Your guide to Halloween in Irvington
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
The best week of the year for the historic Irvington neighborhood has arrived.
The big picture: For decades, the east side neighborhood — named after "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" author Washington Irving — has hosted a multiday Halloween celebration featuring a parade, street festival and other events that attract thousands of visitors.
The intrigue: Sahm's Tavern and Sports Bar opened in Irvington just in time for the big week, taking over the space most recently occupied by Scarlet Lane Brewing.
Zoom in: You can have a frighteningly good time all week.
🩸 Donate blood at the Irvington Library, 1-7pm Monday.
🖼️ Bid on Halloween Festival posters at an art auction at the Benton House, 7-9pm Monday.
😱 Watch seven horror film shorts at the Kan-Kan Cinema, 7:30pm Tuesday.
🔮 Be part of a seance and get a psychic reading at the Irvington Lodge. Seance tickets are $30; psychic readings are an extra $10. Readings start at 5:30pm Tuesday, with the first seance at 6:30pm. Tickets can be purchased at the Magick Candle (cash only).
🎥 Enjoy family movie night with a screening of "The Haunted Mansion" at Crystal Creek Farm. Movie begins at dusk Wednesday. A haunted maze and bonfire will also be available.
🧙♀️ Hear haunted hales from writing contest winners during A Night out in Sleepy Hollow. Plus, the event includes a reading of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and a performance by the witches of Irvington. 7pm Thursday at Irving Circle Park, free.
🚲 Cycle around the neighborhood during the Zombie Bike Ride, 6:30pm Friday. The free, all-ages ride starts at the Irvington Library. Route can be found here.
🏃 Hit the ground running (or walking) during the 5K Vampire Run or 1-mile walk. 9:30am Saturday, $30-$40.
🎃 After the race on Saturday, stick around for the street festival, featuring live music, a beer garden, food trucks and retail vendors all along Washington Street and Audubon Road starting at 10am.
- Participate in costume contests (for kids, adults and dogs!), carve pumpkins and catch a parade at 4:30pm.
- Plan ahead with the street fair map here.
💭 Lindsey's thought bubble: I am not a Halloween person, or at least I didn't used to be. I was a "let's watch Christmas movies in October" kind of person.
- But strolling through the Irvington Halloween Festival the last three years, I fell in love with the neighborhood (so much so that I moved there) and the holiday it embraces.
- There's something magical about Irvington during October — no, it's not the same as Christmas magic — but it's a good feeling, regardless.
- I went from having zero creepy, crawly decorations to having skeletons, bats and spiders all throughout my house.
The bottom line: If you've never gone to the festival because Halloween isn't your thing, give spooky season a chance this year and maybe you'll also leave with a new holiday to enjoy.