Monster Maze In West Winfield Perfect for Halloween Scare

If you are looking for a scare this Halloween Season, the Monster Maze is the perfect place. It is located on a two acre wooded plot of land off of Meeting House Road in West Winfield. People young and old say it is like reliving the scariest horror movie you have ever watched, only in real life.

Don Shipman and Andrea Bullard went through the maze on Saturday night along with some NEWSChannel 2 staff such as Meterologist Bill Kardas, Reporter Evan White, Web Producer Andrew Donovan and Photographer Tom Geise. We brough along some students from Whitesboro High School as well.

CLICK HERE For Complete Story

REMEMBER TO TUNE INTO NEWSCHANNEL 2 AT DAYBREAK AND SUNRISE THIS HALLOWEEN FOR ALL OF THEIR SCARY ADVENTURES.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL!

PGA Golf May Be The Main Ticket, But Nongolfers Have A Beautiful & Busy Weekend, Too

The big ticket item for this weekend is the Turning Stone Resort Championship, an official PGA Tournament that brings some fine professional golfers into the area and lots of sports media attention, too. Comments from golfers and media alike have been complimentary to a beautiful golf course and a well-planned event. Kudos to Turning Stone for giving this area yet another sporting event to be proud of.

Yet, we know there are lots of you out there that are yearning for another way to enjoy the great outdoors other than watching some great golf shots. The weather is perfect for some outdoor fun and there's great Festivals in every direction. Here's just a few:

Remsen Barn Festival Built on Welsh Traditions

Don't let the title fool you. The Remsen Barn Festival of the Arts has nothing to do with a barn.
The Remsen Barn Festival is always held the fourth full weekend in September along Main Street in the Village of Remsen. It features acoustic music, street entertainment, traditional hand crafts and authentic foods & artwork. This is the 28th year for the Festival that is based on the rural Welsh traditions of Remsen, NY. This year boasts 300 vendors and, as always, wil be open rain or shine. Luckily for festival goers, this year the weather looks like plenty of sunshine. There really are few better ways to spend a glorious fall afternoon than strolling the Main Street, browsing through the unique vendors and sampling the foods you smell along the way. Be prepared to spend at least a few hours because there's plenty to see. This year's festival is Saturday, September 22nd from 10am to 6pm and Sunday, September 23rd from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free, but please leave your pets home. The Festival is pretty easy to find .There are plenty of signs along the way and parking lots with shuttle buses that run regularly. There's even a train from Union Station in Utica.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT THE REMSEN BARN FEST

Applefest 2007

New York’s peak apple harvest time has begun and the Cooperstown Rotary Club is celebrating by sponsoring the annual AppleFest at the Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard September 22 and 23. This long-standing, well-attended festival is a fall family fun event that includes plenty of apple and cider sampling, a large display of antique tractors, a variety of children’s games, a dunking booth, inflatables, and live musical entertainment. The event is the Club’s annual effort to raise thousands of dollars to benefit local charities and Rotary supported programs. Last year Rotary raised over $10,000 through business and individual sponsorships and contributions with 100% of the revenues returning to the local community. There will be a daily build-your-own scarecrow contest with Fall decorations available at a nominal fee.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT APPLEFEST

Adirondack Balloonfest

If a "colorful" weekend is just what you're looking for, start out with a drive up north to the Lake George area. The foliage on route should be pretty enough, but the colors at the end of the road are certainly a rainbow to behold. The 35th Annual Adirondack Balloonfest began Thursday, September 20th and continues through the end of this weekend. The skies will be light up with the colors of over 90 balloons, including some formed into unique shapes. The gates open at 5am both Saturday and Sunday for early risers who want to see all the preparation involved with launching these giant balloons and breakfast is available. The days continue with more food, as well as music. Other entertainment includes a Rock Climbing Wall, kids fun activities, Balloon Festival Art Show, kite flying, military aircraft display and a tourism tent. Saturday night concludes with a Balloon Moonglow (weather permitting) at 8pm followed by fireworks over Lake George. There are several observation points to enjoy the view, so check the Balloonfest website for more information. Bring your cameras because the Balloonfest is having a photo contest. Admission is free, but leave your pets at home.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE BALLOONFEST INFORMATION

Share some of your pictures from these and other events to us at close2home@wktv.com.

Back to School - Temperatures Still Say Summer!

School started Thursday at most schools in the area, but the weather still says summer as temperatures hit 90 today. Lots of local fun to be had this weekend...

In the spirit of learning and back to school, check out the New Hartford Family Fun Fest to benefit the New Hartford Public Library and its current construction project. The Fun Fest will be held rain or shine on Saturday, September 8th from 10am to 5pm at the Sherrill Brook Town Park on Route 12 in New Hartford. The fun will include lots of food like pizza and funnel cakes. There will be rides and games by Main Event Amusements, as well as a magician, puppeteer, the NH Fire Dept., McGruff the Crime Dog, Finger Printing, Face Painting, Irish Dancers, Firestorm Quartet, palm reading, Astronomical Society, Pony Rides, Bubbles the Clown, chicken barbecue & More. If that didn't sound like enough, there will also be crafts, antiques and collectibles for sale by quality dealers. Admission is FREE and parking is $2.00. MORE INFO

Follow Your Nose to the Garlic Festival!
The smell of garlic may evoke dreams of Italian food for most, but the Garlic andf Herb Festival in Little Falls has something different to offer. Yes, there is plenty of food to sample. There are also demonstrations of Garlic Growing and Braiding and Medicinal Herbs. Of course, there is a Garlic Cookoff. You can eat to the beat of the music of Caribbean steel drums, the bluegrass of Stone Soup or the jazz of Monk Rowe. Peruse the wares of arts and crafts vendors and the Garlic & Herb Grower's Market Food Vendors. Applaud the crowning of the Garlic Queen.
The Garlic and Herb Festival takes place Saturday, September 8 at Canal Place in Little Falls. MORE INFO

43rd Annual Craft Days Have Historical Flair
The 43rd Annual Craft Days are organized and hosted by the Madison County Historical Society at 435 Main Street, in Oneida. The Craft Days will be held on Saturday, September 8th from 10am to 5pm and Sunday, September 9th from 10am to 4pm. This year’s Craft Days will feature over 100 juried craft vendors, food, and entertainment. Visitors will also be able to tour Cottage Lawn, the 1849 Gothic Revival Cottage, and headquarters of the Madison County Historical Society during the event. Entertainment provided by Olde Tyme Fiddlers on Saturday from 1-3 pm and Quigsy and the Bird on Sunday from 1-3 pm. Check out live demonstrations from vendors! In addition, free park and ride service will be provided. Shuttle buses will be running throughout the weekend from the Ames parking lot on Route 5 to Cottage Lawn. Tickets are $3.00 for adults and children 12 and under are free. MORE INFO

Celebrate the Feast of San Gennaro at Turning Stone
Enjoy the food and culture of the traditional Italian street festival under the roof of the Turning Stone Event Center. The Feast of San Gennaro will be held Saturday, September 8th from 10am to 8pm and Sunday, September 9th from 10am to 5pm. It wouldn't be an Italian Festival without lots of great Italian food and music. This Feast also includes LIVE cooking shows, LIVE entertainment games from Hawkins Amusements. The two day feast also features celebrity appearances by Gianni Russo ("The Godfather"), Dominic Chianese ("The Sopranos") and a LIVE Cooking Show with Rocco Dispirito, celebrity chef and star of NBC's "The Restaurant".
Admission to the Festival is free. Tickets can be purchased at the event for food, beverages and games. Family Packs are $25.00 and includes 25 food tickets, 3 free food tickets and 5 free game tickets. Single food tickets are $1.00 each. MORE INFO

Don't forget ... send your pictures from these events or any other New York style fun to close2home@wktv.com.

What To Do As The Summer Ends?

As summer comes to an ending, it is time to start thinking about what to do during our nice fall weekends. One option could be visiting the Fly Creek Cider Mill. It is open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM until December 16th.
Click here to visit their website: www.flycreekcidermill.com.

The Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard
288 Goose Street

Fly Creek, NY 13337
1-800-505-6455

If you cannot go to the Cider Mill it self, you can still get the fall feeling of their products. The Fly Creek Cider Mill is proud to announce the opening of a brand new online store. Now all the delicious Fly Creek Cider Mill products will be available year round to be shipped right to your doorstep!
To visit the online store, please click here: http://www.cpostores.com/flycreekcidermill/.

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For State Fair Happenings - WE HAVE YOU COVERED

NEWSChannel 2 has developed a section of Close 2 Home dedicated to keeping you informed on all State Fair Events. This is the 161st Great New York State Fair and you can find THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE HERE.

Admission to the Fair is $10 at any gate. Children 12 and under are admitted free every day of the Fair. Seniors 60 and over are admitted free on Monday and Tuesday, August 27 and 28. Students 16 and under are admitted free on Friday, August 31. Parking costs $5 each day.

BE SURE TO SUBMIT YOUR PICTURES OF THE FAIR TO OUR PHOTO GALLERY.

Busy, Busy Weekend

Just a reminder....another weekend with a tough choice of events.

The king of all central NY antique shows, the Madison Bouckville Antiques Show is Saturday and Sunday from 9 to 5. More Info

For outdoor men and women, the Woodsmen's Field Days is Saturday & Sunday at the Oneida County Fairgrounds in Boonville from 8 to 5. There's an open lumberjack contest for the adventurous.

Guess Where? Week Three Winner

This week's picture is just one of many area tributes to veterans. Jeffrey Madden of New Hartford correctly identified our mystery picture as the Veterans Park at American Legion Post #1113 on Main Street in Whitesboro. All you other observant viewers get another try though. Check out this week's picture and give it a guess again at close2home@wktv.com. Good luck.