Whether it’s an eerie wind off the river, the sound of footsteps on cobblestoned streets or flickering lamplights, perhaps no American city quite captures the spirit of Halloween like Savannah.
If you want to see where the bodies are buried (figuratively, of course), take a ride in the Hearse Ghost Tour. You will ride in a hearse converted to carry the living instead of the dead. In fact, it’s a convertible. Guides tell ghost stories and give an entertaining historic account of the city’s dearly departed.
Is riding in a hearse is too much. Rake the Ghosts and Gravestones Tour aboard a trolley. The “Trolley of the Doomed” takes passengers through Savannah’s historic district, focusing on some of the city’s most haunted sites. Will you encounter the ghost of Civil War General Robert E. Lee at the famous Andrew Low House? Or the spirit of Alice Riley in Wright Square? There is only one way to find out (if you dare).
Brave enough to investigate the paranormal on foot? Reserve a spot on a Sixth Sense Walking Tour. You’ll hear hair-raising tales of murder at The Mercer House; gangsters at the Espy House; and morgue tunnels at the Old Candler Hospital. And that’s just for starters. The two-hour tour for ages 16 and over covers about a half-mile, but weaves classic stories of intrigue and hauntings.
Take a Bonaventure After Hours tour at the cemetery made famous by the book and movie, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” This Gothic, two-and-a-half hour tour takes place every weekend.
For a livelier adventure, join the Halloween-themed bar crawl and costume contest, A Nightmare on Congress Street, set Oct. 28 in downtown. Start at Stafford’s Public House, then go at your own pace to participating establishments like The Grove and Barrelhouse South before ending the night at Club 51 Degrees. Bars offer drink specials for participants.
Events that are more fun than frightening include Wag-O-Ween and the Trick or Trot 5K and 10K. Wag-O-Ween, set Oct. 21 and 22, is a pet-friendly event to raise funds for animal rescues and spay-and-neuter programs. Both dogs and their humans dress up and go trick-or-treating throughout the Historic and Starland districts.
Trick or Trot takes place Oct. 21 at the Island Family YMCA, 661 Johnny Mercer Blvd., on Wilmington Island. Wear a costume and come out for the fun. Click the link for online registration.
Because of Savannah’s reputation as one of the country’s most haunted cities, Halloween is a popular time to visit. Book your Savannah stay now in one of the fantastic Historic District properties. Who knows? You might experience a ghost story of your own to tell.