Curioporium’s spooky experience and more haunted Halloween thrills in Connecticut

When Curioporium opened in 2018, it was a shopping emporium with occult, supernatural and mystical items and a dark Gothic atmosphere. It has evolved since then. Guests can still come to buy tarot cards, crystals, skulls and other unearthly items, but Curioporium is also a ghostly theatrical venue.

October is peak time at Curioporium. This month, in addition to celebrating its fourth anniversary, the haunted attraction will host the Grim Reaper, Annabelle, the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe, Jack the Ripper and other ghoulish presences in a series of Halloween-appropriate performances.

Nathan Nunez owns Curioporium. Joey Marsocci, a steampunk designer by trade, works with Nunez as co-creator and creative director. Each of them writes some of the spooky shows presented in the space.

Marsocci said Curioporium isn’t just about scares. It’s about immersing people in a compelling narrative.

“We’re all about storytelling here. All the people who work here are characters in telling a story and all the haunts have an overlying theme,” he said.

The performance room is dominated by the “séance machine,” which summons the souls of the dead, including Poe. “It opens the doorway to the spirit world,” Nunez said.

Before and after shows, guests can roam through five rooms, which all have macabre themes. “We want you to feel like you’re in a haunted vault full of interesting characters,” Nunez said.

Marsocci also wants people to laugh. “Our staff is trained in improv, to be both dark and ridiculous. I’d say we take a lot of inspiration from ‘What We Do in the Shadows,’ that combination of creepy and whimsy,” he said.

The Library Obscura is a book room — some books are for sale — with a Victorian-era feel, full of volumes of occult themes: haunted places, vampires, fairies, communication with spirits.

The Hall of Unnatural History is dominated by cryptozoology, or the study of fantastical creatures such as chupacabras, jackalopes, leprechauns, Mothmen, Bigfoot, dragons, windagos.

The Veil — as in the veil between the living and the dead — focuses on voodoo, demonology, witchcraft and other ways of interactions with the spirit world.

The Repository has tarot cards, Ouija boards, a replica of the evil doll Annabelle and a depiction of Nergal, the god of death in ancient Mesopotamia.

The Parlor of Lost Souls, Marsocci said, is favored by people who are sensitive to the paranormal. “This is the room where they feel it the most,” he said.

Items in the rooms change all the time, with Nunez and Marsocci finding new things and bringing them in. “You’ll always have a reason to come back,” Nunez said.

Curioporium is at 1429 Park St. in Hartford. The “Hauntiversary Celebration” is Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. $25. “Grim Reaper or Annabelle Lantern Tours” are every Thursday in October from 6 to 7:30 p.m., for $10. “An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe” is Oct. 8 at 6 and 8:15 p.m., for $50. “The Ripper Experience” is Oct. 21 and 22 at 6 and 8:15 p.m., for $60. The “Netherworld Experience” is Oct. 28 and 29 at 6 and 8:15 p.m. for $60 to $75. To make reservations, visit curioporium.com/book-your-experience.

Other Halloween haunts

Here are some other adult-oriented haunted attractions for Halloween. Buy tickets online in advance, because many venues have capacity limits and many venues offer tickets online only. COVID protocols will be in place at some attractions. Many require children be accompanied by adults and others suggest children under a certain age not attend. Check websites for details. This list is not all-inclusive.

Witch’s Dungeon Classic Movie Museum, 103 E. Main St. in Plainville, is open year-round Friday to Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. by appointment only. The museum exhibits life-size figures of horror movie icons such as Dracula, The Phantom of the Opera, Frankenstein’s monster, the Werewolf of London, Dr. Phibes, Maleficent, The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon and the Golem. $9, $4 children younger than 12, cash only. preservehollywood.org.

Fright Haven, a 20,000 square foot haunted building at 411 Barnum Ave. Cutoff in Stratford, is open Sept. 30 to Oct. 30 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 7 p.m. to midnight, except for Oct. 16, 23 and 30, when it closes at 10 p.m. New rooms this year are “Hotel Hex” and “Witching Hour.” On Sundays, it’s $25, $40 for fast pass, $60 for front of the line. On Fridays and Saturdays, it’s $30, $45 for fast pass, $65 for front of the line. Proceeds benefit Stratford Police Department and the Connecticut Burns Care Foundation. frighthaven.com/

Legends of Fear walking trail, at Fairview Tree Farm at 2 Saw Mill City Road in Shelton, is open Sept. 24 to Oct. 30, with timed admissions at 7, 7:40, 8, 8:30 and 9 p.m. Purchased in advance early in the season, it’s $27.50 for the Hallow Trail, $27.50 for the Haunted Hayride, $52.50 for both. Later in the season, it’s $33 for Hallow Trail, $33 for the Haunted Hayride, $60 for both. High-demand nights are $35 Hallow Trail, $35 Haunted Hayride, $65 both. VIP and combo tickets available. Not appropriate for those younger than 12. legendsoffear.com.

FrightFest is at Six Flags New England, 1623 Main St. in Agawam, Massachusetts, from Sept. 24 to Nov. 6. After 6 p.m. The nighttime attractions are not appropriate for those younger than 12. Attractions include ScreamPunk, Holiday Horror, Carnival Chaos Maze, Nightmares, Terror Tales, Aftermath Zombie’s Revenge, Slasher Circus 3D, Slaughter Hollow, Carnevil and Midnight Mansion. sixflags.com/newengland. Admission starts at $49.99. Premium haunts cost extra, $29.99 or fast pass at $49.98. sixflags.com/newengland.

Graveyard Shift Ghost Tours, about the haunted history of the house, will be held Sept. 30 to Oct. 29 on Fridays and Saturdays at Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Ave. in Hartford. Tours leave at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. $29, $21 for ages 10 to 16. Not appropriate for those younger than 10. marktwainhouse.org/event/graveyard-shift-ghost-tours-9.

Phantom Fall Fest will be held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 6 p.m., from Sept. 30 to Oct. 30, at Lake Compounce, 185 Enterprise Drive in Bristol. The event features haunted houses “Spirit of the Swamp,” “The Root of All Evil,” “MediEvil” and “mAlice in Wonderland”; scare zones “MasqueRage,” “Monster Hunters” and “Witches Revenge”; and themed food and drinks. $29.99. lakecompounce.com.

Haunting at the Ridge, a dark chair lift ride up the mountain, and walk down the mountain, with haunted creatures, is at Powder Ridge, 99 Powder Hill Road in Middlefield. Sept. 30 to Oct. 30 Friday to Sunday, except Oct. 2. Admissions every half hour — 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, 8:30 and 9 p.m. — for the 45-minute attraction. $29.95. powderridgepark.com, click on “park passes” link.

The Forsaken Lands, an outdoor haunted attraction at 435 Torrington Road in Goshen, is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 30 to Nov. 5. Timed tickets are sold at 7, 7:30, 8, 8:30, 9 and 9:30 p.m. $25, $35 VIP admission. forsakenlandshaunt.com.

Evidence of Evil is a haunted attraction at Lyman Orchards, on South Street in Middlefield, open Friday to Sunday from Oct. 1 to Nov. 6, with admission times at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. $25. evidenceofevil.net.

Trail of Terror, 60 N. Plains Highway in Wallingford, is open Oct. 1 to 30, from Friday to Sunday, with timed tickets at 7, 8, 9, and 10 p.m. $25, $40 for a premium pass. trailofterror.com.

Haunt on Eden, at the Mount Southington Ski Area at 396 Mount Vernon Road in the Plantsville section of Southington, is open Fridays and Saturdays from Oct. 1 to 29. One-hour time slots are available at 8, 9, and 10 p.m. $20, party of six $110. hauntoneden.com.

Nightmare on Wolcott Street, a haunted house with 55 rooms at 1058 Wolcott St. in Waterbury, is open Friday to Sunday Oct. 1 to 31. Friday and Saturday are 6 p.m. to midnight, Sunday is 6 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $15, cash only at the door, nightmareonwolcottstreet.com.

Nightmare Acres, a haunted walk at 240 Governors Highway in South Windsor, will be open until Nov. 5, Fridays and Saturdays from 7 to 11 p.m., Sundays (except Oct. 16) from 7 to 10 p.m. “Touch Night” is Nov. 4 and 5. Children younger than 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Limited numbers of tickets will be sold each night, and groups larger than eight will be split up. $30, $40 for a fast pass, $60 for instant access. Parking is extra. nightmareacresct.com.

The Dark Manor, a haunted house at exit 18 off I-395 in Norwich, is open Oct. 1 to 31, Fridays and Saturdays 6:30 p.m. to midnight and Sundays 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. It also is open noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 212, 23, 29 and 30. Night hours are not recommended for visitors younger than 13. $20, $25 for peak days (Oct. 14, 15, 21, 22, priority entrance $28, peak days priority entrance $33. Matinees are $10. Group rates available. thedarkmanor.com.

Downtown Mystic Ghost Tours, a two-hour walk through the dark history of the seaside town, are Oct. 1 to 31, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, as well as Oct. 31, Halloween night. Tours are for ages 11 and older. $30. seasideshadows.com/downtown-mystic.

Mystic Moonlit Graveyard Ghost Tour, a two-hour cemetery walk, will be Oct. 1 to 31, on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 7 and 9:15 p.m., as well as Oct. 31, Halloween night, at 9:15 p.m. $30. seasideshadows.com/graveyard-mystic.

A double feature of the 1932 horror classic “The Mummy” and the 1935 Frankenstein sequel “The Bride of Frankenstein” will be Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. at eight Connecticut cinemas. Admission varies by location. fathomevents.com.

“United States of Cryptids: A Tour of American Myths and Monsters,” a book talk with author J.W. Ocker, is Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. at Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Ave. in Hartford. Admission is free. marktwainhouse.org.

Terror at Quassy, at the amusement park at 2132 Middlebury Road in Middlefield, is Friday to Sunday from 7 to 11 p.m. from Oct. 7 to 30. $29.99, $24.99 for season pass holders, $10 parking. quassy.com.

“Nightmare on Main: Ghost Town, Shadows of the Past,” a haunted tour of the CT Eastern Railroad Museum at 55 Bridge St. in Willimantic, will be Oct 8, 9, 14, 15 and 23, leaving every 20 minutes between 7 and 9:30 p.m. Not appropriate for those younger than 10. $15. cteastrrmuseum.org.

The horror classic “Scream 2″ will have a 25th anniversary screening on Oct. 9 and 10 at 3 and 7 p.m. at nine Connecticut cinemas. Admission varies by location. fathomevents.com.

West Hartford Hauntings, a 45-minute theatrical cemetery tour hosted by the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society, will be Oct. 20, 21, 22, 28 and 29, leaving every 15 minutes from 6 to 8:45 p.m. at Old North Cemetery, 80 North Main St. The 6 p.m. tour on Oct. 22 will be ASL-interpreted. $15, $10 for children 10 and older. Not appropriate for those younger than 10. Group discounts available. noahwebster.yapsody.com.

The Haunted Trolley, a one-hour ride, will be at Shore Line Trolley Museum, 17 River St. in East Haven, Oct. 21 and 22 at 7, 8, 9 and 10 p.m. and Oct. 23 at 5, 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Limited to 40 passengers per ride. The 5 and 6 p.m. rides are kid-friendly. The tour tells a historical story about a 1917 trolley crash and other stories. $39. A limited number of $75 include VIP seating, a souvenir logo shirt and an autographed copy of “True Ghost Stories of Connecticut.” Younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult. thehauntedtrolley.com.

“A Haunting at Mill Hill,” an hourlong lantern-lit tour through the old Mill Hill graveyard at 2 East Wall St. in Norwalk, will be Oct. 21 and 28 at 8 and 9:30 p.m. and Oct. 22 and 29 at 5, 6:30, 8 and 9:30 p.m. The tour includes true stories from Norwalk’s past. The 9:30 p.m. tours are 70 minutes and include a visit to two additional haunted places and require climbing stairs. Early bird tickets (through Oct. 20 at 8 p.m.) are $18, $15 ages 8 to 11. Early bird extended tour tickets are $20 and $18 for ages 8 to 11. After Oct. 20, tickets are $20 and $18 for kids and extended tour $25 and $20 kids. millhillhaunt.com or norwalkhistoricalwociety.org.

“Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” the 1992 adaptation of the classic horror novel, will be shown Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. and Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at seven Connecticut cinemas. Admission varies by location. fathomevents.com.

“Woman in Blue: A 19th-Century Immersive Ghost Story” will be presented on Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Isham-Terry House, 211 High St. in Hartford. Members of the audience help solve a murder mystery. Presented by Escapism Productions. $45. ctlandmarks.org/event/woman-in-blue-a-19th-century-immersive-ghost-story-3.

“The Warren’s Seekers of the Supernatural Paracon” will be Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Earth Ballroom at Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard in Uncasville. Vendors will sell occult items. Speakers will discuss demonology, ghosts, UFOs, monsters, urban legends and cryptozoology. Admission is $35. For an additional $54, visitors can see items from the museum owned by the self-styled paranormal investigators, including the Shadow Doll, Satanic Idol, the Haunted Dinosaur Toy and the real Annabelle. mohegansun.com.

A double feature of the 1954 horror classic “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” and the 1943 classic “The Phantom of the Opera” will be shown Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. and Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at eight Connecticut cinemas. Admission varies by location. fathomevents.com.

Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com.