Gilded Age Hallowe'en Tea & Talk

Afternoon tea and treats, with a chilling reading of Edith Wharton's, The Lady's Maid's Bell, in Staatsburgh's Gilded Age dining room.
About this Event

Returning for 2026, enjoy tea and refreshments in the formal dining room—for one weekend only—while listening to a dramatic reading of the gothic, Gilded Age ghost story, The Lady's Maid's Bell, by Edith Wharton. On Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1 at 1:00pm, actor and Interpretive Programs Assistant at Staatsburgh, Deborah Coconis, will give an illustrated reading with live, musical underscoring of this supernatural chiller set in a house on the Hudson. If you’ve ever visited Staatsburgh State Historic Site, the roles of the servants in the fictional house will be familiar, right down to the ringing of “the lady’s maid’s bell”. Costumes are welcome!

A special Halloween Tea menu will be served, featuring scones, sweets and seasonal tea fare, and the site’s Staatsburgh Blend tea, a custom blend created for the site by renowned tea purveyors, Harney & Sons.

Please see our "Frequently Asked Questions" section for information on event cancellations, seating requests, and more.