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Halloween Weekend at a Finger Lakes Campground: What Actually Happens
Halloween Camping Weekend NY in the Finger Lakes: What Actually Happens
Halloween weekend at Rivers Crossing Campground & Marina runs October 16–18, 2026, about two weeks before the holiday itself. Almost everything happens on Saturday: a pumpkin decorating contest in the morning, a kids' costume contest and trick-or-treating to campsites in the afternoon, the Haunted Crypt Port after dark, then a live country band and an adult costume contest to close the night. Friday is a bingo night, and Sunday is for packing up.
If you're looking for a Halloween camping weekend in NY that keeps the kids busy and still gives the grown-ups a night out, this is what the weekend looks like hour by hour. We've also answered the questions people ask us most before they book, from how scary the haunted house is to whether the water is still on in mid-October.
We're on the Clyde River in Savannah, NY, next to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, roughly 35 miles from Syracuse and 45 from Rochester.
What actually happens at Halloween weekend, hour by hour?
The short version: Friday is low-key, Saturday is packed from 11 am to late, and the day shifts from kids' activities in the afternoon to adult entertainment after dark. Here's the 2026 schedule from our events calendar.
Friday, October 16
Time | What's happening | Who it's for |
Afternoon | Check-in and site setup | Everyone |
8:00 pm | Bingo | Families and adults |
Saturday, October 17
Time | What's happening | Who it's for |
11:00 am | Pumpkin Decorating Contest | All ages |
3:00 pm | Kids' Costume Contest | Kids |
5:00 pm | Trick-or-treating to campsites | Kids |
5:00–8:00 pm | Potters Pop-Up Kitchen | Everyone |
6:00–8:30 pm | Haunted Crypt Port | |
8:00–11:30 pm | Tipsy Chix | Adults 21+ |
8:30 pm | Live band: Dirtroad Ruckus (country) | Everyone |
9:30 pm | Adult Costume Contest | Adults |
Sunday, October 18
No events are scheduled. Sleep in, pack up, and check out.
Is there anything to do Friday night?
Yes, but it's a quiet night. Bingo starts at 8 pm, and that's the only scheduled event. Friday is a good night to arrive, set up, and decorate your site before Saturday gets busy.
If you can only come for one night, make it Saturday. If you can do both, Friday arrival means you wake up already on site for the 11 am pumpkin contest instead of racing to make it.
What's the schedule for Saturday?
Saturday runs in three parts.
Late morning: the Pumpkin Decorating Contest at 11 am.
Afternoon and early evening: the Kids' Costume Contest at 3 pm, then trick-or-treating to campsites at 5 pm while it's still light out. Potters Pop-Up Kitchen serves food from 5 to 8 pm, which saves you cooking between trick-or-treating and the haunted house.
After dark: the Haunted Crypt Port opens from 6 to 8:30 pm. Dirtroad Ruckus takes the stage at 8:30 pm, and the Adult Costume Contest follows at 9:30 pm.
There's a gap between 11 am and 3 pm with nothing on the schedule, and it's one of the best parts of an October stay. The refuge is next door, October falls in Montezuma's fall migration season, and the marina puts you on the river if you'd rather fish. The Cayuga Wine Trail and Seneca Falls are both a short drive if the adults want an afternoon off-site. See local attractions for ideas.
Is Halloween weekend appropriate for young kids?
The daytime schedule is built for kids. The pumpkin contest, the kids' costume contest, and trick-or-treating all happen before dark, and trick-or-treating at 5 pm means little ones can go site to site in daylight.
The evening is more grown-up. From 8 pm on, the program shifts to Tipsy Chix, the live band, and the adult costume contest. Families with young kids usually do best treating Saturday as two halves: a full afternoon of kid activities, then back to the site or cabin as the evening gets louder.
How scary is the Haunted Crypt Port, and is there a minimum age?
The Haunted Crypt Port runs from 6 to 8:30 pm on Saturday. Our events page sets the tone: you aren't the first to enter, but you may be the last to leave.
Do I have to dress up?
No. Costumes are optional, and you're welcome to just watch. You only need a costume to enter a costume contest: the kids' contest at 3 pm or the adult contest at 9:30 pm.
If you're on the fence, the Saturday-night crowd is where costumes matter most. Our adult costume contests tend to draw creative, homemade efforts, so you don't need anything store-bought or elaborate.
What's the prize, and who can win?
Three contests run on Saturday:
Contest | Time | Who can enter | Prize |
Pumpkin Decorating Contest | 11:00 am | ||
Kids' Costume Contest | 3:00 pm | Kids | |
Adult Costume Contest | 9:30 pm | Adults | RiverBucks |
What do I win, and what are RiverBucks?
RiverBucks are our in-house reward currency. We award them in costume and site-decorating contests throughout the season, and at Halloween weekend they're the prize for the adult costume contest.
You can see which other weekends award RiverBucks on the events calendar.
Are the cabins heated?
Yes. Both our deluxe cabins and cottages have heat and AC, which makes them the comfortable choice for a cold October night.
Deluxe cabin | Cottage | |
Sleeps | 4 | 6 |
Beds | 2 queens | 2 private bedrooms with queens, plus a loft with a queen and 2 twins |
Kitchen | Mini-fridge, microwave, coffee maker, toaster | Full stocked kitchen |
Bathroom | Shower house nearby | Private bath |
Extras | Linens and towels provided | Screened porch with a river view; linens and towels provided |
Weekend rate | $150/night | $300/night |
Prefer to bring your own setup? RV and trailer sites and primitive tent sites are available too. Tent campers should book a primitive tent site, and come prepared for cold nights.
Before you book
You must be 21 or older to make a reservation.
Dogs are welcome: up to 2 per site, $25 pet fee, dogs only. See our pet policy.
Visitors pay a $10 per carload guest fee on Fridays and Saturdays.
New to themed weekends? Our first-timer's guide to themed camping weekends covers how they work.
Frequently asked questions
When is Halloween weekend at Rivers Crossing in 2026?
October 16–18, 2026. Most activities happen on Saturday, October 17.
Is Halloween weekend family-friendly?
Yes during the day. Pumpkin decorating, the kids' costume contest, and trick-or-treating all happen before dark. The evening program, from 8 pm on, is aimed at adults.
Do the Halloween activities cost extra?
Most weekend activities are included with your stay. Food from Potters Pop-Up Kitchen is paid separately.
Are the cabins heated in October?
Yes. Deluxe cabins and cottages both have heat and AC.
Can friends visit for the day?
Yes. The guest fee is $10 per carload on Fridays and Saturdays.
Plan your Halloween weekend
Halloween weekend is one of the last chances to camp with us before the season closes. Book a heated cabin if you want an easy cold-weather stay, bring a costume if you want a shot at RiverBucks, and leave Saturday afternoon open for the refuge or the river.
Book your stay or call us at 315-365-3000. We'd love to be your hosts.
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