Destrehan Plantation will put a Halloween twist on its centuries-old setting with its first Witches’ Walk Oct. 17 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the plantation’s grounds.
Guests are encouraged to dress for the occasion, and the evening will include a welcome cocktail, treasure hunt, guided tour, witches’ dance, costume contest and dinner.
Tickets are $95 per person and will remain available through Oct. 11.
Melissa Monica, a spokesperson for Destrehan Plantation, said this is the plantation’s first year hosting the event.
The idea came from Carolyn Boyd, a River Road Historical Society board member and member of the St. Charles Women’s Club, after she saw the local interest surrounding a Witches’ Walk at Houmas House.
“She thought a similar experience closer to home would appeal to women in St. Charles Parish and the surrounding River Parishes,” Monica said. “It’s an opportunity for the community to gather and experience Destrehan Plantation in a new way.”
As part of a treasure hunt, guests can search at their own pace through the grounds, dependency buildings, museums and Plantation Store for hidden surprises. Among the treasures will be miniature crystal balls, lavender sachets, natural stones, key necklaces and other witch-inspired keepsakes. Guests will be able to keep what they find.
“The treasure hunt is a little lagniappe for our guests,” Monica said.
History will also play a role in the evening. During the guided tour, guests will hear stories of mourning rooted in documented history while also getting an opportunity to explore the paranormal side of the plantation.
“Throughout the tour, we’ll distinguish documented history from paranormal interpretation,” Monica said.
The plantation itself provides a distinctive backdrop for the event, Monica said.
“Destrehan Plantation’s historic home, dependency buildings, museums, and live oak trees give the Witches’ Walk a setting shaped by centuries of history,” she said. “Guests will experience the site in a new way through a treasure hunt, a guided tour, and a witches’ dance and procession to the Mule Barn for dinner followed by a costume contest. Together, those activities make the evening distinctly Destrehan.”
Guests will also gather for a group dance to Peter Fox’s “Schüttel deinen Speck” before joining the Witches’ Walk procession to the Mule Barn.
Monica said organizers drew inspiration for the dance from Wolfshäger Hexenbrut, a group from Wolfshagen, Germany, whose 2016 dance video reached audiences around the world.
At the Mule Barn, guests will sit down for a themed buffet catered by 360 Catering Company. The menu will include Cauldron Chicken, Potion Pork, Spellbound Scalloped Potatoes, Harvest Moon Grilled Vegetables, Coven’s Hearth-Baked Rolls and Bloody Cheesecake. A beverage station and premium cash bar will also be available.
There will not be live music, but organizers will play a curated playlist throughout the event, including background music during dinner.
A costume contest will feature three categories: Most Enchanted Costume, Best Hat and Best Broom. The evening will conclude with a closing toast.
Guests will also have the option of visiting Mystic Holly for tarot readings, dream interpretation, mediumship and crystal ball readings for an additional $20 to $55.
Organizers are expecting about 75 guests for the inaugural event with attendance capped at 150.
“That gives us room to welcome more guests while keeping the experience comfortable and enjoyable,” she said.
