Before trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving became popular traditions, people from the Victorian era hosted extravagant parties to celebrate All Hallows' Eve.
During these gatherings in the late-1800s-to-early 1900s, uncarved pumpkins served as invitations, while guests donned eerie, sometimes macabre, costumes to play games and share ghost stories.
Many parties featured some form of divination, such as séances or fortune-telling, where a medium would attempt to communicate with the deceased. The Ouija board, invented in the late 1800s, was often used as a tool for this purpose.
The Caetani Centre is bringing this enchanting era back to life with its new adult-only Halloween event.
Conjure the Spirits - A Victorian Halloween, taking place on Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26, will feature a guided tour of the mansion, a reception with refreshments, and a reenactment of a Victorian-era séance where members of the Caetani family—and a few friendly spirits—may be conjured. All in good fun, of course, but for 19 plus only.
“There may be some audience interaction for those who wish to participate, and we will ensure that all unwelcome spirits are warded off. For example, we’ll provide bottles of protection salt, traditionally used in the Victorian era to avert unwanted visitors,” says Amelia Sirianni, known for her work with Ghost Tours of Vernon and a participant in the Caetani Centre’s Halloween event for the past two years.
Joining Sirianni will be actors Harrison Coe and Tiiernen O’Keefe, who have portrayed members of the Caetani family in the Centre’s past Haunted Halloween tours.
“This year’s tours will be more intimate, with our hosts moving in and out of character to share tales of the mansion's haunted history,” says Laisha Rosnau, executive director of the Caetani Centre. “We wanted to create something unique that honours the time when this historic house was built.”
Attendees are encouraged to don their finest Victorian-era costumes and come ready for an evening of fun—and perhaps a few supernatural surprises. An open mind and a willingness to embrace the paranormal are highly recommended!
Tickets for the limited-capacity event, taking place at 7 p.m. each night, are available at ticketseller.ca or 250-549-7469.
To encourage community spirit, the Caetani Centre will also welcome trick-or-treaters of all ages on Thursday, Oct. 31 from 5 to 8 p.m. A small donation will allow visitors to experience the mansion’s historic charm.
“Our benefactor, Sveva Caetani, was a huge fan of Halloween. She and her family companion, Miss Jüül, would greet neighborhood children who lined up for the best candy in town, often handing out imported European treats and giant chocolate bars in beautifully designed loot bags,” adds Rosnau.
