Fall Fun Announced at Liberty Hall Museum

Throughout the month of October, Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University will be open to the public for a number of family-friendly fall activities at its idyllic orchards and grounds in Union, New Jersey.

Visitors new to the museum and returning guests experiencing Liberty Hall's breathtaking autumn vistas for the first time are invited to spend a rejuvenating afternoon leaf peeping and apple picking. Liberty Hall has also added a new addition to its grounds this year - a corn maze! A fun fall activity for everyone in the family, the corn maze is free to enter and guaranteed to be a great time. Apples are $8 for a small bag and $15 for a large bag. Come by anytime during Museum hours, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. to celebrate fall at Liberty Hall.

The Museum also has special events this October for people young and old, and for those looking for a Halloween fright or to learn something new in a welcoming, social setting.

Kick off the fall season with Evening in the Orchard on Thursday, October 5 from 6 - 8 p.m. Evening in the Orchard celebrates all things apples, including a cider tasting and informative talk from the folks at New Jersey's own Ironbound Hard Cider in Asbury. Also, enjoy delicious samples from the menu of Blackthorn Restaurant & Irish Pub in Kenilworth. Afterwards, sit back and relax in our beautiful orchard, see a demonstration of how a colonial apple press works and pick a few apples. It promises to be a perfect fall night out with friends. Guests must be 21 years or older to attend. Admission is $20 per person, $15 for museum members and Kean alumni. Reservations are required.

Guests craving a creepy Halloween experience will be delighted to discover that, back by popular demand, Liberty Hall is once again offering Ghost Tours on three consecutive Fridays - October 13, 20 and 27 - at 7 and 9 p.m. Museum staff will share their most memorable supernatural experiences with the ghosts of Liberty Hall before taking visitors on a spooky, candlelit tour to perhaps experience paranormal activity of their own. Hot apple cider and donuts will be served; families with younger children are encouraged to take the 7 p.m. tour. Admission is $13 for children, $18 for museum members and Kean alumni, and $20 for adults (18 and up). This event is suggested for children 10 years old and older. Reservations are required as space is very limited.

Liberty Hall Museum's first floor will be open for free public tours Saturday, October 21 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 22 from noon - 5 p.m. as part of Four Centuries in a Weekend. Organized by the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, this annual heritage festival offers free access to historic residences countywide. For a full list of participating sites, visit http://ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs/historic-sites-map.

For those looking for an all-inclusive harvest celebration, the museum's wildly popular annual Pumpkin Patch Day on Saturday, October 28 (rain date is Sunday, October 29) from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. offers a variety of fall activities appropriate for all ages in a single, convenient daytrip. In addition to pumpkin picking, carving and painting, children will experience a good old-fashioned hayride and make Halloween crafts. Admission is $12 for children and $8 for adults, and children under three years of age are free. There is an additional charge for pumpkins, and lunch will be available for purchase from a vendor. Reservations are not required but are suggested. Skip waiting in line and pay in advance!

Lastly, guests looking for a fun and different kind of experience at Liberty Hall can attend the popular History Happy Hour on Thursday, October 26 from 7 - 9 p.m., which includes drinks, snacks, fun games and time to mingle. This month's topic is the gentlemen of Liberty Hall. Sit back and learn about their favorite drinks, their interesting careers and more. It is a history lesson with local flair. Admission is $25 per person, $20 for museum members and Kean alumni. You must be at least 21 to attend, and reservations are required.

Tickets for all of Liberty Hall Museum's events can be purchased by phone at 908-527-0400 or online at www.kean.edu/libertyhall/events.ABOUT KEAN UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, with a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving nearly 15,000 students. The University's five undergraduate colleges offer more than 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers four doctoral degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master's degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. With campuses in Union and Toms River, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its mission by providing an affordable and accessible world-class education. Visit www.kean.edu.

ABOUT LIBERTY HALL MUSEUM AT KEAN UNIVERSITY
Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University chronicles more than 240 years of American history. The museum also houses extensive collections of furniture, ceramics, textiles, toys and tools owned by seven generations of the Livingston and Kean families. The Firehouse Museum, built in 2004, houses three antique fire engines, including a rare 1911 American LaFrance Metropolitan Steam Engine. The museum is open April - December, Tuesday - Saturday from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., with tours leaving every hour. For reservations and further information, call 908-527-0400, e-mail libertyhall@kean.edu or visit www.kean.edu/libertyhall. Liberty Hall Museum is located at 1003 Morris Avenue in Union, New Jersey.

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