Get Spooky In Baltimore This Halloween
By Isaac
Whether you’re visiting from out of town or a local; Baltimore is a fantastically spooky place to spend Halloween. From Ouija boards, to Ravens, Festivals and Haunted Houses here are 10 unique reasons why Baltimore is one of the best places to visit in October.
10 – Visit the site where the Ouija board was invented.
When most out of towners think of Baltimore and Halloween Edgar Allan Poe and The Raven are the first things to come to mind. Few are aware that Baltimore’s spooky credentials also include being the birthplace of the Ouija board. You can visit the site today, you can even get a taquito while you’re there!
From Atlas Obscura:
“According to Charles Kennard, the first to manufacture the Ouija board, the “Mystifying Oracle” received its name in April of 1890 at 529 North Charles Street when he, Elijah Bond, patentee of the board, and Helen Peters, a strong medium who would later prove to the Patent Office that the board worked, asked the board what it wanted to be called.
The seance occurred in Bond’s rooms in what at that time was a boarding house known as the Langham Hotel located at 529 North Charles. Today, that building still stands, but now it is home to a decidedly less magical 7-Eleven convenience store. For years, all trace of the event that created an entire brand of fun occult devices had been wiped away and all but forgotten, save for the efforts of Ouija history superhero Robert Murch, founder of The Talking Board Historical Society.”
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ouija-7eleven
There are many other locations in town connected to the origin of the Ouija board. For a real deep dive into the history of the ouija board check out:
https://www.williamfuld.com/ouija.html
9 – Explore Greenmount Cemetery and find the gravesite of Elijah Bond
Greenmount Cemetery is a beautiful historic cemetery located in East Baltimore. Many notable people are buried here; everyone from the infamous John Wilkes Booth to the aforementioned Elijah Bond, inventor of the Ouija Board.
From Atlas Obscura:
“…in 2007, Robert Murch, a paranormal enthusiast and Ouija board collector, located the grave and Elijah Bond finally got the acclaim for his invention. Murch claims it took him 15 years to locate the precise grave in Baltimore’s Green Mount Cemetery, several of those spent working closely with the cemetery owners.
Volunteers and donation funds were pulled together to create Bond’s truly memorable headstone, which bears the traditional name, birth and death dates on one side, and a replication of a Ouija board carved into the other. The grave is now a popular destination for nostalgia fans and people interested in the supernatural. After years of resting in obscurity, Elijah Bond himself is finally being communicated with, one way or another.”
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/elijah-bond-s-ouija-board-grave
Find a full list of notable figures buried at the cemetery on wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Mount_Cemetery
8 – Take a tour of Edgar Allan Poe’s Gravesite & the Westminster Hall Catacomb
“Westminster Burial Ground, originally Westminster Presbyterian cemetery, was established in 1786. In 1852, the church was constructed on brick piers above the graves, creating remarkable catacombs.
The Burying Ground is the grave site of many notable individuals, most famous for the burial place of Edgar Allan Poe. Poe was originally buried in an unmarked grave towards the back of the cemetery. In 1875, the school children of Baltimore raised money through a “Pennies for Poe” project and a monument was dedicated to Poe at the entrance of the cemetery. Poe is buried with his wife, Virginia Clemm Poe and mother-in-law Maria Poe Clemm. The Burying Ground is also the final resting place for a number of generals and heroes of the American Revolution and War of 1812 including General Sam Smith. Other patriots buried here are John Hollins, Robert Gilmor, John Stricker, Nathaniel Ramsay, James Stirling, John McDonogh, Robert Calhoun, Paul Bentalou, James McHenry and James Buchanan.”
https://www.westminsterhall.org/
7 – Hike out to “Hell House”
A popular hike with locals through the Patapsco State Park that features some creepy remains of the St. Mary’s college. There are many local legends revolving around the site. Some more believable than others.
From Atlas Obscura:
“Buried in the woods of Patapsco Valley State Park are the ruins of St. Mary’s College, and since the main buildings have been torn down a single stone gazebo still shelters a metal cross despite the popular local legends involving Satan-worshippers and ghosts.”
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/st-mary-s-college
6 – Edgar Allan Poe Festival – October 4th – 6th 2024
A 3 day festival in October of books music and art all relating to the father of gothic fiction. Includes a movie night, masquerade ball and exhibit in honor of the 175th anniversary of Poe’s death in Baltimore.
https://poefestinternational.com/
5 – Halloween Baltimore at The Maryland Science Center – October 26th 2024
If you’re looking for a party on Halloween Baltimore won’t disappoint. You can, of course, head over to Federal Hill or Fells Point, popular destinations on any night for a good time. Or you could check out Halloween Baltimore over at the Maryland Science Center. Dance Parties, great live local music all in Baltimore’s iconic Science Center, right in the historic Inner Harbor. The theme this year: Studio 24!
“The DMV’s legendary Halloween Event returns Saturday, October 26th @ The Maryland Science Center with a groovy lineup of dance floor filling talent! For one night only it’s Studio 24, and the party, is on…
Main Stage: Brought to you by Northstar
Studio 24 Dance Party – featuring Jeremy Schon & Alex Petropulos from PPPP w/ Jon Brady & Friends
Psycho Killers Lets Dance – Talking Heads & David Bowie set
Natalie Brooke – Tribute to Rick James
Special Tweener Sets by DJ WHO
Bluegrass Cafe Stage: Brought to you by Charm City Bluegrass
Charm City Bluegrass All-stars – Tribute to Del McCoury
The Plate Scrapers – Tribute to Woodstock
Whiskey Narrows – Tribute to Old and in the Way
The Honey Dewdrops – Tribute to Chris Stapleton
Rooftop Dance Party: Dance with the best view in Baltimore
Save Your Soul feat. Rob Macy
James Nasty
The Planetarium: Presented by Evermore
Racecar Bed
Trillnatured
Linkmindz
Jacq Jill
Space Wolf
IMAX: New immersive experience with special DJ sets from
Soohan
DELTAnine”
https://www.halloween-baltimore.com/
4 – Enjoy a Candlelight Performance by the Kennedy String Quartet of Halloween Classics at the Baltimore Museum of Art – Oct 30th and 31st 2024
“Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Baltimore. Get your tickets now to discover music inspired by Halloween at The Baltimore Museum of Art (Meyerhoff Auditorium) under the gentle glow of candlelight.”
Music includes:
Thriller – Michael Jackson, Funeral March of a Marionette – Charles Gounod, String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor (Dresden Quartet), Op. 110: II. Allegro Molto – Dmitri Shostakovich, Tubular Bells (Theme from The Exorcist) – Mike Oldfield, Stranger Things (Theme) – S U R V I V E, Beetlejuice (Theme) – Danny Elfman, The Addams Family (Theme) – Vic Mizzy, Halloween (Theme) – John Carpenter, Prelude from Psycho – Bernard Herrmann, Ghostbusters (Theme) – Ray Parker Jr., Danse Macabre – Camille Saint-Saëns, Night on Bald Mountain – Modest Mussorgsky, Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Picture Show – Richard O’Brien and Richard Hartley, Medley from The Nightmare Before Christmas – Danny Elfman
3 – Creative Alliance Lantern Parade, Saturday October 26, 2024
Perhaps Baltimore’s most wholesome and Halloween tradition, the Lantern Parade is celebrating it’s 25th anniversary. A great excuse to visit Baltimore’s lovely Patterson Park, the parade is a great family friendly event.
“With 25 years of monumental lantern making and spectacle-creating under their belts, the diverse communities of Baltimore come together each year to create The Great Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival in Patterson Park!
The day begins with a family Halloween festival, featuring an adorable kids costume contest, lantern making, pop-up performances, an arts & crafts market, and more. Local food trucks and picnic area provide a place for families and friends to spread a blanket and enjoy the afternoon.
Once the sun sets, the magic begins. Everyone is welcome to grab a lantern and march with thousands of neighbors, artists, musicians, and performers. Many more line the parade route to watch the delightful Great Halloween Lantern Parade wind through the night!”
https://creativealliance.org/events/signature-the-great-halloween-lantern-parade/
2 – Fells Point/Mt. Vernon Ghost Tours
There’s no better way to learn about the history of one Baltimore’s most beautiful, and lively, neighborhoods than as part of a Baltimore Ghost Tour. Accept no substitutes here, the original ghost tours have been running since 2001 and these folks really know their stuff. Included in this tour is The Horse You Came In On, the very old, very haunted bar where Edgar Allan Poe had his last drink. A must see stop for any Halloween tour of Charm City.
If you can’t get enough, they also offer tours of the equal beautiful and equally haunted Mt. Vernon. This city is full of ghosts!
“Since 2001, Baltimore’s only locally owned and operated haunted tour, Baltimore Ghost Tours, has regaled thousands of locals and visitors alike with spellbinding history tours featuring ghost stories of Baltimore Maryland on our all ages walking tours and 21 and over haunted pub crawl! Tours run ONLY Friday and Saturday nights, March- November.”
https://baltimoreghosttours.com/
1 – The Nevermore Haunt
Halloween wouldn’t be complete without a visit to a haunted house. The Baltimore region features a number of really great haunted attractions but Baltimore’s scariest is also conveniently located in the heart of Baltimore. The event is historically themed and Baltimore inspired, sure to provide a uniquely Baltimore experience.
“Consistently among the highest-rated haunted houses in Maryland, The Nevermore Haunt is a haunted attraction unlike any other you’ve ever experienced.
Open 13 nights in October, The Nevermore Haunt offers bizarre and over-the-top sideshow performances nightly, an on-site bar serving local craft beers, on-site concessions, and a haunted house filled with monsters, demons, and ghouls straight from your deepest, darkest fears.
Expertly crafted, The Nevermore Haunt is an ever-changing and developing Halloween attraction that transports you directly into sordid, macabre visions of Baltimore’s past. Come experience the most realistic and unique haunted house in Baltimore”