One day each year, residents are invited into the darkened halls of the Henry Whitfield State Museum, guided only by flashlights and the sound of their guide's voice retelling the spooky tales of Guilford and the historic home itself. This year's shadowy, special program is held on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

"It's been neat because people are always wondering what it was like to live back then. Times were very superstitious and dark and foreboding and so we let people go through the house with that type of atmosphere," Museum Curator Michael McBride said.

The full-day, Halloween-themed event has something for every age group. Visitors will be able to explore the entire building, even the basement, which is typically closed off during regular tours and programs. There will be candy and craft projects for children to take part in, including sculpting Halloween items kids can take home. There will also be the exhibit Holidaze: The Real Story of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, which explains how Oct. 31 became the night of trick-or-treating.

The evening will also be filled with spooky, non-fictional displays on the Guilford Green graveyard and the museum's connection to the famous Salem Witch trials.

"Most people don't realize that for almost 200 years, everyone that died was buried on the Guilford Green-that's where the original cemeteries were," McBride explained, noting a museum display revolves around that unsettling fact. "We actually have one of the stones that used to be on the Green and was removed when they started new cemeteries.

"We also have a display on the Salem Witch Trials," McBride continued. "One of Henry Whitfield's granddaughters was living in Salem at that time and was accused of being a witch and Guilford's second minister, John Higginson, was one of the senior ministers in Salem during the Salem Witch Trials, so Guilford has a very strong connection to that big event in American history."

Pre-registration to attend the program is not needed-residents can simply show up throughout the day, McBride said. The program is offered with museum admission, which is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and college students, $5 for children aged six to 17, and free for ages five and younger.

In order to create a certain atmosphere, the lights will be off at the museum. Flashlights will be available to those who enter and residents are also encouraged to bring their own flashlights.

Another upcoming program at the museum will take place during the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 3. Celebrating Guy Fawkes Day, residents can enjoy scarecrow-making, a parade of scarecrows around the museum, a best scarecrow contest, a bonfire, and a brief display and discussion on Fawkes, an English historical figure.

The Henry Whitfield State Museum is located at 248 Old Whitfield Street in Guilford. For more information about this event and other upcoming events, call 203-453-2457.