PRESS RELEASE
13 Events to Celebrate Alabama’s Haunted History |
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Montgomery, Ala. — Visitors can experience Alabama’s haunted history in October with ghost trails, story-telling festivals and ghost walks.
A variety of events and trails pay homage to the state’s ghostly history including a rare moonlit tour of the famous ghost town Old Cahawba. The Black Belt Ghost Trail showcases dozens of haunted sites that include homes, restaurants, cemeteries and Civil War sites. The 33rd Alabama Tale Tellin’Festival in Selma honors renowned storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham.
The Alabama Tourism Department offers the following list of ghostly events taking place this month across the state.
Black Belt Ghost Trail Black Belt Region – Self guided, year-round Visit Alabama’s Black Belt Region to tour the popular ghost trail. The self-guided tour will take you to dozens of sites in three counties (Dallas, Perry, Wilcox) to include restaurants, hotels, cemeteries, and homes. A brochure provides a map and the haunted history of each stop on the tour. The trail also includes a site for visitors to view videos detailing the ghost stories. www.youtube.com/user/AlabamasGhostTrail. For brochures and more information: www.alabamasfrontporches.com334.636.5506 or 334.636.0120
Huntsville Ghost Walking Tour – Fridays/Saturdays in October Participants will hear stories of Huntsville’s haunted past while walking along in the Old Town Historic District. The Huntsville Ghost Walk offers a one hour trolley tour through Huntsville’s haunted past. Reservations should be made in advance by purchasing tickets at Harrison Brothers Hardware Store at 124 South Side Square. Adult tickets are $12 and children 10 and under can ride for $10. Seating is limited.All tours begin promptly at 6 p.m. The walkingtours take place on Friday nights as well as Saturday nights. Trolley tours will only be offered on Saturday nights.Tickets for the walking tours are $8 for adults, $6 for children 12 and under. Call 256.509.3940 or visit www.huntsvilleghostwalk.comfor more information.
Montgomery
Athens 7th Annual “Historic Haunts Walk”— October 4, 12, 14, 19 This annual Historic Haunts Walk begins at the Houston Library and includes tales of paranormal activity at 12 local structures. Hear about the college student who fell to her death and is said to still wander the halls at Athens University. Each walk is approximately 90 minutes and begins at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $5. For more information contact Limestone County Tourism 256.232.5411 or Jeanette@visitathensal.com.
Selma 33rd Annual Alabama Tale Tellin’ Festival— October 14 & 15 This year’s event will feature a tribute to renowned storyteller and the festival’s founder, Kathryn Tucker Windham who died this year. Hear ghost stories and tell your own story at the Swapping Grounds. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 students and $5 for children 12 and under. For more information call 1.800.457.3562 or taletellin@yahoo.com, www.taletellin.selmaalabama.com.
Huntsville Cemetery Stroll— October 16 Some 60 costumed interpreters tell the story of those buried in the Maple Hill Cemetery. 256.533.5723
Athens 7th Annual “Historic Haunts Walk”— October 4, 12, 14, 19 This annual Historic Haunts Walk begins at the Houston Library and includes tales of paranormal activity at 12 local structures. Hear about the college student who fell to her death and is said to still wander the halls at Athens University. Each walk is approximately 90 minutes and begins at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $5. For more information contact Limestone County Tourism 256.232.5411 or Jeanette@visitathensal.com
Selma “Haunted History Tour” — October 21-22 Two centuries of area history will come back to haunt visitors during the return of the Haunted History Tours of Selma and Dallas County. Friday’s event at Old Cahawba Archaeological Park features a rare moonlit, guided tour to the town’s most haunted locations. Paranormal investigators will also demonstrate the art of ghost hunting. Saturday features two venues in Selma’s historic district – Sturdivant Hall and Old Live Oak cemetery. Hear stories of resident ghosts and walk along the cemetery for a living history tour. Tickets for each event are $15 -ages 12 and up only, please. Packages with the haunted St. James Hotel are also offered this year. Contact the Selma-Dallas County Tourism Office for more information – advanced tickets are recommended. Call 334.875.7241 or 1.800.45.SELMA. www.selmaalabama.com.
Florence Haunted History of the Shoals Ghost Walk— October 21-31 Participates will stroll the downtown Florence historic district with local tour guide and author Debra Johnston Glass. Participants will be entertained with stories steeped in legend, folklore and truth. The tours cover a one mile area and last approximately one-and-a-half hours. They begin at 7:30 p.m. at the W.C. Handy statue in Wilson Park. Tickets: $10 adults, $8 for children12 and under. Contact Debra Glass, 256.757.7506, www.discovertheshoals.com.
Fort Payne Storytellin’ Campfire Talk: Spooks in the Valley— October 22 This free storytellin’event takes place at DeSoto State Park at the large pavilion across from the nature center. Hear stories as you sit around the campfire. 5-6 p.m. www.epic.jsu.edu, 256.782.5697.
Thomasville Ghost Walk & Fall Festival— October 23 The Thomasville Arts Council acts out some of the famous ghost stories from the books of renowned storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham. Hear the haunted history of Thomasville at stops along the way. The festival includes a street dance, motorcycle poker ride, car show and the Haunted Hille Hotel haunted house. For more information: Thomasville Chamber of Commerce 334.636.1542.
Gadsden Ghost Watch – October 25 Come and hear Mike Goodson share ghost stories of the area on Tuesday Oct. 25 from 6-8 p.m.. Bring your friends and family along with your chair and a blanket – to keep warm or to hide under. The watch will be held at 4th and Broad Streets in historic downtown Gadsden and there is no charge. For more information, call 256.547.8696 or check it out on facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=153397651414261.
Beatrice Ghost Stories at Rikard’s Mill— October 28-29 Enjoy a pumpkin toss, pumpkin painting and relay race before gathering around a bonfire to listen to spine-chilling ghost stories from the area. The Haunted Swamp Trail will be open for those brave enough to wander its scary path. Food vendors will also be on site. 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. each evening, admission $5 per person. Contact the Monroe County Heritage Museum at 251.575.7433 or mchm@frontiernet.net for more information.
Demopolis Tombigbee Haints and Haunts— October 28-29 Hear ghost stories, the coffin maker’s tale and more on this land and river tour. Tours start at 7, 8, 9 and 10 p.m. with limited seating for each. Call 334.289.9644 for more information.
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