Our garden gnomes are ready for Halloween. Are you?

The Halloween decorations and fall flowers have started to go up around the Hicken house, and with October’s arrival comes Halloween festivities.

Cleveland.com has a good list of haunted houses in Northeast Ohio, from zombies galore at Burton’s Undead Armageddon Haunted Forest and Elyria Hauntville’s 3-D zombie paintball hunt to the Mansfield Reformatory and Hudson Haunted House. Then of course there’s Cedar Point’s Halloweekends and Boo at the Zoo.

Personally, I love my Halloween haunts mixed with a bit of history, which is what you’ll find in the Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood next weekend.

Ghoulish tourguides at the West Clinton Historic Haunts Walking Tour

On October 4 and 5, the West Clinton Historic Haunts Walking Tour will transport you to 1910 Cleveland. Guests will be met by famed former Cleveland Mayor Tom L. Johnson at Cleveland Public Theatre’s Parish Hall (6205 Detroit Avenue).

From there, tour guides will lead groups by lantern light throughout the neighborhood. Stopping at porches, parks, churches and public buildings, guests will meet infamous former residents and hear real life tales of horror with several street performers popping up along the way.

This year’s spooky stories include The Trunk in The Lake, A Shot in The School House, and Murder in High Society, among others.  Historic Haunts has partnered with Blank Canvas Theatre and Talespinner Children’s Theatre who will perform all acts. John Stuehr, playwright and chairman of Talespinner, director Patrick Ciamacco and designer Allison Garrigan have been especially instrumental in weaving a unique spin on these tales from Cleveland’s past.

Roots of American Music and the St. Ignatius Circus Club will also provide live entertainment at Parish Hall on both evenings, where light refreshments and a silent auction will be available courtesy of Gypsy Beans & Baking Company, The Cleveland Orchestra, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and other local businesses.

Local performers will share neighborhood ghost stories along the walking tour’s route

Tours depart on Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5 from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. Beginning at Cleveland Public Theatre’s Parish Hall, they’ll leave every 10 minutes and last approximately 45 minutes.

This sounds like an excellent event for all ages – scary but family-friendly with a bit of Cleveland trivia thrown in. The West Clinton Historic Haunts Walking Tour is free for children and teens under 15; adult admission is only $5.  Free parking is also available next to and across the street from Parish Hall.

Stay up-to-date on West Clinton Historic Haunts on Facebook and buy advance tickets at wchistorichaunts.brownpapertickets.com. Tickets will also be available at the door; however tours max out at 30 so presale tickets are recommended.

BONUS TIP: The Capitol Theatre will be screening Murnau’s classic Nosferatu on Friday, October 4th at midnight.  Tickets are $5. Save your Historic Haunts ticket stub to get a free drink with a regularly priced popcorn at the Capitol.  Offer valid October 4-10.