Tickets remain available for Main Street Wellington’s Ghost Walk on Oct. 7.
Two tour options are available — at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. — offering approximately 90 minutes of stories at seven stops in the village.
“It’s part eyewitness stories and part based on history,” said Jenny Arntz, executive director of Main Street Wellington, which is hosting the first-time event. “We do have a lot of history in town and we definitely have some stories.”
Barb Leiby, secretary of The Spirit of ’76 Museum, which is one of the stops on the tour, said previous ghost lovers have visited the museum and recorded suspected ghost activity in the building.
“I’m really looking forward to the ghost tour,” Leiby said.
The tour will be conducted by Laurie Velasco of Black Cat Tales and Tours.
Based in Canton, Valasco said she looks forward to the tour, which includes a murder-suicide at a former grocery store, creepy occurrences at other local shops and a little bit about “haunted objects” at Addie’s Antiques.
The tour also includes the Simonson residence where well-known local storyteller Tim Simonson lives.
The tour focuses on history and folklore and is not designed to be scary, Velasco said.
“I think people are attracted to the dark and the macabre,” she added, addressing the popularity of ghost tours. “During October, I think people are looking for as much as they can do during ‘spooky season.’”
After the tour, participants will have a chance to win raffle prizes and mingle with each other in the back room at LaTroje.
They can share stories and enjoy snacks, Arntz said.
“Chances are people who go on a ghost tour have had an experience and they’ll have a chance to share,” she added.
Some stops in the village have been visited on other ghost tours, but this is the first event organized by the village itself.
Tours begin at Town Hall.
Tickets can be purchased online at mainstreetwellington.org and picked up at Will Call.
Arntz said last minute joiners are welcome and the group will do it’s best to accommodate them.
Velasco said she likes to keep groups on the smaller side, which can be tricky during the busy season.
“The smaller intimate groups really add to the ambience,” she said, adding that she uses a portable speaker to help guests hear her.
Later in October, witches will stroll through downtown Wellington as part of their Support Local Saturdays series.
And Oct. 21 will feature Wandering Witches of Wellington. Witches and wizards of all ages are invited to dress up and enjoy spooky specials at downtown businesses, crafts, games and a terrific grand prize, Arntz said.
A volunteer witch will read stories to children as well.
As an add on to the event, participants can enjoy a Traveling Tarot reading.
Similar to a poker run, visitors will stop at multiple tarot readers to see different approaches while visiting businesses that might be new to them.
“When they’re done, they’ll have a full tarot reading,” Arntz said. “It’s a great experience for people to visit more businesses and get people to walk around downtown.”
Tickets for the Traveling Tarot are $40 and available online.
Openings still are available for Main Street’s Fall Flowerpot Decorating Contest.
Visit https://www.mainstreetwellington.org/ to learn more, including how to vote for your favorite.
