Bar Harbor in October is hauntingly beautiful, with the trees painted in vibrant reds, oranges and yellows, and residents’ houses decked out with jack-o-lanterns and spooky décor. Here on Mount Desert Island, we take our holidays seriously, especially for their opportunities to gather and connect as a community—just take our 4th of July or Christmas celebrations for example. And Halloween in Bar Harbor is no exception. We lean on the rich history of our town to bring spooky stories to life and plan lots of activities that get us out into the beautiful, crisp October air.
If you’re a fan of eerie thrills or just happen to be visiting our island this time of year, read on to find 4 things to do in Bar Harbor in October that encompass the magic of Halloween.
Exploring the Haunted Side of Bar Harbor
The Wabanaki, Maine’s native people, have inhabited the area in and around Bar Harbor for 12,000 years and the land is steeped in indigenous spirit tales, burial grounds and more. In addition, our town is full of grand summer estates dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries that are ripe for paranormal activity. The Ledgelawn Inn, for example, was built in 1904 and is largely considered the most haunted building on the island, visited by the ghost of Mary Margaret. For those brave enough, there are two options for delving into the chilling mysteries of Bar Harbor.
Bar Harbor Ghost Tours is a 100% Native American Owned and family operated tour company that offers four different ways to explore the spooky stories of our town. Each tour is thoroughly researched and led by experienced, local storytellers. The historically dressed guides guide the way with their eery blue lanterns through Bar Harbor’s ghostly hot spots, telling tales of spirited encounters and even giving you the chance to listen to an Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) of a resident spirit. Cameras are encouraged to capture evidence of orbs, apparitions and other things that go bump in the night. Tours are typically 90 minutes, set just after sunset and cover varying distances.
The Bar Harbor Ghost Walk is run by American Ghost Walks and focuses on the history of Ledgelawn Inn and the jilted bride who wanders its halls. Tour guests will learn about 3 major types of ghosts: residual manifestations, intelligent hauntings, and poltergeists on their walk through Bar Harbor. Trailing along the shore path at night, with more stories of strange goings-on at the Balance Rock Inn and the legendary Bar Harbor Club, this is true spine-tingling activity.
How Have an Authentic Bar Harbor Experience
After more than 30 years hosting visitors to our Downeast town, we have a lot of tips and tricks up our sleeve for how to have the best Bar Harbor vacation. But the truth is that everyone has their own unique way of enjoying Mount Desert Island.
Some spend all their time hiking and exploring Acadia National Park. “People do disappear,” said Jeremy Dougherty, Manager of the Bar Harbor Inn. “They stay with us for four nights but are in Acadia four days in a row, so after check-in, we might not see them much. I mean, this place is an Adventure Land,” he said. “In Acadia, there’s a spiderweb of trails and sights you can link up to customize your adventure.”
Others would prefer to take their Bar Harbor vacation slow, relaxing by the pool or strolling through downtown. “This is their time to sit and drink coffee together and watch the Shore Path,” said Jeremy. “They’re here to drink a glass of wine on the balcony, come down and have long dinner and just do nothing.”
But no matter the vacation style, the evidence shows that many of them fall in love with Bar Harbor. Every year, around 250,000 guests stay in one of our six Bar Harbor hotels or motels. And 10% return—that’s approximately 25,000 people who choose to visit Bar Harbor again. In many cases, we’re not just talking about a second or third visit, rather generations of families who spend a part of every year here.
“Our repeat guests often want the same room. They want to be in the same spot on the property. They even want the same housekeeping staff,” said Jordan Soucy, Manager of the Bar Harbor Motel. “They like that it’s predictable.”
This, we think, is the key to achieving that authentic Bar Harbor trip. There’s no single correct answer for how to make the most of your vacation to Bar Harbor, but those who return to our island again and again have become more than just visitors. We’re most definitely biased, but we witness the true magic of Bar Harbor come alive when our visitors become part of the community fabric, joining us to celebrate local traditions like the annual 4th of July Seafood Festival, becoming friends with residents and staff, and sharing their love of this place with others.
The Atlantic Oceanside has welcomed New Hampshire guests, Jim and Michelle, to Bar Harbor for 20 years in a row. They stay for a few weeks at a time, inviting friends or family members to join them for a weekend of hiking and biking. In many ways, this has turned Bar Harbor into something of a second home for them, showing off their preferred spots and activities to their own visitors.
Bethany Reece, Manager of the Acadia Inn, is also familiar with this type of repeat visitor. “I have two particular families that have been staying here since I can remember,” she said. “I’ve watched their kids grow up. They come because they feel like they’re connected to us.” One family, she shares, had their first stay when their son was a toddler. Now, nearly 15 years later, their two children are young adults attending college and the family still books the same room for the same week in June. When they arrive each year, check in is more than a formality—it’s an opportunity to spend twenty minutes catching up with the staff they know, asking how the winter was, and getting the low-down on what’s new in town.
Dictionaries might not agree, but maybe the best definition of travelling authentically is when you connect personally with people, places and activities. Bar Harbor’s annual visitors “go to their favorite lobster pound, go to their favorite restaurant, see the staff they know at all these places.” They get a vacation that is truly special because they’ve spent years, sometimes generations, creating those connections.
And it all starts with your first visit. We can help you figure out what to pack for your trip, lend our best tips on exploring Acadia via bicycle, make sure you have plenty to do on a rainy day, or share our absolute favorite hike, but the rest is up to you!