Connecticut's Haunted Halloween Happenings 2015

Fright fests and seances and melonheads, oh my! When it comes to spooky haunts, the Nutmeg state has plenty of creepiness to choose from.

Connecticut Paranormal Searchers tells the tale of one especially peculiar group of people called the melonheads. Legend has it that a mental asylum burned to the ground in the early 60s. A number of inmate bodies were not recovered and escaped into the woods. When their food ran out during the winter, they resorted to cannibalism, preying on local hikers.

If you dare to visit, they were known to live around Velvet Lane, also known as Dracula Drive, in Trumbull.

Below are some scary, spooky events geared to give adult and teen ghost hunters goosebumps. We’ll bring you a separate kid-friendly list for the wee ones real soon!

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Fairfield County

Bethel: Bethel Historical Society Haunted Walking Tour, Friday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m.

• Led by master storyteller Marty Bishop, the tour begins at the Second Meeting House at 40 Main Street in Bethel, and wraps up with cider and donuts. Reservations are required by October 28. This event fills up quickly every year and there is a limit to the number of participants. The cost is $10 for Bethel Historical Society members, $12 for non-members and $6 for children 5-12. To reserve a space, call (203) 743 5893.

Monroe: An Evening With Annabelle, Oct. 30 & 31

• “All Hallows Eve Spectacular.” Lecture, viewing and banquet dinner on Oct. 30 with hosts Lorraine Warren and Tony Spera. Location to be revealed upon payment and registration. Click here to register.
• “Items of the Occult.” Saturday Oct. 31, 7 p.m. Location: Monroe Connecticut. Click Here For information.
• Annabelle resides in the Warren’s occult museum in Monroe, Connecticut, in a locked glass case featuring warnings not to open the case to prevent Annabelle and her ghost from wandering the world. Two movies, “The Conjuring” (2013) and “Annabelle” (2014), are based on Annabelle’s story.

Newtown: Newtown Historical Society Ghost Walk and Candlelight Tour, Saturday, Oct 17

• Join Martha Bishop as she walks Main Street and tells tales of a ghostly nature. Registration is required by emailing: register@newtownhistory.org. In conjunction with the Ghost Walk, Candlelight Tours will be given of the Matthew Curtiss House Museum by costumed docents. Location: Matthew Curtiss House, 44 Main St., Newtown, CT. Tours: 5:30 to 6:30 pm and 7 to 8 p.m. $5 per person or $15 per family is due at the event.

Norwalk: A Haunting at Mill Hill, October 23 & 24

• Bring a flashlight and take a lantern light tour through the historic Mill Hill graveyard. Watch out for legendary Meet Anna Howard, the spirit that roams the Norwalk River. Mill Hill Historic Park, 2 East Wall St., Norwalk, (203) 846-0525. Admission: $15; $10 for ages 8-12, in advance $13 & $8. More info: norwalkhistoricalsociety.org.
  

Norwalk: The Haunted Basement & Ghostly Sightings Tour, October 25-31

• The Ghostly Sightings Tours brings visitors Victorian era ghosts and viewing of the dark, dungeon.. Noon-4 p.m. Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, Norwalk. (203) 838-9799. Admission: $20. More info: lockwoodmathewsmansion.com.

Ridgefield: Haunting on Hemlock Hill, Oct. 24

• Watch for ghosts along the trails of Hemlock Hills. 6 p.m. Reservations are required. Tours depart in groups of up to 15 people every 15 minutes. Admission is $7 for Discovery Center members, and $12 per person for non-members.To register contact The Discovery Center at www.ridgefielddiscovery.org, or call (203) 438-1063.

Shelton: Legends of Fear, Weekends in October

• Check out the one mile long Melonhead Revenge Trail, take a haunted hayride. Fairview Tree Farm, 2 Saw Mill City Rd., Shelton. (203) 944.9090. Admission: $15; combo ticket $26, family four-pack $60. Tours 7-10 p.m. More info: legendsoffear.com.

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Hartford County

Bristol: Witch’s Dungeon Classic Movie Museum, October 2 - Nov. 1

• The Witch’s Dungeon features life-sized wax figures from classic horror films as well as movie props. Fridays - Sundays, 7-10 p.m. Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer St., Bristol. (860) 583-8306. Admission: $5. More info: preservehollywood.org.

Bristol: The Haunted Graveyard, October 2-31; Friday & Saturday dusk to midnight, Sunday dusk to 10 pm

• Terrifying trails, frightening maze, six haunted houses and a graveyard all linked by a labyrinth of terrifying trails with 17 adult rides operating.. Lake Compounce, Bristol. (860) 583-3300. Admission: $31.99 (combo park & graveyard); $24.99 graveyard or park only. More info: hauntedgraveyard.com.

East Windsor: Rails to the Darkside, October 2-30; Fridays & Saturdays

• Ride aboard a trolley car for a terrifying tour of the spirit inhabited cemetery and car barn. Connecticut Trolley Museum, East Windsor. (960) 627-6540. Admission: $16. 7-9:30 pm. More info: ct-trolley.org.

Farmington: Memento Mori Cemetery Tour, October 25

• Join a walking tour of Farmington’s ancient burial ground. October 25; 1-3 p.m. The Barney Library, 71 Main St., Farmington. 860.677.9222. Admission: $10. More info: stanleywhitman.org.

Hartford: Spirits at Stowe: An Otherworldly Tour, October 2-31, Fridays & Saturdays

• A 45-minute spine-tingling tour offered Fridays and Saturday nights in October about ghosts, spirits, seances and more. Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Hartford, (860) 522-9258 ext. 317. Admission: $18. Reservations required. More info: harrietbeecherstowe.org.
  

Hartford: Graveyard Shift Tours, October 2-30

• Apparitions, unexplained phenomena, visits from Syfy’s Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters Academy, have led to reprise the popular Graveyard Shift Ghost Tours this year. Learn about Mark Twain’s interest in the supernatural.Mark Twain House Museum, Hartford. (860) 280-3130. Admission: $22. Reservations required). Hourly, 6 to 9 p.m. More info: marktwainhouse.org.

West Hartford: Hauntings, Oct. 23, 24, 25 and 30

• Hear the eerie tale of souls gone by, led by a dearly departed guide, who will tell their own tale. Tours are from 6 to 8:45 p.m., every 15 minutes. Rain date: Nov. 1, 5 to 7:45 p.m. $9 for children 17 and under; $13 for adults. Not recommended for children under 10.noahwebsterhouse.org and 860-521-5362, Ext. 21. October 23-25 & 30; 6-8:45 pm, every 15 minutes. North Cemetery, North Main Street, West Hartford. 860.521.5362. Admission: $13; under 17 $9. More info: noahwebsterhouse.org.

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Litchfield County

Litchfield: Supernatural Tales of Connecticut, October 24

• Join poet and essayist David Leff for dramatic readings and ghostly tales. Meet the headless horseman of Canton, the vanishing hitchhiker of Chester, the Jewett City vampires, and the black dog of West Peak. Dinner included, 7:30 p.m. White Memorial Conservation Center, 80 White Hall Rd., Litchfield. 860.567.0857. Admission: $30; pre-registration & pre-payment required. whitememorialcc.org.

New Milford: Haunted Trail & Mansion, October 16 & 17, 23 & 24

• Dare to walk through the evil that lurks in the Haunted Trail and Mansion at Harrybrooke Park. Follow a self-guided trail filled with horror, darkness, woods and a haunted mansion. Tours: 6-9:30 p.m. Harrybrooke Park, 100 Still River Dr., New Milford. 860.799.6520. Admission: $12. harrybrookepark.org.

Washington: Washington Green Cemetery Tour, October 30

• Costumed tour guides will lead visitors from the Gunn Museum to the Washington Green Cemetery. Tour groups will follow a path lit with 1,000 luminarias through the dark and creepy cemetery while listening to stories of Washington’s departed residents. Tours depart every ten minutes from the museum and last about 45 minutes, bring a flashlight. Tours: 6:30-8:30 p. m. Gunn Memorial Library & Museum, 5 Wykeham Rd., Washington. 860.868.7756. Admission: Free; donations welcome. gunnlibrary.org.

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New Haven County

Bethany: Amity Road Horror, October 3, 9,10,11,16,17,18,23,24,25, 30 & 31, 7-11 p.m.

This outdoor haunt is the one haunted attraction you don’t want to miss! Click here for more info.

Cheshire: Spirits Alive Cemetery Lantern Tour, October 16-18

• Six hundred lights illuminate the path of Cheshire’s Historic Hillside Cemetery. Cheshire’s forgotten history is revealed through stories of local history including a mystery ship, a riot, a murder, a mine cave-in, and much more.
  Hillside Cemetery, 44 Wallingford Rd., Cheshire. 203.272.2574. Admission: $10. Reservations required. facebook.com/CheshireHistoricalSociety.

East Haven: Haunted Isle Trolley

• Take a trolley straight into a dark wooded path with many twists and turns that will scare you sleepless. Be sure to wear good walking shoes. October 2-30: Fridays & Saturdays 7-10 p.m. The Shoreline Trolley Museum, 17 River St., East Haven, 203.467.6927, Admission: $12; express $20. hauntedisle.org.

Guilford: Halloween Hysterics at Henry’s, October 24

• A self-guided tour of the 1639 Whitfield House, displays about the Whitfield connection to the Salem witch trials and the Guilford Green graveyards, and the exhibit Holidaze: The Real Story of Halloween. October 24; 10 am-4:30 p.m. Henry Whitfield State Museum, 248 Old Whitfield St., Guilford. 203.453.2457. Admission: $8, seniors & students $6, (6-17) $5, under 6 free.

North Haven: The Only Scream in Town, Oct. 2-31

• Take a terrifying trip through the underworld, cross paths with tortured souls, cannibals and mutants. Five modern Halloween-themed attractions. Full concessions. “Gore Karts” and “Thriller” mini golf. October 2-31; Fridays-Sunday 7-10:30 pm, select Thursdays 7-9 p.m. 275 Valley Service Rd., North Haven. 203.239.4653. Admission: $20 each. theonlyscreamintown.com.

North Haven: Halloween Knights, October 17 & 24; 6-9 pm

• The headless horseman rides into battle against his hellish foes in a flaming joust. Fiery lances will shatter, jack o’ lanterns will explode, and you will watch in horror. North Haven Fairgrounds, 860.478.5954. Admission: $17. ctfaire.com.

Wallingford: Trail of Terror, October 2 - Nov. 1

• An outdoor haunted attraction takes thrill seekers on a 45-minute terror tour through three acres of spooky scenes and living nightmares. Friday & Saturday, 7-11 pm, Sundays 7-10 pm. PNC Park, Wallingford. 888.695.0888. Admission: $15; timed ticket $20. trailofterror.com.

Waterbury: Nightmare on Wolcott Street

• This indoor haunted house features chainsaws, creepy sounds, animatronics, live characters and more. A bloody, gory, frightening tour sure to leave you terrified! Admisison: $10. 1058 Wolcott St. Waterbury. 203-754-5000. info@nightmareonwolcottstreet. nightmareonwolcottstreet.com

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New London County

Mystic: Seaside Shadows Haunted History Tours, October 2-31

• Courtney McInvale, author of Haunted Mystic, will guide visitors by lantern light through downtown Mystic past local hauntings. On Sundays and Tuesdays tour the Whitehall Cemetery. There will be a midnight graveyard ghost tour on Halloween night at Whitehall Burial Ground. October 2-31; Friday-Sunday & Tuesdays. Last week of October 7 p.m. Downtown Mystic. 860.617.9777. Admission: $20 in advance or $22 on day of tour. Tours begin on the green of Mystic River Park. seasideshadows.com

New London: Cedar Grove Cemetery Tour, October 24

• Visit New London’s Cedar Grove Cemetery and learn about famous New Londoners and their final resting places in a guided tour by retired teacher and long-time New London resident Don Presley. Cedar Grove Cemetery, 638 Broad Street, New London. Admission: $10; 10:30 a.m., registration required. us3.campaign-archive1.com.

New London: A Hempsted Halloween, October 24

• Meet the ghosts of New Londoners, hear their tales, see the city’s oldest house at twilight. Hempsted Houses, 11 Hempsted Street, New London. 860.742.6917. Admission: $7; 4 - 7 p.m. CT Landmarks members free. ctlandmarks.org.

Norwich: Dark Manor Haunted House

• Voted Connecticut’s #1 Haunted Attraction 8 years in a row by The Venue News Readers Poll. Not recommended for anyone under 13. Admission: $20. Click here to purchase. EXIT 18 (OLD EXIT 83) OFF I-395 • NORWICH, CT • 860.822.TOMB. thedarkmanor.com.

Norwich: Seaside Shadows: Paranormal Investigation Weekend, October 16-17

• Ghost tour of the historic Leffingwell House of Norwich, a home frequented by George Washington and Benedict Arnold, a tavern where mysterious disappearances and active paranormal activity. Leffingwell House, Norwich. 860.617.9777, 7-9 p.m. or 9:30-11:30 p.m. Admission: $65 for a two-hour block. seasideshadows.com.

Norwich: “Benedict Arnold’s Ghost” October 30

• Walk through one of Norwich’s oldest graveyards where the mother of Benedict Arnold rests. Hear local legends’ stories including one where Benedict himself his mother on horseback at midnight on All Hallows Eve. 6-9:30 p.m. Starting on Elm Avenue, Norwich. 860.886.1776. Admission: Suggested donation $5. norwichhistoricalsociety.org.

Did we miss any? Have no fear! Email wendy.mitchell@patch.com to add it to the list.

Photo: William Warbley, flickr creative commons