Calling all ghouls and goblins. Fall fun and Halloween cheer are headed to the Geist area all October long.
The Benjamin Harrison YMCA and the City of Lawrence are hosting Lawrence Halloween Fest at Lawrence Civic Plaza (5710 Lawrence Village Parkway) on October 18 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The free event is a true testament to our vibrant community. Last year the hosts were thrilled to welcome around 1,500 community members and their children, and they can’t wait to see even more of you this year.
“The YMCA has hosted the event for several years, but last year was the first time it partnered with the city to host it,” says Jami Weirich, director of communications for city events. “The event includes various vendors with candy for the kids.”
Children are encouraged to wear their most creative Halloween costumes to the event. Each department of the Benjamin Harrison YMCA will be on hand, offering a diverse range of crafts and activities to spark your child’s imagination. There will also be pumpkins to give away to attendees. The event will also include fire pits, the essential ingredients to make s’mores, and adult supervision. There’s something for everyone at the Lawrence Halloween Fest.
“It’s a lot of fun for the whole family,” Weirich says. “The kids love receiving and decorating their pumpkins. We will also have some food for participants. Last year we provided hot dogs.”
Remember, this event is completely free to attend. However, the YMCA kindly asks that you register in advance through its website. This will help ensure enough supplies for everyone and minimize wait times at the entrance. The City of Lawrence and the YMCA want to ensure participants have the maximum amount of time to enjoy the fall fun during the two-hour event. And don’t worry, you don’t have to be a Benjamin Harrison YMCA member to enjoy the fun!
For adults who want to be part of a welcoming and inclusive community, Wolfies Grill at Geist is hosting The Haunted Mansion at Geist with Jai Baker live on October 19 at 8 p.m. The party is not just about the fun, but also about celebrating individuality. With a variety of awards for different costume categories, everyone is encouraged to join in and have a great time.
If urban legends or ghost stories are more your vibe for Halloween, Geist and Lawrence both have plenty of allure. The House of Blue Lights was a popular myth in the ’50s and ’60s. The house belonged to eccentric millionaire Skiles Edward Test, and the untrue story goes that he killed his wife and kept her lifeless body in a glass casket decorated with blue Christmas lights. The home is said to have been built with milky white glass and was located where Skiles Test Nature Park is now located. Pieces of the ceramic dishes and other leftover mementos from the home can still be found around the park.
Lorri Stackhouse and Keri Young co-authored the book “Ghost Hunter’s Guide to Indianapolis”. Stackhouse says that while they didn’t find anything paranormal during an extensive search of the property, something interesting happened after she left the property.
“I had found a couple of shards of white porcelain with a blue design, probably part of a plate or dish,” Stackhouse says. “When I returned home, I was distracted and put the pieces inside my hiking boot, which were returned to the closet without any further thought. A few weeks later, my husband cleaned out that closet, found what he assumed to be trash in my boot and threw the pieces in the trash can outside. The following day, I opened the closet to find both pieces of china lying on the carpet in the middle of the closet.”
Geist Reservoir is also allegedly a haven of paranormal activity. The man-made body of water was created in 1943 when Indianapolis Water Company built a dam across fall creek, flooding about 1900 acres of an area known as Germantown. The reservoir was named after Clarence Geist, a former president of Indianapolis Water Company. Many myths surround the body of water to this day, including the possibility of old Germantown buildings lying in its depths. While there is no proof, many people believe that an old church steeple can be seen when the water is low.
“The area around the reservoir is one of the most active in the Indianapolis area,” Stackhouse says. “Any disturbances to ground and/or water are liable to disturb the energy surrounding the area. Geist is more disturbing than most. This could be due to the unnatural flooding of the valley or the town buried beneath it. Clarence Geist had a troubled history before construction on the reservoir and dam began. We cover many of the details in our book in the chapter “Nefarious Neighborhoods”. Geist homeowners have contacted us many times, asking for explanations of strange events such as knocking sounds, cold spots and hearing whispers with no origin.”
Stackhouse says she has not investigated but has heard rumors that the Harrison Inn at Fort Harrison is haunted. Before it was an inn, it served as a hospital during wartime. She says there are a few videos online of employees and guests who say they have heard and seen things there. The ghosts are even mentioned in Tripadvisor reviews.
So mark your calendars for these exciting Halloween and fall events in the Geist area, whether you’re dressing in costume or diving deep into ghost stories and folklore. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly evening of fall fun or a night out with friends at a costume party, there is something for everyone to enjoy this October. Get ready to embrace the Halloween spirit and join in the festivities!
