A dozen years of Halloween fun, and this might have been our best yet! Blue skies and bright fall leaves made it the perfect afternoon for Samuel’s 12th Annual Halloween Spooktacular in Rhinebeck, NY.

The red velvet ropes went up, the patio heaters glowed, and the Hudson Valley’s most creative creatures came out in full force.

Meet This Year’s BOO Crew

Our staff went all out this year:

• A purple-coated chocolatier handed out baskets of Samuel’s goodie bags.
• A bubbly good witch in pink floated by with her wand.
• A green-faced alien with wiggly antennae greeted guests.
• A fluttering moth and a heavenly angel kept the candy coming.

Darryl from Button Down Balloons Returns

Our favorite balloon wizard, Darryl from Button Down Balloons, was back again! He arrived in a dapper top hat and greatcoat, with a lucky ace tucked in the brim.

Darryl twisted up magic from his trusty vintage suitcase all afternoon. Balloon skeletons were the hit of the season. Swords, wands, and one fabulous pink octopus were close behind.

Costume Highlights

The costumes were truly SPOOK-tacular. We spotted:

• A pack of little devils with pitchforks
• A crew of face-painted pirates (and their captain!)
• A cardboard robot and a fire-breathing dragon
• A skeleton dinosaur and unicorn fairies
• Bumblebees, snow queens, and superheroes
• A dalmatian pup
• A family of lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!)

Bonus points to the matching skeleton family. They were truly bone-afide winners!

Thank You for 12 Sweet Years

From the bottom of our candy-loving hearts, thank you for making twelve years of Spooktaculars possible. We can’t wait to see your costumes next Halloween!

Stay sweet and spooky,
—The Samuel’s BOO Crew 🎃👻🦇🍬

The post Our Spooktacular Turns 12 and It Was Fang-tastic! appeared first on Samuel's Sweet Shop.

WE WON! 🍬🏆 Samuel’s Sweet Shop has been named Best Candy Store in Hudson Valley Magazine’s Best of the Hudson Valley 2026!

When the issue arrived, our whole crew threw their arms in the air. We haven’t stopped smiling since.

Thank You, Hudson Valley Magazine

A huge thank you to the team at Hudson Valley Magazine for including us among this year’s winners. It’s an honor to stand beside so many great local businesses. They make the Hudson Valley such a special place to live and visit.

Sharing Sweetness in Rhinebeck Since 1994

Since 1994, our little blue-and-red shop has been all about sharing sweetness with our community. Our shelves are filled with:

• Classic and nostalgic candy
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Baked goods
• Gifts

Being recognized for doing what we love is truly the cherry on top!

This Award Belongs to You

The biggest thank you goes to YOU, our sweet fans and followers. Your support, visits, and friendship keep our candy jars full and our hearts even fuller.

Whether you’ve been coming for decades or just found us last weekend, this award is yours too.

Come Celebrate with Us!

Stop by our Rhinebeck candy store, say hi to the crew, and treat yourself to something sweet. You’ve earned it!

Stay sweet,
—The Samuel’s Crew 🍭🍫🍬

The post WE WON! Samuel’s Is the Hudson Valley’s Best Candy Store appeared first on Samuel's Sweet Shop.

Pinch us, we must be dreaming! 🍬 Samuel’s Sweet Shop has been voted one of the Top 10 Best Candy Stores in the Nation in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2026!

Voted by You

Candy shops from coast to coast were in the running. And our little shop in Rhinebeck, NY, made the list!

Every vote came from our amazing customers, fans, and friends. We are thrilled with this sweet honor. Our crew was so excited, we grabbed the chalk markers and made a sign to celebrate.

We Love You a Latte!

Since 1994, we’ve poured our hearts into the candy, chocolate, coffee, baked goods, and gifts that make people smile.

Knowing so many of you voted for us means more than we can say. Thank you for your patronage, support, and friendship. We love you a latte! ☕💙

Next Stop: #1!

Top 10 is pretty sweet. But between you and us, we’ve got our eyes on the cherry on top.

Let’s get to #1 next year! 🏆

Visit Samuel’s Sweet Shop

Come celebrate with us! Stop by the shop in Rhinebeck, or browse more treats at samuelssweetshop.com.

Stay sweet,
—The Samuel’s Crew 🍭🍫🍬

The post We’re a Top 10 Candy Store in the Nation! Samuel’s Named in USA TODAY 10Best 2026 appeared first on Samuel's Sweet Shop.

Eleven years in, and our Halloween Spooktacular is still the sweetest scare in Rhinebeck! Families packed the sidewalk outside Samuel’s Sweet Shop for an afternoon of costumes, candy, and spooky fun.

Our BOO Crew Dressed to Impress

We rolled out the red velvet ropes, and our staff got into the spirit too. You might have spotted a purple-coated candy maker with a golden ticket, a caped crusader, a buzzing bumblebee, and a lovely ladybug.

One dramatic Victorian lady even fainted right on the sidewalk! Don’t worry. She made a full recovery once the candy came out.

Balloon Magic with Darryl from Button Down Balloons

The star of the street was our friend Darryl from Button Down Balloons. He was back for another year of balloon magic, straight from his vintage suitcase.

His Halloween menu had something for every little monster:

• Sammy the Spooky Snake
• The Zombie Neutralizer Gun
• Morticia the Flower
• Sidney the Skeleton
• Spot, the Slightly Large Spider

Spooky skull wands were the must-have accessory of the day!

The Cutest Costumes in the Hudson Valley

Rhinebeck’s tiniest trick-or-treaters brought their A-game. We saw witches, princesses, a cuddly honey-loving bear, a pint-sized lion, a cauldron-carrying witch, and a whole royal court of snow queens.

Our pumpkin display out front was looking smashing. And our candy cauldron was bubbling over with Halloween treats and sugary surprises.

Thank You, Rhinebeck!

Thank you to every little monster (and big one!) who celebrated with us. Your spirit makes this tradition so special. We’re already brewing up ideas for next year!

Stay sweet and spooky,
—The Samuel’s BOO Crew 🎃👻🦇🍬

The post A Boo-tiful Afternoon at Samuel’s 11th Annual Halloween Spooktacular 2025! appeared first on Samuel's Sweet Shop.

We got our SPOOK on this Halloween at Samuel’s 10th Annual Halloween Spooktacular, and it was a WICKED good time for everyone! The energy was electric as ghouls, goblins, and kids of all ages filled the event in their most creative and spooky costumes, making it a feast for the eyes and the imagination.

The highlight of the afternoon was Darryl from Button Down Balloons, who wowed the crowd with his incredible balloon-twisting skills. From witches to pumpkins and everything in between, his creations were a hit with both kids and adults alike.

Of course, no Halloween event at Samuel’s would be complete without our signature sweet treats! Our tables were overflowing with candy, Halloween-themed goodies, and plenty of sugary delights, spreading joy (and chocolate smudges) to everyone who attended.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and made this year’s Spooktacular another frightfully fun success. We loved seeing all the creativity, smiles, and Halloween spirit, and we can’t wait to do it all over again next year!

Stay sweet and spooky,

—The Samuel’s BOO Crew 🎃👻🦇🍬

The post 10th Annual Spooktacular appeared first on Samuel's Sweet Shop.

And as always, we thank YOU – our sweet fans & followers for your support, your patronage & your friendship!

The post We WON ‘Best Candy Store’ of the HV! appeared first on Samuel's Sweet Shop.

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WE WON! Proudly displaying our BEST DESSERT award from this year’s @rhinebeckchamber Taste of Rhinebeck! Thanks all for enjoying the event and for supporting Rhinebeck’s Autism Supportive Community Committee!

Now come on by & try our BRAND NEW, AWARD-WINNING ‘Shut the Front Door!’ – a homemade mouthwatering mashup of nutella, peanut butter & cookies dipped in milk chocolate. YUM!

The post Taste of Rhinebeck Dessert WINNERS! appeared first on Samuel's Sweet Shop.

Pix11 News Interview

The back story of Andy Ostroy

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