Step into a world of mystery and delight as the Ottawa Downtown Association presents an unforgettable evening with “A Victorian Haunting: Murder at the Mansion.”
Something Wicked this Way Comes…
Saturday
Oct. 25
Time
2-8 pm
Location
Historic Ottawa
Starting At
$35 each
Step back in time to a shadowy night of intrigue, secrets, and suspense at A Victorian Haunting: Murder at the Mansion. Someone has met an untimely end inside the grand Reddick Mansion… and it’s up to you to uncover the truth.
Follow a trail of clues hidden throughout downtown Ottawa. Each stop reveals another piece of the puzzle—and brings you closer to solving the mystery. Experience even more Victorian parlor activities, from palm readers to mediums and more. Don your finest Victorian attire and be entered to win a $100 Discover Ottawa Gift Card in our Second Annual Costume Contest!
What’s New This Year?
🕰️ Extended Hours!
We’re starting earlier—festivities now begin at 2 PM, giving you even more time to explore Victorian-era Ottawa and immerse yourself in the mystery.
📲 Skip the Check-In Line!
No need to wait in line! Just show your pass and start your haunting adventure.
🎩 Now Open to Ages 13+!
This year’s event is designed for guests 13 and older, so teens and adults alike can join in the mystery, thrills, and Victorian fun!
🍴 Enjoy a Gourmet Snack!
Grab a gourmet charcuterie cup filled with easy-to-eat snacks. Savor the flavors while you sleuth!
Enhance Your Evening with Add-On Experiences!
Fatal Footsteps: Tracing Ottawa’s Most Gruesome Crimes Tour
Enhance your outing with a 1-hour guided tour by Tom Aussem of the award-winning Awesome Ottawa Tours. Discover the dark side of local history with Fatal Footsteps: Tracing Ottawa’s Most Gruesome Crimes. A chillingly perfect companion to your night of mystery.
Step back into a time when justice was swift, suspects vanished without a trace, and the line between the accused and the innocent blurred under the gaslight. In the gritty days of the 1800s, Ottawa, Illinois, was no exception to the chaos of the Wild Middle West—where crime often went unanswered and death left whispers that still echo today.
You’ll visit local cemeteries and crime scenes where killers and the killed now rest uneasily beneath the soil. Hear haunting tales of unsolved murders, brutal frontier justice, and the desperate measures ordinary people took in desperate times. This journey into the darker corners of Ottawa’s history is not for the faint of heart.
Which fatal footsteps will you follow? Find out—if you dare.
Tours available at 2, 3:30, and 5 pm. Limited capacity.
The Afterlife Speakeasy
This extremely limited ticket includes full access to A Victorian Haunting: Murder at the Mansion plus exclusive entry to The Afterlife Speakeasy, a hideaway tucked deep in downtown Ottawa. From 8–10 PM, you’ll enjoy a bourbon flight and sample locally-made absinthe. Limit 50 tickets, so don’t sleep on this one!