Happy Hayrides and Haunted Houses – Things to do this October

Fall on the Farm

From hayrides to picking the perfect apples, the New England farm is at its best this time of year. Here are a few of our favorite spots and what they offer.

1. Belkin Family Lookout Farm (South Natick) – Not only can you find your perfect pumpkin, but you’ll also find apples, live music, food, and a cold local brewsky. Plus, the kids always love a train ride through the orchards.
2. Tougas Family Farm (Northborough) – Jump onboard a free wagon ride to get a gander at the gorgeous fruits and pumpkins dotted throughout the farm’s landscape. Then, when your apple basket is full, stop to nibble on a freshly baked apple cider donut or grab a homemade ice cream a the Tougas Family Kitchen.
3. Connors Farm (Danvers) – If you enjoy a challenge, head to Connors Farm to try out their corn maze. Then, for a little extra challenge, hit it up on a Friday or Saturday night when you’ll only have a flashlight to illuminate your way.
4. Honeypot Orchard (Stow) – For a picturesque apple-picking session, a massive maze, and an old-school hayride, Honeypot Orchard is the spot for you. Oh, and another bonus? The apple cider never stops flowing at the farm store.
5. Smolak Farms (North Andover) – Besides the usual fall farm goodies, we adore Smolak Farm’s “experience” packages. From just your regular ol’ cider donut and hayride to a full-blown experience with smores, there is something for everyone here.

Haunted Houses

For those of you who need a little help getting into the Halloween spirit, consider heading to one of these haunted happenings if you dare!

Barrett’s Haunted Mansion (Abington) – Open from Thursday to Sunday, Barrett’s Haunted Mansion is not for the faint of heart. Pair the night with dinner at the Abington Ale House and, for two nights only, experience complete terror at Devil’s Night, where physical contact and horrific chaos are part of admission. Yipes!

Witch’s Woods (Westford) – During October, the adorable Nashoba Valley Ski area turns into a slopeside of terror. A haunted hayride, a vampire passage, and a horrorwood chamber of chills are just a few frightening attractions to usher you into Halloween.

Chamber of Terror (Salem) – Head to the mecca of ghosts and goblins, Salem, to listen to ghost stories told by candlelight. But be forewarned, it is VERY dark, and a zombie or two might just “pop” into the chamber when you least expect them!

Fear Town (Seekonk) – If a haunted house doesn’t sound scary, what about navigating through haunted woods to get to that haunted house? With something frightening lurking behind every tree and shadow, you’ll be running for your car in no time. 

The Factory of Terror (Fall River) – Did you hear about the 113 factory workers murdered in Fall River? No? Would you like to meet their ghosts and witness the bone-chilling murders? If you have any hesitation, don’t worry; it’s 100% fiction but also 100% terrifying.

This article originally appeared in The Mazer Group’s Luxury Listings Newsletter. For more stories like this and great real estate eye candy, subscribe to mazergroup@compass.com

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