By Darlene Brace
Are you someone who enjoys a little innocent thrill or a spine-tingling scare? October offers a variety of Halloween-themed ghost tours and other festive activities. Read on to discover a range of experiences available from family-friendly to terrifying activities that you can expect to find in our area.
In Jamestown, gather your family for an adventure on the Saints and Sinners Tours, hosted by the Fenton Museum. Choose between a haunting horse-drawn carriage ride or a ghostly walking tour through the shadowy Lake View Cemetery. Your guide will unveil historical tales and secrets about some of Jamestown’s earliest inhabitants, that may send shivers down your spine. The Saints and Sinners tours began on October 4, but fear not—there are more excursions available on October 11th. There are also mausoleum tours on October 12th, where costumed actors will, bring to life the stories of those who rest there. Visit fentonhistorycenter.org or call Joni at 1 (716)664-6256 for tickets.
The Fredonia Harvest Moon Tours will take place on Friday and Saturday, October 17-18. Venture onto their horse-drawn trolley cemetery tours from 7pm-9pm. During your tour, you’ll experience the history of the area as your guide share tales about some of the founding fathers and local villains that still may linger in the shadows. You will be lead through the village to the winding paths of Forest Hill Cemetery, where whispers of the past may be heard. The ghostly ride departs every half hour from The White Inn, located at 52 E. Main St. in Fredonia. For more information and to purchase tickets for these tours, please visit festivalsfredoniany.org.
Ellicottville Ghost Walk Tours are available that
end at the Jefferson St. Cemetery, and require a
reservation.
For the remaining four Fridays in October, the Ellicottville Ghost Walk Tours are available and require a reservation. Get into the spirit by wearing a costume (but no mask, please). The town historian, Ellen Frank, will meet you at the Ellicottville Gazebo at 7pm for a stroll into the spirit world. She may tell you tales of interesting graves and of the “residents” as well as tales of how there has been technical ghost investigations of the museum and church by Spirit Hunters, Inc. Paranormal Investigations. The walk will begin at the Ellicottville Museum Building, then on to the United Church, and concluding at the Jefferson Street Cemetery. These walks take place rain or shine and will be outdoors, so dress appropriately for the weather and bring a flashlight. For reservations call 1 (716)-699-2276 or 1 (716)-474-8528.
If you dare, enter the Haunted House of Cherry Creek and also brave the haunted walking path in the woods. This all-ages event is free and will take place at 851 West Road in Cherry Creek. Join in the scary fun for two nights of fright from 7-10pm rain or shine, on October 31st and November 1st. Inside the decorative haunted house “actors” will be ready to scare you, but little ones will be provided with a magic wand to help chase away the monsters, so they don’t scare them too much. Then continue outside, along the pathway to the haunted woods. For more information, please call 1 (716)-485-6747.
You may want to take a ride and venture out to Angola to visit the Everhaunt Haunted House. They offer a variety of fun activities for kids, including a pumpkin patch, a treasure hunt, and a “lights on” haunted house, among other attractions. For older kids and adults that are ready to brave true terror, there are plenty of hauntingly scary options, such as escape rooms and a frightening haunted house, along with many more thrilling experiences. For a complete list of activities and schedules, visit everhaunt.com.
If haunted tours and Halloween-themed activities aren’t your thing, but you’re curious about the spirit world, consider visiting Lily Dale for a spiritually focused experience at Lily Dale’s Fall Fest weekend, taking place from October 24-October 26. This weekend will offer a variety of activities designed to help you connect with spirits who have passed on. You can participate in spirit investigations, historical ghost walks, and learn about spirit photography, spoon bending, and much more. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit lilydaleassembly.org.
As the chill of October settles in, a variety of Halloween-themed activities beckons the souls brave enough to join in the fun. These are but a few of the chilling escapades lurking in the shadows of the area. Keep your eyes peeled for more ghostly events that may haunt your calendar, ensuring fun of your Halloween season.