Halloween is a Big Deal in Delco

Halloween starts at an early age as for these two
cuties at the Delaware County Halloween Parade in Media.

According to the Top Tens, in the list of favorite holidays, Halloween is the second favorite in America.

One contributor writes, “Best holiday ever! Halloween isn't only a holiday to me but it is a lifestyle! I am a haunter, I celebrate Halloween all year long. Halloween props and decorations constantly fill my room! I love the whole feel of Halloween...”

Another contributor offered, “Halloween is the best. You're not obligated to give gifts, or to visit relatives. You don't even have to go trick or treating to celebrate. If you don't want to leave the house, just hand out candy and watch scary movies at home!”

Whatever the allure, Halloween is special...and more special in Delco than in many places in the country. This site is dedicated to the ghouls, witches, pumpkins, and scary side of the season and the day, and a fun menu offered up for residents and guests of Delaware County.

People's Light and Theater

“Imagine Bram Stoker in a blender with Riot Grrrl Feminism”
— Co-Creator Mary Tuomanen

People’s Light kicks off their 2018/2019 Season with Such Things as Vampires, a highly theatrical folk-punk twist on the Dracula tale. Infused with lilting ballads, rock anthems, and melodious love songs, this concert-theatre event is an irreverent, bloody, and wickedly fun retelling of Bram Stoker’s 1897 gothic masterpiece. At the forefront of Such Things as Vampires are The Preventers, a traveling band of musicians who arrive in town with a mysterious mission. They share “The Book of Mina” to ward off an encroaching, malevolent presence. The Book chronicles the great love between two young women, Mina and Lucy, and their encounter with The Beast, Dracula. Recommended for ages 13+ View the content warning.

Then…
AFTER THE SHOW ON ALL HALLOW’S EVE… (the 31st!)
Have a ‘Bloody Good Time’ by seeing the Show’s 7:30 performance & and then going to the After Party of the year!

IF you are 18 or older, why not attend this Glam-Vamp Halloween Bash with seasonal drinks, gourmet desserts & light fare, a kicking playlist, and a costume contest.

Come in costumes or fancy dress … or least a nice, dramatic cape!
Take inspiration from vampires of legend, your musician heroes, the weird, and the wicked.
Prizes will be awarded for best costume.
(Please be mindful of your fellow audience members and save any elaborate head wear for after the performance.)

$60 TICKET INCLUDES:
The performance of Such Things as Vampires
Entry to the after party, including food and entertainment

One free drink voucher
FOR TICKETS AND INFO: 
www.peopleslight.org/whats-on/2018-2019-season/such-things-as-vampires/halloween-performance-after-party/

LOCATION: ON THE MAIN LINE
People’s Light
39 Conestoga Road, Malvern PA 19355
610.644.3500
www.peopleslight.org

Lantern Ghost Tours

Saturday, October 13;
Saturday, October 20;
Saturday, October 27
6:00 to 9:00 pm

The Colonial Plantation, one of the most haunted properties in Delaware County, invites you to an evening of strange sounds, squeaky doors, and ghostly stories. Relive 300 years of the area's most mysterious, scary and true tales of terror. Start by following the torch lit path and discover the strange and inexplicable ways that colonists treated their dead. Tour the wagon barn and farmhouse to hear a story in each room that will tell of bizarre events from times long past. Indulge in the mysterious arts of colonial divination. For the first time ever for the public, the Plantation's farmhouse basement will provide the backdrop for one particularly horrific story.

To find the Plantation, please use GPS address 3900 North Sandy Flash Drive, Newtown Square, PA 19073. Attendees should plan to bring a flashlight and expect loud sounds and sudden scares. This is a walking tour; please contact us ahead of time if there are mobility concerns, and wear sturdy shoes. Event is rain or shine, and tickets will only be available through pre-registration. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Admission: Admission is $10.00 for members of the Plantation, and $12.00 for non-members. Ages 10 and up only. Tours last approximately 1.5 hours and start every 30 minutes.


PLEASE NOTE: Tickets are only available by phone reservation. Please have several time slots in mind when you call, as we do tend to sell out fast and your first choice might not be available. You can reach us at 610-566-1725. We accept Visa and Mastercard by phone

Friday the 13th tour added due to popular demand!

XScape the Room

These live escape games are the brainchild of Delaware Countians Rosemary Fox and Carlin McCoy, whose professional backgrounds include theater, business, organizational management, software design, education, and community planning. Their combined love of design and gaming has fed their passion for building immersive games that bring people together for entertainment and quality bonding time!Rosemary and Carlin reside in Delaware County, PALed by trained facilitators, you and your teammates get “locked” into a room and have one hour to escape. Collect the clues and solve the puzzles, problems, and riddles that lead to your escape. No special skills or knowledge required, just the desire to have fun!

Xscape The Artist’s Sanctum

The Artist has invited you to participate in an experiment but things go horribly wrong. Trapped inside his lair you have one hour to follow the trail left behind by those who came before you. Unravel hidden messages and decode a secret language to escape the Artist’s Sanctum before it’s too late.

The Classroom

It’s exam time and you haven’t studied; in fact, you don’t remember going to class at all! To get out of this crazy school you must pass a new kind of FINAL EXAM.

The Safe House

A dangerous mission is aborted. You and your team of top agents return to The Safe House to await further instructions. But is it really as safe as you think? You have one hour to complete your new mission and escape before it’s too late….

The Speakeasy

It’s the roaring 20s where Prohibition rules but nothing can stop the fun. Welcome to Bugsy’s Juice Joint; biz is booming and the joint is hoppin’; you and your pals want in on the action but Bugsy ain’t in a sharing mood. Find the hidden cash and scram before Bugsy and his goons return and blast you a new one!

For more information, and reservations:

X-Scape the Room
1 and 25 W Third St
Media, PA
xscapetheroom.com
484-471-7031
484-652-2956

54th Annual Delaware County Halloween Parade

Photo is courtesy of Anne Neborak-Digital First Media. 2017 event to be sponsored by Town Talk Newspapers

Everyone’s a kid again when it comes to Halloween horrors and freaky fun! Bring the family for another one of Media’s ‘monster’ street festivals.

Ethan Petras is a Zombie Handcraft. Hundreds came out to the parade in Media in costume to watch or to march. Hundreds came out to watch the annual Halloween Parade in Media. From Supper Heroes to
Unicorns.

State Street, Media

2:00 p.m.

Call 610-915-2253 for more information

The Great Pumpkin Carve - October 18-20, 2018

Not Your Average Pumpkin

Carve!​

Every year at the Great Pumpkin Carve, over 60 carvers, both amateur and professional, gather to sculpt, saw and chisel giant pumpkins – some weighing up to 400 pounds – before crowds of enthusiastic onlookers. 

“2016 Best Overall Pumpkin”
carved by Patrick Cabry.

This unique Chadds Ford tradition began in the early 1970’s when artist Andrew Wyeth and his son, Jamie, were convinced to carve pumpkins for decorating the inside of the Chadds Ford Inn (today Brandywine Prime). Other Chadds Ford artists joined in the carving and, within a few years, the event spread from the Inn’s front porch all the way across the lawn of the Chadds Ford Gallery.

As the Pumpkin Carve grew it moved to larger and larger venues, finally landing in the meadow behind the Chadds Ford Historical Society in 1992. This annual event, still held on the Historical Society's grounds, is a major fundraiser that raises funds to support the CFHS' educational programs, historic preservation of their historic sites and more!

Pumpkins displayed at 2016 pumpkin carve.

About the Pumpkins

We use native pumpkins, grown by SIW Vegetables of Chadds Ford. They weigh between 150 and 400 pounds. Most of the pumpkins are of the variety “Prize-Winner,” a drought resistant pumpkin that tends to be bright orange. There are also a few “Atlantic Giants” which tend to be paler and sometimes a less regular shape.



Oct 18-20, 2018
Three BIG Nights!

Thursday, October 18th:   4-9  PM
Carve night!
Friday, October 20th:   4-9 PM
Pumpkins a-glow!
Saturday, October 21st:    3-9 PM
Earlier open time and pumpkins lit up!

2018 Admission

$15 for adults 18 and older
$5 for children 7 to 17
FREE for children 6 and under
FREE for CFHS members

For more info: greatpumpkincarve.com

Chadds Ford Historical Society
1736 Creek Rd, P.O. Box 27
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
610-388-7376
www.chaddsfordhistory.org

Haunted Hayride and Bates Motel Celebrate 28 Years of Fright

For 28 years, the Haunted Hayride at Arasapha Farm has been scaring its visitors with amazing props, digital FX, great actors and extraordinary professional makeup. The Hayride has been featured several times on the Travel Channel and has been rated as the Number 1 Haunted Attraction in America by Hauntworld Magazine, USA Today and many other national publications. The Haunted Hayride is a 25 minute, action packed, heart pounding ride through the dark forest of Arasapha Farm, located just outside of Philadelphia PA, and is filled with huge, detailed sets, and giant monsters. With more than 75 actors and 25 scenes, it is no wonder why this event is always on the “top 13” national lists of the best haunted attractions. And, this year we present the return of the Headless Horseman, one of our customer’s all-time favorites.

Bates Motel at Araspha Farm

This attraction is filled with high tech special effects, digital soundtrack and lighting and takes Halloween to a new level of horror…up close and personal! With incredible detail and stellar acting, it is no wonder why the Bates Motel is considered one of the best Haunted Houses in America. The realism in this attraction is astonishing, and is guaranteed to wow the experienced haunted house enthusiast. From the moment you enter you will feel that you have been transported to another time and world. As you creep through this show, you see levitating spirits, floor boards that come alive, pictures that follow you, and incredible, custom animatronic props that you will not see anywhere else. The actors interact with you on a personal level and the screams echo throughout the building! What’s new for this year? You will have to come out and see for yourself!

The Bates Motel is a high startle, high action haunted attraction and not recommended for children under 8 or people with heart conditions.

Revenge of the Scarecrows Haunted Trails

The third show in this Trilogy of terror at Arasapha Farm is a terrifying walk through a tall corn field and filled with walk thru buildings and sets, tons of animatronic monsters and over 30 actors in full makeup and custom costumes. High tech animations and digital sound effect make this not for the faint of heart! This year the Bates Build Crew is concentrating on the this attraction, with new sets and trails, realistic sets, scenes and monsters, making itlike no other corn maze in the country,.

Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride
1835 Middletown Rd., Glen Mills, PA 19342
(610) 459-0647

Seasonal Hours: 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm nightly.
thebatesmotel.com

Halloween...All Year Round!

It’s never to early to look for a costumer that fits your personality or transforms you into the person you'd like to be “just for a day...or more!”

Since the days when Irvin Stern’s was in Media, there are few places that provide costumes for all occasions. Fortunately, there is one place that has become a classic in Delco – the Davis Trading Post!

According to one report on Yelp, “ In short, the (the Davis Trading Post) is the only place around that I know of that you can go for a full range of Halloween/costume supplies year-round. Came here with a friend a few weeks ago because he was in need of a glue on mustache. Not only did the Davis Trading Post meet that need but it offered mustaches made of both synthetic and human hair.

“But that's not all! They've got a newsstand, snacks, smokes, all sorts of things.”

Another writer offered, “Have you ever needed to buy lottery tickets, smokes,  Hamburger Helper, fake blood, and a slutty nurses outfit all in one shopping trip?

If so, this is the place for you, my friend!

Seriously, you gotta love this place on some level.  They've always been there all of my life.  And they'll probably always be there.

Much love and respect to Davis Trading Post... it's as Delco as Delco gets!

Pumpkin Land at Linvilla

Pumpkinland is open from mid-September through early November and takes center stage at Linvilla Orchards. Larger than life figures and scarecrows illustrate the legends and lore of the harvest season, featuring local history and some of the many stories of pumpkins and apples.

See our piles of pumpkins in all colors, shapes and sizes — over 100 tons on display! Find a huge selection of straw bales, corn shocks, toys and fall decorations of all kinds.

Enjoy live music and entertainment, hayrides, train rides, pony rides, and face painting. Test your navigation skills our straw bale and cornfield mazes. Pick Your Own fall apples. Grab some candy and caramel apples. See the Linvilla jack-o-lantern exhibit and don't miss our annual Costume Parade!

Hayrides are some of our Linvilla's most popular attractions ion fall or any season. Enjoy views of the farm on a 15 minute ride through the fields on our Harvest Hayrides. On the Witches Hayride, you will Visit the friendly Witches House in the woods. She tells stories, jokes and gives all of the kids a Halloween treat! Enjoy the night sky on a 20 minute Autumn Moonlight Hayrides through the fields, ending at a campfire with a sample of our Apple Cider and marshmallows for roasting.

For more information on group hayrides and other activities at Pumpkinland and Linvilla, call 610-876-7116, or visit linvilla.com

Linvilla Orchards is located in Media, PA about 30 minutes south of Philadelphia. Parking and admission to the grounds is complimentary.

September 14th to November 30th

Sunday thru Thursday: 8am to 8pm
Friday & Saturday: 8am to 9pm

December 1st to December 23rd

Sunday - Thursday: 9am - 6pm
Friday & Saturday: 9am - 8pm
 
December 26th to 30th

9am - 5pm: Everyday 

Pumpkin Days at Tyler Arboretum

Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 20 & 21
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Celebrate fall with two days of family fun! Make your own scarecrow, or take a hayride through Tyler’s fall colors. With crafts, games, face painting, a moon bounce, an inflatable obstacle course, family photo ops galore, and of course, PUMPKINS, there’s something for everyone.

Buy lunch at Tyler and spend the day.  Pizza, sandwiches, hot cider, fruit, snacks, and ice cream will be available to buy inside the event.

Buy Admission and Activity Tickets

Admission to the Arboretum is FREE for members, compliments of Wawa.
Non-members must pay admission. Reciprocal memberships and Groupons are not accepted
during this event.

Buy non-member admission tickets for Pumpkin Days Saturday here.
Buy non-member admission tickets for Pumpkin Days Sunday here.

Pumpkin Days Celebration proudly sponsored by Wawa, Inc.
No pre-registration required. FREE admission for members, compliments of Wawa.
Free parking at Penn State Brandywine with shuttle service.

Admission rates:
$15 for adults
$13 for seniors (65+)
$9 for youth, students*, and active military*
Children age 2 and under are admitted free.
*with valid ID

You can purchase ticket bundles for pick up on the day of the event. Most activities such the hayrides, pumpkin related fun, entertainment, and inflatables will be ticketed carnival style.

Single activity tickets are $2 each. Buy in bulk and save!

Buy 20 tickets for $30 (tickets work out at $1.50 each)
Buy 40 tickets for $56 (tickets work out at $1.40 each)
Buy 60 tickets for $78 (tickets work out at $1.30 each)
Pumpkin Days is a fundraising event: reciprocal admissions, Groupons, and guest passes are not valid for this event.



For more information:
www.tylerarboretum.org/pumpkin-days-2017/

Spirits & Spirits

October’s Tavern Talks at the Barns-Brinton House tavern, spirits of both the supernatural and the fermented will flow freely. Guests will learn about the ways in which Colonists tried to ward off evil spirits, listen to some local ghostly tales and taste some treats that are to die for! Guest participants include Liquid Alchemy Beverages, Chaddsford Winery, Talks by Tammy, who will discuss the meaning behind 18th century tombstones and their symbols, and Delmarva Historic Haunts, a local paranormal investigation team who will answer your spookiest questions.

Thursday, October 11, 7-9 pm
Fermented and Tormented (must be 21 years of age)
Cider and wine making – and sampling – plus historic haunts and funerary fashions with local author Laurie Hill-McCabe.

For more info on the CFHS or to purchase tickets, call (610) 388-7376, email us at info@chaddsfordhistory.org or visit www.chaddsfordhistory.org.