'Chasing The Headless Horseman' with J.W. Ocker

A treat and maybe some tricks for Halloween, Lyndhurst welcomes back author J.W. Ocker, who will give a special talk on his new book to be released on September 29th, 2026: Chasing the Headless Horseman: The History, Hijinks, and Halloweens of the Real Sleepy Hollow.

Ocker investigates the town that inspired Washington Irving's famous short story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Ocker dives into the storied history of the Headless Horseman's stomping grounds, visiting the village's graveyard, where Irving himself is buried, and exploring all the present-day spookiness of one of the strangest towns in the country. Blending travelogue, cultural criticism, and behind-the-scenes reporting, Ocker uncovers the tensions between tourism and tradition, profit and preservation, fiction and fact. With wit and curiosity, Chasing the Headless Horseman tells the story of how one small town reinvented itself as America's Halloween capital, complete with statues, street signs, and an 18-foot-tall Headless Horseman. A must-read for anyone who loves ghost stories, Halloween, or small-town drama, Ocker's new book does for Sleepy Hollow, New York, what his A Season with the Witch did for Salem, Massachusetts.

J. W. Ocker is a best-selling, Edgar Award-winning author of macabre travelogues and horror novels. His books include A Season with the Witch, Twelve Nights at Rotter House, and The United States of Cryptids. His New York Grimpendium is also a must-read.

Important Information, Please Read:

• A limited number of tickets are available for each event, and events do sell out. 


• This ticket does not include access to the mansion.


• Please arrive 15 minutes before the entry time on your ticket. If you are late, we will do our best to accommodate you, but we cannot guarantee it.


• Check-in at the Welcome Center.


• All ticket purchases are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.


• A Grounds Pass is not needed if you already have a Tour or Event Ticket. 


• Not recommended for children under 12 years of age. 


• To best accommodate groups, including special needs, please contact us in advance to make reservations at 914-303-6844.