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Halloween Happenings in Victorian Cape May

Posted: 27 Sep 2011 07:16 AM PDT

Get into the "spirit" of the season

Victorian Cape May is a hotbed for paranormal activity any time of the year, but aren't the spirits usually more active during the Halloween season? They must be, for there is a bevy of activities during Happenings, sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC), from Friday, Oct. 14 through Monday, Oct. 31. Seaside spirits take up residence in their favorite historic haunts, spooky sights and sounds surround the town, and things go 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 — the1879 Emlen Physick Estate — psychic teas, murder mystery dinners and much more.

The grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate will be taken over by dozens of spooky, scary and just plain silly characters for Scarecrow Alley. These age-old signs of Halloween are especially appropriate as a welcoming committee to the haunted Physick House. Starting Oct. 14, you can walk the grounds and vote for your favorite scarecrow creations contributed by members of the community, local organizations and MAC staff. Voting ballots are available in the Carriage House Gallery on the grounds of the Estate. Free admission to the grounds.

The popular Murder at the Physick Estate returns with "Doorway to Darkness," a new play by John K. Alvarez. Is there life after death? Do spirits wander on an ethereal plane? Are there ghosts roaming Cape May? During these performances, with the Physick Estate as a backdrop, a psychic and a scientist plan to address these questions once and for all. Afterwards, meet your evening's performers over coffee and dessert in the Carriage House Tearoom & Café. View performance schedule

Tour Cape May's original haunted house during a Phantoms of the Physick Estate Tour. For young children, there is a special kid-friendly, self-guided version of the tour during the daytime featuring spooky sounds, special effects and scary stuff. An evening self-guided tour of terror that gets a little spookier is geared toward adults and older children, with special effects, ghosts and ghouls, scary characters and sounds. Schedule and more information

Cape May's Victorian gems display the "spirit" of the season on the Phantoms of Cape May tours on Saturdays
Psychic medium, ghost investigator and author, Craig McManus comes to the Emlen Physick Estatefor Midnight at the Physick Estate
Join Craig McManus, psychic medium and ghost writer for A Lighthouse Ride with the Ghost Writer on Saturday, Oct. 22
Board the MAC trolley for a spooky ride through the flickering gas-lit streets of Cape May during A Ride with The Ghost Writer

Many more spooky events are in store during Halloween Happenings in Cape May. Halloween Happenings in Victorian Cape May is sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC), 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 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.

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Tuesday, September 27, 2011