What do aliens, unicorns, NASCAR drivers, firemen and Christmas toys all have in common? They have all been turned into rubber ducks, and can be found on the grounds of Historic Jefferson College on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 27!
There may be another burn ban in Adams County this year, but that won’t stop Historic Jefferson College’s fifth Annual Ghost Tales Around the Campfire and the After-Dark Halloween Duck Hunt. Hopefully we’ll get the OK for the campfire, or we might be calling it “Ghost Tales Around the Pile of Unburnt Wood!”

This program has turned into one of Historic Jefferson College’s most popular events over the past four years, so every year, we have to increase our duck count. This year, we are going to be hiding 1,500! The duck hunt is just like an Easter egg hunt, but it’s Halloween, it’s at night, and instead of eggs, we have themed rubber ducks. Other than that, it’s just like it and Easter egg hunt.

Ghost Tales is family-friendly program in which local storytellers regale visitors with not-too-scary stories, while gathered around the traditional autumn bonfire (hopefully). After the ghost stories comes the After-Dark Duck Hunt, where rubber ducks, in the shapes of various monsters, nurses, dogs, chefs, sock monkeys  and much more will be hidden in designated areas on the grounds. Kids and their parents are invited to search for these adorable prizes with a flashlight, and they get to keep all the ducks they find. A separate area for younger kids is roped off in a section with a little more light. We’re also adding a little educational component. On the bottom of 25 ducks are numbers. Kids who find a numbered duck can bring it in to the visitors center, find their number on our exhibit panels and answer a question about the history of HJC. Once they tell a staff member what their question and answer are, they get a Halloween-themed goodie bag to take home.

Ghost Tales starts at 6:30 in the grassy bowl next to the visitors center. Please bring a blanket or chair, a bag and your flashlights. Although it hasn’t really rained in the past two months, you never can tell. If there is bad weather, we’ll do the Ghost Tales in the West Wing building. The Duck Hunt, however, will go on, even if it’s raining, so bring an umbrella if it is!  Because this event is so popular, I’d recommend coming a little early to get a better parking spot. There will be signs directing you to parking areas. Thanks to the help of our numerous community sponsors, this event is free of charge and open to kids ages 1-12.

Historic Jefferson College was chartered in 1802, making it Mississippi’s oldest institute of higher learning. Classes started here in 1811, but the school finally closed its doors for good in 1964. In 1972, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History began restoration work on the buildings and grounds, a task that never ends. We are located off U.S. 61, about four miles northeast of Natchez, in the little town of Washington. For more information about Ghost Tales or the Duck Hunt or any of our other programs, please contact me at 601-442-2901, info@historicjeffersoncollege,com, or check the Historic Jefferson College (HJC) Facebook page.

Robin Person is the site director at Historic Jefferson College.