NATCHEZ — At Historic Jefferson College, time is measured in terms of B.D. and A.D. — before ducks and after ducks.

The year 2016 is the year 5 A.D. for the state historic site’s annual Ghost Tales Around the Campfire and After-Dark Halloween Duck Hunt.

“It has turned into our biggest event,” Site Director Robin Person said.

The first year HJC retooled the annual fall event, 35 children showed up to listen to ghost stories and hunt ducks with flashlights. Since that first duck hunt, the event has grown in popularity. So too have the number of ducks.

Last year, more than 500 children came to flush out the rubber ducks hidden on the property, Person said.

“We are really happy that everybody has taken to this event,” Person said. “This year we will be hiding 1,500 ducks.”

In fact, there are so many ducks that HJC workers have to start hiding the plastic birds days in advance.

Starting at 6:30 p.m. today, Ghost tales will be told in the grassy bowl beside the visitor center, followed by the duck hunt in designated areas on the campus.

People who plan to attend are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for the ghost tales and flashlights and something in which to collect ducks. The event is free.

In the event of rain, the tales will be told in the West Wing building. The duck hunt will happen, “rain or shine,” Person said.

With a burn ban in effect, there may not be a campfire this year, but there still will be stories. After the stories comes the duck hunt, where rubber ducks, in the shapes of various monsters, nurses, dogs, chefs, sock monkeys and other fun characters, will be hidden in designated areas on the grounds.  Children and their parents will then search for ducks with flashlights. The

children get to keep all the ducks they find.

A separate area with a little more light will be designated for younger children.

To make the event more exciting and educational, 25 of the hidden ducks will be numbered on the bottom. Children who find a numbered duck can bring it to the HJC visitor center, where they will find the number to a corresponding question about the history of HJC. If the question is answered correctly, the children get a Halloween-themed goodie bag to take home.

Because of the event’s popularity, Person recommends people come early to get parking space.
“We want people to come out and have a good time,” Person said.