Published: October 09, 2008 02:19 pm            

LIFESTYLE: Spooktacular time in Niagara County

History can be a hard sell to most, even in a region with a past as blood-stained as Niagara County. To make history more interesting, it sometimes needs to be brought to life and put in a costume.

This Halloween, characters from Niagara County’s gruesome past will rise from their graves all across the region, scaring and spooking anyone who is brave enough to chance an encounter.

“Lewiston has an incredibly bloody history,” said Eva Nicklas, artistic director of the Lewiston Council of the Arts, which puts on the Marble Orchard Ghost Walks and the Mason Winfield Haunted History Walk. “Much of it stems from the War of 1812.”

For Nicklas and others at the council, it was difficult to get people to really enjoy history, which is why they started the ghost walks last year.

“Sometimes you have to sexy it (history) up a bit to get people interested in it,” she aid.

That is just what they did.

Tour guides dress up as actual people from Lewiston’s past and lead a haunted tour through town while retelling the horrific events that once happened on those very streets. Eventually, the group is led to the town cemetery at the Marble Orchard, where victims from the past rise once more to share their story.

For the tour guides, portraying these historic people is no stretch. Many of the guides, including Nicklas, have been doing research on Lewiston’s past for more than a decade.

“Our tour guides know this material so well and have done so many walks that to add some of these ghost stories just comes natural,” she said. “We have done years and years and years of research. Most of the people that are in the ghost walk definitely identify with the character they portray.”

Lewiston isn’t the only area either where history will come to life this Halloween. Old Fort Niagara will also hold its annual haunted fortress fundraiser. Here, spirits from the past will return to haunt the dark and frightening corridors of the fort.

“Many legends from the fort’s past will be brought to life, but I can’t reveal what any of what the haunts might be,” said Robert Emerson, executive director of the fort. “The place will be full of unsuspected surprises.”

There are plenty of other haunts out there this fall too for both the thrill seeker as well as the more timid or those with children. From apple-picking and hay rides to trick-or-treating with the fish to horror movies and zombie plays, there is something out there for all ghosts, goblins and werewolves this fall.

Gasport

Becker Farms Annual Pumpkin Fiesta

If you want all the elements of fall in one place, head to Becker Farms in Gasport. From apple- and pumpkin-picking to hay rides, apple cider and delicious homemade baked goods, Becker Farms has everything needed for a great fall day getaway. There are even a few haunted attractions as well for the kids. There is a winery on site for parental enjoyment.

Today, Monday, Oct. 18-19 and Oct. 25-26

3760 Quaker Road

772-2211, beckerfarms.com

Lewiston

Mason Winfield's Haunted History Walk

Lead by local paranormal expert Mason Winfield, these haunted ghost walks are for the more serious supernatural enthusiast. His walks combine haunted architecture with science as Winfield explains the ins and outs behind a haunting. From what ghosts are made of to why we think we see them, Winfield covers all of this and more during his walks on the dark side.

7-8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31

476 Center St.

754-0166, artcouncil.org

Marble Orchard Ghost Walks

Take a tour through Lewiston with a character from the city’s gory past. Walk through the streets as they tell you local ghost stories, myths, and tales of tragedy, crime, murder and mystery. Was a 12-year-old girl really buried alive? Was a little boy scalped in the middle of the streets? You’ll be quite surprised when you find out for yourself.

7-9 p.m. Oct. 18 and Oct. 25

476 Center St.

754-0166, artcouncil.org

Lockport

Lockport Haunted Caves

Venture through an underground tunnel and creep along the banks of the canal as you are toured through this terrifying adventure. For the first time, walk-ins are welcome, but for large groups reservations are still best. Besides, it’s nice to have a few people to protect you from whatever might be lurking out there.

Thursday-Oct. 30

2 Pine St.

778-5521, lockportcave.com

Niagara Falls

Halloween Happenings

There are many creepy creatures lurking under the sea, and this Halloween, some will come up on dry land, as well. At the Aquarium of Niagara, children can enjoy a spooky time and tick-or-treat with sharks, penguins and sea lions. Come dressed as a clown or even a clown fish. Children who come dressed as a sea creature receive free admission; all others will be charged $4.

Oct. 25

701 Whirlpool St.

285-3575, aquariumofniagara.org

Niagara region

Hallowine

Collect clues and solve a murder mystery while sampling wine along the Niagara Wine Trail. For $20 per person, detectives will receive the initial report and enough information to set them along the way to solve the crime. Think of it as Clue for adults.

October 25-26

Niagara Wine Trail

niagarawinetrail.org

River Region Scarecrow Expo

This fall, scarecrows will be taking up residents all across Niagara County. Now through Halloween, visitors will find enchanting scarecrows on display along Center Street in Lewiston, Main Street in Youngstown, Buffalo Street in Sanborn and in Ransomville near the intersection of Route 93 and Ransomville Road. More than 50 artistic interpretations of these straw men and women are expected to pop up along the streets, all of them created by local business owners.

Through Oct. 31

Throughout the main streets of Lewiston, Youngstown, Ransomville and Sanborn

northofthefalls.com

North Tonawanda

Ghostlight Theatre

For a third year, North Tonawanda’s Ghostlight Theatre will present its stage adaptation of the 1968 cult horror classic “Night of the Living Dead.” The play is pretty faithful to the film but might be a bit more in the audience’s face than would be expected. “Much of the play takes place throughout the whole house of the theater,” said Trey Wydysh, who portrays Johnny in the play. “Zombies will be walking through the audience while the action is going up on stage to show you how big this zombie epidemic is getting.” The theater will also put on another fall thriller this year, “A Night of Dark Intent,” which features an all female cast.

“A Night of Dark Intent” on Friday-Sunday

“Night of the Living Dead” on Oct. 23-25

170 Schenck St.

743-1614, starrynighttheatre.com

“Ghostlights: Folklore, Skepticism and Belief”

Matthew LaChiusa, Thomas LaChiusa and Robert Kupczyk will premier their supernatural documentary Oct. 30 at North Tonawanda’s Riviera Theatre. The film examines ghost stories told by theater personnel from six Western New York theaters believed to be haunted, including Shea’s Performing Arts Center, the Ghostlight Theatre, the Town Ballroom, the Lancaster Opera House, the Allendale Theatre and the Riv itself. Local specter historian Mason Winfield and renowned skeptic Joe Nickell of the Center for Inquiry will also be present to debate and separate fact from fiction.

7 p.m. Oct. 30

692-2113, rivieratheatre.org

Halloween Spooktacular

For those with little ghouls and goblins who want to enjoy a non-scary Halloween party, make your way to the Carrousel Museum in North Tonawanda. From Halloween games and crafts to carrousel rides, there will be plenty to do to. There will also be plenty of candy and snacks, ensuring the little ones have enough sugar for energy.

5:30-8 p.m. Friday

180 Thompson St.

693-1885, carrouselmuseum.org

Rocky Horror Picture Party

It is once again safe to bring out the fish net stockings, black leather and wigs – at least for one night. Come celebrate the gender-bending cult classic “Rocky Horror Picture Show” all night long and party with the ladies of Club Marcella and the Eye Candy Burlesque at the Riviera Theatre. As usual, there will be a costume contest for the best dressed, so guys, be sure to shave your legs.

9 p.m. Oct. 31

692-2113, rivieratheatre.org

Sanborn

Sanborn Winetique Festival

If murder and wine didn’t sound like a good pairing, then maybe wine and antiques does. For a third year, the Winetique festival returns to Sanborn. More than 25 antique vendors will be present, as well as a handful of wineries from the Niagara Wine Trail, which could provide some liquid encouragement to spend a little extra for that Victorian tea set.

11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 19

Sanborn Fire Company, 5811 Buffalo St.

754-9500, northofthefalls.com

Wheatfield

The MAiZE

Sweet corn may be out of season, but as long as the stalks are left behind, that’s all that matters. Go get lost in three giant joined corn mazes and spend the dark night just trying to get out. As you venture deeper in the maze, it gets darker until it gets to the point where only the full moon can guide you back to safety.

Through Nov. 2

3901 Niagara Falls Blvd.

523-3860, cornfieldmaze.com

Youngstown

The Haunted Fortress

Fort Niagara has some of the most interesting legends of any place in Western New York. And for two nights in October, those legends come to life. Unlike other ghost walks, Emerson said this one throws history to the wind and concentrates solely on “scaring the pants off” those who dare to enter the fort. That shouldn’t be too hard considering how creepy the fort is even when no one else is around.

Old Fort Niagara

Oct. 24-25

745-7611, oldfortniagara.org

Brian Wright is a freelance writer from North Tonawanda.

        

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