“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
October is here! The means our days in Southern Vermont are filled with the flush of falling leaves, cold weather, and the beginning of our holiday season! Did you know Halloween started off as a Celtic festival of Sahmain where people would gather around a bonfire and dress up to ward away ghost? It eventually made its way from Europe to America where the first celebrations included “play parties,” which were public events held to celebrate the harvest. Neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other’s fortunes, and dance. Today in American people will spend more than 6 million annually on Halloween, making it the second biggest commerical holiday after Christmas. This year Winhall and Bennington County are offering up some awesome activities to do with the family to get you into that "spooky" mood.
Just 30 minutes away from Stratton Mountain is Arlington, Vermont. On October 19th they are doing a Haunted House to benefit the Arlington Food Shelf at the Arlington Rec Park from 3pm to 8pm. There will be tons of free activities for kids and a dinosaur haunted house theme! Cost is $5 entry fee OR 3 non perishable food item donations for the haunted house portion. How cool is that? For more information please visit: www.facebook.com/arlingtonvtlions
On October 26th from 11am to 3pm. Bennington, Vermont which is about 45 minutes away from Stratton is hosting a Fallapalooza! There will be store front trick or treating for the children! Also including in-store specials all day! Crafter and gift vendors, escape rooms, sand art, food trucks, live entertainment, pig roast, and so much more! For more information please visit: https://www.betterbennington.org/fallapalooza!
Also happening on October 26th from 11am to 2pm in Manchester just 15 minutes from Stratton is Halloween on the Hill. This event will include plenty of fun and family-friendly activities and games. Explore the SVAC galleries as you crack the code on a scavenger hunt, decorate some seasonal crafts, or you can enjoy the magician Tom Joyce from 11:30am to 1:00pm. Snacks and refreshements as well as goodie bags will be provided. For more information about this awesome event please visit: https://www.svac.org/class/halloween-on-the-hill-2/
South Londonderry which is just 9 minutes from Stratton is holding a Haunted Firehouse Trunk or Treating at the Fire Station on Thursday October 31st! This year will include trunk-or-treating next to the fire station. The firehouse will be open starting at 5:00pm on halloween night for kids and adults. For more information on this event please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/2415006048771222/
This is a first for Winhall! The First Annual Halloween in the 'ville (Bondville that is!) on Thursday October 31st from 4:30pm to 7:00pm at 1 River Road in Winhall. Join the the Winhall Community Arts Center and the Grindstone Pub for their first annual Halloween in Bondville! trunk or treat, haunted house, and games/crafts! For more information please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/384491392481493/
Last but certainly not least, there will be trick or treating at the Dorset Village Library (which is only 30 minutes from Stratton) on October 31st from 5:00pm to 7:30pm. The haunted Library has something new, exciting, bigger, and scarier in store for trick or treaters and lovers of haunted houses! There will also be outdoor activities this year!
Halloween seems to be a pretty big deal in the Winhall and Bennington County area, as it is in so many other areas of Vermont. We hope to see you at some of these events!