‘Haunted Acres Hayride' begins in October at Heaven Hill Farm

Hi-tech special effects meet creepy characters on spooky trails to delight hayriders Vernon — Looking to be frightened by ghoulish ghosts and their friends? Every Friday and Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. in October, Heaven Hill Farm in Vernon will offer its “Haunted Acres Hayride” for “the brave and curious riders who tempt the ominous trails” at the farm. Now in its 24th year at Heaven Hill Farm, this is the longest running haunted hayride attraction in Northern New Jersey. “I strive to keep our haunted hayride anything but ordinary,” said Michael Paulison, the hayride’s creative director. “I combine hi-tech special effects and lighting along the trails with live creepy characters, making Haunted Acres Hayride an actual theatrical production of fear that lingers in your mind for days to come and causes many sleepless nights.” Although leaky oil cans and pools of oozing waste are hazardous, the hayride trail sludges directly through the heart of a “toxic waste dump.” “Fear will leak from every polluted spill and victim, wrapping itself around you and leaving you with the long-term risk of melting flesh,” said Paulison. The trail leads “face to face” with “Bloody Mary,” the ghost believed to appear when summoned by chanting her name three times. Organizers said “her bloody reign of terror continues in the darkness of the hayride, leaving those who dare look directly at her to suffer the torment of their eyes being ripped out, vengeful claw marks permanently scarring their face or even sudden violent death.” Organizers said riders will also “take their chances mingling among the gruesome rampage of merciless murderers and cannibals.” “Holding the power of life and death in the palms of their lethal, bloody hands, serial killers are on the hunt for their next calculated subject to torture,” said Paulison. For those who enjoy more mild mannered thrills, a daytime hayride across farm country to the pumpkin patch began in September. “The Pumpkinland Festival” offers more than 20 activities all day long like jaunts through the corn stalk maze, the hay maze or “the Boo Barn,” cheering on the pig and duck races, visiting with farm animals and playing in the corn boxes. In addition to admission to Pumpkinland, festival-goers can pan for “pay dirt” gem stones at the new gem Mining attraction while the children play on all the carnival rides., Heaven Hill Farm is a 150 acre working farm and full service garden center offering annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, gardening supplies, seasonal produce, patio and pool furniture, sheds and giftware. Call 973-764-5144 for more information or visit www.heavenhillfarm.com.