2008 Halloween Guides

The information below is from 2007. For our 2008 Halloween guide, head here. 

When I was a kid, Halloween was synonymous with increasingly scary episodes of Goosebumps, the delight of wearing makeup and a sparkly pink princess costume, and the chance to spend an October Saturday at the pumpkin patch. I’ve outgrown the princess gown but still enjoy October’s crisp weather, apple cider, pumpkin-infused recipes, and Halloween-inspired activities. If you’re still that five-year-old Ninja Turtle or Cinderella at heart, here are some local diversions to draw that inner kid out.

Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, and More

Corn Maze in the Plains

After trotting through the five-acre organic Horsin’ Around corn maze, take a hayride or pop into the barn for the giant slide, some mini-mazes, and an obstacle course. On your way out, stop by the country store and pick up some pumpkin-pie fudge or pecan apple butter.

Corn Maze in the Plains, 4501 Old Tavern Rd., The Plains, VA; 540-456-7339. Open Friday through Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM through November 4; moonlight maze October 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27 and November 2 and 3 from 7 PM to 10 PM. $9 adults, $7 kids 12 and under.

Hubers Farm Haunted Hayride and Corn Maze

Lose yourself in one of Hubers Farm’s corn mazes—a mini maze for the little ones and a haunted maze for the older and more courageous. You can also grab some snacks—caramel or candied apples, popcorn, hot chocolate, apple cider—and hop on a haunted hayride.

Hubers Farm, 11898 Philadelphia Rd., Bradshaw, MD; 410-679-1941. Corn mazes open daily 10 AM to 5 PM through October 31. Last maze admission at 3:30;  $6 adults, $3 ages 12 and under. Haunted hayride: October 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27, and 28 from  7:30 PM to 10:30 PM; $10 adults, $5 ages 12 and under.

Roha Farm Fall Harvest Festival

Join in such activities as scarecrow making, face painting, beanbag tossing, pumpkin painting, and a hayride to the pumpkin patch. You can also buy fresh produce and other goods including squash, apples, cider, honey, eggs, and preserves.

Roha Farm, 6009 Church Ln., Hydes, MD; 410-592-8040. Open Saturdays and Sundays in October 10 AM to 5 PM. Free; charges for individual activities.

Cox Farms

This farm allots 90 acres to a kid’s wildest Halloween imaginings—complete with a petting zoo, unlimited hayrides, five huge slides, rope swings, hay tunnels, “bottomless” apple cider and apples, and more.

Cox Farms 2007 Fall Festival, 15621 Braddock Rd., Centreville; 703-830-4121. Open 10 AM to 6 PM through November 4; $8 for ages two and up on weekdays, $13 on weekends.

Hill High Farms

Take a hayride to the orchard to pick apples or to the pumpkin patch to find a pumpkin, then get lost in the eight-acre “Corn Maize” of Jamestown.

Hill High Farms, 933 Barley Ln.; Winchester; 540-667-7377. Open Saturdays and Sundays in October 10 AM to 5 PM. Free admission.

Mayne’s Tree Farm Pumpkin Patch

Shoot mini-pumpkins into a bucket with a slingshot and take home a larger variety as your prize. You can also jump from hay bales into straw, play in the moon bounce, meander through a corn maze, and buy October-themed decorations.

Mayne’s Tree Farm, 3420 Buckeystown Pike, Buckeystown, MD; 301-662-4320 or 301-874-2665. Open in October Monday through Friday 10 AM to 6 PM, weekends 10 to 5. Free; charges for individual activities.

Meadows Farms

Pick up seasonal trimmings such as pumpkins, gourds, mums, and Indian corn, while the kids wear themselves out on the moon bounce and slides and in “talking and crawling” pipes.

Meadows Farms, 5432 Old National Pike, Frederick, 301-473-5411; 5043 Plank Rd., Fredericksburg, 540-786-8171; 10618 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, 703-759-3900; 1360 East Market St., Leesburg, 703-777-1900; 5074 Lee Hwy., Warrenton, 540-341-0020. Open through November 4 Monday through Saturday 9 AM to 8 PM, Sunday 9 to 6.


Butler's Orchard Pumpkin Festival

This family -owned and -operated farm sits on 300 acres covered in Halloween fun. Before indulging in hamburgers, hot dogs, caramel apples and more, burn some energy with the slides, hayrides, mazes, hayloft jumps, and on October 6, 7, 20, 21, 27 and 28 with a pumpkin cannon.

Butler's Orchard, 22200 Davis Mill Road, Germantown, MD, 301-972-3299, Open Saturdays and Sundays in October 10 AM – 5 PM, $9 adults, under age 2 free.


Haunted Houses

Bennett’s Curse Haunted Attractions

If you’re afraid of bloodsucking vampires, you might want to sit this one out. Outside Arundel Mills Mall in tents are a host of vampire-infected knights, monks, and other creatures, as well as animations.

Bennett’s Curse Haunted Attractions, 7000 Arundel Mills Cir., Hanover, MD; 410-538-6461. Through October 28, Thursdays and Sundays 7 PM to 10 PM, Fridays and Saturdays 7 to 11; October 29, 30, and 31 from 7 to 11. Sanctuary of Insanity $15, House of Vampires $15; $20 for both.

Hill High Farm Haunted Nightmares

Nearly 50 percent of this 4,500-square-foot haunted house is changed each year to ensure maximum fright potential. Hill High recommends that no kids under seven, pregnant women, or people with heart conditions tour the house.

Hill High Farms, 933 Barley La., Winchester, VA; 540-667-7377. Through October 28, open Friday 7 PM to 11 PM, Saturday 1 PM to 11 PM, Sunday 1 to 5; October 30 from 7 PM to 11 PM; October 31 from 7 PM until “late.” Admission $9.

Ghost Tour

VSRA Ghost Tours of Leesburg

Join historians and investigators from the Virginia Scientific Research Association for a paranormal tour of city. Not a compilation of mere ghost stories, the tour instead promises a scientific and historical perspective on the area’s hauntings.

Meet in front of the Georgetown Cafe (19 S. King St., Leesburg; 703-901-8333). October tours take place Fridays and Saturdays at 7 and 9 PM through October 20; October 26 and 27 at 7, 8, 9, and 10; October 31 at 9. Adults $10, ages 12 and under $5.

Miscellaneous

Autumn Adventure 2007

This Halloween afternoon includes a costume parade and contest, cake walk, hay maze, horse-drawn hayride, and many other activities.

Reston Town Center Pavilion, 11921 Freedom Dr., Reston; October 20 noon to 4 PM; $5.

Farm Color Tour

Experience autumn’s changing colors on a self-guided tour through Loudoun’s farm country. More than 25 wineries, farms, and gardens line the scenic drive; there are stops along the way should you want to take a tour, have lunch, or taste Virginia wine.

Farm Color Tour, Loudoun Convention & Visitors Association, 222 Catoctin Cir., Leesburg; 703-737-8387 or 800-752-6118. October 20 and 21 from 10 AM to 4 PM. Free; stops along the way charge their own admission.

2008 Halloween Guides

→ Ghost Tours, Mazes, Haunted Houses

→ Halloween Parties at Bars

→ Apple and Pumpkin Picking

→ Costume Stores in Washington

→ Vintage Stores for Costume Shopping

→ How Restaurants are Getting into the Spooky Spirit

→ Send in Your Pumpkin Carving Photos!