Listen closely this weekend in Montgomery County and you're sure to hear one or two things that go bump in the night. And even beyond our host of ghostly events, there are plenty of other options to enjoy our fantastic fall.
Fall Fest Weekends - Northern Star Farm
The family-friendly fall fun at Northern
Star Farm in Trappe continues this weekend from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. There are
animals to pet, mazes to navigate, pumpkins to pick, cider to sip and as our blog
this week described, apples to send soaring.
Medieval Festival - Glencairn Museum
The Gothic-inspired Glencairn Museum plays host to its annual Medieval Festival on October 25. The event captures the spirit of Medieval Europe with sword fights between armor-clad knights, music from wandering minstrels, and stained glass window making demonstrations.
Hayride of Horrors - Linfield Firehouse
The Linfield Firehouse is holding a Hayride of Horrors from October 23-25; hours are 6:30-10 p.m. Once
the wagons load and leave the safety of the station, just about anything can
happen, especially when the woods close in from either side in the dark.
Proceeds benefit first responders serving the Linfield community. Similar
scares are available all weekend long, elsewhere in the county, at LuLu's
House of Horrors (Plymouth Meeting), the Temple of Terror (Pottstown) and Scream
Mountain (Schwenksville).
Haunted Barn - Cedar Grove Barn
Cedar Grove Barn
in Conshohocken stages an inclusive haunted barn whose scares are tiered into
age-appropriate brackets to ensure everyone has a good time. Preschoolers can
walk through on October 23 from 5-7 p.m., where they can enjoy music, games and
of course, candy. Those over eight who aren't as weak in the knees are welcome
on October 23 after 7 p.m. and on October 24 from 6-10 p.m.
Pool-O-Ween - Plymouth Community Center
Think Creature from
the Black Lagoon or the looney frenzy of Sharknado. That kind of aquatic exhilaration themes the Pool-O-Ween party at the Plymouth
Community Center in Plymouth Meeting. This H2-oooh event is October 23 at 7:30
p.m., when the entire indoor center takes on an eerie overlay. The highlight is
a candy scramble. Massive numbers of candy bars and sweets are tossed into the
pool, and little monsters grab for their favorites, churning up the water Jaws style.
Haunted Ghost Tours - Selma Mansion
Even when it's
bright and sunny, Selma Mansion looms over Norristown from a hillside on
the borough's western edge. After dark, the creepiness factor increases
exponentially. Brave souls who still want an inside look at this historic home
can cross the threshold on October 23, starting at 8 p.m., for a tour. The
funds raised support the Norristown Preservation Society, and the content is
designed to be family friendly. Still, the final tour ends appropriately enough
at midnight, the witching hour.
Halloween Parade & Party - West Norriton
West Norriton
Township Parks & Recreation's Annual Halloween Parade & Party is
October 24 at 10 a.m. The step-off point is the track at the Norristown Area
High School Athletic Complex, and the route will contain itself to the campus.
All participants must be in costume for a morning of music, food, giveaways,
competition and (of course) candy! After the last princess has finished her
royal procession, the focus shifts to the gym for a dazzling performance from
the Give & Take Jugglers.
Halloween Extravaganza - Ambler
The streets of Ambler are
known for being invitingly walkable, which makes the annual Halloween Parade
& Extravaganza even more inviting. Pint-sized monsters, superheroes,
cartoon characters, zombies and sports stars can meet at the Amber Theater on
October 24 at 11 a.m. For the next three hours, they're welcome to vie for
prizes as they collect treats up and down Butler Avenue. Participating
businesses include Forest and Main Brewpub, Act II
Playhouse, The
Lucky Well and Hatch.
Foliage Hike - Green Lane Park
Green Lane
Park is looking spectacular, dressed in fall colors. The October 24 Fall
Foliage Hike will be stunning, and the perfect setting for shutterbugs to snap
away at some of the most picturesque landscapes this side of New England. The
following day, a set of Halloween-themed hayrides pulls out under the October 25
moon. The hour-long excursions depart at 7 p.m. and again at 8 p.m.
"The Plantation Whereon I Live" - Pottsgrove Manor
The October 24 program at historic Pottsgrove
Manor explores "The Plantation Whereon I Live." The history of the estate
gets the up-close-and-personal treatment with plenty of hands-on demonstrations
and take-home crafts. Visitors can discover for themselves what everyday life was
like for the inhabitants of the iron plantation and Colonial town of John
Potts.
Montgomery County's Best Kept Secrets Tour
The autumn itineraries of the Montgomery
County's Best Kept Secrets Tour close October 24, making this a prime weekend
to take this self-directed shopping excursion throughout our area. Thirty-six
businesses, from florists to wineries to jewelers to boutiques, have joined
together to create some boffo browsing. The holidays are approaching; why not
schedule your gift-buying to coincide with our run of spectacular weather?
Twilight Hike - Norristown Farm Park
The evening breeze through bare branches makes them click together unsettlingly; is that a twisted branch or a reaching claw? No worries, though; the guides on the Twilight Hike at Norristown Farm Park (October 25, 6:30 p.m.) will make sure even the smallest participant stays safe. The educational portion highlights the importance of using other senses - hearing, for example - to safely find a way through the woods. Info includes the adaptations that night creatures use to thrive after dark.