Families can enjoy Victorian Halloween traditions at All Hallows’ Eve beginning Saturday, October 2, 5:30-9:30 p.m. All Hallows’ Eve will feature the retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by the bonfire, pumpkin carving, spooky characters roaming Ohio Village, and more family-friendly activities every Saturday of the month.
Guests can walk the lit pumpkin path to the amphitheater for the retelling of Washington Irving’s famous story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, hear about All Hallows’ Eve traditions from Ohio Village characters, experience one-on-one fortune telling, take part in a 19th century masquerade party and more.
In addition to these beloved, traditional aspects of the event, All Hallows’ Eve has NEW, fun experiences for guests of all ages:
•Victorian Haunted Pathway– Donned with traditional late Victorian-era decorations often seen at 19th-century parties, the haunted pathway offers encounters with haunting characters.
•Kids’ activity area– Hands-on activities and make-and-take crafts.
•Explore the new Straw Maze– located behind the Ohio Village Pharmacy, and see if you can discover the path through.
•Victorian Halloween party– Encounter villagers in 1890s Halloween costumes.
•New characters– such as the Ohio Village Marshal, who is patrolling the town to cut down on pranks played by mischievous kids, and Granny Woman, a popular character portrayed in stories of the time period considered to be knowledgeable of natural remedies meant to cure things like supernatural afflictions.
Special timed programming includes:
•Saturday, October 2, 6:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. – Hear from Ruth Ann Thompson author of Oogie Googies in the Open Field. Book signing from 7:30-8:30 p.m.
•Saturday, October 9, 6:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. – Hear from Stephanie Bridges author of That’s The Story of My Life: Urban Short Stories and Other Brief Offerings. Book Signing from 7:30-8:30 p.m.
•Saturday, October 16, 6:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. – Hear from Patricia Goins author of The Symbol. Book signing 7:30-8:30 p.m.
•Saturday, October 23 & 30, 6:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.– Hear from the Haunted Ohio series author Chris Woodyard about haunted Ohio places. Book signing from 7:30–8:30 p.m.
•Every Saturday at 6 p.m.– Fashions that Kill will explore the dangerous cosmetics that went into the fashion of the 19th century and will tie that into mourning culture of the era.
•Every Saturday at 8:30 p.m.– Mysterious Monsters of Ohio Lore will feature a local explorer who has come to Ohio Village to share stories about all of the strange creatures he’s encountered in his travels, especially those he’s found in Ohio such as Bigfoot, South Bass Bessie and the Chillicothe Skyfoogle.
Tickets must be purchased in advance online HERE. Pricing: $11 member adult, $7 member youth, $16 general admission adult, $12 general admission youth (ages 4-12), and free for children 3 and under.
Health & Safety
We continue to follow guidelines provided by our local, county, and state health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Masks are required at our indoor locations in the Ohio History Center & Ohio Village to help limit the spread of the more infectious variants of COVID-19.
About Ohio History Connection:
The Ohio History Connection, formerly the Ohio Historical Society, is a statewide history organization with the mission to spark discovery of Ohio’s stories. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered in 1885, the Ohio History Connection carries out history services for Ohio and its citizens focused on preserving and sharing the state’s history. This includes housing the state historic preservation office, the official state archives, and local history office and managing more than 50 sites and museums across Ohio. For more information, visit ohiohistory.org. Support for Ohio History Connection programs comes from the Greater Columbus Arts Council.
