Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard Turns Spooky After The Sun Goes Down And The 'Mystic Moon' Rises

NORTH SALEM, NY — This place gets downright eerie after dark. And that is by design.

Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard, the family-run destination best known for apple picking and pumpkin perusing, not to mention its signature Hardscrabble cider, is becoming something entirely different after the sun goes down.

The Northern Westchester farm will still be a family-friendly place to grab farm fresh produce, peer at the goats and chickens, stock up on apple cider doughnuts, or just relax with a libation while perched on an Adirondack chair, but a magical new moon is rising over the orchard this year.

From September 19 through November 1, visitors of all ages will be able to step into "Mystic Moon — A Spooktacular Experience at Harvest Moon," a half-mile, fully immersive trail.

If your idea of fall fun is decidedly more Harry Potter than Jason Voorhees, then this attraction might just be exactly what the witch doctor ordered.

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Mystic Moon's creators say that unlike traditional Halloween attractions, they are trading fright for wonder, inviting guests of all ages into a "world of moonlit magic." The 40-minute adventure will be "weaving together an atmosphere that's equally mystical and enchanting."

"This is the kind of event our community has been waiting for," Corinne Covino, co-owner of Harvest Moon, said. "We wanted to create something magical and mysterious. It's not about fright, it's about wonder and the magic of the season, where families and friends can celebrate Halloween together. From the illuminated woods to our story-driven experience, Mystic Moon is the first of its kind in Westchester."

Towering 80-year-old oak trees glow under dramatic uplighting, guiding visitors safely through a narrated tale about a playful witch whose mischief has transformed the woods.

The whimsical walk winds through storybook scenes that unfold much like ghost stories told around the campfire. Highlights include the witch's cabin in the woods; barnyard friends transformed by the witch's spell into plump, grinning pumpkins; an Enchanted Glowing Forest, where vine-draped trees glow in the night with clusters of luminous orbs floating among hills; and a chilling 60-foot spider web nestled in the trees.

A jaunty, but haunting, score ties the adventure together. And there are plenty of photo ops along the way.

After the trail, guests can visit the big-top tent to sample festive drinks like Harvest Moon's signature hard cider for adults and sweet cider for kids, along with seasonal treats and souvenirs for purchase.

Tickets start at $20 for kids and $25 for adults (pricing may vary on weekends). Time slots are required for entry.

The trail will run Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from Sept. 19 though Oct. 12, and every night from Oct. 16 until Nov. 1. Hours are from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., with time slots every 15 minutes.

You can watch a sneak preview of Mystic Moon here, and find out more about Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard here.