The annual Haunted Playhouse has made Gateway Playhouse in Bellport am October destination for thrill seekers.
This year will be no different, even if COVID-19 has forced changes.
The playhouse is going bigger than ever, with four different outdoor features for the Halloween season.
Haunted drive-through trail? Check.
Want to walk instead? They have a trail for that, too, and even a daytime adventure for kids who don’t want to get that scared.
Lastly, the theater is hosting drive-in movie nights continuing this Friday and lasting through Halloween night.
Here’s everything you need to know about how Gateway Playhouse is keeping its Halloween tradition alive.
The Forgotten Road
This mile-and-a-half drive-through event at nearby Southaven Park is the headliner of Gateway’s lineup this Halloween.
In its first year, it launched last Saturday, Oct. 2 and runs through Halloween night, giving fright fans a responsible way to still get their fix without having to leave their vehicles.
“Everyone is looking for something fun and safe to do, and we thought doing a drive-through haunted trail would be a creative take on the traditional haunted house that also allows everyone to follow safety guidelines during the pandemic,” said Paul Allan, creative director of Gateway’s Haunted Playhouse. “This is a whole new way of entertaining people, where they can enjoy the ride, but not have to touch the outside world at all.”
A trailer for the event warns you to keep your windows rolled up and your doors locked as The Forgotten Road tells the story of a 40-year-old “cold case” dubbed the Campground Massacre.
It features a live road broadcast that challenges you to put together the clues to solve the mystery before you reach the end.
Admission is $50 per carload. Be sure to check out the website for rules of the road as well as to purchase your tickets in advance.
Brigand’s Run
This is a pirate-themed spooky walk set up on the grounds of the playhouse, a regional theater that uses professional actors in its productions.
The story for this particular feature is that the trail is home to undead pirates from the past.
The trail opens this Friday, October 9 and runs through Halloween.
Tickets are $20 per person and sold in groups of between two and seven people. You have to choose a specific time, with the last entry at 11:30 p.m.
Not So Scary Kids Adventure
OK, so your little ones aren’t into mass killings and zombie pirates. That doesn’t mean they’re being left out.
This walk is designed for the little ones and it features “goofy creatures, and bewitching tricks.”
Family-friendly tunes are played along the journey and there’s a treat at the end, the playhouse promises.
It’s $10 per person with half of the proceeds being a donation for the theater during these challenging economic times.
It’s open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and tickets can be purchased here.
Drive-in Theater
Since the summer, Gateway has been showing films on what it bills as the largest outdoor projection surface on Long Island.
This month the lineup is geared more toward Halloween with horror movies and others exploring themes of the undead, the mysterious and the super natural.
Opening night Friday is a separate-admission double feature of Coco at 7 p.m. followed by The Sixth Sense at 9 p.m.
Future screenings include Cabin in the Woods, Alien, Blair Witch Project and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, among others.
Tickets are $40 per carload and can only be purchased online.
