By Joanne Oostveen - The Weekly News
Dartmouth may just be turning into the Halloween capital of Canada.
"That is my goal," said Bea MacGregor, executive director of Alderney Landing. "To make everyone come to Dartmouth and celebrate a frightfully fun time with us."
The Bluenose Ghosts festival gets underway at Alderney Landing on Oct. 13 and runs until Oct. 31. MacGregor said it was important for them to honour the author of Bluenose Ghosts, Helen Creighton, as one of Canada's noted folklorist.
"And we wanted to engage everyone from tweens to adults," she said. "That is why we have so many events."
Although the Fear the Darkness Haunted House is scarier than ever this year, and "will not be for the feint of heart," MacGregor is just as excited to promote the other projects she said will amaze the community.
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IF YOU GO WHAT: Fear the Darkness Haunted House |
Haunted sculptures will be unveiled and illuminated the night of the Nocturne, a community-based art festival at Alderney Landing and various other HRM?locations beginning Oct. 17. The sculptures will depict characters from Helen Creighton's books and were done entirely by children.
"With the assistance of Julie Adamson Miller, community arts facilitator, the children worked side-by-side with community members to decide which characters to sculpt," said MacGregor. "The children had a chance to explore the stories of Bluenose Ghosts and to connect with members of the Dartmouth-based Helen Creighton Folklore Society, students from the history department of St. Mary's University, Cindy Campbell of Storytellers Circle of Halifax, members of the Dartmouth Heritage Society and Garry Williams, an actor with Heritage Explorers."
The themes of the sculpture will be based on characters from the book, such as a headless horseman, headless woman, phantom pig, banshee, ghosts, jack o' lantern, phantom ship, phantom pirate ship and buried treasure.
The sculptures will be made with weather-resistant materials and will be placed on top of existing cement pillars in the events plaza of Alderney Landing. Each sculpture will be illuminated and each will have a text board describing the piece, telling its story and recognizing the artists and children involved, said MacGregor.
Also included in the Nocturne festival will be sculpture artists in the market, Mosaic Art Sales at the Craig Gallery, an audio soundscape at the Geary Street Cemetery, storytellers of Halifax and a performance of the Atlantic Cirque on the outdoor stage.
Back this year will be the Geary Street cemetery tours. Leaving from Alderney Landing on horse and buggy, visitors to the cemetery will learn about the families buried there, hear some scary ghost tales and will be asked to talk about some of their own ghostly experiences.
"Preserving and promoting stories is in honour of Helen Creighton and her work," said MacGregor.
And after being scared to death, visitors to Alderney Landing might be hungry. So for every Saturday in October, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. they are hosting a Food and Folklore Market.
This market will feature a special October treat by including everything you ever wanted to know about pumpkins. Along with the homegrown fruit, vegetables, crafts, meats and baked goods there will also be plenty of pumpkin wine, fudge, bread, spiced coffee and ice cream.
"And the little ones will love to try out the pumpkin bowling," said MacGregor. "There will be lots for them to learn about and enjoy at the market too."
Alderney Landing is looking for volunteers to help out in the haunted house. If you love to scare people, call at 461-8401.
