Tales from the Crypt

Tales from the Crypt returns to The Abbey Mausoleum & Gardens on Friday, Oct 23 and Saturday, Oct 24, with both nights running 5:30 to 9:30 PM. The whole idea is that you step into the shadows of the historic mausoleum and spend the evening hearing stories from the Abbey's residents, getting to experience the grounds after dark.

The storytelling is the main thing. The voices you'll hear belong to people buried there: Lewis Sells, who managed the Sells Brothers Circus; Edna Royer Furniss, a nurse with the Columbus Tuberculosis Society in the early 1900s; Freda Steube, a Cincinnati native and widow of the eccentric poet and millionaire John Bryant; Virginia Penfield Seybold, who owned several champion saddlebreds; President C.J. Penfield; and Samuel S. Jackson, a Columbus tailor known for designing suits for William McKinley. Each one gets their own turn to tell their story.

There's more to do on the grounds this year. A tent has been set up with a tarot card reader, magic tricks performed with the crowd, and a bonfire with s'mores. Depending on which night you pick, you can also get a photo: tintype photography on Friday and aura photography on Saturday. Hot apple cider, bakery items, and chili are available at an additional cost.

Tickets are $25 per person, and they're limited, so you'll want to book ahead. The Abbey is at 700 Greenlawn Avenue in Columbus.