We look forward to having you join us for this year’s Columbia’s Haunted Lantern Tours. Below are commonly-asked questions about the tour. Please click on a question, and you’ll be taken to the answer. Or simply scroll down through the entire page!

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Where is the event located?
Where do I park?
What are the hours of operation?
What time should I arrive?
How long does the tour last?
How do I get tickets?
How much do tickets cost?
Do you accept groups?
Do you have group rates?
Do you accept personal checks and credit cards?
Is there an ATM available?
If I cannot attend after purchasing a ticket, can I get a refund?
Is there a rain date?
Can I bring my kids?
What should I wear?
Should I bring a flashlight?
Will food be available?
Will alcohol be available?
Can I smoke?
What is your weapons policy?
Are bags, backpacks, and large purses permitted?
Can I take pictures?
Are pets permitted on the tour?
Is the tour ADA accessible?
Are there restrooms?
Is first aid available?
Do you have a lost and found?
How do I become an actor?

Have a question not covered here? Please call us at 717-587-5368 for more information – as well as reservations.

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Where is the event located?
The 2025 tour begins at the Saint John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 616 Locust Street in Columbia, Pennsylvania. Guests may enter through the ramp door. The check-in table is located inside to the right.


Where do I park?
Parking is available in these locations ~

  • Free parking is available in the church parking lot.
  • Overflow street parking is available on Locust Street and 6th Street.
  • Metered street parking is free after 6 pm on all of our tour dates.


What are the hours of operation?
The 2025 tour dates are Friday, October 10; Sunday, October 12; Friday, October 17; Saturday, October 18; and Sunday, October 19.

Tour times for Friday and Saturday evenings are as follows – 6:30 pm, 7:00 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:00 pm, 8:30 pm, 9:00 pm, and 9:30 pm.

Tour times for Sunday evening are as follows – 6:30 pm, 7:00 pm, 7:30 pm, and 8:00 pm.


What time should I arrive?
Guests are asked to arrive 15 minutes early for their tour to allow time for proper check-in. Arriving earlier than 15 minutes prior to your tour is not recommended, due to limited space in the waiting area.


How long does the tour last?
Tours typically last about an hour and traverse the winding pathways of Mount Bethel Cemetery. Tours step off every half hour from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm on Sundays. Please allow yourself an hour and a half to complete the tour in case there are any delays.


How do I get tickets?
Tickets go on sale August 1, annually. You may call Holly at 717-587-5368 to make reservations.


How much do tickets cost?
Tickets for the 2025 performance are $25.00 per person.


Do you accept groups?
Yes, we accept groups, but we suggest groups larger than 10 people call before September 1 to guarantee that we have enough room for everyone. Groups cannot exceed 20 people.


Do you have group rates?
Tickets are $22.00 per person for groups of 10 or more.


Do you accept personal checks and credit cards?
Guests who call ahead to reserve tickets may pay by cash, check, or credit card! Guests who purchase tickets at the door, if available, MUST pay by cash.,


Is there an ATM available?
There is no ATM available at check-in, but there is an ATM located in the CVS store directly across from check-in, available daily until 10:00pm. Rivertown Theatre Productions, LLC is not responsible for the security of third-party Automated Teller Machines.


If I cannot attend after purchasing a ticket, can I get a refund?
All sales are final, and no refunds or reimbursements will be made unless in the event that the tour is cancelled due to a natural disaster that may cause physical harm to our volunteers and guests.


Is there a rain date?
All tours are held outdoors, rain or shine, unless we feel the weather could cause physical harm to our volunteers and guests, therefore there is no scheduled rain date.


Can I bring my kids?
Children under the age of 13 are not permitted under any circumstances. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and cooperation.


What should I wear?
The fall season can result in cool nights even if it is warm during the day, so we suggest dressing in layers. We also advise our guests to wear comfortable, closed-toed shoes. The tour does mostly consist of paved sidewalks, but they can be uneven and a bit dangerous.


Should I bring a flashlight?
While the tour route is candle-lit and guided by a lantern light, illumination is minimal, and the paved pathways and grassy areas of the cemetery can be uneven. Handheld flashlights are permitted and encouraged for those with low visibility or unsteady footing. All flashlights MUST always remain pointed at the ground. A flashlight with a red light is preferred as it minimizes disturbance to the natural environment and prevents blinding the actors and other tour-goers. Headlamps and lantern style L.E.D. lights are prohibited, as there is no way to direct the light at the ground, causing visual impairment of our actors and guests.


Will food be available?
Yes, baked goods, water, and hot beverages will be available for purchase before and after your scheduled tour in the check-in area. All proceeds directly benefit our non-profit organization and its affiliates.


Will alcohol be available?
For the safety of our guests and volunteers, no alcohol will be permitted on the tour. Any guest who appears to be intoxicated upon arrival or during the tour will be asked to leave the premises immediately and will NOT be given a refund. We suggest visiting a local bar or brewery after your scheduled tour.


Can I smoke?
Guests may smoke tobacco products only before or after their scheduled tour on the Locust Street public sidewalk. Tour guests will not be permitted to smoke in the check-in area. All illegal substances are prohibited.


What is your weapons policy?
Guests are not permitted to bring weapons on the tour (i.e., firearms, ammunition, daggers, knives, pepper spray, mace, etc). All guests are subject to search of personal belongings for prohibited items.


Are bags, backpacks, and large purses permitted?
We do not have any size restrictions on purses, but we ask that you leave backpacks and other bags in your vehicle. We would also like to remind you that all guests are subject to search of personal belongings for prohibited items, and Rivertown Theatre Productions, LLC is not responsible for replacing or reimbursing lost property.


Can I take pictures?
To ensure copyright protection and the safety of our performers, we do NOT allow photography, video recording, or voice recording during our tours. Guests who do not comply with these rules will be asked to leave the tour immediately and will NOT be eligible for a refund. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.


Are pets permitted on the tour?
Pets are not permitted on the tour at any time. For questions regarding mobility aid and medical alert animals, please call 717-449-4254.


Is the tour ADA accessible?
The 2025 tour is not ADA accessible since we utilize narrow entrances in our venues and travel uneven paths through a local cemetery. If you need special assistance or use a mobility aid during a tour, please mention it when booking your ticket and during check-in. Accommodations will be made when possible. Thank you!


Are there restrooms?
Restrooms are located at the check-in area and are available before and after your scheduled tour.


Is first aid available?
If an injury occurs during a scheduled tour, please notify the closest tour guide or actor. They will call for a volunteer to escort you to a safe location for access to first aid. Due to liability risks, volunteers are not allowed to administer first aid treatment. For minor injuries, guests will be given access to simple first aid supplies and will have to administer treatment themselves. For major injuries and medical emergencies, a volunteer will be directed to call 911. Rivertown Theatre Productions, LLC, and its affiliates, are not liable for injuries of fees incurred due to professional medical treatment.


Do you have a lost and found?
If lost or misplaced items are found along the tour route by a volunteer, they will be immediately delivered to the check-in table. Guests must retrieve lost or misplaced items by 11:00 pm on the last tour of the season. Personal belongings possessing high importance (i.e. keys, electronics, wallets, personal documents, etc.) will be turned in to the Columbia Police Department – 308 Locust Street, #300, Columbia, Pennsylvania 17512.


How do I Volunteer?
Please visit our Volunteer page for more information on how you can participate in Columbia’s Haunted Lantern Tour.