Paranormal author and lecturer Michael J. Bielawa will once again lead another fascinating lantern stroll of historic downtown Bridgeport, Connecticut. October provides the perfect time to visit scenes of suspected hauntings, Victorian era murders, “Men In Black” sightings and other unexplained phenomena. Remarkably this wide variety of mysteries is centrally located within easy walking distance of the Barnum Museum.

The evening tour will be on Friday, October 29, 2021 at 6:30 PM. Tickets are available through eventbrite.com. Tour size is limited to 20, so early reservations are suggested. Tickets are $5 per person for Barnum Museum members, and $15 for others. Please note that this program is not recommended for children under 12 years of age.

Award-winning author and historian, Bielawa is well versed in the paranormal and New England history, and his explorations have taken him to the Northeast’s most exotic and mysterious, places. He is the author of numerous articles and five books, including Wicked Bridgeport (which received the first-ever New England Paranormal Literary Award) and Wicked New Haven. Bielawa has discussed Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein on NPR and brought Connecticut’s unique folklore to light on popular WTNH-TV programs Good Morning Connecticut and Connecticut Style. His essays on legends and the supernatural have appeared in FATE Magazine, the Connecticut Post, Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game Program (about abandoned 19th century ballparks), Connecticut Magazine, London’s Fortean Times, and The Edgar Allan Poe Review. The Bridgeport Public Library’s History Center webpage posts Bielawa’s essays on such divergent subjects as Jack the Ripper and early encounters with “Men In Black.”

Bielawa has shared his research with radio audiences on WCBS, WABC, WICC and WPLR, and he celebrated New Haven’s 17th century “Phantom Ship” when he created the 4-story-tall, illuminated art installation, “The Persistence of Legend.” His dedication to preserving New England history has been covered by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post.

Bielawa’s Bridgeport tales are based on research conducted at local and state libraries, historical societies, and through personal interviews. During the walk, Bielawa’s encourages participants to take photographs in order to help document the area’s paranormal activity.

The Wicked Walk will be offered again by the Barnum Museum on Friday, October 29, 2021. Mandatory Covid-19 rules are in place for guest safety and concerns. Masks are mandatory for all participants during the walk. Proof of vaccine or negative Covid-19 test (three days prior) is required at check-in onsite. Social distancing during the walk is encouraged.

Pre-Registration is REQUIRED. Space is limited to 20 guests. Walk up registration is not available. REGISTER HERE!

Please contact the Barnum Museum at [email protected] for more information.