The 4 Nights of Halloween Savannah Exclusive Weekend

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It’s hard to say when exactly Halloween came to Savannah but yes, with one witch from Ireland arriving to Savannah ala shipwreck, certain pagan traditions with a tint and hint of Christianity formed around many holidays or rituals, Hallow’s Eve or Samhain was never far from the life experience of superstitious people. Savannahians certainly cleaned it up, but it remains fascinating to me that until the 1950s, they burned 50-foot bonfires in Johnson Square and Washington Square, an act that we can trace back to the 1840s in Savannah. Naturally, the pagan regalia of early got traded up for Ben Franklin 5 & 10 costumes with Hanna Barbera themes, but in the earliest hours, no question that this was an active solstice mid-term for scaring away demons from the crops so that there was a cornucopia to share. It’s exactly what “Shout at The Devil” really means!

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By the 1950s, the Savannah Fire Department would stand around the edges of our city squares where the fire festival was happening, and they would simultaneously spray down the facades of the buildings to keep them safe. When Trick O’Treating became the main game of suburbia and suburban sprawl took root while Savannah’s Historic District died off for a time, all of the above disappeared and few to none of the nouveau riche living here now, know anything about it. Some Savannhians who are still around from those days, and trust me, there aren’t too many, recollect those hours with a fondness that warms the heart. They also recall parents taking 40 or 50 at a time in costume, then parading them around Bonaventure Cemetery for some good-natured spooky times. They told the ghost stories of Little Gracie, many of which came from caretaker families who lived in the cemetery for years. That tradition also went by the way for one reason or the other. 

So we decided to remedy the missing link by adding something Halloween-ish but respectful to the old dame, Madame Bonaventure Cemetery, and several years ago began an exclusive event, now referred to as The 4 Nights of Halloween

The event offers people an exclusive exploration of Bonaventure Cemetery after dark as only host, Shannon Scott can provide, and as we’re such purists, we’re about the only event happening on actual Halloween Night which as readers know, is a Monday! Trust us when we say you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything to do that’s worth the ticket price on a Monday night in Savannah except this! And yes, the PREMIERE evening is Saturday October 29th which includes the 3 Hour After Dark Tour, a private dinner at Erica Davis Lowcountry where we’ve rented out the facility for the evening and music provided by the spooky, kooky but always rocking band, The Donna Savage Band! (See Video Below). The evening will have firepits, a FULL BAR, Shannon Scott’s “Morbid Museum” collection on display and then really incredible prizes that are beyond the pale! ALL OF THESE EVENTS HAVE LIMITED TICKETS! As you might guess, they sell out every year so we cannot stress enough, if any of these evenings strike your fancy – DO NOT DELAY! GO BIG FOR HALLOWEEN BY GOING BONAVENTURE! 
              WWW.4HALLOWEENNIGHTS.COM

Bonaventure After Hours: My Skully Valentine

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One of the phrases I use quite a bit, “Bonaventure is for lovers.” Its a phrase that either makes people smile or in my case as cemetery storyteller in an old Southern city garners some scornful or cringey looks. I, however, am of the school of thought and have always found them to be romantic places. In high school when I worked as a groundskeeper in Rantoul, Illinois’ Maplewood Cemetery, I thought nothing of taking a girl on a date there. I’d bake a quiche, grab a blanket and drive just outside of town to the little 1840’s patch on a hill surrounded by budding cornfields under the stars. There was this one modern granite vault that was perfect for throwing a blanket over. We’d climb up spread out and dine. Ah, good times. Even if I’m now the voice that says, “Kids, don’t climb on the vaults.” 

I’m not sure how widespread this was in history, but at least in Savannah, if a man were serious about a woman in the whole “Til’ death do us part,” thing, the tradition was to go to the cemetery to propose to her. The couple’s families would wait outside of the gates, and if she said, “Yes,” they walked out holding hands. If she declined, I guess they had other formalities. Its no wonder Bonaventure has so many weddings then. I remember one Halloween weekend? There were 19 over a few days and 6 or 7 on the actual Halloween date. Good times. I myself told a story at a wedding in Bonaventure 2 years ago on Halloween night and gifted the couple a story at the grave I plan to feature on the upcoming “Bonaventure After Hours: My Skully Valentine” event, February 16th, 5 PM to 8 PM. Its not a story I often do publicly but I positively love and covet it and only share it on special occasions so am excited to break it out again!

Which, yes, this will be a special Bonaventure After Hours where I will highlight stories of couples and even some singles who were perhaps too unbridled for marital bonds but had some adventures all of the same! Naturally, per “real life” and my style, these stories will range from what happens when the love was written by someone above, and then what happens when it full on flies off the rails and nobody gets out unscathed! Either way, guests will find the whole experience leaving them insatiable and everyone will want a cigarette following the adventure. Yes, that good.

This 2.5 Hour spectacle includes the Official Event Poster, “Love, Truth & Stories,” signed by myself and runs $44.95. This event WILL SELL OUT & as of this posting we’re more than halfway there so get your tickets now at 912.319.5600 or just click BOOK NOW anywhere on the website! Come fall in love with Bonaventure and what we do!

Listen To Shannon recite his lover’s tribute, “Media of Two.”

Official Poster