Halloween at Poplar Grove Plantation

Festival Location: Wilmington, NC, USA

Festival State: North Carolinan Festivals

Festival Type(s): Halloween, Family Festivals, Community Festivals

Halloween at Poplar Grove Plantation Media:

Mark your October calendar for Poplar Grove Plantation's annual Halloween Festival. It's Cape Fear's best Halloween fun, for the fearless and fearful alike.

It started back in 1980 when a group of visitors were taking the tour of Poplar Grove's 1850 manor house. After gliding through the common rooms, the costumed tour guide led them upstairs to the winter bedroom on the third floor.

The group glanced around at the family mementos scattered throughout the room. A delicate dressing gown from the 1930's was laid out on the bed. On the mantle was a photo of the happy bride on her wedding day. Reciting the family history, the docent described how owners, Joseph and Nora Foy would move to the back bedroom each November to take advantage of precious warmth from the winter sun. Silently and slowly of it's own accord, the bed cover with gown, began to rise upward from the mattress, a blood curdling scream pierced the silence and chills echoed through the bones of every person in that room.

It was, merely, a Halloween prank by one of the staff. However, having tasted the power-of-fright, the following year staff members turned the 1850 manor house into a chamber of horrors. The public has clamored for the fright-fest at Poplar Grove ever since. By 1995, the annual event had outgrown the house and today, (most) haunting takes place in the barn and in the woods.

Brave souls may enter the HAUNTED BARN or climb aboard an old wagon for the HAUNTED HAYRIDE. Prepare yourself before you go because, Wilmington's Hoggard and Ashley High School drama students pull out all the stops for a hair raising experience. The teens really enjoy giving folks a good scare, plus it's their annual fund raising project. And, they're frighteningly good at scaring up the victims.

For those that prefer old fashioned fun without heart pounding hysteria, family oriented Poplar Grove has plenty to do. Saturday and Sunday afternoons a hayride through Abbey Nature Preserve is a pleasant trip for all ages. For the little ones, the Halloween Kiddy Fun House is a safe, non-scary, indoor activity featuring: a puppet show, storyteller, games and each child leaves with a prize.

The annual costume contest attracts, shall we say, an interesting crowd. Last year contestants included a walking grocery bag complete with cereal and sour milk! There are categories for all ages from the tiniest lap baby right on up to grandpa. This year the contest takes place on Saturday, October 25th. Registration is at 6:00 PM so, put on your fabulous duds and come strut the stage or just come and watch, the contest is a real hoot.

What does the future hold? Palm Reader, Madame von Sloopenstein can tell you. She's been telling fortunes at the festival all 27 years. If you've never had your tarot cards read, Madame Deborah is the seer to visit. She's been an interpreter at Poplar Grove for 26 years. You can bet these two have loyal followings. They'll be stationed in their cabins at night, and they're usually booked solid right up until closing time.

With so much to do and see you're bound to work up an appetite. There's plenty of food, and picnic tables are in the center of the action,; just right for character spotting. This local favorite is a fund-raiser for the non-profit Poplar Grove Foundation, Ashley High School, Hoggard High School and the Hampstead Fire Department. Admission is free, activities are individually priced. Poplar Grove's Halloween Festival truly is the area's best family fun around.