Haunted hayride brings thrills and chills

COEYMANS HOLLOW — An axe murderer, a homicidal doctor and a killer clown.

Those were just some of the sights that greeted the brave-hearted souls who dared to take last weekend’s Horror in the Hollow Hay Ride through Joralemon Park in Coeymans Hollow.

Heavy rain earlier in the day put the hayride’s schedule in some doubt, but things cleared up in time for the event to go on.

“While the weather did not cooperate during the day while we were setting up, the rain moved out just in time for the event and we still had a good turnout,” according to a statement from the Coeymans Hollow Volunteer Fire Corporation, which hosts the event each year.

And for those who turned out for it, there were plenty of good-natured screams, thrills and chills.

Everyone piled into the hayride for a trip through Joralemon Park, with ghosts, zombies, and all manner of creepy creatures leaping out at them from the woods. The more they screamed, the more fun they had.

With Halloween falling on a Wednesday this year, the Horror in the Hollow Hay Ride was held the Saturday before the holiday, on Oct. 27.

Plans are already underway for next year’s event, according to organizers.

Numerous fire departments and local businesses work to put the hayride on each year, donating money and items, and donning costumes to make the hayride as spooky as possible.

Local fire departments that participated included Coeymans Hollow, Coeymans, Ravena, Cornell Hook and Ladder, and Onesquethaw.

Businesses, agencies and individuals that also contributed to the evening’s fun included Boehm Farm, Dunkin’ Donuts, Christine Eck, Coeymans Police, Mueller’s Automotive, Francisco Equipment, Coeymans Parks and Recreation, Track 32 Italian Pub, Punishers LEMC Excelsior Guardian, Bells Sisterhood, Lukens Horse Transportation, Lowe’s, K2 Entertainment DJ Services, Big Top Portable Toilets, Farmer Jon’s, Collins and Son, Thomas Marra, Robert Van Etten, Mark Stanton, Mike Zakens, Coeymans Hollow Trinity United Methodist Church, and Brady’s K-9 Savior.

“We especially want to thank everyone who came out on a dark, dreary night to support the haunters and the above businesses and the volunteer organizations participating in the Haunted Hayride, making it a success,” according to the statement released by Coeymans Hollow Volunteer Fire Corporation.