EVENTS: Halloween is Howlin'!

Every October, it suddenly seems like there are too many delicious things to do! This year is no exception. So far, here is a rundown of events that have come to our attention. First, items we've showcased already are listed here for easy reference (new events added 10/15/08):

Wicked Walking Tours of Portland

Haunted Freeport walking tours

Tales of Terror at Victoria Mansion

Zombie Kickball/March in Waterville (updated)

Fright at the Fort at Fort Knox in Prospect

Eastern Cemetery events in Portland

Thrill the World re-enactment of Michael Jackson's Thriller video in Gray

Now for the new items:

WHAT: Bangor Ghost Lamp Tour -- Imagine presidents, gangsters and ghosts as you take this educational and entertaining evening walk through Bangor history.
WHEN: Tuesday, October 14, 2008, 7:00pm
WHERE: Downtown Bangor Waterfront, Front St. Bangor. Meet at the River Front parking lot.
COST: $5, children under 12 free.
FMI: (207)942-1900, www.bangormuseum.com

WHAT: Lantern tours of Haunted Damariscotta & Wiscasset with the Lady in the Red Cloak. Wearing the garb of the Victorian era, Sally Lobkowicz will take you, lantern bobbing, through the winding back ways of two of Maine's old riverside settlements, and related haunting tales of their ghostly denizens.
WHEN:7:00pm, now through October 30th
WHERE:Starting location will be divulged when you make your reservation by calling (207)380-3806
COST: $10 per person, $5 for children under 12 years old
FMI:(207)380-3806

WHAT: The 1830-built Maine house featured on the TV show Paranormal State is offering tours. We related the story of this haunting in a previous post, which you can read by clicking here. Proceeds will be donated to the Animal Welfare Society.
WHEN: now through October 31st
WHERE: 1226 West Road, Waterboro, ME.
COST: $5 per person for self-guided tour (including pamphlet about the property's haunting), $25 for overnight stay.
FMI:(207)432-4119

WHAT: Haunted Hayrides -- a local classic of the season, this 40-minute hayride through the haunted, dark forest next to Scarborough Downs started out 19 years ago on a farm in Gorham. Not the scariest, but definitely a lot of fun for all ages, with great outdoor atmosphere.
WHEN:evenings, now through November 1st. Reservations recommended, call (207)885-5935 to pick a time and date. (NOTE: In past years, I've had a hard time getting anyone at this number during daytime -- it may be best to call in the evening.)
WHERE: Next to Scarborough Downs, off Route 1 in Scarborough.
COST: $13 per person, $9 for children 6 to 12 years old
FMI:(207)885-5935

WHAT: Goffstown's Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and Regatta! Travel over to neighboring NH to indulge your love of racing floating pumpkins. See full list of events here. What, you find this hard to believe? See some footage of other folks' floating pumpkin vessels here.
WHEN:Race starts at 3:00pm, Sunday, October 19th. Events run Oct 18-Oct 19th.
WHERE:Downtown commons, Goffstown, New Hampshire
COST: Attendance is free!
FMI:(603)497-9933 or click here for schedule of events
NOTE: Check out a ton more spook-a-riffic and just plain fun New Hampshire events throughout October on New Hampshire Magazine's site.

Stroll with the Ghosts of the Past

Spirits Alive of Portland, Maine, now in its second year, announced their June schedule of public Walking Tours today.

Sunday, June 1st at 2:00pm - Portland and its “silent city” - Stroll through 350 years of the Eastern Cemetery’s intertwined past with the Portland peninsula

Saturday, June 7th at 10:00am and 1:00pm - Art and the Elements - A fascinating introduction to the geology of the Eastern Cemetery, including its markers and monuments; a brief introduction to early mortuary art (as seen on the stones), and the effects of the environment on the site.

Sun, June 8th at 1:00pm - Earliest Portland: The Eastern’s Unmarked Past - In 1632, settlers began arriving at the place we now call Portland. No buildings remain from that time. The open land of Eastern Cemetery is an appropriate site to learn about some of the events of the 17th and early 18th centuries that occurred within sight of the cemetery and shaped Portland’s indomitable spirit.

Sun, June 22nd at 4:00pm - Through the “eyes” of the Eastern
Sun, June 29th at 1:00pm - Earliest Portland: The Eastern’s Unmarked Past

All tours begin at the Congress Street gates of the Eastern Cemetery. The Eastern Cemetery is located on Congress, Mountfort and Federal Streets at the foot of Munjoy Hill.

Tours take approximately one-hour. The ground is uneven at this National Trust for Historic Places site so please wear appropriate footwear.

Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $4.00 for seniors (62+, children under 10 and students), and is payable by cash or check.

Spirits Alive is a non-profit organization that supports public access to, events and education, and a master conservation plan for Portland’s Historic Eastern Cemetery. The Eastern Cemetery is listed on the National Trust for Historic Places.
FMI:www.spiritsalive.org or (207)729-4817.