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Summer Hauntings was among the events I highlighted in June’s Paracons, Ghost Tours and Ghost Huntings events. I noted that I needed to dedicate a post to it, because I’ve never seen anything like this. But I’d love to see more events like it. Especially some closer to home. (Summer Hauntings takes place in England.)
It was a sort of tricky one to decide which page to put it on: Paracons & Horror Fests or Ghost Tours and Ghost Hunting Events? It fits on both.
I ultimately settled on the paracons page. It’s not exactly a paracon, but it is an event with multiple mini events happening over a period of time so it’s in the same spirit as a paracon.
However, some of those mini events could also fit on the Ghost Tours and Ghost Hunting Events page too.
But enough of all that. Let’s get to what Summer Hauntings is all about.
A Celebration of Midsummer Eve’s Thinning of the Veil
The Summer Solstice and Midsummer’s Eve is one of the points in the year when some believe the veil between worlds is at its thinnest. During this time it’s thought that awareness is heightened and it’s easier to transcend boundaries.
Every day from June 21 through July 5, the Lit & Phil in Newcastle upon Tyne will host supernatural gatherings of all kinds, from lectures and presentations to ghost tours, an overnight paranormal investigation and even an afternoon Gothic Tea.
All activities are hosted by, and happening at, the Lit & Phil.
What’s the Lit & Phil?
The Lit & Phil is short for the Literary & Philosophical Society, an independent library that’s home to over 170,000 books. (The largest such kind of library outside of London.) It’s located in Newcastle upon Tyne in England.
The Lit & Phil looks amazing. It’s more than just a library. According to its About page, it’s “…an historic building, a meeting place, office, theatre, lecture hall, jazz venue, and performance space” in addition to being a library.
It’s also apparently haunted. Maybe even one of the most haunted buildings in Newcastle. As many as 16 restless spirits are said to roam all three floors of the building.
The Lit & Phil’s Ghosts
Part of Hadrian’s Wall was built into the basement. Some believe Roman ghosts may be among those inhabiting the basement.
There are reports that one of the basement spirits is misogynistic and aggressive towards women. Another is believed to be the ghost of a young girl who only communicates with females because she’s afraid of men. (No wonder, if she’s stuck with a mean male ghost in the basement. Poor thing.)
Victorian ghosts have been spotted on the main floor. The men’s room is also occupied by something. (Gotta love those boos in the loo. What a heck of a place to spend eternity, right?)
Footsteps, disembodied voices and dark figures are among the activity experienced. There’s even been reports of the sound of book pages being turned when no one except staff is in the library.
It’s so neat that they’re so open about their ghosts too. I wonder if the spirits look forward to what’s become the annual Summer Hauntings event too?
Speaking of, let’s take a look at the lineup.
The Summer Hauntings Events
June 21: Festivities kick off with Midsummer Phantoms with Sean O’Brien, Gail-Nina Anderson and Jacob Polley, which will transport attendees to “a world of the unworldy and satisfy all your supernatural desires.”
June 22: There’s a Haunted Lit & Phil tour, where tour goers will hear tales of unexplained events and spooky happenings within the library.
June 22: Ghost NorthEast, a U.K.-based paranormal investigation team, will give a free talk explaining what they do, why they do it, and what kind of evidence they’ve collected.
June 22: Ghost NorthEast will lead an overnight investigation and teach people how to use scientific equipment (meters and such) and psychic tools (Ouija boards, dowsing rods, scrying mirrors, etc.)
June 24: Gothic Novels Afternoon Tea, a traditional afternoon tea with sandwiches, cakes and home-baked scones, along with readings and discussion from Northumbria University Literature Department.
June 25: Another Haunted Lit & Phil tour.
June 25: Author Ann Cleeves (creator of Vera and Shetland series) reads her ghost story, “Stranded.”
June 26: Shakespeare’s Ghosts with Gail-Nina Anderson.
June 27: A Haunted Midsummer where Demi-Paradise, a group of professional actors and readers, presents three ghostly tales.
June 29: Uncanny Canny Tales, where storyteller Chris Bostock tells tales of the weird and wonderful accompanied by music performed by Ken Patterson.
June 29: Another Haunted Lit & Phil tour.
June 29: Another Ghost NorthEast overnight investigation.
July 1: Unquiet Graves, a collection of beautiful ballads about the power of love, even beyond death, by Poppy Holden.
July 2: Another Haunted Lit & Phil tour.
July 3: A talk about Polidori’s ‘The Vampyre’ with Gail-Nina Anderson.
July 5: Another Haunted Lit & Phil tour.
July 5: Master storyteller and performer Robert Lloyd Parry reads six of author Saki’s eerie best unworldly tales of Beasts and Superbeasts.
Some of the events are free, others have a nominal charge.
For More Info
Visit the Lit & Phil’s website: http://www.litandphil.org.uk/
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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