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You can still take the Then and Now virtual online tours of Eastern State Penitentiary for free. However, the historic Philadelphia prison is also once again welcoming visitors on tours Wednesdays through Sundays. Starting May 7 through September 4, they’ll also resume Summer Twilight night tours on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. Then there are their event rentals.
Whether you’re looking for “a one-of-a-kind backdrop” for a micro wedding ceremony, corporate meeting or conference, virtual mitzvahs, or some other micro event, Eastern State can accommodate you and your group.
However, it was an article on 92.7 WOBM that made me realize among the events you can host is an Eastern State movie night at the abandoned, haunted penitentiary.
Say what? I had to check into that more. Here’s what I found out.
Eastern State Movie Night Location
Movie nights are held in the Cellblock 7 courtyard where your movie of choice is “projected onto the interior of the penitentiary’s 30-foot-high perimeter walls.”
Because it’s outside though, they advise to “dress for the weather.”
Eastern State Movie Night Set-Up
They provide everything you need, including “chairs, beverages and individual bags of popcorn.”
What? How cool is that? That sounds so fun!
How many moviegoers are allowed?
As of this post, 50. But as they note on their site, “capacity is dependent on current social distancing guidelines.”
The amount of people you’re allowed could increase or decrease depending on our old pal and buddy, COVID-19. (Who will hopefully soon not be such a worry and neither will group sizes!)
Is there a time limit?
Yes. Three hours.
How much does an Eastern State movie night cost?
I’m not sure. They have an Event Rental Inquiry Form on their site. I was tempted to submit one to get a ballpark idea of how much it would cost, but I have a feeling they might be getting bombarded and since I don’t have any plans of actually hosting one, I didn’t want to waste their time. ‘
However, I will try to figure it out and if I do I’ll update this section.
Do they offer paranormal investigation rentals too?
Eastern State is open about their rumored hauntings, as evident on the Plan Your Visit section. (See the part under “Is it haunted?”)
However, even though they’re also open to renting the prison for a variety of events, one kind they no longer allow are paranormal investigations.
Here’s what they state on their Plan Your Visit section:
Paranormal investigations (including the use of EVP recorders or other pieces of paranormal investigation equipment) are not permitted at Eastern State Penitentiary. While we know this is an area of interest for many, our mission drives our work. At this time, we are focusing our resources on maintaining and expanding programs that explore the penitentiary’s history and connections to contemporary criminal justice reform. Thank you for your understanding!
For More Info
Visit easternstate.org/visit/site-rentals/event-rental.
Check-In
If you hosted an Eastern State movie night, what movie would you show?
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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