Haunted Events That Take Place Across the US
Every year, October erupts with opportunities to walk the thin line that separates the realms of the living and the dead. Haunted attractions and ghost hunts become the go-to source for entertainment, but what if you don’t want to wait for the seasonal change to enjoy a spooky evening? It can be a drag waiting for Halloween to get your fill of frights, but there’s no need to, so long as you know where to look.
All across the nation, pockets of like-minded people get together to participate in haunted events. Whether it’s the dead of summer or the height of the Christmas season, these events provide an opportunity for lovers of the unknown to gather and explore what lies beyond the veil.
Though one may think they’re solely delegated to historic cities known for their ties to the otherworldly, such as Salem and Williamsburg, you’ll find that haunted events actually take place all across the nation.
Ghost Tours – Nightly
A ghost tour in Baltimore – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
As the sun sets behind the horizon and the moon casts dancing shadows with its amber glow, groups gather to embark on an eerie excursion. Ghost tours are a universal haunted event, available to virtually everyone in cities across the United States every single night. Curious travelers and locals looking to revisit the nostalgic folk tales of their youth follow knowledgeable tour guides as they blend pockets of history with true scary stories.
Each ghost tour, regardless of the city, unearths forgotten secrets behind well-known haunts and unveils apparitions tucked away in the darkest corners. Big and well-known municipalities like New York or Gettysburg may be prone to more active locations, but even smaller towns like Tonopah, Nevada, tucked away in the middle of the desert, have their own ghost stories waiting to be told.
In most cities, such as Williamsburg, ghost tours are a nightly event open to all ages. These events are great for those who scare easily, are open to mysterious energies, or want to know the untold histories of the nation’s most haunted regions.
Haunted Pub Crawls – Nightly
A haunted pub crawl – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
Traveling to a major city and want a unique, adults-only experience? You could just hang out at a bar, but that’s not the best experience. At least, not unless there’s someone there reciting the events that led to a grisly demise and a one-armed phantom lurking by the bathrooms.
Haunted pub crawls are among the most unique ways to experience both bars and ghost stories. In cities known for their nightlife or historic taverns, a haunted pub crawl takes guests to the most notable bars in the area for an evening of spirits and spirits. They’ll enjoy sipping on libations of their choice while listening to unsettling tales of ghouls, poltergeists, and ethereal entities.
Like ghost tours, they run throughout the week, so there’s no need to try to squeeze one in during an already busy weekend. While cities like Vegas, Los Angeles, and Miami are primed for these weird and wild evenings, don’t overlook more historic locations like St. Augustine and Tombstone, which boast their own alcohol-fueled, haunted crawls.
Overnight Ghost Hunts in Haunted Houses – Nightly, Subject to Availability
The Villisca Ax Murder House – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
It’s not often that the general public has the opportunity to stay overnight in a haunted location. For what can be assumed to be for insurance and safety purposes, some of the most iconic haunted spots around the world keep their doors shut. However, there are hotspots for spectral activity that encourage visitors to brave the horrors and tension of an overnight ghost hunt.
Think you have what it takes to spend the witching hour in a notoriously haunted house? There are several late-night events held across the United States throughout the year, including ghost hunts at the Welty House in Gettysburg, the infamous Villisca Axe Murder House in Iowa, and Massachusetts’s blood-soaked Lizzie Borden House.
As the name implies, an overnight ghost hunt lets you explore the otherworldly and reach out to the dead. At some locations, like the Brickhouse Inn and Welty House, you can even stay the night. Complete with rentable ghost hunting equipment, an overnight experience in a home that sits on the line between realms is the ultimate haunted event
A Tea Party with Lizzie Borden – On Select Sundays
The Lizzie Borden House – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
Have you ever wanted to pick the brain of one of the nation’s most notorious women? Though Lizzie Borden has long since passed away, the Lizzie Borden House keeps her memory and persona alive with an immersive tea party with Lizzie Borden at the Lizzie Borden House. Taking place in the very same home where Andrew and Abby were brutally slain, this affair is not for the faint of heart.
In true tea party fashion, the experience includes a plate of classic tea sandwiches and sweet delights. Before getting to the nitty-gritty of the murders, actors dressed as Lizzie and her sister Emma will introduce guests to tea party etiquette as it was in the 1800s and give an overview of afternoon tea. It adds a balance to the evening, blending history and mystery for an unforgettable weekend event.
Hosted on select Sunday evenings in Fall River, Massachusetts, the Lizzie Borden Tea Party sits guests in the heart of one of the nation’s most haunted locations for a unique glimpse at the history and haunts of the old home.