BREAKING: AFTER DARK STILL TOMORROW!! (Before Dark Rescheduled Rain Date to 9/19) - Witchingtonville After Dark Scare-A-Thon Promises to Make You Think "Is This Even Real"?

AFTER DARK IN WASHINGTONVILLE ON OCTOBER 11 FROM 5-10pm

The Village of Washingtonville's Community Event Committe is always kind of crazy busy, but this month they have outdone themselves. Listening to them check and doublecheck and triplecheck that they have every vendor for each of the 2 Witchingtonville days in the right place, at the right time, and with their insurance and permit papers, contacting every vendor several times, talking with Blooming Grove Town Board and Washingtonville Village board to make sure everything is agreed on ...it's a LOT. Their final Committee Meeting feels a little like being at an Italian friend's big party, and the spaghetti is already spilling over all of the plates. But these folks are hardworking and never give up. How detailed do they get? Take a quick look at The interactive TV screen below, set up to show every inch of space being used and by who, as well as the path of the Shuttle Bus that will assist some of the people moving from event to event, and the Police and DPW offering extra coverage, plus extra Security offered by a a generous Sponsor. And 'Oh my Gosh'...they must remember to have endless fun! After all, Halloween is Patrick and Justine Mairino's Wedding Anniversary, and this is why Halloween is possibly the most successful Washingtonville Event of the year.

Event Planning doesn't just happen just before a Holiday. Event Team members are on the phone, texting daily, and stopping by Guilty Pleasures to update and compare progress on details...so here is an intro to theGuilty Pleasures & Cheesecakes crew, followed by details of this week's TERRIFYING HALLOWEEN EXTRAVAGANZA.

The Washingtonville Event Team Preparing for Witchingtonville

Not only do the Committee members proudly brag about it's success.... they won BEST Halloween Event in last year's Chronogram events contest. AND, you might notice thatr in the first picture of Patrick at his desserts station in his and Justine's popular "Guilty Pleasures Shop" that right next to him on the shelf is a big and beautiful Trophy.... for the best Cider Donuts of the Year. Guilty Pleasures sets the tone for this Village's "funfestivals", several of which have grown to an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 attendees during the past 2 years. And even besides the Committee's calendared events, almost anytime you stop by their shop they are doing fun and/or slightly crazy things.

Patrick guarding the cheesecakes (and trophy at top right)

Candies, antiques and fun accessories everywhere you look!

This week, for example, I stopped by one day and a gleeful young lady was laughing and taking pictures of all of the incredible goodies, which (like many of us) reminded her of being a small child and the wonder of walking into a Candy Shop. She went right for the big order....a Bucket of Coffee (so large and topped with so much whipped cream that if it hadn't been made perfectly, which it had, it might threaten to topple over.) So here's the thing... next day it was a repeat with longtime resident, Keller Real Estate Representative and Washington Cat Rescuer Extraordinaire (O.C. Safe Cats Inc. and Washingtonville Community Events Supporter), Jodie LoMeli, facing a very similar "Coffee Bucket", and the pictures of them slurping it down cries for a "Winter Coffee Bucket Challenge" (with a prize of course - while they wait for a Guilty Pleasures dessert to go with it).

Another new person in town who fell in love with the Village

when she stopped by, and her 5-minute coffee stop turned into nearly an hour.

FORGET THE HOT DOG CONTESTS, WHO'S 'IN' FOR A BIG GUILTY PLEASURES WINTER COFFEE BUDGET CHALLENGE?

GUILTY PLEASURES - A SMALL SHOP WITH TONS OF SURPRISES AND A HUGE HEART AND MANY OF ITS CUSTOMERS ARE THE TOP EVENT COMMUNITY ATTENDEES AND SPONSORS AS WELL.

So that's how it is at Guilty Pleasures on Thursdays through Sundays. And when Pat and Justine are not there if they are not baking they are probably working on the props for the next set of events, since they and their team are the Heroes of Local Entertainment. Each member of the Committee has specialties to offer. Carlos, the team's computer graphics tech wiz, is their Secret Weapon. If you check out Patrick Maiorino's FB page there are the choices of this year's specialty WITCHINGTONVILLE TEE SHIRT DESIGNS that Carlos came up with. You can order them either online or at the Event. The Committee members each considered the batch of designs and were supposed to select a few of them. Predictably they loved them all so much that they ordered some of each and every design and they are available to the public this week.

So, how to keep track of this Event of Events called "Witchingtonville"?

Well, the basic divisions are "After Dark" for Saturday evening (Plus After After Dark), and then on NEXT SUNDAY ...DUE TO RAIN INTERFERENCE, it will be "Before Dark" for the youngest of the young attendees and any children or adults with special challenges or fears. A list of the specialties that will happen at Before Dark will be provided during the week.

BELOW, A FEW OF THIS WEEKEND'S SPECIAL WITCHINGTONVILLE FEATURES ON SATURDAY AND NEXT SUNDAY

A PHOENIX RISES

The Beloved Corner Candle Store at 1 Depot Street

JUST THIS WEEK OFFICIALLY GIVEN HISTORIC DESIGNATION AND WILL SOON REOPEN

This iconic Washingtonville treasure will be holding A tantalizing Full Moon Paranormal Investigation. For over 175 years the Historic Thomas Fulton Building has stood in the heart of Washingtonville - first as a cooperage crafting barrels and buckets in the 1800's and for the last 50 years a beloved Corner Candle Store Gift Shop. But behind its warm glow, a chilling question has lingered through the decades. Is this building Haunted?

After a devastatomg fire in December of 2021, it now rises as a PHOENIX!!

As part of After Dark, at 6pm there will be a Full Moon Paranormal exploration for "The Spirits of Depot Street". Step inside the shadows of this historic landmark. With professional paranormal investigators you will explore its storied past, using real paranormal equipment, trying to make contact with the spirits that linger at 1 Depot Street. (QR Code and Link for Tickets on Patrick Maiorino's FB Page)

AMADA'S KITCHEN IN WITCHINGTONVILLE

Tacos Y Mas on Main Street,

& Costume Contest & Raffles at 6 Depot Street

And Yay! the mechanical Bull is Back, and watch a De Los Muertos Dance!

Of course there is plenty of delicious food on the Menu, and check out their webiste for lots of other events.

Meanwhile, at the Speakeasy!

House of Horror, Films & Music

Shhh... this is top-secret, only the daring and mischievous need apply...

Step lightly, fellow thrill seekers into the Speakeasy, Hidden deep in the heart of Witchingtonville lies THE HOUSE OF FIRE, a clandestine den of cocktails, classic horror and devilishly good times; But beware: only those brave enough for UNDERGROUND MISCHIEF shall enter!

(Down the spooky candlelit alley across from McLaughlin Square)

Presented by: Firehouse Roofing NY

in collaboration with Witchingtonville After Dark: Classic Horror

EVENT PAGE:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FFnhaJmJX/

Meanwhile, how good is the WASHINGTONVILLE EVENT TEAM??

And YES,

YES, there will be Guilty Pleasures' Famous Cider Donuts!

Best Cider Donuts in the Hudson Valley

What makes all of this possible in a small Town and Village? A long list of generous Sponsors, an Event Team that never quits, and residents who love their community.