HALLOWEEN IN LEADVILLE IS A GHOSTLY AFFAIR WITH A WEEKEND OF SPOOKY FUN AND FUNDRAISERS
This historic mining town celebrates the spooky characters in its past with a weekend of frighteningly fun Halloween activities, including cemetery tours, a masquerade ball, a haunted house, a parade, a haunted hayride and more. The proceeds from these events benefit local non-profits.
LEADVILLE, Colo. (Oct. 18, 2010) — Halloween thrill-seekers have a new destination this year, as the historic mining town of Leadville, Colo., introduces “A Ghostly Affair” Oct. 29 to 31. This weekend festival celebrates the spooky characters in Leadville’s past with frighteningly fun Halloween activities, including cemetery tours, a masquerade ball, a haunted house, a costume parade, a haunted hayride and entertainment by ghosts, fire dancers and fire eaters. And it’s all for a good cause; the events are fundraisers for local non-profit organizations.
Friday, Oct. 29
Stapleton Haunted Manor: This imaginative and popular haunted house — said to rival those in major cities — has been frightening folks for years. It’s located in an historic 1880s carriage house property in downtown Leadville at 118 W. 7th St. No reservations required. Children 13 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult. The cost will be $5 per person and proceeds will benefit Full Circle of Lake County. (Oct. 29, 30, 31; 6 – 9 p.m.)
Guided Cemetery Tours: Judge Neil Reynolds, whose family has lived in Leadville for more than 145 years, will take visitors on a narrated, guided tour through Lake County’s historic Evergreen Cemetery. The cost will be $10 per person and proceeds will benefit the Leadville Lake County Chamber of Commerce. Reservations are required; call 888-532-3845. (Oct. 29, 30; 8 p.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 30
Ghosts, including some infamous characters from Leadville’s past, will haunt the town during the day and local businesses will participate in a window-decorating contest and offer trick-or-treating. Anyone can sponsor a ghost for $20 by calling 719-486-1229, with proceeds benefiting The Advocates of Lake County and the Lake County High School Music Boosters. Visitors will be able to warm up at burn barrels placed throughout downtown and listen to the winning ghost stories from Lake County High School’s spooky story contest. Once the sun sets, fire eaters and fire dancers will hit the streets for evening entertainment.
The Creepy Crawly Costume Parade will begin at City Hall at 6:30 p.m. and will lead the crowd to the 6th Street Gym for the Masquerade Wild West Dance, costume contest, and a hayride, weather permitting, at 7 p.m. Costs for the dance will be $3 per person and for the hayride will be $3, with proceeds benefiting The Advocates of Lake County and the Lake County High School Music Boosters.
There will be a Guided Cemetery Tour at 8 p.m. and the Stapleton Haunted Manor will be open from 6 – 9 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 31
Guests will once again be entertained by ghosts walking through downtown throughout the day, telling their historic tales. Cookies with Altitude will offer “Toast with a Ghost” from 9 – 11 a.m. at 717 ½ Harrison Avenue. The toast will be free; coffee and breakfast items will be available for a fee. Trick-or-treating will be provided by local businesses during the day and on Trick-or-Treat Street (7th Street) during the evening. The Stapleton Haunted Manor will be open from 6 – 9 p.m.
The Advocates of Lake County will use proceeds from this event to help fund an emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence. The Lake County High School Music Boosters is raising money to help send the band to Disney World. Full Circle of Lake County provides opportunities, education and caring relationships to help Lake County become a place where youth make healthy choices, families thrive and the community is united. The Leadville Lake County Chamber of Commerce facilitates business success and enhances economic growth in the community.
A Ghostly Affair is made possible through the generosity of local sponsors, including Bighorn True Value Hardware, the City of Leadville, Cookies with Altitude, the Lake County Recreation Department, the Leadville Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Mega Mountain Magic, the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum and Penny Lane Kids. For more information, call 719-486-1229 or 888-532-3845.
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