Halloween Happenings Will Get You in the ‘Spirit’ of the Season

CAPE MAY — Seaside spirits stir up some fun in Victorian Cape May during Halloween Happenings, sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC), from Fri., Oct. 12 through Wed., Oct. 31. Get into the “spirit” of the season with more than two-weeks of 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.
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 Saturdays, Oct. 13, 20 and 27. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., families will enjoy a self-guided, day-time tour complete with a variety of Halloween happenings including spooky sounds, special effects and scary stuff. If you prefer a more frightening experience, take the terror tour from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. This self-guided evening tour features special effects, ghosts, ghouls, scary characters and more to tingle your spine and make you scream. 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.
Cape May’s famous Victorian treasures get decked out in ghoulish fashion for the Phantoms of Cape May House Tour on Saturdays, Oct. 13 and Oct. 27 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Walk the haunted streets of Cape May and enjoy a spooktacular, 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.
Don’t miss the rare opportunity to spend midnight in the Physick Estate with Cape May’s most famous ghost hunter. On Fridays, Oct. 12 and Oct. 26, author, psychic medium and ghost investigator Craig McManus will host Midnight at the Physick Estate, in which 25 lucky people will hear Craig Halloween Happenings Overview Page 2 share his stories, experiences and perhaps channel a spirit or two. Admission is $35 per person and tours begin at 11 p.m. This event is limited and sells out quickly!
Join Craig McManus, psychic medium and paranormal investigator, aboard a MAC trolley for A Ride with the Ghost Writer on Fridays, Oct. 12 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays, Oct. 13 and 27 at 9:30 p.m. This 45-minute evening trolley ride takes you through the spooky gas-lit streets of Cape May’s Historic District with psychic medium Craig McManus (the Ghost Writer of Exit Zero fame). 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 Saturday Trolleys depart from the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St.) Admission is $25 per person.
New in 2012! Walk the haunted streets of Victorian Cape May with your 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 these tours on Saturdays, Oct. 13 and Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. $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. Participants will hear a ghostly tale at the Lighthouse from a costumed Keeper with time available to climb to the top. Offered at 8 p.m. on Fri., Oct. 12 (trolley leaves from Washington Street Mall Information Booth, Washington Street at Ocean) and Saturdays, Oct. 13, 20 and 27 (trolley leaves from the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St.) $20 for adults and $15 for children (ages 3-12). Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.
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. Take the Tales of Terror Trolley Ride and listen to your guide tell spine-tingling tales. Offered Fri., Oct. 19-Sunday, Oct. 21; and Wed., Oct. 31 at various times. (Tours leave from the Washington Street Mall Information Booth, except for Sat., Oct. 20 tour which leaves from the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St.) $10 for adults and $7 for children (ages 3-12).
Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tours feature a MAC trolley tour relating the paranormal findings of ghost book author, psychic medium and paranormal investigator Craig McManus. Your guide will give life to McManus’ spooky stories during this 30-minute evening ride through the haunted streets of Cape May. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for children (ages 3-12). Tours are offered on Fridays, Oct. 12, Oct. 19 and Oct. 26, Saturdays, Oct. 13, Oct. 20 and Oct. 27, Sundays, Oct. 14, Oct. 21 and Oct. Halloween Happenings Overview Page 3 28, plus Wed., Oct. 31. Tour times vary. Trolleys depart from the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., on Saturdays, Oct. 13, Oct. 20 and Oct. 27 and from the Washington Street Mall Information Booth, Washington and Ocean streets, all other dates.
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 at 7:15 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 12-26. $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 Murder Mystery Dinners & Luncheons. 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 dinner or luncheon. Murder Mystery Dinners are offered at 7 p.m. on Saturdays, Oct. 13, 20 and 27 and admission is $45. Murder Mystery Luncheons are offered at 1 p.m. on Sundays, Oct. 14, 21 and Oct. 28 and admission is $30. This is a limited event and reservations are necessary.
New in 2012! Enjoy a psychic demonstration with selected readings over tea at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., 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” occurs. There is something unusual about their work! Madame Parmentier’s Psychic Teas are on Saturdays, Oct. 13, 20 and 27 at 2:30 p.m. Admission is $40 per person 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 and vote for your favorites from Oct. 5 through Nov. 4.
On All Hallows Eve, Mon., 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.
Visit the beautiful grounds of the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., on Sat., Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Harvest Festival Crafts & Antiques Show. Celebrate fall as the leaves are turning in Cape May with this open-air crafts and antiques show. Vendors from throughout the region display and sell their wares. Free admission to the grounds and free parking is available.
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.
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