The Most Notable Sign That Summer Is Over in the Hudson Valley

It might not feel like it, but summer is quickly coming to a close and the Hudson Valley looks to be moving full speed ahead into fall.

What Are Some Signs That Summer is Ending in The Hudson Valley?

I think there are a lot of signs that summer is coming to an end across the region. One of the big ones for me is Fair Season. We just wrapped up the Orange County Fair in Middletown and the Ulster County Fair in New Paltz.

At the end of August the Dutchess County Fair will take over the fairgrounds in Rhinebeck and the next thing you know the kids will be back at school.

Some may say the "Back-to-School" sales are the biggest sign the summer season is wrapping up.

Personally, there's one sign (literally and figuratively) that puts the bow on summer for me...

Spirit Halloween Locations Begin to Pop Up Across the Hudson Valley

Once I see those bright orange signs, with a grim-reaper-skeleton-like creature, start popping up in vacant buildings...I know it's time to say goodbye to summertime.

And it looks like the time has finally arrived for 2024. Here in Dutchess County, 2 Spirit Halloween locations have already started preparing their stores for Halloween 2024.

What used to be Dress Barn in The Post Road Plaza on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie and the former Bed, Bath and Beyond in Poughkeepsie, have both turned over to Spirit Halloween.

A. Verano

We're told the signage for Spirit Halloween at the former Bed, Bath and Beyond has been up since late June.

According to Spirit Halloween socials, it looks like they opened up a handful of locations on August 1st and 2nd and other locations in the next few weeks. I passed the Spirit Halloween location at the Post Road Plaza and they were just putting up signage in the windows, so they'll most likely be open soon! Keep your eyes peeled!

As for what to expect this year, take a look at this sneak peek on the Spirit Halloween Instagram account:

Have you seen a Spirit Halloween in your town?

The Hudson Valley Halloween Pre Game

Are you excited for Halloween 2024? Already have your trip to Spirit Halloween planned out and what you're going to dress us as in your planner?

Get into the holiday spirit (and maybe find some inspiration) with some of these creepy looks from a local Wappingers Falls, NY special effects artist Jamielyn Boldrin:

Wappingers Falls, NY SFX Makeup Artist Shares Wicked 31 Days of Halloween Looks

10 Most Haunted States In America- Where Does New York Rank?

We decided to ask ChatGPT to help us solve this one. We asked it to determine the most haunted states in America, and why those states stand out.

Determining the most haunted states in America can be subjective and depends on various factors, including the number of reported ghostly encounters, the density of historical sites, and the prevalence of well-known haunted locations."

With that data, here's several states that are often considered to be among the most haunted in America, based on their historical significance and numerous reported paranormal experiences. See where New York ranked on this list:

Gallery Credit: Dave Wheeler