Historic Irvington Halloween Festival - Sat. Oct. 29th

The historic Irvington community in east Indianapolis was named after Washington Irving because it reminded residents of the town in Irving's famed story "Sleepy Hollow." Located between Emerson and Arlington avenues along Washington Street, Irvington has its share of ghost stories and is proud to lead visitors through them on its annual Ghost Tours, which take place during the Irvington Halloween Festival that has been a community staple since 1947.

The Annual Irvington Halloween Festival

A popular event with attendance between 5 and 10 thousand each year, the Festival features 35 events over the course of several days, with the main festival taking place this year on Saturday, October 29th, right on Washington Street, which is closed between Ritter and Arlington for the event.

The Festival features booths, children's activities, a parade and a main stage. Some of the highlights include a Harry Potter Trivia Tournament, a Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest, Spooky Stories in the Park, and a Wacky Witch puppet show.

Third Annual Ghosts and Infamous Places of Historic Irvington Tour

Evenings, Friday Oct. 21, Friday Oct. 28 and Saturday Oct. 29, at 7 and 9 p.m., tickets available at Lazy Daze Coffee, 10 S. Johnson St.

The tour includes a dozen stops; among them the D. C. Stephenson mansion (where the KKK leader kidnapped and murdered Madge Oberholtzer), Masonic Lodge #666, and the murder and burial spot of ten-year-old Howard Pitezel, the last known victim of Dr. H. H. Holmes, America's first serial killer of "Devil in the White City" fame.

I should mention that after I read the bestselling novel Devil in the White City, I spent some time digging around to find the house mentioned where Holmes killed his last victim and hid his body in a chimney. I was surprised to learn recently that the property is owned by someone I know.