Ghostwalk New Bern 2026: Dates, Tickets, Schedule, and Insider Guide

Ghostwalk New Bern 2026 runs Thursday, October 22 through Saturday, October 24, from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm nightly. Organized by the New Bern Historical Society, this 36th annual production brings local history to life across 13 downtown sites and Cedar Grove Cemetery. Tickets cost $20 in advance, $25 during the event, and provide single-entry access to every site across all three evenings.

Ghostwalk combines historic storytelling, volunteer theater, and community dining into one of coastal North Carolina’s most popular autumn traditions. Here is everything you need to know to secure tickets, plan your walking route, and make the most of your evening in historic downtown New Bern.

What Is Ghostwalk New Bern?

Ghostwalk is an open-air, family-friendly living history event where volunteer actors portray real historical residents of New Bern at specific sites across the historic district.

It is not a haunted house, a spooky scare trail, or an architectural home interior tour. Instead, you walk through downtown streets and lantern-lit cemetery paths to hear theatrical monologues based on genuine archival records. Because the scripts and characters change every October, returning attendees get a brand-new historical program each fall.

When Is Ghostwalk 2026?

Ghostwalk 2026 takes place on Thursday, October 22, Friday, October 23, and Saturday, October 24, 2026, running from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm each night.

Your single admission ticket covers all three evenings, meaning you can split the 13 sites over multiple nights rather than rushing through them in one run. The 2026 theme is “Voices of Freedom, Tales from 250 Years,” honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States with stories pulled straight from Eastern North Carolina’s revolutionary past.

Ghostwalk New Bern 2026 Ticket Prices

Advance general admission tickets are $20, while tickets purchased during the event (October 22–24) cost $25. The Historical Society offers discounts for members, active-duty military, students, and children. North Carolina sales tax applies to all ticket tiers.

Ticket Type	Price	Qualification & Purchase Rules
Adult (Advance)	$20	General public; available through advance cutoff date
Adult (Event Days: Oct 22–24)	$25	Gate price during event weekend
Historical Society Members	$17	Active NBHS membership; sold online & at office
Active-Duty Military & Family	$17	Must show valid military ID
Students (Ages 13–23)	$17	Must show valid student ID
Children (Ages 3–12)	$5	Available online and at physical outlets
Toddlers (Under Age 3)	Free	No physical ticket required
Groups (13+ People)	$13 each	Must purchase directly via NBHS office at (252) 638-8558

Note: Group rates require advance booking through the Historical Society administrative office.

Where to Buy Ghostwalk Tickets

You can purchase Ghostwalk tickets online at newbernhistorical.org or in person at four local retail outlets across New Bern:

1. New Bern Historical Society Office: 511 Broad Street (Downtown New Bern)
2. Mitchell Hardware: 215 Craven Street (Downtown New Bern)
3. Harris Teeter: 3565 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
4. Harris Teeter at Carolina Colours: 2032 Waterscape Way

Mandatory Paper Ticket Policy

Ghostwalk requires physical paper tickets for site entry. If you order online, your tickets will not be mailed to your home address. You must pick up your ticket packet at the New Bern Historical Society office ahead of time or retrieve them at the downtown will-call booth on the night of the event. Order several days early to bypass opening-night pickup lines.

Ghostwalk 2026 Daily Schedule & Key Stops

Ghostwalk features 13 official ghost stops, including six stations within Cedar Grove Cemetery and seven stations stationed on the porches of historic downtown homes and public landmarks.

Thursday, October 22: Opening Night Kickoff

• 11:00 am – 10:00 pm: Kick off the weekend at Morgan’s Tavern & Grill (235 Craven St). Morgan’s donates a substantial percentage of the day’s entire dining proceeds directly to the New Bern Historical Society.
• 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm: All 13 ghost stations open.
• 9:15 pm: Strict cutoff time for entry into Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Friday, October 23 & Saturday, October 24

• 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm: All ghost stations open across downtown and the cemetery.
• Dusk until Close: Stop by the New Bern Academy Green (corner of New and Hancock Streets) for a special live musical production.
• Attmore-Oliver House (511 Broad St): Head to the back porch for short historical skits and pick up handmade pastries from the Veri-Good Bakery tent.

Saturday Daytime Special Event (October 24)

• 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Take the Free Cedar Grove Cemetery Daytime History Tour led by the Earl of Craven Questers. Meet directly at the cemetery’s famous Weeping Arch. No reservations required; cash donations are accepted to fund ongoing cemetery grave marker preservation.

Downtown Church Dinners & Food Stops

Skip the standard fast food lines and support local downtown churches. Several congregations open their fellowship halls to serve home-cooked, budget-friendly dinners during Ghostwalk weekend.

All church dining operations are cash only.

• Centenary United Methodist Church (Friday & Saturday, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm): Serves pasta with sauce, crisp garden salad, rolls, and sweet potato pie in the “Catacombs.” Price: $10 for adults, $7 for children. Sanctuary tours and public restrooms available.
• Broad Street Christian Church (Saturday only, starts at 5:30 pm): Serves homemade chili, warm cornbread, sweet tea, and dessert. Price: $10 for adults, $5 for kids under age 10. Public restrooms available.
• St. Peter’s A.M.E. Zion Church (Friday only, starts at 6:00 pm): Serves grilled colossal beef hot dogs, potato chips, and a drink for $6. Church tours and restrooms available.
• Temple B’nai Sholem (Saturday only, starts at 6:00 pm): Offers hot roasted chestnuts, fresh cookies, and warm apple cider for $5. Historic sanctuary tours and restrooms available.
• Historic Church Tours (No Dinner): Old Saint Paul Catholic Church opens for tours all three nights. St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church offers historical tours on Thursday evening only.

5 Practical Tips Before You Go

1. Wear Durable, Closed-Toe Shoes: Cedar Grove Cemetery walkways consist of packed dirt, crushed oyster shells, and loose gravel. High heels and slick-soled shoes present real tripping hazards in low-light conditions.
2. Park Smart and Walk Downtown: Free public parking is available around downtown New Bern, including the public lots near New Bern Riverfront Convention Center, Craven County Courthouse, and curbside street spots along Broad, Middle, and Craven Streets. Park once and complete the circuit on foot.
3. Leave Dogs and Alcohol at Home: Alcohol and outside pets are strictly prohibited inside Cedar Grove Cemetery and on all private Ghostwalk porch venues. Service animals are permitted.
4. Prepare for the Weather: Ghostwalk proceeds rain or shine. Tickets are non-refundable, so pack an umbrella and dress in layers for crisp October coastal breezes off the Neuse and Trent Rivers.
5. Plan Your Pace Across Two Nights: Trying to hit all 13 sites, grab dinner, and watch the musical in a single 3.5-hour window creates unnecessary rush. Dedicate one evening to Cedar Grove Cemetery and the church dinners, then use a second night for the residential porches and downtown shops.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ghostwalk scary for young kids?

No. Ghostwalk avoids gore, monsters, jump scares, and haunted house effects. The performances focus on historical storytelling. However, Cedar Grove Cemetery is dimly lit at night, so children who feel nervous in dark outdoor spaces may prefer attending earlier in the evening around 6:00 pm.

Can I re-enter a ghost site if I liked the show?

No. Your physical paper ticket functions as your official site punch card. Each ghost station punches your ticket upon entry, permitting one visit per site over the three-day weekend.

What is the “Weeping Arch” at Cedar Grove Cemetery?

The Weeping Arch is the historic coquina-shell triple gate built in 1853 at the George Street entrance of Cedar Grove Cemetery. Local folklore says the porous stone weeps water droplets whenever a casket passes beneath it—and warns that if a drop falls on you, you will be the next to enter the grounds.

Are tickets refundable if it rains?

No. Ghostwalk operates rain or shine, and the New Bern Historical Society maintains a standard no-refund policy on event admissions.

Looking for more traditional ghost hunts in New Bern?

Because Ghostwalk focuses strictly on authentic civic history, thrill-seekers looking for paranormal investigations or ghost-hunting tours can explore year-round private offerings such as Ghosts of New Bern, which departs from downtown street corners starting around $27 per person.

Support Downtown New Bern During Ghostwalk

Ghostwalk fuels the small businesses, indie retailers, and family restaurants that make New Bern special. Before heading into the cemetery, stop into Mitchell Hardware on Craven Street for your ticket, book a dinner reservation at Morgan’s Tavern & Grill, and drop into the church fellowship halls for dessert.

When you spend your evening in downtown New Bern, you directly support local historical preservation and our local economy.