Photo by Kathi Christie and Jordan Baylor
October is upon us, and if you’re into creepy-crawly costumes or ghastly-ghostly encounters, in Berks County this is the month for you! In addition to the usual “trick-or-treat” preparations for Halloween night, the area’s cultural institutions have planned an entire month of activities to help you get your scare fix.
Everyone’s favorite local ghost hunter Charlie Adams will kick off the celebration of all things creepy on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Reading Public Library. In a style all his own, Charlie will share his ghost stories about all the haunted places in and around Berks County. As the author of several books on the subject, Charlie has been featured on television and radio programs for years, and his entertaining and witty delivery will help keep the mood light, even if the subject gets a little dark. Call the library at 610.655.6355 for times and information about this special program.
If Charlie’s lecture doesn’t scare you off, you can continue the weird-fest with Genesius Theatre’s performance of Carrie: The Musical. Stephen King’s famed thriller about an awkward teenage girl with telekinetic powers whose lonely life is dominated by an oppressive religious fanatic mother has been adapted for the stage and will be performed by the Genesius players. Showtimes will vary, but the performances will run from Oct. 17-26 and tickets can be purchased by visiting genesiusdifference.org.
The Santander Performing Arts Center gets into the “spirit” this month by hosting GHOST HUNTERS LIVE! on Oct. 19 at 7pm. Guests can listen to Jason Hawes and Steve Gonsalves from the Ghost Hunters television show talk about their scariest experiences, see unreleased footage from the show, and ask hosts questions about themselves or a ghost experience they have encountered. There will even be a special VIP encounter with the hosts prior to the show, so die-hard fans will certainly want to make an appearance. For ticket information, call the box office or visit santander-arena.com.
And if you aren’t planning on going door-to-door on Halloween night and you like your hauntings with a bit of humor, the Neag Planetarium at the Reading Public Museum will be the place to be. For the second year in a row the planetarium will hold two showings of the famed Rocky Horror Picture Show, where you can join Brad, Janet and Dr. Frank-N-Furter as they do the Time Warp again! Shows at 7pm and 11pm will accommodate any schedule you’re looking to keep. Although liquids, wet foods, animals and open flames aren’t allowed in the theater, there will still be plenty of opportunities to get into the act during this “audience participation” classic. Last year’s viewings were sell-outs, so be sure to get your tickets in advance and don’t get left out in the rain. Call 610.371.5850, ext. 230 to reserve your spot today.
From ghosts and goblins to haunted places and scary faces, with so much happening around Berks County, if you aren’t “dead” tired by month’s end you will have missed out. So don’t be frightened; grab a few friends and get out there for a big helping of culture soup this month!
