BALDWINSVILLE — Before Nichole and Chris Pistello moved to Baldwinsville, they hosted a haunted house each fall. Their new home in B’ville did not have room for the attraction, which had been attached to the Pistellos’ garage. But thanks to their business, Orange and Olive, the Pistellos’ haunted house will rise again this Saturday at the first annual Spooky Hollow Festival.
Nichole Pistello said she was reminiscing about her haunted house with Lysander Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Merrill when he invited Orange and Olive to lend their storefront window to the annual Halloween Window Painting endeavor.
“He said, ‘Well, why don’t you have it at the park?’” Pistello said.
The Pistellos will resurrect their 20-by-20 haunted house at Lysander Town Park, turning Smokey Hollow into “Spooky Hollow.” The outdoor attraction features several “rooms,” each with an animatronic creature or character.
“It’s a little bit more on the scarier side, but when we had it at our house all ages would go through,” Pistello said. “Parents would go through after kids came out saying, ‘That was cool!’”
If haunted houses aren’t your vibe, there is plenty of other festive fun in store at the Spooky Hollow Festival. Kids can enjoy a Halloween movie, get their faces painted by Julie Cooper of Airfx Body Art, or go trick-or-treating with the numerous local craft vendors who will set up shop at the festival.
Among the artisans who have signed on are Orange and Olive regulars Mom’s Essentials, Honeybee Designs, Erin’s Pinspirations and Clay & Confetti Co.
“She’s going to have a lot more items than we sell at the store,” Pistello said of Clay & Confetti jewelry maker Rachel Wenzel.
The festival’s $2 admission price includes a raffle ticket. Each vendor will be giving away an item, so attendees can drop their raffle tickets into the jars of the prize of their dreams.
The event also features a tarot reader, candle maker and pumpkins donated by Reeves Farms.
“It was really kind — it choked me up,” Pistello said of Reeves’ donation.
To pay it forward, Orange and Olive is donating a portion of the festival’s proceeds to Purpose Farm, a nonprofit that connects children in crisis with rescued animals through hands-on mentoring sessions.
“Our family is animal lovers. It’s a great place — our neighbor used to go there all the time and volunteer,” Pistello said of Purpose Farm.
The Spooky Hollow Festival takes place from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Lysander Town Park, located at 8439 Smokey Hollow Road in Baldwinsville. Admission is $2 per person.
For more information, visit facebook.com/OrangeAndOliveDesigns or call 315-305-0544.
