CE Astorino, Director of Tourism Natasha Caputo and Deputy CE Kevin PlunkettLooking for something fun and perhaps a bit scary as Halloween approaches? You don't have to go far to find a thrill. Just check out everything Westchester County has to offer and remember to "like" Westchester County Tourism on Facebook for a chance to win a getaway weekend for four.

This was the message from County Executive Robert P. Astorino as he led a sneak preview of the 2011 Horseman's Hollow Halloween spectacular at historic Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow today. During a tour of the highly popular attraction which has been expanded with new features, Astorino and guests wound their way through a ghoul-infested corn maze, passed haunted houses and encountered the infamous headless horseman.

The preview was part of a press conference launching Westchester County Tourism's campaign promoting all things Halloween and autumn in Westchester.

In explaining the goal of Spooky Spectacular Westchester,  Astorino said: "Horseman's Hollow is just one of hundreds of fall family-friendly events taking place right here in Westchester. Why leave the area when you can find everything close to home?"

Natasha Caputo, director, Westchester County Tourism & Film, said: "There's something for everyone happening in every part of Westchester this fall—haunted houses, cemetery tours, spooky trails, hundreds of scarecrows, apple cider, concerts, museum exhibits, fine dining with seasonal local ingredients, even a Halloween pet parade. Spooky Spectacular Westchester is also an opportunity to remind visitors that they can explore history and culture in the Hudson Valley."

Caputo explained that there will be a promotion and contest that will run on two radio stations—WHTZ-FM (Z100) and WLTW-FM (Lite FM) —offering two families of four an opportunity to win a fabulous weekend getaway package that includes:

  • A two-night stay at either the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Westchester in White Plains valued at $678 or at the Tarrytown House Estate valued at $508.
  • Four "anytime" tickets to Historic Hudson Valley's frightening "Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze" at VanCortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, NY. Ticket value is $20 each, for a total value of $80 for four tickets. These "anytime" tickets are priceless as they are good for sold-out dates as well.
  • Four tickets (to admit either an adult or child) to "Scared by the Sound" – a haunting experience at Rye Playland in Rye. Ticket value is $15 each, for a total value of $60 for four tickets.
  • Four passes to the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, NY. Ticket value is $5 each, for a total value of $20 for four tickets.

To enter the contest, listeners should go the radio station websites, www.z100.com and www.1067litefm.com, and enter the keyword, "Westchester."

Through another promotion on radio station WHUD, fans will be invited each week through the end of October to submit their own photos of their favorite Westchester experiences to the County Tourism Office's Facebook page, Westchester County Tourism, NY (www.facebook.com/WestchesterCountyTourism).

The four submissions that get the most 'likes' will be named the winners of a dinner for four at one of the following top restaurants in Westchester: 42 The Restaurant, White Plains; Benjamin Steakhouse, Hartsdale; Serafina, White Plains; and Thyme, Yorktown Heights. Also, one person each week for the duration of the contest who 'likes' the Facebook page will be randomly selected to win a premium item.

Westchester County Tourism, the county's official tourism marketing organization, is a county-operated entity dedicated to building Westchester County's economy and positive image through tourism and convention development, major events, and the marketing of the county on a worldwide basis. The Tourism Office in Westchester County is a Division within the County Executive's Office of Economic Development. The role of the Tourism Office is to promote and coordinate tourist-related activity within Westchester County.