Immerse yourself in the Victorian era and experience a Halloween unlike any other at Duke Homestead’s “Halloween Phantasmagoria” Oct. 27, 6:30-9 p.m. Discover a thrilling adventure at Duke Homestead State Historic Site after dark. Adult tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door; $5 for children ages 12 and under.
Explore the site at night for experiences that would have sparked awe and wonder in Victorian-era Americans such as the Duke family. Costumed interpreters across the historic grounds will offer activities on the themes of folklore, spiritualism, divination, technology and more. The surprise of discovery will be half the fun.
Phantasmagoria stems from the French fantasme, referring to an illusion. In the early 1800s the term referred specifically to optical illusions created through magic lanterns – predecessors to today’s movie cameras. These shows thrilled and sometimes terrified audiences, who had never seen projected images, let alone moving images.
Eventually phantasmagoria’s meaning shifted to refer to more than magic lantern images or shows, but to a dreamlike state with uncertainty of what is real or imagined. At the night program, walk between the present and the past and perhaps find yourself in such a state.
The event is not designed to scare and is appropriate for all ages. It requires standing and walking on uneven ground, and most activities are outdoors. Please arrive before 8:30 p.m. since Halloween Phantasmagoria ends at 9 p.m.
We strongly suggest purchasing tickets in advance.
For more information on the event or Duke Homestead, contact (919) 627-6990, email duke@ncdcr.gov, or visit DukeHomestead.org. Duke Homestead is part of the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
About Duke Homestead State Historic Site and Museum
Duke Homestead is the site of the Duke family’s nineteenth-century farm, where Washington Duke started a tobacco business that later became the largest in the world. With the money generated by this venture, the Dukes endowed Duke University, began what later grew into Duke Energy, and founded an endowment that continues to contribute to charitable causes today.
Each year, Duke Homestead puts on numerous fun, family-friendly events. For more information visit DukeHomestead.org.