Are you looking for a way to jump start the Halloween season? Beyond the spooky haunted houses, creepy hayrides, and ghostly corn mazes, there are some activities in Minnesota that may lead to real paranormal encounters. In the small town of Pipestone, Friday the 13th sets off a weekend of frightening fun that is sure to send shivers down your spine. This paranormal festival is full of spooky history, creepy stories, and even a ghost hunt. It’s one Halloween activity that you don’t want to miss.
Pipestone is a small town in southwestern Minnesota known for its long history.
Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce/Facebook Its most famous attraction is Pipestone National Monument, a sacred site where American Indians have quarried quartzite for generations. A walk through the grounds is full of both history and beauty.Beyond the monument, the town of Pipestone dates back to 1876. Many of the buildings, built with the area’s characteristic pink quartzite, are on the National Register of Historic Places.
It is because of its long history that Pipestone is the perfect place for a paranormal festival.
Historic Calumet Inn/Facebook On Friday, October 13, the town’s fourth annual Paranormal Weekend will kick off. The event takes place in several locations throughout the town, each with a long and storied history. There is a separate cost for each event, so you can pick and choose what you want to do.
The event kicks off on October 13 with a storytelling event at the 129-year-old Calumet Inn.
Historic Calumet Inn/Facebook The first night is all about setting the mood for the weekend. At 9:00 p.m., the lights go out. Guests gather in the dining room for some spooky stories by candlelight. Hotel staff will share their paranormal encounters in the old hotel, and guests will be invited to share their own.
After the stories thoroughly spook you, it will be time for a candlelit tour of the possibly haunted inn.
Pipestone Paranormal Weekend/Facebook This guided tour through the historic inn is a great way to see different rooms after the lights go out. You might be surprised by just how creepy it is. Tour guides will have ghost hunting equipment, and you are welcome to try out your own!
The second day of festivities starts off at the historic Pipestone County Museum.
Pipestone County Historical Society/Facebook Starting at 8:30 a.m., you can head over to the museum for a cup of coffee. There, you can learn about Pipestone’s most haunted places.You may be surprised to find out that the museum is home to some of its own paranormal events. For example, a doll in a display case is rumored to travel in the night. It has been found outside of its case and across the room!
At Pipestone’s historic Old Woodlawn Cemetery, you can learn stories of the town’s past.
Pipestone Paranormal Weekend/Facebook This tour is historic in nature, focusing not on hauntings, but on historic details that you might miss on your own. Headstone symbols, organizational markers, and the cemetery’s notable plots are all topics of discussion.
Next, you may want to step over to the Performing Arts Center for a psychic reading.
katerkate/Flickr Psychic Susie Otto will be on site to offer private and group readings. If you’re up for it, she can even connect you to the other side by calling on spirits to bring offer insight on your past, present, and future. Each reading costs $50.
Later in the day, a more theatrical cemetery tour is on the schedule.
Pipestone Paranormal Weekend/Facebook This event, called Tales From the Grave, features costumed actors who will perform some of the most interesting exploits of those buried in the Old Woodlawn Cemetery. It’s a great way to really learn about this little town’s long and fascinating history.
To top everything off, you’ll want to join in on the Pipestone ghost hunt.
Pipestone County Historical Society/Facebook Starting from the Pipestone County Museum, guests will depart to the Pipestone Historic District. This area is filled with old buildings that have seen more than we can imagine in their long histories.Tour guides will lead your group as you trek through these historic sites. Guides will be carrying EMF readers, night vision, recorders, spirit boxes, and other equipment that is helpful in hunting ghosts. Many visitors to this town are convinced that they have encountered paranormal activity in Pipestone. This is the perfect way to find out whether the rumors are true.
What do you think? Are you interested in Pipestone’s Paranormal Weekend? If you have been to this or any other paranormal festival in Minnesota, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below! And, if you’re looking for more creepy activities to do this October, why not take the haunted hike in Minnesota that will have you running for the hills?
Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce/Facebook
Its most famous attraction is Pipestone National Monument, a sacred site where American Indians have quarried quartzite for generations. A walk through the grounds is full of both history and beauty.Beyond the monument, the town of Pipestone dates back to 1876. Many of the buildings, built with the area’s characteristic pink quartzite, are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Historic Calumet Inn/Facebook
On Friday, October 13, the town’s fourth annual Paranormal Weekend will kick off. The event takes place in several locations throughout the town, each with a long and storied history. There is a separate cost for each event, so you can pick and choose what you want to do.
The first night is all about setting the mood for the weekend. At 9:00 p.m., the lights go out. Guests gather in the dining room for some spooky stories by candlelight. Hotel staff will share their paranormal encounters in the old hotel, and guests will be invited to share their own.
Pipestone Paranormal Weekend/Facebook
This guided tour through the historic inn is a great way to see different rooms after the lights go out. You might be surprised by just how creepy it is. Tour guides will have ghost hunting equipment, and you are welcome to try out your own!
Pipestone County Historical Society/Facebook
Starting at 8:30 a.m., you can head over to the museum for a cup of coffee. There, you can learn about Pipestone’s most haunted places.You may be surprised to find out that the museum is home to some of its own paranormal events. For example, a doll in a display case is rumored to travel in the night. It has been found outside of its case and across the room!
This tour is historic in nature, focusing not on hauntings, but on historic details that you might miss on your own. Headstone symbols, organizational markers, and the cemetery’s notable plots are all topics of discussion.
katerkate/Flickr
Psychic Susie Otto will be on site to offer private and group readings. If you’re up for it, she can even connect you to the other side by calling on spirits to bring offer insight on your past, present, and future. Each reading costs $50.
This event, called Tales From the Grave, features costumed actors who will perform some of the most interesting exploits of those buried in the Old Woodlawn Cemetery. It’s a great way to really learn about this little town’s long and fascinating history.
Starting from the Pipestone County Museum, guests will depart to the Pipestone Historic District. This area is filled with old buildings that have seen more than we can imagine in their long histories.Tour guides will lead your group as you trek through these historic sites. Guides will be carrying EMF readers, night vision, recorders, spirit boxes, and other equipment that is helpful in hunting ghosts. Many visitors to this town are convinced that they have encountered paranormal activity in Pipestone. This is the perfect way to find out whether the rumors are true.
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