The Historic Irvington Halloween Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana
As the autumn leaves fall and a chill creeps into the air, the Historic Irvington Halloween Festival awakens to cast its spellbinding charm over Indianapolis. This isn't just any Halloween celebration – it's the nation's oldest and largest consecutively running Halloween festival. The 2024 festival takes place from Saturday, October 19th to Saturday, October 26th.
What makes Irvington special for Halloween? It's in the neighborhood's very DNA. Founded in 1870 and named after Washington Irving, author of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” Irvington seems destined for Halloween greatness. The entire community transforms, with elaborately decorated houses rivaling Christmas displays and an electrifying atmosphere that permeates the air.
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For an entire week, Irvington becomes a portal to a world where Halloween magic comes to life. Just a few of the events include a grand Masquerade Ball to kick off the festivities, eerie ghost tours through the historic district, and a spine-tingling Spooky Organ Concert at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
As you wander the streets of Irvington during the festival, you'll feel the veil between worlds grow thin. Every shadow might hide a secret, every whisper could carry a story, and around any corner, you might encounter a ghostly surprise. Are you brave enough to immerse yourself in Irvington's Halloween magic?
Irvington's Haunted History & Legends
Welcome to Irvington, Indiana – a neighborhood in Indianapolis steeped in spooky history and eerie tales that will send shivers down your spine. Let's take a ghostly journey through this haunted hamlet and uncover some of its most chilling stories and locations. Johnson Avenue is considered the most haunted street in Irvington.
The Irving Theater (built in 1913)is a hotbed of paranormal activity. Ghost hunters frequently investigate here, capturing unexplained voices and images. The stage from Elvis' last performance before his death resides here. When I took the Irvington tour we entered the theater and sat in silence for a few minutes to see if we could connect with the spirits of the theater. Very cool!
The Masonic Lodge Number 666 With its ominous number, this lodge serves as the starting point for many ghost tours. The building itself is said to be haunted, setting an eerie tone for supernatural explorations. Hampton & Co (a very cool store with lots of goodies) is one of the storefronts on the first floor. It's a must-see store very involved in Irvington events and just great people!
The H.H. Holmes Cottage at 114 S Good Avenue is a seemingly innocent cottage with a dark past. This was once a short-term rental for Holmes, America's first documented serial killer. Legend has it that Holmes dismembered a 10-year-old Howie Pitezel and buried him in the yard. Teeth and bones believed to belong to the young victim were found in the fireplace.
Current residents report slamming doors, flickering lights, and shattering glass. The house was moved from 5811 Julian Avenue sometime after the murder during a land deal.
Chilling Tales and Legends of Irvington
Irvington's haunted reputation has led to an unusual occurrence – “ghost envy.” Residents whose homes aren't haunted often feel left out, wishing for their spectral visitors. Maybe this is just an instance of spirits traveling through a home on their way elsewhere.
This tragic tale involves the 1925 death of Madge Oberholtzer by D.C. Stephenson, a prominent Ku Klux Klan leader who took advantage of her and it led to her death. Some say Madge's spirit still lingers in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, Indiana had a large KKK membership in the 1920s.
Madge was able to name her assaulter and signed a sworn statement. Stephenson assumed he was immune to persecution, because of his high rank as Grand Dragon of the Indiana KKK. These events lead to Stephenson's conviction at trial and the downfall of the KKK in Indiana.
In 1902, a series of grave robberies perpetrated by the “King of Ghouls” Rufus Cantrell shocked the community. Bodies were stolen from Anderson Cemetery and taken to the Central College of Physicians & Surgeons for anatomical study. Some of the bodies belonged to typhoid victims and others. This macabre event added to Irvington's reputation for the bizarre and supernatural.
Ever since Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train pulled into Irvington on Washington Street after his assassination, people have recounted stories of Lincoln’s ghost train rolling through town. The railroad no longer exists but there are a set of tracks on E Washington to commemorate the National Road.
Many Irvington residents have told similar stories of the skeletal train passengers and ghost train still draped in black crepe. It’s believed that the grief of all the Americans who came out in droves to witness Lincoln’s funeral train fuels the ghost train’s energy to appear today.
Some believe that Irvington is located on a ley line, an energy line that predates humans and draws spirits and further adds to the neighborhood’s spirited tales.
Exploring Irvington's Haunted History
If you're brave enough to delve deeper into Irvington's spectral past, consider joining one of Al Hunter's famous ghost tours. These tours cover eight potentially haunted locations and offer a spine-tingling glimpse into the neighborhood's dark history.
The Irvington Ghost Tour is a two-hour, two-mile walk that takes place rain or shine. The ghost tour starts on Johnson Avenue, near the Irving Theater, and ends on Audubon Road. Participants are advised to wear warm clothing and proper footwear. Tickets are $20 per person and can be bought in person at the Magick Candle (6125 E Washington St). The tours are held on Friday and Saturday nights in October. Make sure you arrive 20 minutes early because these tours sell out quickly.
The Irvington Halloween Festival has something for everyone including your dog! This isn’t just your kids Halloween Festival. The Masquerade Ball is an adults-only event. There are costume contests for multiple age categories and even a pet costume contest. There are so many events link to choose from!
Irvington Halloween Traditions
Keep your eyes peeled for Irvington's own coven of witches, known as the Black Hat Society. These local “witches” add a touch of magic to the festivities, often participating in parades and events throughout the season.
Brave souls gather at Our Lady of Lourdes Church for a free spine-tingling Spooky Organ Concert. The eerie melodies echoing through the sacred space are sure to send shivers down your spine.
Take a stroll through Irvington’s street to see all the decorated homes and you may just bump into a ghostly resident as well.
Best Local Food
Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza: Known for its upscale pizza, sandwiches, soups, and salads. They also offer local draft beers and a variety of wines. This is a local favorite with several locations around Indianapolis. Located at 5646 E Washington Street.
The Med: A good option for Mediterranean food, and it's conveniently located. Just down the street from Jockamos at 5614 E Washington St.
Experiencing the Irvington Halloween Festival
Parking will be the biggest issue that could cause a problem. If you arrive early, you’ll find parking on any of the residential streets around the events.
There is a shuttle that will take you from Howe High School to the festival from 10 am to 5:30 pm.
The Street Fair is really fun and filled with so much to see. It takes place on October 26th from 10 am to 4:30 pm. The parade begins at 4:30pm.
Wear a costume if you don’t want to feel like the odd duck out. Normal street clothes is a rarity here!
Several of the events are free, but others like the Masquerade Ball requires a ticket. Be sure to buy yours early so you don’t miss out!
As the autumn leaves fall and the veil between worlds grows thin, Irvington beckons you to join its spectral celebration. The Historic Irvington Halloween Festival isn't just an event – it's a portal to another realm where Halloween magic comes to life. From eerie ghost tours to the bustling Street Fair, there's a haunting experience waiting for every brave soul who dares to visit.
So, pack your costume, summon your courage, and make your way to this bewitching Indianapolis neighborhood. Whether you're sipping a Zombie at Strange Bird, joining the Vampire Run, or exploring elaborately decorated houses, you're sure to create memories that will haunt you long after the jack-o'-lanterns have flickered out.
Have you experienced the supernatural charm of Irvington's Halloween Festival? We'd love to hear your ghostly tales! Share your spine-tingling stories and spectral snapshots in our blog's comment section. Who knows? Your otherworldly encounter might just inspire our next spooky post! Take a look at the other haunted travels on Spooky Traveling.
