The spirits of Forest Hill Cemetery are back and ready to educate, entertain, and spook the living members of Fredonia’s community. If you think that cemeteries are just places where the departed rest, you are quite mistaken. Apart from preserving the memory of those near and dear, cemeteries are art galleries, horticultural gardens, history museums, and puzzles to be deciphered – and there is no better place to experience this than Fredonia’s own Forest Hill on Lambert Avenue. The Forest Hill Cemetery, one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Western New York, will once again host the Harvest Moon Cemetery Tours brought to you by Festivals Fredonia. Under a devilish new management team, the familiar spirits, ghosts, and apparitions of Forest Hill Cemetery have been summoned into an exciting new frenzy, but be warned: Not all of the spirits roaming the cemetery grounds are friendly…

On Oct. 18 and 19, horse-drawn trolley tours will run every half hour through the historic Forest Hill cemetery beginning at 7 p.m. with the last tour departing at 10 p.m. This tour event now features special lighting and make up effects, fog, and live low-impact scare actors. The carriage will not be touched, but because of the spooky nature of the attraction, it is not recommended for children under 10 years of age. Advance sale tickets required. Tickets are $12.50, and there are discounts for groups of 14 or more. Note that tours will run rain or “shine” and tickets are non-refundable. Walk up tickets will be done on a first come basis, if space is still available, the nights of the tours at the gazebo in Barker Commons – cash only. Ticketed attendees can meet at the Gazebo in West Barker Commons on Church Street in Downtown Fredonia. The trolleys will load passengers at the Gazebo and return to the same area. Plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time to check in. Tours will last approximately 45 minutes to an hour. This is an outdoor event, so dress for the weather! Refreshments will be available in the park. Each year the trolley tours sell out – don’t be left standing in the cold – go online now to order tickets at www.festivalsfredonia.org.

The organizers are currently seeking volunteers for both nights of the 2019 tours. Volunteers are needed for acting roles, non-speaking extras, and various jobs behind the scenes, such as running effects. If interested, contact the Event Co-Chairs, Mandi Shepp at amanda.shepp@fredonia.edu or Christopher Shepp at christopher.a.shepp@gmail.com, by Sept. 27.

To learn more about Festivals Fredonia or about upcoming events in Fredonia, visit the website at www.festivalsfredonia.org or find us on Facebook or Instagram. Festivals Fredonia is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization in partnership with the village of Fredonia, the town of Pomfret, area merchants, organizations, and volunteers, dedicated to providing quality events and entertainment for the Fredonia community.