There is something about October that peeks our interest in paranormal activities. From storytelling to investigating, these day trips and special events encourage you to explore the other side of Rochester.
1. Paranormal Activities at Rolling Hills Asylum
Ongoing Events, located 1-hour southwest of Rochester, south of Batavia
RHA has been featured on Ghost Hunters and several other prominent investigation television series. There is a year-long events calendar on their website that includes guided and self-guided walking tours, public, private and group ghost hunts, themed dinners, and special events.
2. Rochester Candlelight Ghost Walks
Multiple Dates, Times & Locations in October, downtown Rochester and suburbs
Guided walk themes include Ghosts of Mt. Hope Avenue, Spirits of Sea Breeze, Jack the Ripper, Phantoms of Fairport, Haunts of Henrietta, the Lady in White, and the Flower City Ghost Walk. Explore their website for other fun-themed events like the Haunted Pub Crawl where you can visit with spirits and drink them, too!
3. Cobblestone Museum Ghost Walk
Saturday, October 19, 2019, located 45 minutes west of Rochester in Albion. Visit several “ghosts” connected to the Cobblestone Museum’s past. Tour guides will lead you through a walking tour of about a dozen different locations on the Museum’s campus, including the cobblestone schoolhouse, the oldest cobblestone church in North America, and a cobblestone parsonage—all National Historic Landmarks.
4. Landmark Society’s Ghost Walk
Annual event, 2019 details TBA, Rochester, tours leave every fifteen minutes, 6:30 to 9:00. The Ghosts of Rochester’s Past are waiting to greet you, and share their unique experiences from the distinctly dark side of our city’s history! The Landmark Society’s Ghost Walk is a night-time guided walking tour. Follow lantern-bearing guides down the dark streets of a historic neighborhood, encountering fact-based macabre theatrical performances on the porches of beautiful homes. This is the 25th year of this combination of history, architectural wonders, and a fun outdoor theater experience.
5: The White Lady’s Castle
Driving on Lake Shore Blvd. you’ll find a little parking lot across from Lake Ontario, between Log Cabin Rd. and Zoo Rd. Park and look up the hill to this view of the White Lady’s Castle. Well, not really a castle—is was actually a dining hall for beach-goers, torn down in the 1930’s. Atlas Obscura does a wonderful job of telling the story of the White Lady, her daughter, her vengeance, and her two white ghost dogs. So take a walk and see if you can find any of the rumored apparitions of the White Lady searching for her daughter. Rumor also has it that this story was the inspiration behind the 1988 movie, The Lady in White. And don’t forget the White Lady tree!
Scenic train rides, leaf-peeping, fall bird migrations and ghost walks happen only in autumn in Rochester–take advantage of them while you can!
Fall Foliage: 5 Breathtaking Views Near Rochester
These five destinations offer colorful fall foliage and varied landscapes so you can appreciate them each in their own unique way.
Pumpkins: 14 Places to Pick Your Own Around Rochester
It’s so much more than simply buying pumpkins. It’s about family time on the farm, with wagon rides, hot cider & donuts, corn maizes, and games.
Mount Hope Cemetery is a special place all year-round, but there’s something about Autumn that turns it into a virtual painting.
ROC the Riverway: Rochester’s Genesee River Romance
Rochester’s ROC the Riverway Weekend is held every October. It is a celebration of life along the river, with City-sponsored activities, tours, and events.
What are your favorite paranormal activities?
Share with us in the comments. Your insight and experience is invaluable!
Check out hauntedhistorytrail.com for more haunted happenings around New York State. Or, find some other autumn-themed activities!