The Haunting Historic District of Punta Gorda the Place to be Halloween

For decades locals and visitors alike have been drawn to the eery twilight streets of downtown Punta Gorda on All Hallows Eve.  The tradition has its roots in Halloweens past when Governor Gilchrist who lived on Retta Esplanade funded free ice cream for the children of Punta Gorda.  Not wanting the tradition he started to die with him, Gilchrist, a Mason, bestowed a perpetual gift of ice cream on costumed kids through the Masons who to this day give out  free ice cream at Gilchrist Park on Halloween.    Along with Masons, the Kiwanis Club of Punta Gorda provides glow lights (on Olympia) to help the trick-or treaters spirit through the twilighted lanes of the Victorian-era downtown area of the city. 

Punta Gorda's historic area with it's looming gothic mansions and trees dangling in Spanish moss already resembles the setting for a spooky movie.  And on Halloween, the residents of the historic district embellish this  setting by draping their homes in gossamery garland, decorating windows with eerie lighting, hanging animated witches, ghosts and other goblins from porch fronts and doorways, adding ghostly music and other chilling effects to create a Disneyesque haunted neighborhood attracting costumed visitors from all around in search of treats in the Halloween atmosphere.

By early evening  throngs of visiting ghosts, goblins, witches, and icons of popular culture will flood the area from Shreve to Cross, and Olympia to Retta Esplanade, like a huge river of freaky characters. They will be welcomed by costumed residents many in houses with themes to suit the night.  Residents of the downtown and other Punta Gordans pass out treats to lanes of Trick or Treaters.

This is the night to be in downtown Punta Gorda -- even if not in costume -- if for no other reason to be bewitched by the adorable dressed-up youngsters of our town.