Is historic downtown Fredericksburg haunted? The mere sighting of a ghost in downtown Fredericksburg would send our community running in fear – but not this time.
In fact, the University of Mary Washington’s 31st annual Ghost Walk on Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24 will bring the Fredericksburg area together.
“The community is incredibly supportive,” said Sarah Rogers, a junior and president of the UMW Historic Preservation Club, which sponsors the event. “The Ghost Walk has been entirely student-run for 31 years. and it’s turned into a tradition.”
The 45-minute haunted tours run from 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday and from 5 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, leaving every 10 minutes from the James Monroe Museum at 908 Charles St. The last tour departs at 10 p.m. each night.
Stopping at 11 sites throughout historic downtown Fredericksburg, guests will see UMW students act out stories based on the book “The Ghosts of Fredericksburg and Other Environs” by L.B. Taylor Jr. Popular stops include the Masonic Cemetery, Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop and Kenmore Plantation. This year, the Historic Preservation Club is also bringing back a stop at St. George Episcopal Church.
Meghan Page, a senior, has participated in the Ghost Walk for the past three years.
“My freshman year, I was a ghost in the masonic cemetery,” said Page, who is the co-chair of the Ghost Walk this year. “This year, I’m helping to run the behind-the-scenes pieces with my fellow co-chairs.”
Sophomore Christine Pace and junior Maddie Quick are also co-chairs for the event.
Reservations can be made in advance at umwghostwalk@gmail.com or tickets can be purchased the night of the tour at the James Monroe Museum. The cost is $6 for the general public; $4 for UMW students, UMW faculty and staff, UMW alumni and military; free for children age 4 and under. Groups over 10 are encouraged to make reservations.
For more information or to register, call the Historic Preservation Club at (540) 654-1315.
Connie (Webb) Casteel says
I was one of the founding staff of Ghostwalk. We (Historic Preservation Club) started it my Freshman year at MWC (now UMW) which was Halloween 1985. Glad to see it is still going strong!