This weekend (Oct. 26th-28th) on Staten Island

Halloween is lurking right around the corner! There's a lot of frightening fun for all ages this weekend on Staten Island!

Friday, October 26th

Gateway 40th Anniversary Historic Lantern Tour

6pm – 8pm. Fort Wadsworth, 210 New York Avenue. (map)

Explore the historic fort by night, and discover why it's a part of America’s national park system.
Bring a flashlight.
Reservations required; call 718.338.3799.

In Cucina Culinary Class: Pesce (Fish)

6:30pm – 8:30pm. Casa Belvedere, 79 Howard Avenue. (map)

A hands-on cooking class designed to be both entertaining and educational! Great for anyone who wants to learn to cook Italian - from novice to experienced home chef. Expand your skills, learn new techniques and gain confidence in the kitchen!
$75 per class.
For more information or to reserve your apron, call 718.273.7660 or go to Casa-Belvedere.org.

The Haunted Experience 2: NYC's Scariest

7pm – 11pm. 12 Broad Street. (map)

NYC Arts Cypher presents two levels of spooky fun!
$10 Kids under 14 (must be accompanied by an adult). $12 Students with ID. $15 General Admission.
For more information, to go NYCArtsCypher.com

Haunted Historical Tours

7:30pm – 2:00am. Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, 420 Tompkins Avenue. (map)

You’re Never Alone at the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum!
Join the NY Paranormal Society and the Staten Island Paranormal Society for a ghost hunt and haunted historical tour. Each tour of the 160-year-old Gothic revival-style house and grounds is sure to be entertaining, and chilling, for believers and skeptics alike.
There will be three 50-minute tours offered, at 7:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m., and 10:30 p.m., with admission of $15. A special 90-minute midnight tour will have admission of $20.
Tours start promptly, so please arrive 10 minutes early.
Prepaid reservations are required, and may be made at GaribaldiMeucciMuseum.org.
Due to the unpredictable nature of the spirits, these tours are not suitable for children.
Private tours for large groups are available, special fees may apply. Please call 718-442-1608 for details.

Spooktacular at the St. George Theatre

8pm – 9pm. St. George Theatre, 35 Hyatt Street. (map)

The Ultimate Halloween Magic & Illusion Show!
Wacky Dracky, along with Morgan, the enchanting Diva of Darkness, has created the most incredible illusions, all with a gothic flair. The entire production is infused with lavish sets, exciting special and visual effects, with a cast of ghastly ghouls, ghosts, and things that go bump in the night. It's magic so good... it's scary!
Be careful not to get caught in the cobwebs as your roam the spooky and haunted theatre!
Tickets: $25, $20, $15.
To purchase tickets or for more information, go to StGeorgeTheatre.com or call 718.442.2900.

Saturday, October 27th

Halloween Extravaganza

11am – 4pm. Conference House Park, 7455 Hylan Blvd. (map)

Come to the historic Conference House for hay rides, a costume parade, a haunted kitchen and more!
Admission $10. Hayrides $5 per seat (children under 5 can sit on parent's lap).
For more information, go to ConferenceHouse.org.

Pumpkin Picking at Decker Farm Stand

11am – 4pm. Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Avenue. (map)

Visit historic Decker Farm and enjoy a guided tour through the 1810 farmhouse and a hayride. Purchase a pumpkin to bring home!
Free shuttle bus service from the Historic Richmond Town parking lot to the farm.
Admission: $5 per person, $16 for a family of 4. Additional cost for pumpkins.
For more information, go to HistoricRichmondTown.org or call 718.351.1611.

Meadow-Scare & Monster Dash!

1pm – 4pm. Staten Island Children's Museum, 1000 Richmond Terrace. (map)

Inspired by the museum’s recent eco-friendly improvements, the theme is Green-Scream!
Not too scary for the littlest trick-or-treaters and will feature workshops, pumpkin decorating, a haunted house, live music, and entertainment, games, races and prizes. We are also featuring a Monster-Mash-Dash fun run this year!
FREE Admission, sponsored by Richmond County Savings bank.
For more information, go to StatenIslandKids.org or call 718.273.2060.

Illustrated lecture & book signing: Charles R. Knight - The Artist who Saw Through Time

2pm. Staten Island Museum, 75 Stuyvesant Place. (map)

Renowned wildlife artist Charles R. Knight (1874-1953) spent a lifetime creating paintings and sculptures of dinosaurs, mammoths, and cavemen that were both spectacularly beautiful and scientifically accurate.
Featuring author/speaker Richard Milner, pub. Harry Abrams.
For more information go to StatenIslandMuseum.org or call 718.727.1135.

Family Pumpkin Carving

6:30pm – 8:00pm. Staten Island Zoo, 614 Broadway. (map)

Calling all artists! Come and carve a spooky pumpkin to take home, enjoy a pizza dinner and special spooky storytime too!
Children ages 5 and up - please no younger siblings. A paying adult must accompany a paying child.
$16 non-members, $13 members. Pre-registration required.
Call 718.442.3101 x33 for more information or to reserve your ticket.

The Haunted Experience 2: NYC's Scariest

7pm – 11pm. 12 Broad Street. (map)

NYC Arts Cypher presents two levels of spooky fun!
$10 Kids under 14 (must be accompanied by an adult). $12 Students with ID. $15 General Admission.
For more information, to go NYCArtsCypher.com

Haunted Historical Tours

7:30pm – 2:00am. Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, 420 Tompkins Avenue. (map)

Sunday, October 28th

Halloween Arts & Crafts

10am. Miller Field Ranger Station. (map)

Join park rangers, volunteers, family and friends and create an arts and craft project for Halloween.
All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pumpkin Picking at Decker Farm Stand

11am – 4pm. Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Avenue. (map)

5th Annual LGBT Expo & Dance Party

1pm – 4pm. Hilton Garden Inn, 1100 South Avenue. (map)

If you'd like to show your support for gay-owned businesses on Staten Island - and attend a great dance party in your favorite Halloween costume - you won't want to miss the fifth annual LGBT Expo and Dance Party. Hosted by West Brighton-based Passages VaGAYtions, a division of Majors Travel.
Gay-friendly and/or gay-owned business exhibitors will showcase their support for the LGBT Community by offering information and services.
The Expo also will feature give-aways and raffles, including two free airline tickets. The winner will be announced at the dance party, which will follow the Expo.
Participating businesses include: Manfredi Auto, Merry Mutts, Nitecap Video and Golden Key Interiors. Entertainment will be provided by pianist John Rotante, DJ Connie Fro and Special Guest Hostess Appolonia Cruz. Halloween costumes are optional.
For more information, contact Passages VaGAYtions/Majors Travel at 718-727-0021.

Fredrick Law Olmstead on Staten Island

2pm – 4pm. Kaasmann residence, 4585 Hylan Blvd. (map)

Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of Central Park and considered the father of American landscape architecture, once lived on Staten Island.
The Preservation League of Staten Island will lead a program at the home Olmstead owned from 1847-1856. Speakers will be Island historian Barnett Shepherd, who will discuss Olmsted’s significance and trace the home’s history; arborist John Kilcullen, speaking on the trees planted by Olmsted, and Carlotta DeFillo, librarian and reenactor at Historic Richmond Town, who’ll talk about growing up in the Olmsted house.
Rain date, Nov. 4. Refreshments will follow in the garden.
Admission is $10 and reservations may be made by calling 718-980-1551.

Opening: Green Gallery

2pm – 4pm. Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, Bldg. P, 1000 Richmond Terrace. (map)

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is pleased to announce a new two-person exhibition by Staten Island-based artists Laura Del Prete and Chrystal Woodson featuring collages, large portraits, works on paper and sculptures that consider emotional strength through creative expression.
All are welcome to a Free opening reception with the artists.
For more information, go to Snug-Harbor.org or call 718.448.2500.

The Haunted Experience 2: NYC's Scariest

5pm – 9pm. 12 Broad Street. (map)

NYC Arts Cypher presents two levels of spooky fun!
$10 Kids under 14 (must be accompanied by an adult). $12 Students with ID. $15 General Admission.
For more information, to go NYCArtsCypher.com.

Ongoing Exhibits

From Farm to City: Staten Island 1661-2012. Museum of the City of New York. 10am-6pm daily. Suggested Admission: $10 Adults, $6 Seniors/Students. More Information

Haunted Houses: Photographs & Oral Histories by Connie May Botz. Alice Austen House. Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-5pm. $3 donation is requested. More Information

Colman Rutkin: A Visual Journey. Staten Island Museum. Monday-Friday, 11am-5pm, Saturday, 10am-5pm, Sunday, 12pm-5pm. Suggested Admission: $3 Adults, $2 Students & Seniors with ID. Children under 12 are free. More Information

"Faces" by Lorenzo Hail. 60 Bay Street. Friday, 12pm-3pm, Sat & Sun, 12pm-6pm. More Information

Tara Israel & Colin Todd. Newhouse Gallery of Contemporary Art. Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. Wednesday - Sunday, 12pm-5pm. Admission: $5 adults, $4 students & seniors. Children under 12 free. More Information

Island Sounds: A 500 Year Music Mash-up. Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. Wednesday-Sunday, 12pm-5pm. Admission: $5 Adults, $4 Students/Seniors and kids 12 and under are Free. More Information

Titanic: Centennial Exhibit of Contemporary Art. Noble Maritime Collection. Thursday through Sunday, 1pm-5pm. Admission by donation. More Information

The Modern Art of Marjorie Martinez. Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, Wednesday through Saturday, 1pm-5pm. Admission: $5. More Information