With the change of seasons comes a full lineup of spooky season special events and haunting historical happenings at Genesee Country Village & Museum, located in Mumford. New York State’s largest living history museum, GCV&M’s 19th-century Historic Village is transformed by the blossoming of fall colors as well as the return of seasonal favorites like Spirits of the Past: A Walk in the Dark and a Night with Edgar Allan Poe, plus brand-new events like All Hallows’ Teas and Spooky Saturday. Tickets for all upcoming spooky season events can be found online at https://www.gcv.org/spooky-season/. Plus, there are more opportunities for families to enjoy the museum grounds throughout the fall this season with newly extended weekend days and hours from Friday, October 13, through Sunday, November 12. Find details online at https://www.gcv.org/events/.
Spooky Saturday
October 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visitors are invited to explore the Historic Village during peak fall foliage on this Saturday in October and get in the “spooky season” spirit with a frighteningly fascinating talk hosted by John L. Wehle Gallery Curator Brandon W. Brooks: “An Orderly Eternal Rest the American Rural Cemetery Movement.” The talk will take place at noon and 2 p.m. in Brooks Grove Church, and will explore the rural cemetery movement, featuring 19th-century funerary items like grave markers, coffins, coffin plates, and even a real tombstone. Visitors are then invited to explore a display of Victorian mourning ephemera in the Gallery. On this family-friendly day, the Confectionery will be selling seasonal historical treats, the Flint Hill Store will be stocked with spooky season merchandise, and costumed historical cooks will be working on seasonal 19th-century dishes around the Village. Tickets are available online and at the door. Find more information at https://www.gcv.org/event/spooky-saturday-at-gcvm/.
Spirits of the Past: A Walk in the Dark
October 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, and 29
Brave visitors are invited to explore the eerie Historic Village by candlelight during the museum’s annual Spirits of the Past: A Walk in the Dark guided tours. Groups will make their way in and out of spooky scenes in historical houses and around the museum grounds, and can also enjoy craft beverages and food in the “Fright House” Pub and Spirits Lounge, shopping in the Flint Hill Store, and more. Beware – what frightened New Yorkers in the 19th century very well may still inspire dread today… Tickets are selling fast and must be purchased online in advance at https://www.gcv.org/event/spirits-a-walk-in-the-dark/.
Spooky Season Classes for Kids
Curious young adventurers are invited to join educators at GCV&M for two fun classes in October, just in time for spooky season. On Saturday, October 14, participants in the Bats! Class will trek around the museum grounds in search of bat houses, learn about a bat’s natural habitat, diet, and habits, explore the mythology of bats, create their own hands-on bat decorations, enjoy bat related activities, savor marshmallows at a campfire, and more. And on Saturday, October 21, young spellcasters can make their way to GCV&M for Magic! Class. Explore the Nature Center grounds and trails, try fantastically fascinating projects and experiments, create slime in Potion’s Class, charm a cloud into existence, and more. Learn more about youth class offerings at https://www.gcv.org/the-john-l-wehle-gallery/youth-family-experiences/.
A Night with Edgar Allan Poe
Thursday, October 26
Spend a night just before Halloween enjoying spine-tingling chills as exploring the master of the macabre. With sessions at 6:30 and 8 p.m., GCV&M’s Poe aficionado, Chris Lynn, will take the audience on a journey through the creepy, curious, and chilling works of Edgar Allan Poe. This annual favorite is a great way to get into the spooky spirit just in time for Halloween. Find tickets and more information online at https://www.gcv.org/event/a-night-with-poe/.
All Hallows’ Teas
October 27, 28, 29, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Pick your poison at Genesee Country Village & Museum’s new series of All Hallows’ Teas, set in hauntingly historic Davis Hall. Get dressed to death for spooky season and savor the warm and cozy flavors of fall. At this eerie event, visitors will be dining on sweet treats from the museum’s own Confectionery, delicious soup, savory sandwiches, and a fun, seasonal tea selection. Plus, each tea is accompanied by a creepy curator-hosted talk featuring topics like Victorian mourning practices, rural cemeteries, and memento mori. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.gcv.org/event/all-hallows-tea/.
Fall family fun during extended
open weekends at GCV&M
Fall is truly a special time to explore the Historic Village and Nature Trails at Genesee Country Village & Museum, and now families can enjoy all GCV&M has to offer later in the year than ever before. Enjoy peak fall colors around the Great Meadow and the 19-century Historic Village when you visit for extended open weekends, now offered throughout October and November. From Friday, October 13, through Sunday, November 12, the museum will be open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each weekend offers different seasonal themes, from leaf peeping, to fall family fun, to preparing for the winter months ahead in the Village. A limited number of buildings will be open and staffed in the Historic Village, visitors can explore the exhibit Becoming Gendered: Garment as Gender Artifact in the John L. Wehle Gallery, shop seasonal favorites in the Flint Hill Store, enjoy a bite to eat and historical craft beverage in the Freight House Pub, hike more than miles of nature trails, and more. Details and discounted daily admission tickets can be found at https://www.gcv.org/events/.
Find tickets and more information about all upcoming events at GCV&M at https://www.gcv.org/events/.
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