Ybor City Ghost Walk

The Ybor City Ghost Walk returns to Centro Ybor on Tuesday, October 20, for its only run of the year. It's an actor-led tour run once a season by the Tampabay Community Design Center, a nonprofit that works on historic preservation, sustainability, and Tampa's haunted history. The walk is built around Ybor City's past as the 'Cigar City'—a district that grew from a swamp of alligators and snakes into home to tens of thousands of cigar workers from Cuba and Europe in barely 40 years, and was once the cigar capital of the world.

That boomtown era left a reputation for shadowy figures, and the neighborhood is said to house some of the most haunted buildings in America. The route turns off the beaten path and into darkened side streets where eleven ghosts tell their stories, including long-dead citizens like Charlie Wall and Paulina Pederosa. Documented history mixes with local folklore, set against the scent of cigars and cups of café con leche. The organizers note it isn't recommended for children or the faint of heart.

This year's walk is led by Julia Gorzka Freeman and Linda Saul-Sena. It runs from 5:30 PM to 7 PM, with doors opening at 5:15 PM. The meeting point is the steps of the old Centro Espanol, 1526 Seventh Ave, Ybor City, Tampa, FL 33605. Tickets are $25.