"There are no zombies, no clowns, no masked monsters. There are no chainsaws, loud music, or teenaged actors chasing you or screaming in your ears." That's the Shore Line Trolley Museum's own description of its 2026 Halloween ride, and it's an unusual way to sell a haunted attraction. It also explains how the museum at 17 River Street runs its October. The same historic line carries families out to a pumpkin patch in the afternoon. A few hours later it carries 40 riders at a time on a comedic Bigfoot hunt.
The museum is run by the Branford Electric Railway Association, and it calls this track the oldest continuously running suburban trolley line in the United States. This month the line runs two separate programs on one stretch of salt marsh. If you live in town, the useful question for the rest of October is which of the two you want, since the dates are already set.
The Day Shift Ends at 4 P.M.
The Pumpkin Patch Trolley 2026 runs from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the last trolley leaves at 4 p.m. Every ticket includes a ride out to the patch, one sugar pumpkin to take home, and seasonal activities for all ages.
The remaining dates are October 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24 and 25. October 12 is a Monday, so October 10 through 12 gives you three pumpkin days in a row. After the 25th, the pumpkin run is done for the year.
Ticket prices on the event pages:
- Adults, 19 to 61: $17, plus a $2.14 booking fee
- Seniors, 62 and up: $15, plus a $2.04 booking fee
- Children, 2 to 18: $13, plus a $1.94 booking fee
- Infants: free
Museum members can claim a free member ticket and show their membership card at the ticket window.
The ride is the museum's regular route: 1.5 miles through salt marsh and wildlife habitat, where the museum says you may see eagles and ospreys. On the way back the trolley stops at the barns for a short tour of part of the collection. On a regular visit, a ticket is good for unlimited rides until closing unless the museum says otherwise. That matters if you have a child who wants to ride a second time.
The Night Shift Starts at 5 or 6
After dark the same line runs Haunted Trolley: In Search of Sasquatch. The museum describes it as a 30 to 45 minute show that mixes a search for Sasquatch, thrills, theater, audience participation "and a heavy dose of comedy." Riders help decide how the story ends. The page says this production is completely different from past years, so if you went last October, this is a new show.
"It is not an indoor or outdoor haunted attraction, it's not a hayride, and it is not a trail in the woods."
Tickets are $29 per person and are sold in advance only. Each ride has a limited number of $49 VIP tickets, which include first boarding, your choice of seat and a souvenir logo shirt. Each ride holds only 40 people. All ages are welcome, but anyone under 16 needs an adult with them.
Showtimes depend on the day. Fridays and Saturdays run at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Sundays run at 5, 6, 7 and 8 p.m., and the museum calls the 5 and 6 p.m. Sunday shows more family and kid friendly. Halloween night adds a 5 p.m. show for a total of five. The listing calls the run "13 nights only." October 2 and 3 have already happened, which leaves 11 nights between October 9 and November 1.
Five Days When the Line Runs Both
If you put the two schedules side by side, five days have both shows. On October 10, 17, 18, 24 and 25, pumpkin riders and Sasquatch riders use the same track on the same day.
| Date | Pumpkin Patch Trolley | Haunted Trolley showtimes |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 9 | No | 6, 7, 8, 9 p.m. |
| Sat, Oct 10 | 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 6, 7, 8, 9 p.m. |
| Sun, Oct 11 | 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. | No |
| Mon, Oct 12 | 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. | No |
| Fri, Oct 16 | No | 6, 7, 8, 9 p.m. |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 p.m. |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 5, 6, 7, 8 p.m. |
| Fri, Oct 23 | No | 6, 7, 8, 9 p.m. |
| Sat, Oct 24 | 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 6, 7, 8, 9 p.m. |
| Sun, Oct 25 | 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 5, 6, 7, 8 p.m. |
| Fri, Oct 30 | No | 6, 7, 8, 9 p.m. |
| Sat, Oct 31 | No | 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 p.m. |
| Sun, Nov 1 | No | 5, 6, 7, 8 p.m. |
The handoff is tightest on the Sundays and on Saturday, October 17. The pumpkin event wraps up at 5 p.m., and the first Sasquatch show is listed for 5 p.m. the same evening. On October 18 or 25, a family could pick a pumpkin after lunch and come back that evening for one of the shows the museum calls kid friendly. Haunted tickets are advance only and capped at 40 a ride, so the evening slot is the one to book first.
The table also shows which days have only one event. October 11 and 12 are daytime only. Halloween weekend is nighttime only, because the pumpkin run ends a week before it.
Main Street Covers the Weeknights
The trolley skips Monday through Thursday nights, and the Monday, October 12 pumpkin run is a daytime event. Hagaman Memorial Library at 227 Main Street fills those nights with its own fall programs, listed in the Hagaman Happenings autumn 2026 newsletter:
- The History of Halloween: Wednesday, October 7, 6 to 8 p.m. That's tonight.
- Book Talk with Mr. Haunted: Tuesday, October 20, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
- STEM Club: Wednesday, October 21, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., with a Halloween gummy-worm activity.
- Halloween Costume Party and Family Movie Night: Thursday, October 22, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
- The Spirits of New England: Saturday, October 31, 2 to 4 p.m.
The October 20 talk features local author and paranormal researcher Jimmy "Mr. Haunted" Petonito in conversation with librarian Chris Hemingway about his decades of investigations. East Haven Patch reports that no RSVP is needed. For parking, it lists East Haven Town Hall, the KeyBank lot after 5 p.m. on weekdays, and the Stop & Shop lot behind the library.
The two calendars fit together on Halloween. You could go to The Spirits of New England at the library from 2 to 4 p.m., then drive to River Street for the 5 p.m. Haunted Trolley. That 5 p.m. show is the earliest of the five Halloween night showtimes.
After November 1, the Line Gets Quieter
Once the Sasquatch run ends on November 1, the museum's listed events change pace. The museum is hosting a free Bluegrass Jam on Tuesday, November 3, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., with suggested donations welcome. The Guest Motorman Experience runs Sunday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Space is limited and you have to book ahead. Another free Bluegrass Jam follows on Tuesday, December 1, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
The holiday season is coming next. The museum's December 1 Bluegrass Jam page links to a "Next Stop, Santa!" event and a "Pancake Breakfast with Santa" for 2026, but full details for those aren't confirmed here. The museum asks visitors to check its program calendar before any visit, and Patch also reminds readers that event details can change.
East Haven is home base for iVision Real Estate, and River Street and Main Street are part of our own October too. If you have questions about life in East Haven, whether or not they involve a move, we're glad to talk. Get Your Free Consultation.
