A traditional fall festival combined with the wonder of a Renaissance faire creates a truly magical experience at Scarborough’s Hollow.
The magic of Scarborough’s Hollow begins before you ever walk through the castle gates. After all, part of the fun is getting in character—and even more so during Halloween season.
When I put on sparkly makeup with my sister before the fall festival, held in the same Renaissance-era village that holds Scarborough Faire in the spring, I already felt the spirit of fantasy and fun. Fairy wings, glitter makeup, medieval garb, and mystical costumes are all encouraged, and, honestly, you’ll feel out of place if you don’t dress up. (Although, fair warning: my 9-year-old son was embarrassed by all the attention he received from festivalgoers for his Harry Potter costume.)
From the moment my family and I arrived, the air was brimming with enchantment. Even the employees’ outfits and accents are expertly tailored to fit the era. We trekked through the gravel parking lot into a land from centuries past, filled with toddlers gnawing on turkey legs, colorful court jesters playing for a laugh, and all the pumpkins your heart desires.
Scarborough Hollow is a place for adventure-seekers and fantasy lovers—and everyone else who wants something different from the fall festivals they’re used to. This experience is definitely unique!
Come for the Daytime Fall Festival
Fall decorations are set up throughout the Hollow for themed photo opps along with more permanent décor to pose in front of (the giant metal sword stuck in a massive stone was a hit with my kids). If you don’t want to wait in line for put-together scenes, then skip it—you’ll quickly find that practically the entire village is picture-worthy anyway.
We shopped at the artisan boutiques in the Hollow, which sold everything from incredibly detailed book art to wooden swords and shields, plus flower crowns, period clothing, and other cool (and often hand-crafted) goods. In fact, you could get your entire costume here, or just leave with a one-of-a-kind memento.
There are plenty of fun live shows and merriment during the day to keep you entertained, like the pirates, who sing silly sea shanties, and the beautiful fairies known as the Three Sisters, who will let you take pictures with them.
You can also take part in fun carnival games, including archery, axe throwing, pirate games, strength tests, and star throwing. My kids loved the big swings pushed by medieval men themselves (no electronic rides existed back in ye olde medieval times, after all!).
A petting zoo and a pumpkin garden complete the autumn-themed activities, reminding patrons that this truly has everything you would want from a fall festival.
Magic comes out at night
The sun began to set on our visit, taking the light-hearted atmosphere with it. At night, the Hollow transforms into a spookier place, with just enough eerie characters to be fun and not too terrifying. Mesmerizing magical creatures with glowing wings, intricate masks, and dazzling light-up costumes paraded past us at one point, adding to the mystical environment.
Nightfall also marks a change in the outdoor Secrets of Rottingwood Cemetery, which becomes spookier (although my eldest kids, ages 7 and 9, could handle it).
When it was time to refuel, we grabbed some pizza near the Harvest Wine Tasting, where we could hear the exciting event hosted by certified sommelier Flynn Markley. It’s definitely worth returning without the kids just for that! Instead, the 21+ adults in our group opted for to-go drinks—my frozen Screamsicle was incredible!—before we headed to the Trickster’s 3D Fun House.
After downing our drinks in line (maybe not the wisest choice in hindsight), we entered the whimsical, glowing fun house. The house took longer than you might expect to explore, with 3D shapes to admire, mysterious hidden doors to open, a dizzying bridge to cross, and an oversized throne with a court jester nearby to take photos on and pretend we were royal.
Although there were no jump scares or scary character appearances, my 7-year-old was still a little spooked walking through the fun house at night.
Flashing lights, monsters, and more!
One of our favorite spots was a glowing light tunnel on the way to Blackthorn Haunted Castle. It featured upbeat music and flashing neon lights as we walked through, inspiring my kids to have an impromptu dance party inside. And if you time it with the lights, it makes a perfect photo spot, too.
We walked through the tunnel to see the impressive Blackthorn castle. According to legend, this castle houses a dark creature named Lucian, who is doing his best to steal the Hollow from the Three Sisters using dark magic. Evil lurks around every shadowy corner, which is guaranteed to frighten you. Kids are welcome if they dare, but you might want to avoid going inside if you scare easily.
A less scary, but just as horror-filled, way to see Halloween creatures is through the Mythical Monster Museum. Vampires, mermaids, dragons, and more await you in this exhibit, filled with information on these monsters and the weapons used to slay them.
There are special shows after dark as well, including the stunning Cirque Incendia, which combines fire manipulation with acrobatics. With so much to do, your experience at Scarborough’s Hollow could be a jam-packed adrenaline rush or a calmer, gentler experience filled with magical moments.
For even more spooky fun, visit the Hollow on Halloween weekend. Both days will include regularly scheduled programming during the day and at night, with extra activities for the holiday weekend.
On Saturday, Oct. 31, the first 500 children through the gates will get a complimentary trick-or-treat bag to fill with candy from participating merchants throughout the Hollow. You can also enter the costume contest, color pumpkins, and enjoy all the regularly scheduled Scarborough’s Hollow fun.
Or, come on Sunday, Nov. 1, for the Día de los Muertos celebration at the Hollow. This Day of the Dead event will feature live mariachi performances, cultural programming, face painting, decorating sugar skull coloring pages, and a visit to the community ofrenda to honor your loved ones.
A visit to Scarborough’s Hollow is full of wonder, no matter when you go. My family loved every minute, and yours will too—whether you want an eerie experience or something more whimsical.
No need to spend your hard-earned gold on this event. Tickets start at $29.70 for adults and $16.50 for children ages 5 to 12 (children 4 and younger are free). General parking is included with most adult admission tickets, with certain activities and attractions available for an additional price. So, bring your coin purse and get ready for some medieval autumn charm!
