Happy City News in Nashville has a delightfully spooky plan for families this Halloween season. Metro Parks and the Belmont Mansion Association are bringing back Ghost Story Tours for three October nights — Thursday, October 23, Friday, October 24 and Thursday, October 30 — with tours running every 15 minutes from 7:00 p.m., taking about 45 minutes each.
The tours lead brave visitors through the historic Belmont Mansion, the grand 19th-century summer home of Adelicia Acklen, widely considered one of Tennessee’s most beautiful historic houses. By lantern-like evening light, storytellers share dramatic tales about the Acklen family and the people who worked on the estate — including the mansion’s famous ghost stories and the legends that have grown around the house for generations. It is history with a delicious shiver, presented as folklore and fun rather than fright.
The program fits families well: it is recommended for children in fifth grade and up, making it a perfect first ‘grown-up’ Halloween outing for older kids and teens. Please note the practical details before you go: the only entrance is at 1900 Belmont Boulevard, the event is not wheelchair accessible, and no food or drinks are allowed inside the mansion. Tours run rain or shine. Advance planning is smart, as small groups depart every quarter hour and October nights fill quickly.
For Nashville families looking for a Halloween experience with real local history behind it, Ghost Story Tours at Belmont Mansion is a gem — an evening of storytelling, architecture and legend in one of the city’s most storied homes.
Photo: Peter K Burian, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
