‘Chasing The Headless Horseman’ Book Talk with J.W. Ocker
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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,” and dives into the storied history of the Headless Horseman’s stomping grounds 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.
The talk will be held at the historic Bowling Alley down by the Hudson River. Parking is either in the lot below the Welcome Center or the small parking lot before the Bowling Alley.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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.
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,” and dives into the storied history of the Headless Horseman’s stomping grounds 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.
The talk will be held at the historic Bowling Alley down by the Hudson River. Parking is either in the lot below the Welcome Center or the small parking lot before the Bowling Alley.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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.
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Where is it happening?
635 S Broadway, Tarrytown, NY, United States, New York 10591
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherLyndhurst Mansion
