HEARTS Samhain Living History Day '26

The Hugh Torance House and Store invites the public to step back in time to the Celtic tradition of Samhain with a special Living History Day!

The origin of Halloween comes from the Festival of Samhain in Ireland’s Celtic past. This festival marked the end of the summer and signified the beginning of a new year. It was believed that souls of the departed would return to their former homes on the 31st of October. Given the Celtic roots of this holiday steeped in tradition, the Irish have developed many customs for Halloween over the years.

This year’s event highlights 6 unique Irish Halloween traditions we bet you never knew!

Join us as we bring the late 18th and early 19th centuries to life through dedicated re-enactors, hands-on experiences, and enthusiastic volunteers celebrating the season. Colonial period attire and halloween costumes are welcome!

Take a guided tour of the Historic Hugh Torance House and Store to learn how the Torance family became both a prominent local merchants and cotton farmers. Shop local goods, gifts, and sundries and support this historic site nonprofit's mission to maintain the preservation and restoration efforts at the site and share it's connection to the threads of local history.