MAC Gets You into the Halloween Spirit

CAPE MAY — Discover what makes Victorian Cape May a hotbed for paranormal activity during Halloween Happenings, sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC), from Friday, Oct. 15 through Sunday, Oct. 31.
Seaside spirits take up residence in their favorite historic haunts, spooky sights and sounds surround the City, and things are going bump in the night for more than two-weeks. Embrace the “other side” of Cape May and get in 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, a mystery weekend, psychic teas, murder mystery dinners and much more.
The grounds of Cape May’s original haunted house, the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., have been taken over by dozens of spooky, scary and just plain silly characters for Scarecrow Alley.
The popular Murder at the Physick Estate returns with “A Halloween Horror Show.” Follow your guide…if you dare… and try to discover just what the spirits want from you. Meet the cast at dessert after the performance.
The estate has been decked out for the season and is host to some spooky spirits who are eagerly awaiting your arrival. Visit Dr. Physick’s estate for the Phantoms of the Physick Estate Tour—a self-guided tour featuring spooky sounds, special effects and other scary stuff.
Join Craig McManus, psychic medium and paranormal investigator for A Lighthouse Ride with the Ghost Writer on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. Board a MAC trolley with McManus at the helm. McManus will take you down the haunted path to the Cape May Lighthouse and relate his eerie findings. At the Cape May Lighthouse, you may experience a ghostly encounter and you can either choose to climb to the top or stay below.
Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tours are offered every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Oct. 15 through Nov. 14, plus Thursday, Oct. 28. A MAC guide will relate the paranormal findings of McManus as the trolley rolls past reputed haunted properties. Tour times vary.
A costumed guide spins spooky stories from the Victorian era as the trolley makes its way through the ghostly, gas-lit streets of Cape May on Tales of Terror Trolley Rides. Tours are offered Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 15-17 and Oct. 29-31 and Thursday, Oct. 28. Tour times vary.
The Historic Haunts Combo Tour combines the Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour, which features a guide relating the paranormal findings of McManus on an evening trolley ride through the streets of Cape May, with a visit to the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate where you will see a home séance room of the 1890s and learn of the Victorians’ fascination with spiritualism. Tours are offered Fridays, Oct. 15, 22 and 29 and Thursday, Oct. 28 at 7:15 p.m.
Did you know that the notion of a haunting, the belief in ghosts, and the use of mediums and Ouija boards were popular during the Victorian Era? Get into the spirit of things on a guided tour of the Physick Estate with a discussion of Victorian spiritualism during the Historic Haunts House Tour.
On All Hallows Eve, Sunday, Oct. 31, there are spooky characters with treats for all the good little boys and ghouls at Cape May’s original haunted house, the Emlen Physick Estate. Trick or Treat at the Physick Estate is from 5 – 7 p.m. and is free. Separate admission to tour the Phantoms of the Physick Estate.
Visit the grounds of the Physick Estate Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the new Harvest Festival Crafts & Antiques Show. Celebrate fall in Cape May with a new open-air crafts and antiques show. Vendors from throughout the region display and sell their wares. Admission to the grounds is free.
Dr. Physick’s aunt, Emilie Parmentier returns to her home in “spirit” for a special tea at the Carriage House Tearoom & Café, 1048 Washington St. Madame Parmentier’s Psychic Tea is a Halloween-themed tea luncheon complete with wandering fortune-tellers, odd phrenologists and strange characters.
There is a new mystery for this fall’s Murder Mystery Dinners & Luncheons. The humorous and murderous Impromptu Players invade the dining room at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St., and set the scene for the new mystery “One Tough Cookie.”
Celebrate the harvest season on a Cape May Wine Trail. Spend the day visiting Cape May County’s wineries and sampling the unique flavors of each. First enjoy lunch at the Carriage House Tearoom & Café located on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, and then board the trolley, which will take you to Cape May Winery, Natali Vineyards, and Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery, where you’ll learn about viniculture and visit the tasting rooms.
The Cape May Wine Weekend begins on Friday, Oct. 22 with a four-course dinner at the Washington Inn featuring wines themed to the Sunday Wine School Class. Guests will be treated to individual attention from the wine steward.
The Cape May Wine School “Zinfandel and Its Cousins” on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. can be purchased separately from the Wine Weekend. Keith Bader from Lauber Imports shares his knowledge of the world of wine at the Washington Inn.
Spend an afternoon at the award-winning Cape May Winery and enjoy a Winery Cellar Tour and Tasting. Tour the vineyard to see how grapes are grown, and then visit the winery for an introduction to the winemaker’s art and a barrel tasting with cheese and fruit.
Celebrate Oktoberfest at the Mad Batter Beer Dinner on Friday, Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. The famous Mad Batter restaurant, 19 Jackson St., hosts the four-course dinner paired with East Coast Microbrews.
New in 2010 — the Mad Batter introduces Beer Schools. The class on Sunday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. Learn about the world of beer, beer history, and beer pairings and enjoy five samples of beer and light refreshments.
Designed by Shadow Stalkers, the Looking Glass Mysteries is a series of nonstop, think-on-your-feet investigations into some very unusual crimes. “Cape May’s War of the Worlds” will take place from Friday, Oct. 29 through Saturday, Oct. 30. Sign up for a weekend-long mystery adventure looking for clues.
There will be prizes for best-dressed Martians and Earthlings.
For information or to book your weekend package, contact the participating inns:
The Bedford Inn: (609) 884-4158 or (866) 215-9507 or www.bedfordinn.com.
The Carroll Villa: (609) 884-9619 or (877) 275-8452 or www.carrollvilla.com.
The Queen Victoria Bed & Breakfast: (609) 884-8702 or www.queenvictoria.com.
Don’t miss your final chance to tour Cape May’s sixth annual Designer Show House. The Fairthorne Cottage on the corner of Ocean and Hughes streets is open daily through Oct. 31 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays through Fridays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and then it’s closed until Cape May’s Christmas season begins on Nov. 19.
For information about these and all other year-round MAC events or to purchase tickets to Halloween Happenings events call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278, or visit MAC’s Web site at www.capemaymac.org.