Downtown Riverhead is getting a spooky new way to experience its history.
The Downtown Riverhead Business Improvement District is launching the Haunted History Walking Tour: A 1930s Riverhead True-Crime Experience, an immersive event that blends local history, live theater and a murder mystery set against the backdrop of Prohibition-era Riverhead.
The tours will take place Oct. 10, 17 and 24, beginning at 5 p.m. Participants will gather at the gazebo behind The Baker’s Workshop at Suffolk County Community College (20 East Main St., Riverhead, 631-548-3750) before starting the 90-minute walking play through historic locations.
The idea took shape around a table with BID board members as they sought to highlight downtown’s rich history while creating an event that could appeal to a broad audience. Melissa Martin, executive director of the Downtown Riverhead BID, says the goal was not simply to present historical facts but to give visitors a reason to walk through downtown and experience its businesses, buildings and streets in a different way.
The concept drew inspiration from historical walking tours in other communities, including Boston, and eventually came together with producer Colette Gilbert, who has worked in historical fiction and theater.
The result is a story set in Riverhead in 1930, during Prohibition and the Great Depression. At the center is John E. Tuthill, a well-known traveling foot doctor whose disappearance became a sensational murder case.
Participants will follow a Town Crier and Town Gossip, portrayed by actors who remain in character throughout the tour. As the group moves from location to location, the performers will present facts surrounding Tuthill’s case alongside rumors and suspicions circulating through the town. Bootlegging, rum-running, secrets, betrayal and murder all become part of the unfolding story.
Rather than simply hearing about historic locations, participants will encounter the story on the streets where the characters and events are presented as having unfolded.
“I hope that they learn something a little more about the factual storylines that are woven into this, like Dr. Tuttle and everything,” Martin says. “Even though it’s fun, it is still a part of Riverhead history.”
The BID has limited each tour to 50 participants to keep the group together and preserve the theatrical experience. The tours are scheduled around dusk, with lanterns planned as part of the experience.
Demand has already exceeded expectations. Tickets went on sale in late August, with promotional efforts ramping up in Sept., and all three tours sold out by Sept. 11.
For those who missed out, the BID is maintaining a waiting list. Interested participants can submit a contact form via the BID’s email outreach to express interest. If cancellations occur, Martin plans to contact people on the list in order. The BID may also revisit capacity, although no additional tour dates are currently planned.
The $20 tickets, or four for $60, also include bottled water and a themed chocolate pop from North Fork Chocolate Company. Organizers plan to offer photo and Instagram opportunities along the way.
The tour is about more than a Halloween event. It also gives visitors a chance to explore downtown on foot, discover its historic buildings and see the area from a different perspective.
The BID hopes the event will become a template for future walking experiences, potentially featuring different storylines and themes throughout the year.
