Something about fall piques our interest in paranormal activities. From storytelling and investigating to fascinating displays, these day trips encourage you to explore the other side of Rochester.
[Featured photo courtesy of RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium and Laser Fantasy]
Spooky Drive-By Displays
Nightmare Before Christmas
Take a slow roll past this extraordinary home, known to many for its December magical winter wonderland display.
16 Beauclaire Lane
Perinton
Get Directions
Clowning Around in the Graveyard on Wilelen
Stop by on Saturday nights for an entertaining experience!
61 and 62 Wilelen Road
Chili Center
Get Directions
Creepy Dolls
Best seen up close to appreciate the finer creepy details!
1 Holley Brook Dr (facing Whalen Road)
Penfield
Get Directions
Insomnia House
Spooky Acres Cemetery and the InSoMnIa house are open every Friday and Saturday through October 19 for a family-friendly Halloween experience.
16 Avacado Lane
Gates
Get Directions
TM Holiday Lights
This award-winning show syncs lights to music for Halloween and Christmas.
18 Charter Circle (off Rahway)
Gates
Get Directions
RMSC Laser Stranger Things
Rochester Museum & Science Center
Rochester
Multiple Dates
Experience the Upside Down vibes of Netflix’s Stranger Things this spooky season with an 80s-themed laser show under the Strassenburg Planetarium dome. The song list from the show’s soundtrack includes the Stranger Things Intro, Separate Ways, Running Up That Hill, Master of Puppets, and more!
RMSC After Dark: Monster Bash
Rochester Museum & Science Center
October 26, 2024, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Adults 21 and over
The museum transforms into a haunted haven for adults 21 and over, featuring dark domains dedicated to iconic monsters like Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, and Dracula. Visitors will enjoy custom cocktails, spine-chilling music, spooky science experiments, creepy coloring, and a secret scavenger hunt. Don’t miss the chance to show off your spooky style and participate in costume contests.
You may also love RMSC Family Fun Day: Tricks & Treats, Sunday, October 27
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Rochester Museum & Science Center
Between the star shows, laser shows, interactive exhibits, and Singing Tesla Coils, the Rochester Museum and Science Center will entertain you for hours!
GCV&M Spirits of the Past (and more!)
Genesee Country Village
October 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 & 27, 2024
Held at the Genesee Country Village & Museum, this event immerses participants in chilling 19th-century ghost stories as they walk through the historic village by lantern light. With actors recreating spooky tales, it’s a journey back in time to explore the spirits of the past.
More Spooky Season Events at GCVM
- September 21, 22: $5 Days at GCV&M
- September 21, 22, and October 11, 12: Ghost Stories of NY After-Hours Tours
- October 5, 6: Agricultural Fair
- October 10: “Sleepy Hollow” Outdoor Screening with The Little
- October 12: Spooky Saturday
- October 25: All Hallows’ Tea, A Night with Edgar Allan Poe
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Genesee Country Village & Museum
The Genesee Country Village is a living history museum with 68 structures on 700 acres, making it the largest museum of its kind in New York.
MAG Museum of the Dead 9
Memorial Art Gallery
Friday, October 25, 2024
Adults 21 and over
This Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) event features interactive exhibits and activities that celebrate the macabre. With a nod to classic horror, the Museum of the Dead offers an immersive experience filled with themed art, ghostly displays, and eerie entertainment.
ARTISANworks Spooky Speakeasy Trivia Night
ARTISANWorks
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Adults 21 and over
Join us for a Spooky Speakeasy Trivia Night featuring a Halloween-themed costume contest, a cash bar, and delicious small bites from Madeline’s Catering. Test your trivia skills with fun and easy questions for a chance to win real gallery artwork and other cool prizes. Your ticket includes a secret password to our hidden speakeasy, which will be emailed to you at least one week before the event. Doors open at 5 p.m., with tarot readings available before the trivia begins.
Powers Farm Spooky Teepee and Hayrides
Powers Farm
Pittsford
Daily, Sep 1–Oct 31, 2024
From their website: If you’ve never experienced Powers Farm in the Fall, you’re in for a real treat! Autumn is our most popular season and the time when we feature our most popular selection of seasonal pies, fresh-baked breads and pastries, fried cakes, hand-dipped candied apples, and all things pumpkin! There’s fresh-cut firewood for the home and mums in bloom, corn stalks, straw bales, fall wreaths, and other decorative arrangements. Treat yourself to some New York State apples and winter squash, or take part in our Halloween Hayrides and spooky teepee tours. Our Halloween-themed hayrides are a seasonal favorite, with special effects and spooky surprises. You’ll encounter ghosts, witches, skeletons, graveyards, and more! Although we consider these rides family-friendly, discretion is advised for children.
VerHulst Haunted Hayride
VerHulst Haunted Hayride
Spencerport, the scariest
Weekends, October 4-27, 2024
From their website: No reservations, first come, first served. It is not recommended for children aged eight or younger. The experience takes approximately 30 minutes, including the Haunted Corn Maze. There can be long wait times, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
Nightmare Manor Haunted House
Nightmare Manor Haunted House
Southtown Plaza, Henrietta
Weekends September 27–November 2, plus October 30–31
From their website: Nightmare Manor Haunted House, where your darkest fears come to life. Experience our immersive haunted attraction, featuring multiple scare zones designed to terrify and thrill. From eerie graveyards to Hillbiill Hell, each area offers a unique blend of horror and suspense. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker or a fan of the macabre, Nightmare Manor guarantees an unforgettable and chilling adventure.
Seneca Park Zoo Afterhours Spooktacular
Seneca Park Zoo
Rochester
October 17, 18 & 19, 5:30–8:00 p.m.
Afterhours Spooktacular will feature pumpkin carving demonstrations, trick-or-treating, storytelling (the Big Bad Wolf will share his side of the story!), fun activities, Halloween crafts, and spooky surprises. Ticket prices are $12 for members and $15 for general admission. Please note that the gates will open at 5:30 p.m., and the last admission will be at 6:45 p.m.
Spooky Season at The Little
The Little Theatre
Various Dates
From crypts to creatures, ghouls to gargoyles, The Little’s Spooky Season brings a month of chilling films and events to Rochester this October. With a mix of classic horror, international scares, and nostalgic 90s witchy themes, it’s a celebration of the eeriest time of year.
- Death Becomes Her – Oct. 4
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) – Oct. 5
- Princess Mononoke – Oct. 6
- Poison for the Fairies – Oct. 7
- Jennifer’s Body – Oct. 9
- Halloween (1978) – Oct. 12
- L’Inferno (with Montopolis live score) – Oct. 15
- Slumber Party Massacre: Double Feature – Oct. 19
- Young Frankenstein – Oct. 21
- Scream (1996) – Oct. 25
- Barbarian – Oct. 26
- Possessor – Oct. 27
- The Wolf Man (1941) – Oct. 27
- Ganja & Hess – Oct. 28
- Something Wicked This Way Comes – Oct. 30
- Poltergeist (1982) – Oct. 31
Dryden Theatre
George Eastman Museum
Rochester
7:30 Showtimes
- Da Sweet Blood of Jesus – Oct 27 (Spike Lee Series)
- The Student of Prague – Oct 29 (Silent Tuesdays Series)
- Knife in the Water – Oct 30
- Evil Dead II – Oct 31
Landmark Society Ghost Walk
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word
Rochester
597 East Avenue
October 18 and 19, 2024, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Ghost Walk is a nighttime walking tour led by lantern-bearing guides through the dark streets of a historic neighborhood. The tour will showcase macabre events, personalities, and places in Rochester’s history, told during six theatrical performances. Sign up for an hour-long tour starting between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $22 in advance or $25 at the door.
Rolling Hills Asylum
Rolling Hills Asylum
East Bethany
Events all year are amped up in October
Rolling Hills Asylum (RHA) has been spotlighted on Ghost Hunters and numerous other well-known paranormal investigation shows. Their website offers a year-round events calendar featuring a variety of experiences, including guided and self-guided tours, public and private ghost hunts, themed dinners, and special events. To explore more about RHA, visit the Haunted History Trail of New York.
Mount Hope Cemetery Walking Tours
Mount Hope Cemetery
Multiple dates for 2024
Explore one of Rochester’s most famous cemeteries through guided walking tours. These tours provide historical insight into the cemetery’s notable residents, with tales of hauntings and paranormal activity adding a spooky twist to the rich history of the area.
- September 28: Ales from the Crypt: Brewers, Breweries, and the History of Beer in Rochester
- October 5: From the Beyond: Tales of Melancholy, Grief, and Tragedy
- October 12: Undertakers, Wakes, & Tears: Mourning Rituals in 19th Century America
- October 13: Riverside Ramble: History, Scenery & Stories
- October 19: Fall Foliage at Mount Hope Cemetery
- October 26: Mischief, Murder, and Mayhem II!
- October 27: Mischief, Murder, and Mayhem II – Encore!
Rochester Candlelight Ghost Walks
Locations Vary
Multiple 2024 Dates, Times, and Locations
Guided walk themes include Ghosts of Mt. Hope Ave., Jack the Ripper in Rochester, Spirits of Sea Breeze, Lady in White, Phantoms of Fairport, Haunts of Henrietta, and Lilac Legends.
According to their website, the tours take you through the authentically haunted areas of Rochester, offering a blend of the city’s unique history and notorious ghost stories. These experiences are unlike any other, allowing participants to hear the tales and actively engage with the spirits for a truly immersive adventure. Learn more about The Union Tavern at The Haunted History Trail of New York.
Halloween at the Market
Rochester Public Market
Rochester
Sunday, October 27
4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Every year, on the Sunday before Halloween, the Rochester Public Market is filled with costumes, candy, and community spirit. Dozens of community organizations will offer treats, fun activities, and valuable information about their programs and services. This free-admission, family-friendly Halloween event will offer extra entertainment and food options. In addition to trick-or-treating, there will be food stands, interactive and participatory performances, hayrides, and more.
The Skeleton Army
Haunted Housel on CR-4
Hopewell, near Canandaigua [get directions]
Sep 27–Oct 31, 2024
Mon–Thu, 3–9:30 p.m.
Fri–Sun, 12-9:30 p.m. (plus Monday, October 9)
Head over to Hopewell near Canandaigua to see an incredible Halloween display! Over 200 skeletons—of humans, horses, dinosaurs, and dogs—march towards the house, which is well protected by trees. There is a large parking lot with porta-potties available. Admission is free for children 5 and under, $5 for ages 6 to 12, and $10 for ages 13 and older. An adult must accompany those under 18.
The White Lady’s Castle
Durand-Eastman Park
Irondequoit
self-guided
Despite popular belief, the White Lady’s Castle at Durand Eastman Park is not an actual castle but the façade of a former beach-side dining hall called Three Lakes Pavilion. However, rumors persist of a vengeful mother and her two large white dogs haunting the area.
Driving on Lake Shore Boulevard, you’ll find a little parking lot across from Lake Ontario, between Log Cabin Road and Zoo Road. Park and look up the hill to see this view of the White Lady’s Castle and the Legends & Lore marker.
So take a walk and see if you can find any rumored apparitions of the White Lady searching for her daughter. Rumor also has it that this story inspired the 1988 movie The Lady in White. And don’t forget the White Lady tree! Learn more about Durand Eastman at The Haunted History Trail of New York.
The Fox Sisters
Hydesville, near Newark
self-guided
You can make a pilgrimage to Hydesville in Wayne County to visit the birthplace of The Fox Sisters and Spiritualism. It was on this site, in the Fox Family cottage, where Kate & Maggie Fox first made contact with the spirit of Charles B. Rosna on March 31, 1848.
Their story has been widely attributed to the beginning of the Spiritualism movement and the creation of Lily Dale, the World’s Largest Center for the Science, Philosophy, and Religion of Spiritualism. Lily Dale was incorporated in 1879. The Fox cottage was moved to Lily Dale piece by piece in 1915 but burned down in 1955. Learn more about The Fox Sisters at The Haunted History Trail of New York, smithsonian.com, and Crooked Lake Review.
Paranormal Investigations
TIP: If you’re looking for support with your own paranormal activities, CITY News, in an interview with Monroe County Paranormal Investigations, said they are “dedicated to investigating the truth behind the paranormal, and they operate with a healthy sense of skepticism. This isn’t about the spooky and scary, but a look into the real and normal lives of some of Rochester’s paranormal investigators.” See also: (585) Magazine also interviewed M.C.P.I
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🍎 Apple Everything! Rochester’s Best Ciders, Fry Cakes, Fritters, Pies, and More
Come September, we begin to crave all things apple: cider, donuts, fritters, hard cider, pie, and warm cinnamon fry cakes.
🎃 Pumpkin Patches & Farms Around Rochester
Experience the perfect autumn day at our Rochester-area pumpkin farms with wagon rides, fresh apple cider and donuts, and corn mazes.
22 Fabulous Fall Hikes in Monroe County
My favorite fall hikes offer a variety of landscapes and scenic views, including rivers, forests, and peaceful surroundings.
Scenic train rides, leaf-peeping, bird migrations, and ghost walks happen only in autumn in Rochester—take advantage of them while you can!
🍁 Fall Foliage: 7 Breathtaking Views Near Rochester
If you’re looking for picturesque autumn scenery, these locations offer stunning fall foliage and unique landscapes.
What are your favorite paranormal activities?
I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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Thank you!
Debi
Enjoy the Journey Together!
Hi
You forgot haunted house attractions:
Nightmare Manor at South Town Plaza.
Added! Thank you for the recommendation, Troy!
Who can I contact with a picture of what I believe is a portal in my old home and ghost pictures of my pet who passed in 2013. I want someone to view photos.
There was an article written in CITY you should read: https://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/next-to-paranormal/Content?oid=2151581 I’ll update this guide to include a link to Monroe County Paranormal Investigations who are featured in the article. Their website is http://monroecoparanormalinvestigations.com/