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!

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?
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.

Where is the event located?
The 2022 tour begins at the Art Printing Company, located at 131 Locust Street in Columbia, Pennsylvania. The check-in table will be located inside.

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

• Street parking on Locust Street. Metered street parking is free after 6 pm on all five tour dates – Saturday, October 22; Sunday, October 23; Friday, October 28; Saturday, October 29, and Sunday, October 30, 2021.
• The parking lot across the street from Art Printing Company, located at 131 Locust Street in Columbia.

What are the hours of operation?
The 2022 tour dates are Saturday, October 22; Sunday, October 23; Friday, October 28; Saturday, October 29; and Sunday, October 30.

Tour times for Saturday night, October 22; and Friday night, October 28, 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 night, October 23; Saturday night, October 29; and Sunday night, October 30, 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 10 to 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, but 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 Monday, August 1, 2022. You can call 717-587-5368 to make reservations.

How much do tickets cost?
Tickets for the 2022 performance are $20.00 a person.

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

Do you have group rates?
Unfortunately, for the 2022 season, we do not have any special group rates available.

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

Is there an ATM available?
There is no ATM available at check-in, but there are multiple banks with outdoor ATMs along the lower end of Locust Street that can be used before arrival.

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?
We do not recommend bringing children under the age of 13 due to the use of loud noises, mild scare tactics, and profanity. However, we will not deny children access to the tour as long as a parent or legal guardian is present. All patrons must pay $20.00 a ticket no matter their age.

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.

Will food be available?
Yes, baked goods, water, and hot beverages will be available for purchase before and after your scheduled tour.

Will alcohol be available?
For the safety of our guests and volunteers, no alcohol will be permitted on the tour. Check-in will be held outside in front of the Columbia Market House. 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.

Can I smoke?
Guests may smoke tobacco products only before or after their scheduled tour on the Locust Street public sidewalk. Check-in will be held outside, but our 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, pocket knives, 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.

Can I take pictures?
We do NOT allow photography, video recording, or voice recording during our tours. Guests in violation of these rules will be asked to leave the tour immediately and will NOT be given a refund.

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

Is the tour ADA accessible?
The 2022 tour is not completely ADA accessible since we utilize narrow entrances in our venues and travel uneven paths through a local cemetery. If you need special assistance during a tour, please mention it when booking your ticket and during check-in. Thank you!

Are there restrooms?
Restrooms are located inside the Art Printing Company 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 find someone 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.

Do you have a lost and found?
If lost or misplaced items are found along the tour route, they will be immediately delivered to the check-in table. Guests must retrieve lost or misplaced items by 11:00 pm on Sunday, October 30, 2022. Personal belongings possessing high importance (i.e. keys, electronics, wallets, personal documents, etc.) may be held by a tour administrator for an additional period of time, before being handed over to the Columbia Police Department. Please call 717-449-4254 to claim your items.

How do I become an actor?
We hold auditions in June of every year and rehearsals begin in July. Follow us on Facebook for updates.