This Victorian home in Elsmere Park is basically the Pink Palace in “Coraline” — but green. | Images created by: Pending Media, Design by: Blake Liles Minix with Liles Interiors
So what makes a haunted house look haunted?
We went down to the architectural crypt to find out what design features make a house go bump in the night. Then, we went haunted house hunting in Lexington to bring you a grisly, local look — just try not to scream.
There are few obvious architectural styles on a whole that tingle your spine and widen your eyes, namely Victorian-era styles, Adirondack architecture, and Gothic Revival — but to keep this scary story short, we’ve created a checklist with some skeleton key characteristics to look for this spooky season.
Located at 429 N. Broadway St., this Second Empire-style home has all the haunted elements — a shingled mansard roof lined with a widow’s walk + a prominent, centered tower. Inside, the sprawling rooms, a notable feature of Victorian-era homes, are filled with original ornate woodwork and decorative wallpaper. If the Addams family lived in Lexington, this would absolutely be where they lived.
Dinner guests are always around at the Elsmere Park house.
While this 3,868-sqft home has been entirely renovated, you can’t shake its spooky bones, especially when there are skeletons dining inside. Located on one of the oldest streets in downtown LEX, this Richardsonian Romanesque-style home built in 1892 most notably features a three-story turret — giving plenty of space for the ghouls to hang.
Inside, it has a grand staircase, original woodwork, pocket doors, and three fireplaces. It last sold for $735,000 in January 2023 + is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Chevy Chase Halloween Pub Crawl | Thursday, Oct. 24 | 4 p.m. | Euclid Avenue businesses | Free | Stop by Euclid Avenue bars for food + drink specials, as well as Halloween-themed fun including costume contests, scary movies, karaoke, and live music.
Spooky Spirits: Halloween Cocktail Workshop | Thursday, Oct. 24 | 5:30 p.m. | Wick + Mortar Studio at Poppy & Pomelo | $68 | Join a mixologist to craft your own Halloween-themed cocktails complete with your choice of spirits + a tasting journal.
Friday, Oct. 25
Take a Hike | Friday, Oct. 25 | 9:30-10 a.m. | Raven Run Nature Sanctuary | Free | Take a guided walk in the woods while learning hiking basics + outdoor skills with help from parks staff — registration required.
Rooftop Sessions | Friday, Oct. 25-Saturday, Oct. 26 | 9 p.m.-12 a.m. | Lost Palm at The Manchester | Free | Grab a table at the rooftop bar, enjoy some shareable plates, and dance the night away to the sounds of a live DJ.
Saturday, Oct. 26
Hand-Tied Brooms | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg | $65 | This hands-on workshop will teach you the 200-year-old tradition of broom making where you’ll learn to wrap, tie and finish hand-made brooms just like the Shakers.
Kentucky Ballet Theatre presents “Dracula” | Saturday, Oct. 26-Sunday, Oct. 27 | Times vary | Lexington Opera House | $33+ | See the Gothic thriller come to life through dance with performances by the Kentucky Ballet Theatre.
Sunday, Oct. 27
Woodford Spooktacular | Sunday, Oct. 27 | 4 p.m. | Downtown Versailles | Free | The whole town will host family-friendly fun and frights including trunk-or-treating, pumpkin decorating, face painting, food trucks + more.
Show our parks some love by keeping them clean, Lexington. | Photos provided by LFUCG; GIF created by LEXtoday team
Let’s keep it clean, LEX. The city is encouraging Lexingtonians to do their part to protect our community through the Pick it Up and Play initiative.
Litter never stays in the parks, on sidewalks, or in the street — eventually, with rain and wind, it travels through our environment. Picking up pet waste and litter before it can harm wildlife is essential for healthy streams (read: good water quality).
The next time you’re enjoying a game of pick-up at Woodland Park or bringing your pup for an afternoon of play at Masterson Station, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Bag your trash to avoid loose litter flying away on collection day.
Dispose of pet waste in green trash carts — not blue recycling or gray yard waste carts.
Last call. The outdoor summer seating at Kentucky Native Cafe will close for the season next week. Get your last sips of cider + bites of pie now through Wednesday, Oct. 30 before the team takes a well-deserved break for the month of November.
Featured
Lexington is featured in the latest issue of The Local Palate as one of the “Best Culinary Towns in the South.” Our friends at Crank & Boom shared some snaps of the issue where you can find local spots like TukTuk Snack Shop, Cole’s 735 Main, Obstinate Sons, and more.
Community
We see you Derek Zoolander. The Void Sake Co. Free Library For Those Who Can’t Read Good is now open at the Warehouse Block sake spot. You know the rules — take a book, leave a book, and help spread the joy of reading.
Outdoors
Help expand our tree canopy by lending a hand at the Coldstream Planting Party this Saturday, Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. In exchange for your help planting native trees, spreading mulch, and cleaning up litter, you’ll be treated to free breakfast and coffee.
Cause
There’s still time to get your ticket for Seedleaf Sorghum Jamboree this Saturday, Oct. 26, 3-6:30 p.m. Soak in the sunset at the nonprofit’s Headwater Farm while enjoying family-friendly activities including a petting zoo, photo booth, appetizers + drinks, as well as live bluegrass music.
Watch
Two UK professors were featured on a recent episode of“Secrets of the Dead,” which uses modern science to analyze historical events. The episode, “The Civil War’s Lost Massacre,” was co-produced with Kentucky Educational Television + dives deeper into the “Simpsonville Massacre.” It premiered yesterday, but you can still watch online. (UKNOW)
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If you love all things apples, head to Stepping Stone Farm this Saturday for its Stepping Into the Holidays Fall Festival. To make it even sweeter, every hour on the hour from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. there will be an apple cider donut eating contest.
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