowflakes and elves of all sizes.

With a well-earned reputation as a premier Hudson Valley event, Winter Walk is unlike any other holiday festival. It takes place on the City of Hudson’s mile-long historic Warren Street, stretching from Front Street to 8th Street and spilling out to adjacent streets as well. It is well known for its quirky take on the holidays and for the diversity of entertainment provided.

For more info, visit HudsonOperaHouse.org.

Photo by Seth Davis