TRICK OR TREAT: SPOOK-TIVITIES FOR VISITORS OF ALL AGES IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA THIS OCTOBER
09-25-2008
-Citywide, holiday-themed activities and attractions to appeal to families traveling with children of all ages this Halloween-
Norfolk, Va., September 24, 2008 – With a 400-year-old history, it is easy to understand why Norfolk embraces its tales of ghosts and ghouls. The city’s history is peppered with many haunting tales such as the 1776 New Year’s Day attack by British Troops, which left the seaport city in ruins and a British cannonball in the wall of St. Paul’s Church (where it remains to this day), or the fire of 1804, which destroyed 300 homes and warehouses south of Main Street. Indeed, there is much to explore in Norfolk and this October, visitors of all ages will particularly enjoy citywide, Halloween attractions and activities designed to educate and entertain those who enjoy a good ghost story.
Here are noteworthy choices for a bone-chilling, spine-tingling, hair-raising, or just plain fun stay in Norfolk this October:
o Downtown Norfolk Ghost Walk: Beginning October 13, 2008, spook-seekers can embark on a journey that began many years ago and ponder the many unanswered questions of Norfolk’s 400-year-old past. Was a merchant from Norfolk the real “Jack the Ripper?” Does the ghost of Dr. Richard Blow still haunt a Norfolk home? Was a U.S. Navy destroyer involved in a top-secret Navy incident? These are just a few of the stories you’ll hear as you discover Norfolk’s own ghostly past during the Sea Legends and Ghost Walk Tour! The eerie (and free!) self-guided tour will highlight new and old haunts. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a flashlight. For more information, please visit: http://www.nauticus.org/ghostwalk.html.
o Ghosts in the Garden: Do you dare campout for one night at the Norfolk Botanical Garden’s Enchanted Forest? Find out what really goes bump in the night and have a
ghoulish good time during this Halloween family campout October 25 – 26, 2008. Come dressed to impress and see what spooky surprises await while taking a nighttime trick-or-trees tour around the Garden. Afterwards, head back to the campfire for a night of scary story-telling. Meals are included but tents and a sense of adventure are at your own risk. Cost: $25 per person ($10 for children under 4). For more information, please call (757) 441-5830.
o Pumpkin Patch Party: From enchanted carriages and pies to mysterious figures and cheerful faces – pumpkins come in many shapes and sizes and are one of the most recognizable symbols of the fall season. On Saturday, October 18 from 10am to 12pm, families can bring their own pumpkins to the Norfolk Botanical Garden to carve their scariest (or friendliest) orange globes. Guests can also delve into fall treats, such as apple cider, and take part in a host of fall games and interactive activities. For more information, please call (757) 441-5830.
o ZooBoo at The Virginia Zoo: Lions and tigers and bears—oh my! Featuring candy stations, up-close animal encounters, costume contests and hay rides, the Virginia Zoo hosts the spook-tacular ZooBoo as one of their largest events of the year. Complete with musical entertainment, visitors are in for a frightfully good time. This season also features the premiere of their Train of Terror. Choo! Choo! Boo! Boo! Don’t miss your chance to hang with some really ghoul friends at the Zoo on Friday October 31 and Saturday November 1 5:30 – 8:30 pm. For more information, please call (757) 441-2374.
o Virginia Children's Festival at Town Point Park in Downtown Norfolk: On Saturday, October 11, 2008 from 10am to 3pm, Norfolk will host its most enjoyed family festival where little ones can dress up as pirates, princesses and monsters and take part in the 1st Annual Strollers on Parade. A whole day full of activities geared toward children 2 to 10 years of age that will also feature storytelling stages, hands-on workshops, educational displays and arts & crafts. To add to the treats, a host of favorite children’s characters such as Dora the Explorer, Spiderman and Blue’s Clues will be parading through the park. General admission: $3. For more information, please call (757) 449-2345.
o Pilots of the Deep: Through December 31, 2008, Norfolk’s NAUTICUS will host an exhibit that will deliver an extreme look at the world below. Seabot: Pilots of the Deep is an interactive display that takes visitors behind the scenes of Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) - underwater robots that scour the oceans exploring the mysteries of the sea! Through a variety of exciting activities, visitors can get an up close look at the deep blue sea, whether searching for sunken battleships or undiscovered life. For more information, please call (757) 664-1000.
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