GLENS FALLS — The Glens Falls Collaborative announced a Halloween House Contest will be held during the month of October. 

City residents are asked to decorate their homes for the Halloween season. Friends and neighbors will vote for their favorite display at:  glensfallscollaborative.com.     

The competition is limited to houses in Glens Falls. The Collaborative asks that the displays be “PG-13” and suitable for most audiences. Judging will only include the portion of a yard or house that is visible from the driveway or street. 

The display and voting period runs through Oct. 30. The winner will be announced on a Facebook Live stream on the Downtown Glens Falls Page at 10 a.m. on Halloween morning. The event is a follow-up to the success of last year’s holiday window display competition in December. 

Visit glensfallscollaborative.com to register for the contest and to vote.    

ZOMBIE EXTRAS WANTED
All ages needed. Zombie Extras $30 production fee includes: Makeup and Costume Class (zoom). October 1 at 5-6 p.m. Movement class (zoom) October 2 at 5-6 p.m. filming in person, October 3 and Professional Zombie photo taken on location. The show will be pre-recorded and streamed. No live audience performance. The streaming link available to purchase for $10. Register at saratogachildrenstheatre.org/shop/#!/Zombie-Extra-Night-of-the-Living-Dead/p/233503032/category=0

HOLLOWED HARVEST
The Hollowed Harvest will be held at the Altamont Fairgrounds, located at 129A Grand St., Altamont. It features 7,000 incredible Jack O’Lanterns creating stunning landscapes and larger-than-life displays, some towering as tall as 3 stories, and spanning more than 60 feet in length! From dinosaurs to zombies, sea creatures to medieval castles, all made from Jack-O’-Lanterns. Thursday through Sunday of each week through the beginning of November with additional dates added the week of Halloween. Show dates, times and ticket information are available HollowedHarvest.com.

PUMPKIN GLOW & LIGHT SHOW DRIVE THRU
An enchanting Halloween experience at Ellms Family Farm, located at 448 Charlton Rd., Ballston Spa that features a pumpkin wonderland with thousands of hand carved illuminated Jack O’Lanterns. Please join us on the farm to be immersed in the magic from the safety and comfort of your own vehicle. From single pumpkin carvings to larger than life dazzling light displays, our master carvers are bringing all the Halloween spirit to life. In addition to marveling at the masterpieces created by our talented artists, you will also be able to select and pre-pay for tasty fall themed treats, food & beverages to be enjoyed from your vehicle. Providing everyone with fall fun while maintaining social distance protocols and CDC guidelines. Pumpkin Glow & Light Show Drive-Thru is a great event for families, couples, and young adults alike. There is something for everyone to enjoy at this truly magnificent fall spectacular – perfect for all ages! To purchase tickets, visit.ellmsfarms.com. 

ZOMBIE ZIPS
Mountain Ridge Adventure, 300 Weatherwax Rd., Schenectady This tour is not for the faint of heart. Your nightmare begins with a corpse-guided tour along a serial killer infested forest to then be hauled into the trees among complete, utter horror. Once in the trees you will be launched in complete darkness … alone, afraid, and vulnerable … along a screaming steel cable hundreds of feet along Mountain Ridge Adventure’s awesome Zip Line Park. The terror occurs every Friday and Saturday night in the month of October from 7 – 10 p.m. WARNING: This is not for kids or the faint of heart. If you have been to those silly Disney-esque kiddy haunted hayrides and found them even remotely scary then we caution you – Mountain Ridge Adventure’s ZOMBIE ZIPS will stop your heart. For more information visit our Facebook page. 

NIGHTMARES AT LIBERTY RIDGE FARM
At Nightmares at Liberty Ridge Farm, you will find a variety of haunted attractions, all full of the scariest monsters and creepiest creatures you can dream up. Each attraction is scarier than the one before, and they’re sure to leave everyone who enters trembling with fear. Featuring: Farmers’ Haunted House, Field of Screams, Underground Tunnel, 3D McCobb Manor, and the Forest of Fear. Nightmares is open 7 -10 p.m. on October 3, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, and 30. Get your tickets at the gate. Liberty Ridge Farm is located at 29 Bevis Rd., Schaghticoke. 

FIELD OF HORRORS
Field of Horrors, located at 100 Farrell Rd., Troy, offers several different attractions for the price of one! Check out Return of the Mummy’s Curse, Death Trap, Insanity, Condemed Manor and Dr. Morbid’s Haunted House. Every Friday and Saturday through October 31 and two Sundays, October 11 and 25. Not recommended for children under 10. Strobe lights are in use throughout the premises. All fog machine liquid is water based. This is not a handicap accessible facility. General admission is $28. For times, and more information and frequently asked questions  visit fieldofhorrors.com.

DEAD END ROAD DRIVE-THRU EXPERIENCE
Double M’s Dead-End Road is a contactless haunted theatrical experience. Remaining in your vehicle in our controlled environment allows for social distancing while still enjoying the laughs, thrills and chills of the Halloween season and snacking on cider and donuts! Open Thursday through Sunday nights in October at 7 p.m. Tickets must be purchased online in advance; we will not be selling tickets at the gate. Limited space available each night. We will be taking all necessary precautions to keep our customers and staff safe. We will be following specific guidelines set forth by New York State. Double M is located at 678 Route 67 in Ballston Spa. 

GHOST TOURS OF CANFIELD CASINO
The Canfield Casino is one of Saratoga Springs’ most historic and haunted buildings. The Casino was featured on the SYFY Network’s television show Ghost Hunters in 2010, and in 2019 was named number 4 in the top 10 of America’s Most Terrifying Places on the Travel Channel.  Tours are scheduled for October 15-17, 22-24 and 29-31. Tours last about 1 hour and will be led by actual eyewitnesses to paranormal events that have been recorded in the last few years at the Historic Canfield Casino. Come learn the stories, the legends, and the lore of this great building in a small, intimate group. Tickets are $20. Time slots begin at 6 p.m. and tours run every 20 minutes with the last tour stepping off at 7:40 p.m. each evening. Reservations are required as each tour is limited to 6 people. Reservations can be made online at saratogahistory.org. Face masks and social distancing are required.

VIRTUAL GREAT PUMPKIN CHALLENGE
Due to the limited number of people who can congregate, we decided to sadly have our 20th Annual Great Pumpkin Challenge virtually. This popular community event features 5K and 10K with proceeds benefitting Saratoga Bridges’ essential programs and services. By being virtual, the 5K and 10K you can run or walk at your convenience between October 17-31.  As we will not have an official course this year, choose your own or stay on ours in the Saratoga State Park.  Mile markers will be posted in the Park during our 2-week event.  Otherwise, we recommend www.mapmyride.com to locate an option in your area and encourage you to drive the route first to check on a safe course with good shoulders and sight lines. During your run/walk, please continue to follow social distancing policies and requirements. Once you have finished your race, please report your time.  These need to be submitted by October 31.  Our $25 registration fee garners you a long-sleeve moisture wicking shirt. Register at zippyreg.com/online_reg/?e=1448

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Force into virtual reality due to the ongoing pandemic, MDOCS Stoytellers’ Institute presents an online exhibition featuring the 2020 MDOCS Storytellers’ Institute Fellows and live conversations with artists.

The current theme, titled SHIFT, shows how a small group of documentarians adapted and created despite and because of the global challenges of 2020 in first-ever virtual MDOCS Stoytellers’ Institute. 

The exhibit includes works of more than one dozen artists. Included are a Quarantine Self Portrait photo series by Gioncarlo Valentine, Kadijatou Diallo’s animated untold story of life under Guinean President Sékou Touré’s regime, and 25-minutes of footage comprised of videos taken over a one-year span by Keshawn Truesdale, that includes portions of protests and rallies in Saratoga Springs during recent months.

Founded in 2014, the annual Storytellers’ Institute sponsored by the John B. Moore Documentary Studies Collaborative (MDOCS) is a five-week residency hosted at Skidmore College. The institute brings together a handful of professional documentary practitioners, 8 to 10 Skidmore College students and some faculty/staff members to work on personal projects and engage with the year’s theme.

Instagram live conversations with artists will take place @mdocs.skidmore at 6 p.m. on the following dates: Oct. 1 – Courtney Surmanek and Steven T. Licardi; Oct. 8 – Kadijatou Diallo and Shana Kleiner; Oct. 15 – Shalon Buskirk, Haley Hnatuk, and Drew Swedberg; Oct. 22 – Cooperativa Cultural 19 de enero – Fernanda Espinosa and Raul Ayala. To view the online virtual presentation of SHIFT, go to: mdocs.skidmore.edu/storytellers/shift. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Yaddo President Elaina Richardson virtually welcomes online visitors to Yaddo, featuring a rare look at many of the estate’s storied rooms – Patricia Highsmith’s study at West House – where notable poets Sylvia Plath and William Carlos Williams also created works –  to Katrina Trask’s bedroom in the historic Mansion, famously depicted in a WW II era edition of Life Magazine featuring then-new writer Truman Capote. 

The presentation is part of the Yaddo Virtual Fall Benefit 2020, which takes place Oct. 8. The event also features Yaddo artists and local supporters revealing what Yaddo means to them and will be highlighted by a performance by the musical duo, The Lazours.

For ticket information, go to: Yaddo.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In the face of unprecedented challenges this year, the company’s world premiere of Damian Lanigan’s Testament was presented as an audio performance, available to listeners free of charge. The organization announced it is concluding its fiscal year Sept. 30. 

“We need the arts now more than ever, so please make a tax-deductible gift by Sept. 30 to support Saratoga Shakespeare Company as our fiscal year comes to a close,” the company announced in a statement. “A gift today will help us continue to produce quality online programming while social distancing guidelines are still in place, and ensure that we will be ready to produce live theatre again when it is safe to do so.”

To make a donation or for more information, go to: saratogashakespeare.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College announces the fall 2020 Tang at Home Studio series. This series will be conducted online to ensure the health and safety of our audiences and our staff. The Museum building is closed to the public for now, but we are open online to bring the Tang experience into your home. 

Tang at Home Studio gives kids the chance to explore their creativity, make new things, and share their artwork with peers online. 

Each session, which occurs every other Friday at 5 p.m. from Sept. 25 to Nov. 20, includes an at-home looking and exploration of an artwork, instructions for project preparation and a real-time online gathering, led by Sunny Ra.

How does it work?

On Monday morning of each week there is a session, and an opening up of registrations on the Tang Teaching Museum website. Then on Friday gather online via Zoom to discuss ideas about the artwork, engage in an art-making activity, and share creations. To ensure a fun sharing environment, registration is required. The live Friday sessions are best suited for kids ages 5-12 and a parent or guardian, but everyone is welcome.

Tang At Home Studio Schedule:
Session 1: September 25 Landscape of Discovery 
Session 2: Oct. 9 Self-Portrait Remix
Session 3: Oct. 23 Get Up and Move!
Session 4: Nov. 6 Art in Action. 
Session 5: Nov. 20 Future Visions.

The Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College is closed to the public, due to the coronavirus, but is open online. For updates, visit tang.skidmore.edu. 

For questions about this program, contact Tang Museum Educator Sunny Ra via email at sra@skidmore.edu.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Northshire Bookstore has announced it is accepting pre-orders in advance of the Nov. 17 anticipated release of Barack Obama’s “A Promised Land.” 

The 768-page book signals the first volume of Obama’s presidential memoirs and covers a journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory and the watershed night of Nov. 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office.

Reflecting on the presidency, Obama offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of U.S. partisan politics and international diplomacy, and brings readers inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room, and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, and points beyond. 

The book is $45 and may be pre-ordered by visiting Northshire Bookstore Saratoga, located at 424 Broadway – the sore is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, or by visiting: northshire.com.

CHATHAM, NY — On Saturday, Sept. 26, Equine Advocates will present Willie Nelson with the 2020 Safe Home Equine Protection Award for his work and dedication to end the slaughter of America’s horses during a special online event to be broadcast on YouTube, Facebook and Equine Advocates website. Nelson will be the 19th recipient of this award, which was first given out in 2002. 

Nine-time Grammy Award-winning singer/song writer Sheryl Crow will be making an appearance during the broadcast with a special message for her good friend and fellow horse lover, Willie Nelson. They recently recorded the song, “Lonely, Alone” together. The music video for the song includes footage of Nelson with some of his rescued horses. 

Actress Ali MacGraw, who appeared in such iconic films as “Love Story,” “The Getaway” and “Goodbye Columbus,” will be presenting Andrea Eastman with the 2020 Equine Savior Award for her decades of work and activism on behalf of America’s wild and domestic equines.  Eastman, who had an illustrious 27-year career as a high-powered agent for ICM, was personally responsible for Robert Redford’s signing of the Voter Card in California in 1998 in support of the first state initiative in the nation to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption. That initiative, “Prop 6” passed by more than 60% of the vote. 

 The program will be hosted by two-time Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress, Bebe Neuwirth, who was the recipient of the Safe Home Equine Protection Award in 2009. 

Artists also performing during this celebration and telethon include: Tom Chapin, The Gibson Brothers, Cathy Grier, Brooke Moriber, and Livingston Taylor. 

The broadcast will begin at 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. For more information, visit Equine Advocates website: www.equineadvocates.org and official Facebook page, www.facebook.com/equineadvocates.org/ for more details and updates. 

Equine Advocates, a national, non-profit equine protection organization based in Chatham, will be celebrating its 25th birthday on Feb. 27, 2021. Its mission is to rescue, protect and prevent the abuse of equines through education, investigation, rescue operations, the dissemination of information to the public and through the operation of a horse sanctuary for slaughter-bound, abused and neglected equines.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Providing spins to navigate through a COVID world, Spa City resident Chuck Vosganian, AKA Rochmon announces the newest episode of the Rochmon Record Club Pandemonium is up and running on the Rochmon Facebook page. 

Rochmon is joined by Syracuse singer songwriter Colleen Kattau and Guitarist Jane Zell of Dos XX and Jane Zell and the Zelltones for an hour of original bi-lingual music and conversation about the plight of immigrants and issues regarding the Latinx community. Kattau, a Professor of Spanish at SUNY Cortland and Vosganian discuss the realities of the invisible people who live among us. 

Rochmon Record Club Pandemonium is a one hour, live to tape, deep dive into a regional artist. The hour is filled with music, trivia, some unexpected laughs, and fun for the entire family.

SCHUYLERVILLE — The Salvation Army and The Washington County Fairgrounds are hosting movies in the Pumpkin Patch: three nights of drive-up family fun movies projected onto four of the world’s largest inflatable movie screens. All the fun will take place at the Washington County Fairgrounds parking area located at 392 Old Schuylerville Rd., Greenwich.

The movies will begin Columbus Day weekend starting at 7 p.m. each night. The fairground gates will open at 4:30 for interested parties. The showings include Jurassic Park on Friday, Oct. 9, Hotel Transylvania on Saturday, Oct. 10 and Ghostbusters on Sunday, Oct. 11.

Tickets are $20 per vehicle for general admission. Premium vehicle parking passes for first two rows from the screen along with discounts for multiple night parking passes are available at app.mobilecause.com/e/HlEh2A?vid=bc536 or on the Facebook page of The Salvation Army of Glens Falls or the Washington County Fair Grounds 

Face masks will be required by all participants when not in vehicle or assigned vehicle space. The fairground parking area contains acres of open space and we have four enormous screens to show movies to allow ample room for safe distancing. 

Vehicles will be parked more than six-feet from each other in each row, while each row separated by more than 14 feet. Movie-goers will be allowed the space to the driver’s side of their vehicle only for outdoor viewing. Every other row will be staggered so each vehicle will have unobstructed view of screen. 

The event is the first one of its kind organized by the Salvation Army’s newly formed Doing the Most Good Events team.  Event sponsors have the unique opportunity to partner with the Salvation Army to bring the community together in an event designed to offer a message of hope and unity during an unprecedented time. To help sponsor event please go to app.mobilecause.com/e/HlEh2A?vid=bc536 or contact leo.lloyd@use.salvationarmy.org.