Halloween high jinks around the area

The Halloween spirit is certainly afoot. There’s much to see and do this weekend, before we overload on candy next Wednesday. Whether you want to step back in time to celebrate Halloween the way Long Islanders did in days gone by, at Old Bethpage Village Restoration, stop by Cradle of Aviation museum for some “haunting” on that ‘creepy carousel’ or get spooked by some of the creatures lurking at the haunted houses in the area, Halloween lovers of all ages can partake of scary and not-so-scary thrills and chills. Here’s a roundup of where to go.

A Haunted Halloween at the Mysterious Village
It wouldn’t be Halloween without those annual festivities at Old Bethpage Village Restoration, which is ready to celebrate as it was done over 120 years ago, with ghost stories, pumpkin carving, a visit from the Headless Horseman and even a costume parade.
Nineteenth century Halloween celebrations involved ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds, like removing gates and tipping over sheds and outhouses. Taking from the Irish and English traditions, Americans also began to dress in costumes and go house to house asking for food or mone, which which evolved into what we now know as “trick or treat.” Old Bethpage Village brings back these traditions of long ago with a broad range of family friendly activities:
• Readings of Irish and American ghost stories, including the tale of Washington Irving’s “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and its famous Headless Horseman.
• Recounting the tales of the local grave-digger (who often fired his musket in the air to keep away spirits) and hearing about 19th century superstitions.
• Carving Jack-O’Lanterns (actually an old Irish custom) and scarecrow making.
• Meeting the local tombstone cutter, with an appearance by the grim reaper.
• A demonstration of broom making for witches.
Kids are encouraged to come in costume and take part in the “ragamuffins” parade, at 2:30 p.m.
The fun takes place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27-28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: $10 adults, $7 children 4-14 and seniors. Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage. (516) 572-8400.

Spooky Fest
Creatures of all kinds inhabit the woods, and ghosts and ghouls come out to play at Tanglewood Preserve, home to the Center for Science Teaching and Learning (CSTL), in Rockville Centre. The event, now in its fourth year, has become Halloween weekend tradition for area families.
This year’s festival is even more fun-filled than last year, with scary and not-so scary options, according to organizers. The preserve’s wooded paths have been transformed for Halloween, with eerie lighting, special effects and characters along the way. It’s perfectly spooky and somewhat scary – sometimes more so for the adults than the kids. And, as always, a not-so-spooky walk – through the Magic Meadow this year – is offered for younger children. There are 40 or so live animals to see (CSTL’s permanent residents), along with arts and crafts, and the return of the Mystic Den, with a fortune teller and face painting. Also, be sure to check out the Maze of Madness, with its haunted junkyard. You don’t know what to expect in there!
A goody bag is offered to the first 200 kids visiting each night. And costumes are encouraged.
Find out what’s lurking in the woods, Friday and Saturday, Oct, 26-27, 6:30-9:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 28, 6:30-9 p.m. Admission: $10. Center for Science Teaching and Learning at Tanglewood Preserve, 1 Tanglewood Rd., Rockville Centre. (516) 764-0045 or www.cstl.org.

Ghostly Gala
Long Island Children’s Museum opens its doors for its annual Ghostly Gala. Everyone is encouraged, as always, to get into the spirit of the season and visit the museum in their most creative and dazzling costumes (adults too).
Among the many activities, kids can design a witch or wizard goody bag and then use it to go trick or treating throughout the galleries, and create all sorts of creepy crafts to take home. Also, decorate and eat an edible “eyeball,” feast on ghostly snacks in the museum cafeteria, and create a “springing spider” to scare friends and family.
  And some special guests – live bats – show up in the LICM Theater, led by Rob Mies of the Organization for Bat Conservation.
Advance ticketing is required for this extremely popular event. Admission is $9 per person ($7 members), bat show admission is an additional $3. Tickets are available at the LICM box office and by phone.
Be part of the fun on Saturday, Oct. 27, 6-9 p.m. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5802 or www.licm.org.