Trares
Through the trees, a ghastly specter appeared behind us.
The fiend towered on the back of his black steed, red cape flowing, sword clutched in his hand. And he was gaining on us fast.
You could picture the evil grin on his face — if only he had a head.
The Trares family found themselves plopped directly into the heart of Sleepy Hollow, and right in the path of the Headless Horseman. And we had done it on purpose.
Last week was Anthony’s fall break from school. While in past years we had planned trips out of town for the break, this time around, we made it a “stay-cation” after a jam-packed summer vacation series. We did take a quick weekend jaunt to Columbus, Ohio, to go duckpin bowling, visit the LEGO Store, enjoy a college football Saturday in one of the best football towns in the country, and of course, swim in a hotel pool.
But for the most part, we were keeping it low-key around the house.
Not that we didn’t try to have a little bit of fun. Besides the Columbus trip, we planned a weekday dinner with a neighbor family, Anthony had a sleepover with his best friend, and we bought tickets to the annual Harvest Nights celebration at Newfields.
But the centerpiece of the week was Conner Prairie’s Headless Horseman Festival.
Held every October, the festival is a fall-tastic extravaganza with carnival rides, hot apple cider and old-time performances. At the heart is a haunted hayride through Conner Prairie’s frontier village, where the Horseman emerges in search of a head.
The festival itself is incredibly popular, drawing thousands of people each weekend. And nothing is more in-demand than the hayride; it often sells out for the season just a few weeks after tickets go on sale.
In fact, we had never been on the hayride itself. A few times in the past, we had made our way into the festival to enjoy the rides, games and food. We took Anthony through the “easy” corn maze, even though we still got lost, and slid down the sack slide.
But the hayride had always been sold out whenever we went.
This time, we planned ahead. Knowing we didn’t have huge plans for fall break, we got online early and purchased tickets, getting three seats during the 7 p.m. timeslot.
When it was our time to ride, the sun was just setting behind the trees. We climbed into the hay wagon, ready to live the most classic of American spooky stories.
The atmosphere couldn’t have been more perfect. The thickets of maple, oak and tulip trees along the route were just starting to change color. Log cabins and rough-hewn barns stood off in the shadows, making it feel you were traveling through a Hudson River valley village. Performers in pioneer dress did folk dances around bonfires.
Over a speaker, snippets from Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” added to the ambiance.
Then, he appeared.
The Horseman came from the shadows, trotting closer and closer to our wagon. Little kids screamed and everyone excitedly pointed as he swung his sword through the air.
You knew there was no real danger, but still, it was fun to lose yourself in the legend.
Our wagon circled the Conner Prairie, with the Horseman appearing and disappearing at random intervals. For anyone who knows the story, you have to make it to the old covered bridge over the brook, which the phantom cannot cross. As we made our way closer to the crossing, the Horseman made one last charge, only stopping as we rattled over the bridge’s planks.
We couldn’t stop laughing. Anthony, my wife and I all agreed that it was the most fun we’d had for Halloween.
The Horseman didn’t get his head this time. We’ll take our chances that he won’t get one next year.
Ryan Trares is a senior reporter and columnist for the Daily Journal. Send comments to editorial@therepublic.com.
