On Friday, the Alabama Tourism Department released its list of Top 13 events to check out if you want to “Celebrate Alabama’s Haunted History” in October, and an event in Beatrice was included among the state’s scariest events.
Featured on the list was “Ghost Stories at Rikard’s Mill,” an event which will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Rickard’s Mill Historical Park in Beatrice. This event will feature a “Haunted Swamp Trail” and area ghost stories around the bonfire. The event will also include a pumpkin toss, pumpkin painting and a relay race. Admission will be $5.
Listed on the Alabama Register of Historic Places, Rikard’s Mill is a working, water-powered grist mill and museum. Located on the bank of Flat Creek, which flows into the Alabama River, this mill was built in 1845 by Jacob “Jake” Rikard. Regular events at the mill include demonstrations of blacksmithing, cane syrup making and the grist-milling of corn into cornmeal and grits.
Rikard’s Mill is located 22 miles north of Monroeville and just north of Beatrice, off of State Highway 265.
For more information, about “Ghost Stories at Rikard’s Mill,” contact the Monroe County Heritage Museums at 251-575-7433 or e-mail mchm@frontiernet.net.
Twelve other events were also named to the tourism department’s Haunted History list. These included the following selection of ghost trails, story-telling festivals and ghost walks.
Black Belt Ghost Trail (Dallas, Perry and Wilcox Counties): This self-guide tour includes stops at dozens of sites, including cemeteries, homes, hotels and restaurants.
Ghost Walking and Trolley Tours (Huntsville): Set in Huntsville’s Old Town Historic District, the walking tours are held on Friday and Saturday nights in October. One-hour trolley tours are held only on Saturday nights.
Haunted Hearse Tours (Montgomery): Held Oct. 1-31, up to six guests can take this tour in a renovated hearse with stops that include Hank Williams’ grave in the Oakwood Cemetery Annex as well as other haunted historic sites in Montgomery.
Seventh Annual “Historic Haunts Walk” (Athens): Held on Oct. 4, 12, 14 and 19, this walking tour begins at the Houston Library and includes tales of strange activity at 12 local structures. Each tour lasts about 90 minutes and begin at 7 p.m.
33rd Annual Alabama Tale Tellin’ Festival (Selma): Held Oct. 14-15, this year’s festival will feature a tribute to the festival’s founder, the renowned storyteller and author, Kathryn Tucker Windham, who died earlier this year.
Cemetery Stroll (Huntsville): Held on Oct. 16, this tour features nearly 60 costumed interpreters that tell the stories of the individuals buried in the Maple Hill Cemetery.
“Haunted History Tour” (Selma): Held Oct. 21-22 at the Old Cahawba Archaeological Park, this tour features a guided tour of “town’s most haunted locations.” Paranormal investigators will also demonstrate ghost-hunting techniques. Portions of the Oct. 22 event will also feature two locations in Selma’s historic district, Sturdivant Hall and Old Live Oak Cemetery.
Haunted History of the Shoals Ghost Walk (Florence): Held Oct. 21-31, participants will receive a guided tour through the downtown Florence historic district by local tour guide and author, Debra Johnston Glass.
Storytellin’ Campfire Talk: Spooks in the Valley (Fort Payne): Held from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 22 at DeSoto State Park, this free storytelling event will feature ghost stories around a campfire.
Ghost Walk & Fall Festival (Thomasville): Held on Oct. 23, this festival includes a car show, a motorcycle poker ride, a street dance and the “Haunted Hill Hotel Haunted House.” During the tour, the Thomasville Arts Council also acts out some of the famous ghost stories from the books of Kathryn Tucker Windham.
Ghost Watch (Gadsden): Held in historic downtown Gadsden from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 25, this free event will feature Mike Goodson, who will share ghost stories from the Gadsden area.
Tombigbee Haints and Haunts (Demopolis): Held Oct. 28-29, this event will feature ghost stories as well as a land and river tour. The tour takes passengers from City Landing to the Riverside Cemetery and through the streets of historic Demopolis.
For more information about these events, visit http://www.alabama.travel/media-room/press-releases/379-13_events_to_celebrate_alabamas_haunted_histor.html.
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