October is the month of the macabre at Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz. The six-acre site, continually occupied for over 330 years and lived on by Native Americans as far back at 8,000 B.C., is filled with the stories of those who have come before us. Two events this weekend help kick off the month, which will wrap up the organization’s popular Haunted Huguenot Street event at the end of the month.

Tonight, Friday, October 1st, from 8 to 9:30pm, HHS will host a Lantern Walk in its historic burial ground. The autumn night is the perfect time to venture into the graveyard, one of the region’s oldest. By the flame of the lanterns, guests will learn about the tragedies and triumphs of the people buried there. The dead are among us on Huguenot Street.

On Saturday, October 2nd, from 10am to 12pm, HHS will take a small group of individuals underground to the organization’s archives. Here, among documents, photos and images that go all the way back to 17th Europe, Curatorial Assistant Ashley Hurlburt will select glimpses of the ghoulish and the macabre from the archives. Space is limited to 15.

he cost is of each program is $12 per person or $10 for Friends of Huguenot Street. Advance reservations are strongly recommended. Individuals may register online at www.huguenotstreet.org or call 255-1889 to register over the phone. Both programs leave from the DuBois Fort Visitor Center, which is located at 81 Huguenot Street in downtown New Paltz.

Haunted Huguenot Street will be offered on the evenings of Friday, October 29th to Sunday, October 31st. More information about this event is also available at the website for Historic Huguenot Street.