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It’s “Bootlegging, Prohibition and the Jazz Age” when
Historic Ghost Walk Steps off Oct. 9-10 in Elizabeth City, N.C.
(Elizabeth City, N.C., Sept. 23, 2015) – Are you for drinking or “agin’”? Featuring the ghost of a noted North Carolina moonshiner and the folks who fought to flush bathtub gin down the drain, Elizabeth City’s Historic Ghost Walk takes on “Bootlegging, Prohibition and the Jazz Age,” when it presents its 19th annual walk, Oct. 9-10 in the city’s downtown historic district.
More than a ghost tour, this must-see fall happening transports visitorsto a point in time in Elizabeth City history, featuring actors portraying real-life characters with riveting storiesto tell. Previous “walks” have focused on the mysterious 1901 disappearance of local ingénue Nell Cropsey, the Civil War-era Battle of Elizabeth City and the days when the traveling James Adams Floating Theatre treated locals to its “showboat” performances.
This year's event will shed the spotlight on the 1920s prohibition era with visitsfrom Alvin Sawyer, a noted bootlegger in the Albemarle, and Bennie Halstead, the revenue agent who chased him for decades. Participants will also hear from the evangelist Reverend Billy Sunday, preaching against the evils of Demon Rum; Judge I.M. Meekins, telling how he brought North Carolina-style justice to liquor traffickers up north during his years as a federal judge in New York City; and the aptly-named, anti-Saloon League worker Prudence T. Drinkwater, explaining why lips that touch liquor shall never touch hers!
The Elizabeth City Historic NeighborhoodAssociation presents this combination house tour, history lesson, and live theater with 1920's speakeasymusic and entertainment at Arts of the Albemarle's Maguire Theatre. Ghost Walk takes place from 5:30 to 9:30 pm both nights. Tickets are $12 and $10 for military and first responders, and may be purchased at Arts of the Albemarle, Muddy Waters Coffee House, Soho Organic Market and Page after Page Book Store. Check out Ghost Walk souvenirs at Ghost Walk Headquarters, 516 E. Main Street. Complementary transportation will be provided between sites. For more information, visit
In addition to putting Historic Ghost Walk on your calendar, check out these other exciting Elizabeth City events, and then visit for details and accommodations information.
Now Open! | Louis C. Tiffany: Art and Innovation Exhibit
Featuring lamps, vases, windows and glasswork from the renowned American artist Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) and artifacts from the Tiffany and Company studio, the exhibit opened Sept. 22 at the Museum of the Albemarle. The exhibit is free and open to the public for a year. Info at
Through Oct. 31 | Downtown Waterfront Market
The market opened in May, but there's still plenty of Saturdays remaining to shop for locally-grown produce, pumpkins and delicious prepared foods. Open Saturdays, from 9 a.m. -1 p.m. on the green at Mariners' Wharf. See who’s coming to the market at
Oct. 19-25, | Elizabeth City State University Homecoming
ECSU students, alumni and fans gather for a week-long series of events to include campus tours, class meetings, concerts and the homecoming parade. A highlight is the homecoming football game featuring the ECSU vs. Lincoln University, Oct. 17 at Roebuck Stadium.View the action-packed schedule at
Oct. 22-25 | To Kill a Mockingbird at COA Performing Arts Center
See the stage version of this classic American novel by author Harper Lee. The COAST Players production is staged by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois. Check website for tickets and show times.
Oct. 23-25 | 57th Annual Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair
Don't let the name mislead; you won't find pom-pom pets or Popsicle houses at the Albemarle Craftsman's Fair. The long-running show, Oct. 23-25 at the Knobbs Creek Recreation Center in Elizabeth City, is a showcase of traditional heritage crafts expertly designed and lovingly made by first-class artisans. See the Facebook page for updates at
Elizabeth City is the “Harbor of Hospitality®”
Elizabeth City is located in northeastern North Carolina on the Intracoastal Waterway, halfway between Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks. Known as the “Harbor of Hospitality,” the city has six National Register Historic Districts and is home to the Museum of the Albemarle, The Center at Arts of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City State University Planetarium, Port Discover Hands-on Science Center and one of the largest U.S. Coast Guard air stations in the Continental United States. Nature-based travelers are drawn to the area’s proximity to the Dismal Swamp and the abundance of outdoor recreational offerings. For additional information, call Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-866-ECity-4U (1-866-324-8948) or visit DiscoverElizabethCity.com.
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