This Halloween, Colonial Williamsburg is getting spooky with their annual Haunting on DoG Street event.
During the month of October, Haunting on DoG Street will feature ghost tours, evening programs, museum talks and trick-or-treating in the Historic Area, Colonial Williamsburg said in a news release.
“This October we are excited to highlight the fun evening programs that make Colonial Williamsburg such a unique and special place to visit during the Halloween season and all year round,” said Robert Currie, Colonial Williamsburg director of entertainment.
Guests can cast their vote for the guilt or innocence of “the Virginia Witch,” Grace Sherwood, during the evening program “Cry Witch.” The program will be held from 7:30-9 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays in October. It is not recommended for small children.
Following the “Cry Witch” program on Oct. 15, historian Carson Hudson Jr. will give a special lecture on the history of witchcraft in Virginia. Hudson will also speak about witchcraft in Colonial Virginia at 11:15 a.m. on Oct. 24, 26, and 31 at the Hennage Auditorium
The events lead up to a two-night trick-or-treating celebration from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 and 27 in the Historic Area. There will be jugglers, witches and the return of Blackbeard and his merry pirates in recognition of the 300th anniversary of Blackbeard’s death.
Tickets for trick-or-treating are $5 per child and all children must be accompanied by a legally responsible adult.
Adults must register in advance and accompany the child to attend the event. Official trick-or-treat bags can be picked up day-of at the Colonial Williamsburg Regional Visitor Center.
Through a continued collaboration with the Teal Pumpkin Project, young guests with food allergies may claim a special trick-or-treat bag and collect allergen-free treats at designated Historic Area sites.
During trick-or-treating, guests are also invited to participate in a haunted auction at Raleigh tavern and a Pumpkin Patch dance party with live music on the Capitol south lawn.
From 7-8:30 p.m., Thursday-Sunday in October, Colonial Williamsburg will also offer “The Official Colonial Williamsburg Ghost Walk,” “Ghosts Amongst Us,” and “The Official Colonial Williamsburg Ghost Walk Junior,” tours. These tours are the only ghost tours that take guests inside Colonial Williamsburg’s historic buildings.
In addition, from 7:30-9 p.m., on Oct. 16, 23 and 30 at the Governor’s, Palace Colonial Williamsburg will host the concert “Monsters, Mayhem and Musick,” which will showcase the “darker side” of baroque music. Tickets are $19 for adults and $9.50 for youth.
For those looking to solve mysteries this October, the Art Museums at Colonial Williamsburg are offering the program, “Murder or Misfortune? The Tragic Death of Robert Routledge,” which will recreate the most controversial crime in 18th-century Virginia. The program will run at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 15, 22, and 29 at the Hennage Auditorium.
To finish off the season, on Halloween night Oct. 31, Shield’s Tavern will host Blackbeard’s Feast, an immersive buffet dinner theater experience celebrating the 300th anniversary of the pirate’s death. Tickets are $65 a guest and include tax and gratuity.
Other programs at the Hennage Auditorium include:
- 4:30 p.m., Oct. 25, “Ethereal Love Songs,” guitarist Kent La Rue shares love songs with a Halloween twist
- 4 p.m., Oct. 27, “Boo-Grass and More,” Chisman Creek shares a variety of spooky musical genres
- 4 p.m., Oct. 28, “The Wreck of the Sea Venture,” a story of the true tale of the wreck in light and shadow
- 4:30 p.m., Oct. 31, “Ghouls, Ghosts and Gleeful Gloom!”, John Turner and Kelly Kennedy share their favorite tunes, stories and songs of this Celtic holiday
Art Museum programs are included with Colonial Williamsburg or Art Museums admission with the exception of “Boo-Grass and More,” which requires an additional ticket.
There will also be a variety of guided museum tours running throughout October:
- 10:15 a.m., Oct. 22 and 29, “In Memoriam,” exploring period mourning costumes
- 5 p.m., Oct 22, 10:15 a.m. Oct. 19 and 26, “Face Your Fears,” guests confront fears and phobias and not-so scary objects
- 10:15 a.m., Oct. 24 and 31, “Weird Wild Spooky, explore strange and spooky objects.
Art Museum tours are included with Colonial Williamsburg or Art Museums admission.
Event programming is subject to change. For more information visit Colonial Williamsburg online or call 858-296-6627.
