The real story behind Halloween: Historical Haunting at Faust Park, October 25 and 26

By Scanews staff

	Find out how people have celebrated this ancient day of the dead throughout the ages at Faust Park's Historical Haunting on Friday and Saturday, October 25 and 26 from 6:00 to 10:00 pm.  Tickets are $6.00 per person; ages 4 and under are free.

	"There are numerous Halloween traditions that have been lost," according to Kellee Bohannon, Museum Educator for St. Louis County Parks, "for instance, the pumpkin was not the original vegetable used for making jack-o-lanterns.  The Historical Haunting gives you the chance to learn about these traditions and perhaps include them in your own Halloween celebration." 

	Other activities at the Historical Haunting include fortune telling, story telling, live animal shows, craft demonstrations, discussions of burial and memorial practices of the early 1800s, romantic predictions, a mountain man camp and blacksmithing.

	"A blacksmith will demonstrate his craft as well as explain the superstitions associated with it," continued Bohannon, "The Historical Haunting is a ring-the-whole-family event:  kids of all ages can grind corn, make a broom or carve their own Old World jack-o-lantern in the Children's Area; plus refreshment concessions will be on sale." 

	The Historical Haunting will be held at candle-lit Thornhill, the estate of Missouri's second governor.  Tours of the mansion and family cemetery will be available.  
	
	For Historical Haunting reservations, call 636-537-0222. For accessibility accommodations, call 314-615-7840 TTY. 

(Editor Note: Faust Park was established in 1968 with the donation of Thornhill, the oldest standing governor's mansion in Missouri, and the surrounding land.  Originally a territorial official, Frederick Bates established a 1,000 acre farm in what is now Chesterfield and later served as Missouri's second governor.  The home, barn and family cemetery remain and are supplemented with other reconstructed outbuildings.  Faust Park has also become host to the Butterfly House and the St. Louis Carousel and the Historical Village.)