Photo credits: Peter Lyons Hall Family festival-goers: Front: Ares, Colan, Carter; back: Chris and Meghan
By Peter Lyons Hall
GREENWOOD LAKE, N.Y. – Costumed children, families and thrill-seekers filled the village Saturday, Oct. 17, for the annual Greenwood Lake Halloween Festival, a daylong event under clear but chilly skies that moved from family-friendly trick-or-treating in the afternoon to a haunted, all-scare finale after dark.
Afternoon for families
Though the morning began with the weekly Lakeside Farmers Market from 9AM until 1PM, the Halloween festivities began at 3 p.m. with two activities for younger visitors. Trick-or-treating ran along Windermere Avenue from 3 to 5:30 p.m., with residents and businesses handing out candy to costumed visitors. At the same time, a Trunk or Treat for children ages 10 and under took place from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Elementary School, on the Waterstone side, where decorated vehicles served as candy stops.
The parade
At 5:30 p.m., the Halloween Parade set off from the Elementary School’s Waterstone Road and made its way to Winstanley Field, by the CVS, arriving around 5:45 p.m. Marchers included children and adults in a wide mix of costumes, from superheroes and storybook characters to animals and full-size mascot outfits, while police cars cordoned off Windermere Ave., allowing the attendees to proceed along a safe parade route.
Vendors and the Terror Trail
The field opened to vendor sales from 5 to 10 p.m., giving visitors a chance to browse and buy as evening fell, with food trucks and food vendors whose chefs kept the crowd well fed. The festival’s headline attraction, the Terror Trail, operated in two stages. From 6 to 7 p.m., the field and trail were open on a “No Scare” basis, so younger children and anyone wary of frights could explore the grounds without actors jumping out. At 7 p.m., the event shifted to “All Scare” mode, and the field and trail stayed open until 10 p.m. for those looking for a real fright.
A community tradition
The festival’s structure, with early activities for young children (including inflatable bouncy structures and slides) followed by progressively spookier events, lets families of different ages share the same day. Organizers designed the schedule so that visitors could move from candy collecting to the parade, then on to the field attractions.
Mayor Howley was grateful for the cooperative weather as well as the event organizers. “I want to especially thank Rich Brennan and Karen Minns from Boy Scout Troop 121 for organizing and running the Terror Trail at this past Saturday’s Halloween celebration. Their hard work helped make it a fun and memorable experience for everyone who attended. I also want to thank everyone else who volunteered, helped organize activities, and contributed in any way to making the Halloween celebration such a success. These community events take a lot of time and effort, and I appreciate everyone who helped make the day special for our residents.”
The spooky season continues: Haunt the Lake
For residents who want to keep the Halloween spirit going, the Village of Greenwood Lake is sponsoring “Haunt the Lake,” a decorated Halloween house contest. Registration is open to all residents of the Greenwood Lake School District, and the deadline is Monday, Oct. 26. All registered homes will be featured on a self-guided Halloween Home Tour Map, so residents and visitors can view the decorations around the community. Judging will take place Oct. 28 and 29.
The Village of Greenwood Lake [https://villageofgreenwoodlake.gov] invites residents and visitors to learn more about its family-friendly programs and activities throughout the year, and to be sure to include the upcoming Holiday Festival next month, on Saturday, November 28, 2026, on your calendars.
