As Halloween gets closer and the nights are getting darker earlier there are a lot more spooky events opening up in areas around the New Haven County to get your scare on! Here are some of the events you can attend this weekend!
Some are for older children only and others are family friendly events where you can attend night or day. Admission is required to most events so plan accordingly. Tickets can also be purchase ahead of time and is recommended should you anticipate a large group attending with you.
Haunted Isle Hosted by the Shoreline Trolley Museum
This event is for kids ages 14 and up and takes place Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. The general admission price is $13.00 and you can get an express ticket which will allow you to skip to the front of the line for $22.00. Tickets can be purchased in advance on-line.
Trolleys depart continuously for the Isle from 7:00 – 10:00 PM. Legend has it that somewhere in the woods at the end of the trolley tracks lurk the things that nightmares are made of. This fall a lonely trolley will carry passengers down the tracks to the gate. The choice is yours… enter if you dare!
Sleepy Hollow Lantern Tour
Visit the Historic Parmelee Farm Homestead in Killingworth on October 12, 13, or 14. The event takes place in any weather condition, so dress accordingly and wear proper footwear as you may be walking on uneven surfaces.
You will tour the Homestead via lantern by the colorful Sleepy Hollow residents as you enjoy light autumnal refreshments along the way. This is a theatrical lantern tour with Artful Living. To purchase tickets for $15 per person go to www.ArtfulLivingCT.com.
Tour Times are:
Friday and Saturday at 7pm, 7:30pm, 8pm, 8:30pm and 9pm
Sunday at 7pm, 7:30pm and 8pm
Pumpkintown USA
Pumpkintown USA is a wonder non-scary event to bring the entire family to, night or day. Located in East Hampton, CT the 38 pumpkinheads are visited by as many as 25,000 people from mid September to October.
You can take a walking tour through their village and then hop on their hay wagon for a mile long ride through the forest. There you can find 30 more pumpkinheads enjoying their homes in the woods.
Admission prices are the following:
Weekends & Holidays
Village Only $6.00 per person
The Ride $7.00 per person
Village & Ride Package $12.00 per person
Weekdays
Village Only $2.00 per person
The Ride $7.00 per person
Disclosure: I have been compensated for this blog post. All of my opinions in this article are my own.
Many times you hear people saying to kids these days, “When I was a kid your age, we didn’t have phones like those to play on”. Or “When I was a kid we played outside until the streetlights came on”. Well, yes that may be true; but I am trying hard as a parent to teach my kids how to have fun and play, like when I was a kid.
What We Played 40 Years Ago
While kids have devices today to play with like video games consoles, iPads, mobile phones, and computers; there were devices similar to those when I was growing up. They just weren’t as portable.
We had cable TV (with the box that had a lever for three rows of channels and a long cord to reach the couch). We had Atari or ColecoVision. And if we were really lucky, we had a smaller device called the QuizWhiz. That was a BIG deal for me when I got one for my birthday.
But our parents also made us play outside. I can distinctly remember summer vacations from school. We were outside all day until the sun went down. We rode our bikes and played C.H.I.P.S. with the screw on battery operated siren on our bike handle bar. To make our bikes sound like motorcycles, we used clothes pins and playing cards to clipped them to our bikes.
We made forts in the woods, and climbed trees. We played house in the shed, or played ice cream store. Whatever our imaginations led us to that day. We also played Barbie dolls and stuffed animals. Or played dress up with my best friend’s mom’s clothes and heels when she was at work.
Then as I got older and my parents got us a pool, we spent our summer days synchronized swimming with my boom box in the back yard. Sometimes we even got to put up a tent in the back yard and my best friend slept over in the tent with me!
I vividly remember playing outside all seasons of the year. We really only played in the house on rainy days or if it was colder in the winter. That’s the way I am trying to raise my children now.
How Children Play Today
I am trying to raise my kids similar to the way I was brought up. I know how children play today varies by each family and their parents. Some children may have access to devices, computers, gaming consoles. I feel, that as parents, we also have the control on how much they use them.
Just like when my mom made is play outside, I make my kids play outside. Especially when they start fighting with each other. There’s something about getting them outside and moving that tends to make them forget what they were fighting over and they get along again.
This is how I do it. I don’t know that it is the case with all children today; but I’m trying to set a solid foundation so my children have a good balance of school, play, homework and screen time.
From the time my son was about 18 months old we were outside all bundled up in snow clothes to shovel the snow off the driveway. His cheeks would be all red and his nose would run; but we were getting our dose of fresh air and exercise! Then my daughter was born and I would do the same with her. No matter what the season, we all went outside.
Even now as my children are 10 and 11 years old, they spend the majority of their time outdoors when they get home from school. My son has a very hard time doing any homework right after school; because he learned when he was in his early years in school that we played first, then came in and did homework after dinner when it was dark out.
I also see that children now want things instantly. We can thank amazon for that, in my case. If I need something I no longer drive to Target or Wal-Mart to get what I need, I pull up good old Amazon Prime and it’ll be here in 2 days!
I am trying to teach them about patience. That they can’t have whatever they want right away. If they want a particular toy or access to a game, they have to earn it. I do have the children do chores, but for special things we don’t just buy it and give it to them. They are learning the value of money and appreciating what we already have.
It’s About A Healthy Balance
To be honest, I don’t think kids today are much different from when I was younger, it’s about how you parent them. Sure, you can give them a phone and not set time limits, or let them have all access to their PlayStation or XBox. But the devices aren’t what are hurting the kids. It’s the lack of control. As a parent we need to make sure they have a healthy balance of play time, person to person time and reading, exercise, and study time.
The Genius of Play
I had the pleasure of meeting an incredible organization while at the BloggyCon Conference. They are called The Genius of Play. I loved their purpose the minute we started talking.
When you visit thegeniusofplay.org you can learn about the six benefits of play. It’s important for the development of a well-rounded child. Check out their site for much more information on why play is important, the different activities you can do with your children for any age group, and so much more! If you are like me and love to play, you are going to love this site!
This weekend’s weather forecast for Connecticut is going to be very seasonal for half of the weekend. Then Sunday it will be warmer. The leaves are changing color in New Haven County and it’s the perfect time to visit some of the local orchards in the area. I’d like to share with you the special places we like to visit this time of year.
Rose Orchards
From the time our children were little, we always make it a point to visit Rose Orchards in North Branford to ride on their Haunted Hayride throughout the orchard and the woods behind the orchard. Our favorite part of the ride is looking for Pumpkin Head and his dog Buck riding through the woods on his ATV.
Then of course we have to check out their own frozen custard! It’s sooooo delicious! We also visit the animals on the property and play in the hay maze. Rose Orchards also has pumpkins in their patch for you pick from and pick your own apples. Their store also offers freshly baked pies and delicious farm fresh goodies. The cost for the hay ride is $5.00 per person.
Lyman Orchards
Lyman Orchards is in Middlefield, CT and has a large shop called the Apple Barrel. They sell award-winning pies, Eco-Certified fruits and vegetables, and other baked goodies, cheeses and gourmet specialties.
Lyman Orchards is also know for their very large corn maze. Each year they cut the maze into a different design to create a twisting and turning pathway through four acres of cornstalks.
The price for the corn maze is $5.00 for children 4-12, $10 for adults, and children 3 and under are free. Lyman Orchards donates $1.00 of each ticket to the American Cancer Society. If you have a Big Y coin or Silver card, you can also save money off of your admission to the corn maze.
Lyman Orchards also offers pick your own and you can also find your own pumpkin to take home as well!
Bishop’s Orchards
Located in Guilford, CT, Bishop’s Orchards also offers a corn maze. The hours for their maze is 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekends and also on Columbus Day. This is a great idea if your children don’t have school on Monday! The price for their corn maze is $7/person (children 2 and under are free). The theme of this year’s maze is partnered with Mystic Aquarium with a beluga and penguin theme.
Bishop’s Orchards also has a Farm Market and a Winery. Like the other orchards, when you walk into the Farm Market you can smell the fresh baked goods from the bakery and kitchen. They have breads, croissants, muffins, scones, turnovers, dumplings, quiche, stuffed breads, cheeses, fresh produce and so much more! Bishops is also supportive of customers who may need to follow a gluten free or plant-based protein diet.
Bishop’s Orchards Winery
The Winery at Bishop’s offers tours and tastings. Tastings are available seven day a week for $9.00 per person. The wine bar is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Winery tours are offered Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. with a $6.00 per person fee or $14.00 per person when paired with a full tasting. This would be a perfect date to go on with your spouse!
Don’t miss out on some fun events to take advantage of this weekend while the weather forecast is nice! I’d love to see what you do this weekend! Leave a comment after the weekend to let me know what you did for fun! Also check out my ideas for other Halloween related events to do this month.
This week the word manifestationhas been on my heart. I can’t seem to listen to enough Wayne Dyer podcasts and YouTube presentations. I had a spiritual shift in my mindset. You are in charge of your own happiness. I am in charge of my own happiness.
This time of year is hard for me. The change in seasons is hard because I don’t like the dark. I can’t run later in the day anymore, and colder weather is coming. The cold doesn’t stop me from running; but I’m just a summer, loving kind of girl.
How does this relate to manifestation? Well, the word has been on my mind and I have been making many changes in a more positive direction. I have changed my diet to eat clean again. I have made a commitment to stick to my training schedule for the Dopey challenge, and I am cross training regularly. I want to feel better about myself both inside and out. But more importantly, I am seeing that things I have been manifesting are unfolding in front of me.
Different Types of Thinking
I was talking to my husband about the way that I think, and I told him that I am always the glass half empty person. I always think the worst case first and am not the type of person who is more positive. He told me that how a person thinks can be changed, and I didn’t disagree.
Deficiency Motivation
Wayne Dyer talks about that type of thinking. He called it deficiency motivation – “Where I am I don’t Like”. From July, 2017 until March of 2018 I was living in a place in my life that I didn’t like.
When you think that way, you are always trying to fix what you don’t like. You feel like something is wrong with you. You never arrive where you want to be in life because your life is a series of trying to get someplace else. What happens, is that is you become a sufferer of always wanting MORE. When you are living in deficiency you are always feeling like you don’t have enough, even when you met the goal you wanted. You are never satisfied.
No Limit Motivation
A no limit person never operates from a lack in their life. They never say I don’t have enough. In your mind you are already everything you need to have total bliss. No limit people take what they are and accept. They see no deficiencies about themselves.
How Is Manifestation Affecting Me
I want to be the type of person who takes their life in their own hands and understands that everything that comes your way is an opportunity and a blessing. I am finally getting to that place. I am learning how to be happy where I am and with what I have.
I used to keep looking backwards and seeing my failures in a negative sense. I was focusing on my deficiencies. I wasn’t believing that what happened in the past was necessary to get me to where I am today. I would say it out loud, but I wasn’t truly believing it 100% until a few weeks ago.
I used to keep reaching for more. But I am now learning to celebrate every little thing that is coming my way. And let me tell you, things have been coming my way that I never expected that I would receive. This is what has happened for me in the past six months:
I lost my job
I actually manifested on an airplane home from a conference two days before that, that I wanted to start my dream job. I wanted to do whatever it would take to be my own boss. That gift was given to me two days later. However, for a long time I was focusing on the negative part of that.
I attended conferences
I met some wonderful new friends. I had grown my relationship with one of my friends from several years ago. We had the chance to spend more time together and build our relationship.
I won contests at these conferences! I won a gift card which I used to purchase a new camera. I told my roommate at that conference that I wanted to get a new camera to help with my business. I won a Google Pixelbook and a JBL Pulse 3 speaker. Thank you Best Buy! I had said I wanted to get a new computer to upgrade for my business!
I also won a $250 gift card at the third conference I attended this year! In fact, the morning of the drawing I was getting dressed and putting on my make up and I said OUT LOUD, “I am going to win that gift card”. And I did! Thank you Genius At Play! I was shocked and had to share my story when I accepted the card.
That was the smack in my face that told me that when you manifest your visions and dream they will come true. I told my husband about the gift card and we both thought the same thing. That is the gift we needed to help with our children’s Christmas gifts this year.
I am building relationships
I had the pleasure of rooming with Claudia in NYC in August for the BlogHer Conference. She and I had been friends and had been able to spend time with each other at conferences, but this time we had more time together by rooming with each other.
Having that time together, I was also able to enjoy dinners and free time with Claudia. I I was also introduced to some amazing women! I had been talking on the phone with one of the members in our social media group, and Claudia surprised me because that same person was at the dinner! It was so great to meet Annita in person! Also at the table were fellow Omag Insiders of Claudia’s and also a fellow Best Buy Ambassador Kelly. I was so happy to finally meet some of these women in real life.
Claudia had another surprise for me. I was invited to join her for a tour of the Oprah Magazine office in the Hearst Building in NYC! I couldn’t believe it. I want to be an OMag Insider and I am manifesting this dream. Being in the same office space that Oprah spends time and breathes the same air! I was so grateful for that experience.
I am learning how to be me
Wayne Dyer says, “being means seeing the greatness and uniqueness in you, and never letting anyone else to make you think the contrary.” I am learning how to “be”. I am learning how to be my true self. I am seeing the good that I am capable of. I am no longer letting how I had been treated or made to think negatively about myself define me.
I had an amazing experience at that conference. I was given the opportunity to give a presentation about messenger bots. This was a first for me at a social media conference. And the session was great! I had amazing feedback from some of the attendees, and I was so surprised at how many people attended my session.
I was having a conversation on Facebook with someone and this is a message she sent to me about my change into working for myself this year:Someone else believes in me and they are seeing me succeed! I love this.
Just before I left Cedar Point to fly home, I went to the amusement park and took a ride on the very high swings. I wanted to fly high and toss my negativity into Lake Eerie. I didn’t want to bring it back home with me.
Things are happening to me that I never imagined before. When I started to believe in myself doors began opening for me. I am getting so busy with clients, that there may come a point when I will have to hire a virtual assistant!
The Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party is one of my favorite parties that takes place in Walt Disney World. My husband and I have attended it twice and I attended it one other time during the Tower of Terror race weekend.
Please note that this is a separate ticketed event that takes place on select nights between August 17 and October 31, 2018. Visit www.disneyworld.disney.go.com to view the event dates and purchase tickets. When you purchase a ticket to the party, you can enter the Magic Kingdom Park at 4:00 p.m. the day of the event. The actual party hours are from 7:00 PM to midnight.
What Happens At Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party?
Boo-To-You Halloween Parade
One of my favorite things that happens at the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is the arrival of the headless horseman for the Boo-To-You Halloween Parade down Magic Kingdom’s Main Street!
I have footage up close and personal of the headless horseman when I was at the Tower of Terror 5K race morning in ESPN Wide World of Sports. He is incredibly spooky even at 6:00 in the morning! But seeing him riding down Main Street followed by the frightening floats and Disney Characters in Halloween costumes is even better!
Stars from the Haunted Mansion lurch down Main Street along with several other of Mickey’s friends.
Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
The Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus put on a scary show and cast a spell on everyone in the Magic Kingdom! Other Disney villains and dancers along with visual projections make for a wicked show!
The Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet
While in Frontierland, you may hear the Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet asking guests questions and answering with their “dead pan” puns and sing along to their ghoulish tunes.
Happy Hallowishes Fireworks
Disney Villains light up the night with a special soundtrack of music from Disney’s past of creepy classics. The 12 minute fireworks show takes place at Cinderella’s Castle.
New Additions To The Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
This year the party you can boogie down with Vampirina! Vampirina is making her debut appearance at the Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam. Visit some of your favorite Disney Junior pals and dance the night away!
New lighting and effects have been added to the Mad Tea Party. The Pirates of the Caribbean invites guests to participate in searching for “Gunpowder Pete”. And Space Mountain plays a new soundtrack as you travel deep into space.
Trick Or Treating, Characters and Costumes
Just like traditional Halloween where you live, come to the park dressed up in your favorite Halloween costume and visit the various trick or treat stations found all throughout the Magic Kingdom. My favorite trick or treating location was in the walkway behind Space Mountain on the way to the Fantasyland Train Station.
When preparing your costume for the event, make sure to review the costume guidelines on the Disney website.
Food Allergies
Should you have a food allergy, not to worry. There are special teal-colored treat bags to bring attention to allergy awareness. You can also pick one up at the official Allergy-Friendly Center located at Town Square Theater. and Libery Square Ticket Office. Cast Members will give you a teal ticket at any treat station for you to later on redeem at the Allergy-Friendly Centers.
Attractions Open During The Party
The following attractions are open during the party:
Note: All attractions and experiences are subject to change without notice.
Win a $150 Disney Gift Card
Enter between now and October 10, 2018 to win a $150 Disney Gift Card. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Enter for a chance to win a $150 Disney Gift Card. Must be at least 18 years of age. US residents only. This giveaway is not sponsored by Disney, nor is associated with Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. No purchase necessary for entry. Odds are determined by the number of entries. Selected winner will have 48 hours to respond to email notification to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.
