The Best Haunted Tours In The Sacramento Area
Travel is the theme for the adults looking for a howling good time or for the parents with older children looking for a family outing. Below are some Halloween options to walk you through the gruesome holiday. Take a spooky trip down memory lane at the movies or a ghost tour through Old Sacramento. Visit the Scarecrow Corral or take a lantern tour through the cemetery. Each trip is sure to entertain you in the spirit of the holiday.
1st Annual Scarecrow Corral 2012
Pioneer Village, Folsom Historic District
Wool St. and Sutter St.
Folsom, CA 95630
(916) 985-2707
www.historicfolsom.org
Dates: October 20-21, October 27-28
Take a ride and check out the scarecrows at Pioneer Village in the Folsom Historic District. This town has begun a new tradition with its first annual Scarecrow Corral. The Scarecrow Corral contest will cover the themes of railroad, farmer/agriculture, pioneer, gold panner, blacksmith or miner. Organizations, businesses and individuals have been invited to enter a scarecrow. Prizes will be awarded to the three scarecrows with the most votes and they will be listed on the Scarecrow Corral plaque at Pioneer Village.
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Old Sacramento Ghost Tours
Eagle Theatre
925 Front St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 808-7059
www.historicoldsac.org
Dates: October 19-20, 26-27
Another tour to add to your agenda is presented by Old Sacramento Living History and the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation. They are bringing back the season's popular ghost tours. Travel back in time on the streets of Old Sacramento while listening to ghost stories from the Gold Rush era. Hear tales of how folks lived or died in the area. Sacramento's spookier side will take you to visit murder victim Mary Shaw, a pair of star-crossed lovers, railroad robbers and other characters from the past. These tours are not recommended for children under the age of five.
The Haunted Fort
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park
2701 L St.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 445-4422
www.parks.ca.gov
Dates: October 26-27
Another great place to visit this month is Sutter's Fort, a historic icon in the Sacramento area, which will again bring forth a family friendly event called The Haunted Fort. Previously a safe haven for weary pioneers, the fort now serves as a place to share the tales of the lives of pioneers that came through its gates. Take a step back into the days of the Gold Rush with all of its trials on this special tour of the fort. Walk through the rooms that John Sutter walked when he ran the fort, welcoming travelers from the east.
The Scarecrow Expo and The Pumpkin Smash Bash
Heidrick Ag Historic Center
1962 Hays Lane
Woodland, CA 95776
(530) 666-9700
www.aghistory.org
Date: October 27
The Heidrick Ag History Center is a great place to add to your howling fun tour for this season. The Scarecrow Expo kicked off on October 13th and will continue to be on display through The Pumpkin Smash Bash fundraiser at the Heidrick Ag History Center on the 27th. This will be the first year for the Bash and it is sure to be a smashing success. Along with the pumpkin smashing there will be adult trick-or-treats (beer tastings), brats, chili and sweet treats. Tickets may be purchased online.
Sacramento Historic City Cemetery
Lantern Tours
Broadway at 10th St., between Muir Way and Riverside Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 448-0811
www.oldcitycemetery.com
Dates: October 19-20 and 26-27
You will want to take a flashlight along for the last tour of the night at the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery for one of its seasonal Lantern Tours. Visitors are encouraged to wear Victorian-era costumes but are requested not to wear Halloween costumes. Walking through the past, you will hear of murder, suicide and espionage while encountering visitors from beyond. The cemetery offers four tours on each of the four evenings where light refreshments and entertainment will also be offered.
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Deb Ling is a freelance writer covering all things Sacramento. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
