Halloween on the Hill is a Superior Nature Hike of Family-Friendly Decorations! (5 stars)
It’s a night of Halloween decorations! Long Hill is a historic home on the North Shore with extensive grounds and, of course, a hill. Through October 30 they’re hosting an event at dusk and nighttime whose feature is a path of seemingly endless Halloween pumpkins, all lit for the season. It took me 45 minutes to go up and down, but I didn’t stop anywhere for long.
You’ll see pumpkins carved with cartoony faces and wild animals like crabs, spiders, bats. You’ll also see dragons, mermaids, unicorns, and fairies. There’s a whole display of pumpkins for Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Jurassic Park.
How great. It’s a delight to spend some time in nature in the crisp New England air. .and even better to see all of the happy families with cute kids. Long Hill just buzzes with energy, especially when the kids break into a dance because they’re so excited.
First you’ll hear music and walk through a big overgrown field with pumpkin mannequins dressed as celebrities. Then it’s a woods walk up the hill, but the slopes are not severe, so anyone who can walk easily can make the climb. Nighttime in the forest is naturally spooky, but fine for small children, and I was pleased to find that the path is well-lit and free from tripping hazards like stones.
I was grateful also to find occasional benches along the walkway to sit and rest, though I’d wish for more, and one bench was blocked by a string of lights in front of it.
Just when I was enjoying the pumpkins but wishing for more variety, I arrived at the top of the hill, which has a big covered tent where you can buy hot or cold apple cider, bottled water or juice, cider donuts, pumpkin or chocolate chip cookies, and more. More chairs are needed, and a second cashier, but I was delighted to find a full public restroom there, not a porta john! Their big historic home is closed for the event. At the base there’s a booth selling wine and a well-stocked Halloween-themed gift shop.
There’s even more to find. One elaborate diorama pays tribute to Ghostbusters, the movie, and others to witches and pirates (of course with pumpkins), and a “volcano” with smoke rising from its summit. They even have a vortex tunnel! I’ve never seen an interactive Halloween attraction like this at a kid-friendly nature hike. It’s a “tunnel” of cloth that rotates around a short platform. You walk up and it’s kid-friendly fun to feel like the world is turning around you, as if you’re at a carnival fun house.
That pushes the event from a 4.5 stars to 5 stars for me. It’s a lovely night out that’s highly recommended!
See more at thetrustees.org.