CAPE MAY – There are many exciting Halloween Happenings sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) in Victorian Cape May during the week leading up to Trick or Treat night, Wednesday, Oct. 31. Embrace the “other side” of Cape May and get into the spirit of the season with Halloween-themed tours and events including ghost trolley tours, spooky tours of Cape May’s original haunted house, the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, psychic teas, murder mystery dinners, paranormal experiences with investigator and medium Craig McManus and much more, from Wed., Oct. 24 through Wed., Oct. 31.
Go behind the creaky doors of Cape May’s “original haunted house,” the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, during the Phantoms of the Physick Estate on Sat., Oct. 27. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., families will enjoy a self-guided, day-time tour complete with spooky sounds and special effects. The terror tour from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. is scarier with special effects, ghosts, ghouls, scary characters and more. The kid-friendly tour is $10 for adults and $5 for children (ages 3-12). The evening tour is $15 for adults and $12 for children (ages 3-12). Combine the evening tour with Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour and save $2.
New in 2012! What is really going on in this house? Rumors have been spreading like wildfire but the townspeople are too afraid to investigate. Has this family been practicing black magic? Find out for yourself during Spellbound at the Physick Estate, as you visit with the family inhabiting the 1879 Physick Estate mansion, decked out for Halloween. Or maybe it always looks like this … Wed., Oct. 24 at 8 p.m., Fri., Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and Wed., Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Admission is $18. Save ($2) on a combination with the new Halloween Tour of the Judson Bennett House.
New in 2012! Beware! A visit to one of Cape May’s Victorian gems, the Judson Bennett House at 835 Washington St., decked out to the extreme for Halloween is sure to thrill and chill those who love this creepy season. Take the self-guided Halloween Tour of the Judson Bennett House, which includesthe grounds and the first floor. Tours are offered at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Wed., Oct. 24 and Fri., Oct. 26. Admission is $10. Save ($2) on a combination with the new Halloween event: Spellbound at the Physick Estate.
New in 2012! During Madame Parmentier’s Psychic Teas, enjoy a psychic demonstration with selected readings over tea featuring the Psychic Twins, Adele and Allison, who work professionally as psychic mediums, educators, and motivational speakers. The twins have been featured on local radio and TV shows, and often when they work together, “phenomena” occur. There is something unusual about their work! Madame Parmentier’s Psychic Tea is at 2:30 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 27 at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Admission is $40 per person and reservations are necessary.
New in 2012! Join guide, psychic medium and ghost writer Craig McManus during A Walk with the Ghost Writer. Craig will talk about the houses where he has sensed paranormal activity on this walking tour on Sat., Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. $25 per person.
Cape May’s famous Victorian architecture gets decked out in ghoulish fashion for the Phantoms of Cape May House Tour on Sat., Oct. 27 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy this self-guided tour of a selection of Cape May’s Victorian properties decorated for Halloween. Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for children (ages 3-12) and includes the Phantoms of the Physick Estate Tour.
Join Craig McManus, psychic medium and paranormal investigator, aboard a MAC trolley for A Ride with the Ghost Writer on Fri., Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and Sat., Oct. 27 at 9:30 p.m. Craig will talk about ghosts and spirits, the history of the houses where he has sensed paranormal activity and legends of ghost activity in Cape May. (Friday trolleys depart from the Washington Street Mall Information Booth, Washington Street at Ocean, and Sat. trolleys depart from the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St.) $25 per person.
Take a trolley tour through parts of West Cape May to the Cape May Lighthouse, with tales of ghostly activity along the way during the Ghosts of the Lighthouse Trolley Tour. Hear a ghostly tale at the Lighthouse with time to climb to the top. Sat., Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. Tour leaves from the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. $20 for adults and $15 for children (ages 3-12).
Everybody loves a scary story and the perfect time and place for them is traveling Cape May after dark, on streets lit by flickering gaslight, on board the Tales of Terror Trolley Ride. Offered Wed., Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m. Ride leaves from the Washington Street Mall Information Booth. $10 for adults and $7 for children (ages 3-12).
Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tours feature stories of paranormal findings from ghost book author, psychic medium and paranormal investigator Craig McManus. Your guide will relate McManus’ spooky stories during this 30-minute evening ride. $10 for adults and $7 for children (ages 3-12). Offered on Fri., Oct. 26, Sat., Oct. 27, Sun., Oct. 28 and Wed., Oct. 31. Tour times vary. Trolleys depart from the Washington Street Mall Information Booth, Washington and Ocean streets (except for tours on Sat., Oct. 27 which depart from Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St.)
Get into the spirit of things on a trolley tour of some of Cape May’s regal Victorian residences, reputed to host more than the living on the Historic Haunts Combo Tour. Then it’s a guided tour of the historic (some say haunted) Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., with a discussion of Victorian spiritualism. Offered Fri., Oct. 26 at 7:15 p.m. $20 for adults and $15 for children (ages 3-12).
For a diabolically delightful dining experience, visit the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St., for a Murder Mystery Dinner or Luncheon. Murder is served on the menu when the Impromptu Players invade the dining room and present “Foul Weather Fiend,” a new mystery for 2012. The atmosphere reeks of foul bouquet, intrigue and deceit. Interact with the cast of likely suspects and try to solve the mystery as you enjoy a three-course luncheon or four-course dinner. A Murder Mystery Dinner is offered at 7 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 27 and admission is $45. A Murder Mystery Luncheon is offered at 1 p.m. on Sun., Oct. 28 and admission is $30. This is a limited event and reservations are necessary.
The grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., have been taken over by spooky, scary and just plain silly characters for Scarecrow Alley. Enjoy the scarecrow creations contributed by members of the community, local organizations and MAC staff competing for top honors and vote for your favorites through Sun., Nov. 4.
On All Hallows Eve, Wed., Oct. 31, there are spooky characters waiting to give treats to all the good little boys and ghouls on the porch of Cape May’s original haunted house, the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Trick or Treat at the Physick Estate is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is free.
The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) is a multifaceted not-for-profit organization committed to promoting the preservation, interpretation, and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region for its residents and visitors. MAC membership is open to all. For information about MAC’s year-round schedule of tours, festivals, and special events, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278, or visit MAC’s Web site at www.capemaymac.org. For information about restaurants, accommodations and shopping, call the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May at 609-884-5508.
– Sponsored Content
