Halloween Hauntings and Fall Fun in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIE, August 14, 2020 - While rumors persist year-round of real ghosts and goblins inhabiting some of Philadelphia’s most historic sites, it’s during Halloween season when other-worldly creatures emerge from all corners of the region to make it a happily haunted time of year. Families with little ones get gentle thrills during pumpkin- and scarecrow-heavy happenings at Peddler’s Village, Linvilla Orchards et Shady Brook Farms. And for serious thrill-seekers, a nighttime tour of Eastern State Penitentiary or a ghost tour through the historic streets of Old City or New Hope provide just the right level of spooky.

To make the most of fall in Philly, visitors are encouraged to spend a night or two. The Visite de Philly avec nuitée à l'hôtel is available at dozens of hotels and includes overnight hotel parking. Visitors can book the package at visitphilly.com/overnight.

Here are some spots that offer Halloween tricksters some delightfully frightful treats:

• Eastern State Penitentiary: This grim 191-year-old former state prison was once home to famous inmates Al Capone and Willie Sutton. While Eastern State won’t host its popular Terror Behind the Walls tours this year, it will offer Visites nocturnes on select evenings from September through November. Visitors can explore the cellblocks and yard and check out the award-winning Les prisons aujourd'hui exposer.
• Village de colporteurs: For 41 straight years now, Bucks County’s charming shopping and dining destination hosts its popular Les épouvantails dans le village display, featuring dozens of elaborately decorated hay-stuffed creations handmade by Philly-area residents. The public can vote on their favorite scarecrows throughout most of the display’s run, September 9-October 24.
• Linvilla Orchards: Things go bump in the day et night at some local farms, where ghoulish family-friendly activities abound. This Media favorite hosts Pumpkinland, featuring pick-your-own pumpkins and apples, a jack-o-lantern exhibit, hayrides, train rides and cornfield mazes. September 12-November 8.
• Franklin Square: The park’s popular Philly Mini Golf is transformed into spooky fun for the season with fog, lights, music and surprises. Plus, the Franklin Square Fountain runs shows every 30 minutes. In between the shows, the fountain is colored to complement fall. October 1-31.
• Maison Betsy Ross: Spooky Twilight Tours are on tap for visitors to the pint-sized home of the nation’s famous flag maker this October. They’ll hear true tales about small pox and yellow fever in the courtyard before heading inside to continue their gruesome tour. Fridays, October 2-30.
• Arboretum de Morris: For the 13^th year, this horticultural display garden in Chestnut Hill arboretum hosts its popular Scarecrow Walk, featuring dozens of fairy tale-themed creations on display from October 3 through November 1. New this year: the Lighted Lantern Halloween Walk, a special nighttime walk through the arboretum featuring lighted lanterns and scarecrows. Costumes encouraged, and advanced tickets required. October 29-31. And on October 30-31, it’s another first: Ghostly Gathering at Morris ArBOOretum, a costumed event that includes scary stories, games and trick-or-treating. Advanced tickets required
• Zoo Fun: Boo at the Zoo returns to the Elmwood Park Zoo (October 10-November 1) and the Philadelphia Zoo (October 16-November 1) on weekends this fall. Dressed-up kids can trick-or-treat throughout the grounds, enjoy seasonal décor, hit up activity stations and, of course, admire the animals.
• Cemeteries: Perhaps the city’s most haunted spot, Église Saint-Pierre cemetery has been home to ghosts for more than a century. Some spectators have seen a horse-drawn carriage charging through the center of the Society Hill graveyard and through the church. Others say restless Native American chiefs roam the grounds. Also worth a visit: Cimetière de Laurel Hill, perched high above the Schuylkill River and hosting two haunted tours this Halloween season. On October 17, True Tales from the Tombs features tales from the cemetery’s most memorable permanent residents as told by The Not Ready for After-Life Players. And on October 24, it’s the Soul Crawl, Haunted Halloween Tour, a flashlight tour that focuses on the cemetery’s rich history and some of its liveliest spirits.
• Institut Franklin: The iconic science museum hosts its first-ever Franklin Fright Weekend, complete with trick-or-treating through the exhibits, spooky science experiments, liquid scare shows, creepy guests from The Insectarium and more. Costumes encouraged. October 31-November 1.
• Ghost Tours: For 90 minutes of haunting tales of ghosts and graveyards, haunted mansions and potters’ fields, visitors turn to Visites guidées des fantômes de Philadelphie, combining history with gruesome stories of the not-so-dearly departed. Tours leave from Signers Garden at 5th and Chestnut Streets. In Bucks County, brave folks can grab a flashlight and take to the streets for Visites guidées des fantômes de New Hope, a lantern-led walk featuring chilling tales of the area’s former residents who may have never left.

VISITER PHILADELPHIE^® est notre nom et notre mission. En tant qu'agence officielle de marketing touristique de la région, nous construisons l'image de l'agglomération de Philadelphie, nous attirons les visiteurs et nous stimulons l'économie.

Sur le site web et le blog officiels de l'agglomération de Philadelphie, visitphilly.com et uwishunu.com, les visiteurs peuvent découvrir les choses à faire, les événements à venir, les itinéraires à thème et les forfaits hôteliers. Des photographies et des vidéos convaincantes, des cartes interactives et des informations détaillées sur les visiteurs font de ces sites des outils efficaces de planification de voyage. Avec les canaux de médias sociaux de Visit Philly, les plateformes en ligne communiquent directement avec les consommateurs. Les voyageurs peuvent également appeler le centre des visiteurs d'Independence ou s'y arrêter pour obtenir des informations supplémentaires et des billets. 6^th & Market Streets, (800) 537-7676