Fun Fall Activities Announced At Liberty Hall Museum

Family-friendly fall activities are scheduled throughout the month of October at Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University. Come explore the Museum's idyllic orchards and grounds for a taste of autumn, a fascinating history lecture, a ghost story, and of course, pumpkins.

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. Apple picking is available during Museum hours, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Apples are $8 for a small bag/$15 for a large bag.

Ghost Tours are back by popular demand on two Fridays - October 19 and 26 - at 7 and 9 p.m. Museum staff will share their most memorable supernatural experiences on museum property. Then, guests will embark on their own spooky, candlelit journey through Liberty Hall 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 an unlucky $13 for children, $18 for museum members and Kean alumni, and $20 for adults (18 and up). Reservations are required as space is very limited. This event is suggested for children 10 years old and older.

Liberty Hall Museum's first floor will be open for free public tours on Saturday, October 20 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 21 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, please visit http://ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs/historic-sites-map/.

The World War I Lecture Series continues on Thursday, October 25 at 3 p.m. with a lecture by Monmouth University Professor Melissa Ziobro's. The talk, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey and World War I ,will highlight the significant breakthroughs created at Fort Monmouth and the important contributions made during World War I. Admission is free with an optional tour of Brothers in Arms: Memories of the Great War available at 2 p.m. for a discounted price of $8. Reservations are required. Please email libertyhall@kean.edu to reserve your spot. World War I Lecture Series is made possible through a grant from the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs.

Who says carving pumpkins is for kids? Join us, if you've got the guts, on Thursday, October 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. for our Adult Pumpkin Carving Party. Plan a fall night out with friends, carving and decorating pumpkins, and enjoying snacks, wine and beer. We'll have Halloween music playing and prizes for the most creative pumpkin design. Must be 21 years or older to attend. Admission includes pumpkin, carving materials and snacks, wine and beer. Admission is $20 per person, $25 for museum members and Kean alumni. Reservations are required.

For those looking for an all-inclusive harvest celebration, the museum holds its wildly popular annual Pumpkin Patch Day on Saturday, October 27 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (rain date is Sunday, October 28). It 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. Children under three are free. There is an additional charge for pumpkins and lunch will be available for purchase from a vendor. Reservations are not required but suggested - skip waiting in line and pay in advance!

Tickets for all of Liberty Hall Museum's events can be purchased by calling (908) 527-0400 or by visiting www.kean.edu/libertyhall/events to buy tickets online.

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 more than16,000 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 five 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. - 4 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.