Ghouls, goblins, goodies of the month

October 01, 2006|Richard P. Carpenter, Globe Correspondent

If you enjoy screaming, screeching, shivering, shaking, and so on, then your special month is about to begin. October brings Halloween, which nowadays is celebrated all month. So put on your skeleton costume, reach for a handful of trick-or-treat candy, and have a look at these ghastly goodies:

Connecticut's Litchfield Hills will once again host Count Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, the Wolf Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the Phantom of the Opera. For the 40th year, life-size replicas of these creatures will adorn the Witch's Dungeon Classic Movie Museum in Bristol, which will be open for four October weekends . Displays are settings from classic scary movies and use figures based on the life casts of actors such as Lon Chaney, Bel a Lugosi, Vincent Price , and Lon Chaney Jr. The suggested donation is $1.

Call 860-583-8306 or visit www.preservehollywood.org. For a free 112-page guide to lodging, dining, and the area's other, more sedate attractions, call 860-567-4506 or visit www.litchfieldhills.com.

The Haunted Express, a double-decker bus, has already hit the road in Philadelphia, giving tours of more than 15 frights and sights. Participants learn about the ghosts that inhabit the Betsy Ross House, the dancing statue of Benjamin Franklin at Library Hall, and paranormal Pine Street. The tour visits the former home of Edgar Allan Poe and the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, where Bram Stoker wrote a portion of ``Dracula." Also seen are film locations from thrillers such as ``The Sixth Sense," ``Unbreakable," ``Twelve Monkeys," and ``Blow Out."

Tours are offered nightly starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are $24 for adults. Call 215-525-1776 or visit www.hauntedexpress.com. For lots of Philadelphia information, visit www.gophila.com or call 800-537-7676.

Newport, R.I., gets into the fun Oct. 21-31 with a costume ball, horror films, ghost and pirate walks, a murder mystery at Astors' Beechwood Mansion, and macabre tales at Fort Adams. Prices vary, but buying an R.I.P. Pass for $5 gets you discounts on events, shopping, and dining.

Visit www.hauntednewport.net. For Newport information, visit www.gonewport.com.

Salem, of course, is the epicenter of Halloween events. This year's Haunted Happenings kicks off with a Grand Parade Oct. 5. Throughout the month, there will be dozens of events, including the Bizarre Bazaar, the Boo-tiful Pets contest, Halloween at Hogwarts, children's events, costume balls, parties, and contests. The Haunted Happenings website lets you print a brochure.

Visit www.hauntedhappenings.org or call 877-SALEM-MA.