Cape May’s “original haunted house,” the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, is the setting for Phantoms of the Physick Estate: What Happens After Dark.
CAPE MAY — Seaside spirits stir up ghostly fun in Victorian Cape May during Halloween Happenings, sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC), throughout October. Get into the “spirit” this season with Halloween-themed tours and events including trolley tours, spooky tours of Cape May’s original haunted house, the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, teas with notorious characters such as Lizzie Borden, Typhoid Mary and The Bride of Frankenstein, murder mystery dinners and much more.
Perfect for Families
The grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., have been taken over by spooky, scary and just plain silly characters for Scarecrow Alley. Enjoy the scarecrow creations contributed by members of the community, local organizations and MAC staff and vote for your favorites from Oct. 7 through Oct. 31. Or, join in the fun and create your own scarecrow! Admission to the grounds is free. For information on how to create your own scarecrow, call 609-224-6045 or visit www.capemaymac.org.
On All Hallows Eve, Monday, Oct. 31, there are spooky characters waiting to give treats to all brave youngsters at Cape May’s original haunted house, the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Trick or Treat at the Physick Estate is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is free.
Cape May’s “Original Haunted House” The Emlen Physick Estate
Cape May’s “original haunted house,” the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, is the setting for Phantoms of the Physick Estate: What Happens After Dark. Are you brave enough to tour Dr. Physick’s house after dark? Strange things have been seen, heard and done here in the evening hours. Let your guide open a portal to the past and see what mysteries await. Offered Fridays, Oct. 14, 21 & 28 and Saturdays, Oct. 15, 22 and 29 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. $15 adults, $12 for children (ages 3-12).
Cape May’s “original haunted house,” the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, is also the setting for Phantoms of the Physick Estate: The Mourning Hours. Step into the 19th century where mourning rituals mixed superstition with necessity. Experience the unexpected on this 30-minute guided tour through the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, appropriate for all ages. Offered Saturdays, Oct. 15, 22, 29 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. $12 adults, $8 children (ages 3-12).
Tea & Confessions Series at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom
Some notorious women will be hosting three rather civilized tea luncheons at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom, 1048 Washington St., during the entertaining Tea & Confessions Series, perfect for the Halloween season. Who was Lizzie Borden, and what really happened on the fateful day her parents were hacked to death in the family home? Meet Lizzie Borden and get swept up in the story of one of the most notorious women in modern history Saturday, Oct. 15 at 2:30 p.m., all over afternoon tea, during Tea & Confessions: Lizzie Borden. Admission is $30. Reservations are necessary. Mary Mallon was finally quarantined by authorities in the early 1900s as a carrier of typhoid fever after people she came into contact with kept dying from the disease. Meet the notorious “Typhoid Mary” and hear her story on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 2:30 p.m. over afternoon tea during Tea & Confessions: Typhoid Mary, Dinner is Served. Admission is $30. Reservations are necessary. Frankenstein’s monster has taken a bride and she’s coming to afternoon tea. Meet the beautiful “Bride of Frankenstein” and hear the trials of being married to a monster, all over a lovely afternoon tea on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 2:30 p.m. during Tea & Confessions: The Notorious Bride of Frankenstein. Admission is $30. Reservations are necessary.
Dinners with a Halloween Twist
Help solve the mystery during Murder Mystery Dinners. You’ll meet some disreputable characters during this mystery that occurs all around you during a delicious dinner at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St. Suspicion will keep you guessing and challenge your sleuthing skills while you savor a four-course dinner at Aleathea’s Restaurant. Murder Mystery Dinners are offered at 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 7-9, and Fridays through Saturdays, Oct. 14-15, and Oct. 28-29, at Aleathea’s Restaurant at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St. Admission is $50. This is a limited event and reservations are necessary.
Enjoy a four course Halloween themed dinner in honor of the 150th anniversary of Dr. Emlen Physick’s death, paired with wines from a local winery, during the Rest In Peace Dinner, Friday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom, 1048 Washington St. This is a limited event and reservations are necessary. Admission is $75.
Tantalizing Trolley Tours
Headless photography? Electric corsets? Coffin “torpedoes”? During the Cape Mayhem Trolley Tour, a 30-minute trolley tours through the gaslit streets of Cape May, explore some of these strange beliefs, superstitions, oddities, fads, curiosities and mysteries from the end of the 19th century — the Victorian era. Offered Fridays, Oct. 7-28; Saturdays, Oct. 8-29 and Sundays, Oct. 9-16 at various times. Admission is $12 adults, $8 children (ages 3-12).
Get into the spirit of things on a trolley tour past some of Cape May’s regal Victorian residences, reputed to host more than the living, during the Historic Haunts Combo Tour. Then it’s a guided tour of the historic (some say haunted) 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, where you’ll learn about Victorian spiritualism and modern ghost hunting techniques. Friday, Oct. 7-Sunday, Oct. 9 at 7:15 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 31 at 7:15 p.m. Admission is $22 adults, $14 children (ages 3-12). For those who prefer just the house tour, the Historic Haunts House Tour is available separately on these evenings. Admission is $12 adults, $8 children (ages 3-12).
October Crafts & Collectibles Shows
CANCELED: Celebrate the fall season with your family at the beautiful Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. at the Autumn Festival Crafts & Collectibles Show on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Crafters and collectibles dealers from throughout the region display and sell their wares on the lawn. Festival includes hands-on activities and games for children including pumpkin painting. Free admission with a charge for some activities. This event is canceled due to the chance of inclement weather.
Walk the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate on Sunday, Oct. 9 during the Victorian Weekend Crafts & Collectibles Show on the lawn at 1048 Washington St. Crafters and collectibles dealers from throughout the region will display and sell their unique and hand-made wares from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free and free parking is available.
Crafters and collectibles dealers from throughout the region display and sell their wares during the Harvest Crafts & Collectibles Show, Saturday, Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cape May Convention Hall, Beach Avenue at Stockton Place. Admission is $2.
The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) is a multifaceted not-for-profit organization committed to promoting the preservation, interpretation, and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region for its residents and visitors. MAC membership is open to all. For information about MAC’s year-round schedule of tours, festivals, and special events, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278, or visit MAC’s Web site at www.capemaymac.org. For information about restaurants, accommodations and shopping, call the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May at 609-884-5508. For information about historic accommodations, contact Cape May Historic Accommodations at www.capemaylodging.com.
For more Halloween Happenings in Victorian Cape May, visit www.capemaymac.org.