A brand-new pumpkin patch destination near Oxford offers families an outdoor escape to explore this month.
36 Magnolia Sound
Young musician and entrepreneur Silas Caldwell balances high school, a guitar shop, songwriting, recording and touring, and still has energy to spare.
42 Happy Halloween
A Tupelo woman finds joy decorating her family home to the hilt for every holiday.
This month’s cover stories celebrate the season. Read all about Oxford’s new Chadwick Farms starting on page 30, and turn to page 42 to see more fun photos of the Houin family’s enchanting Halloween decor.
LETTER from the PUBLISHER
Fall is a time for celebrations. And, this month, we have much to celebrate.
Our company is beginning its 18th year in business thanks to each of you who read this magazine monthly. In Oxford, the Chadwick family has opened a new fall pumpkin farm — read all about it starting on page 30. And turn to page 42 for an overthe-top Halloween home in Tupelo that will make you say “Boo!”
We are grateful for this season, and we are grateful to be a part of this community.
PUBLISHER
Rachel West
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Thacker Mountain Radio
OCTOBER 3
TMR features author Sean Kelly (“White Noise and Lightning”), New Orleans rocker Mia Borders and Nashville songwriter Silas Caldwell — featured on page 36. 6 p.m., the Powerhouse. thackermountain.com
One Night Stand
OCTOBER 5
Motel rooms become private art galleries. Tickets, $25, include food and an hour (5-6 p.m.) to preview art before the general public. Free after 6 p.m., Ole Miss Motel. eventbrite.com
Water Valley Yard Sale
OCTOBER 5
Sponsored by Mulberry Lane Resale Shoppe, the third annual Water Valley Yard Sale will feature individual vendors, local businesses and collective marketplaces throughout the community. 7 a.m.-1 p.m. mulberrylaneresale@gmail.com
Third Thursdays
OCTOBER 17
Visit Oxford hosts free live music at the
COMING
OCTOBER 2024
Pocket Park next to City Hall. 5-7 p.m. visitoxfordms.com
Our Planet Live
OCTOBER 17
Dan Tapster headlines this speaker series that brings the Netflix “Our Planet” series to life. 7:30 p.m., the Ford Center. fordcenter.org
City of Oxford Trunk or Treat
OCTOBER 17
The City of Oxford hosts a communitywide Trunk or Treat. 5-7 p.m., Oxford Conference Center. visitoxfordms.com
Voctave
OCTOBER 19
Voctave, an 11-person a cappella sensation hailing from central Florida, performs live. 7:30 p.m, the Ford Center. fordcenter.org
Halloween Fest
OCTOBER 19
This annual Halloween Fest includes trickor-treating, costume contests, hayrides and haunted trails. 6-10 p.m., Wall Doxey State Park, Holly Springs. mdwfp.com
Water Valley Art Crawl
OCTOBER 19
An annual art crawl takes place in and around downtown Water Valley. 6-9 p.m., with an after-party at Courthouse Commons. mainstreetwatervalley.org
Witches Ride
OCTOBER 21
Bring your bike and dress as a witch to ride from Midtown Shopping Center to the Square. Open to women ages 18 and up. Tickets, $50. Proceeds benefit the Pantry. Meet at 5:45 p.m. for the 6 p.m. ride. eventbrite.com
Teenage Halloween
OCTOBER 22
Southern Punk Archive presents Teenage Halloween and Tiny Stills with Vivica Vanity’s Punk Drag. 7 p.m., Burns Belfry. teenagehalloween.com
Harvest Supper
OCTOBER 24
An evening of art, music, food and friendship. Harvest Supper is hosted by the Friends of the Museum and supports the UM Museum and Historic Houses. 6:30-10 p.m., Rowan Oak. rowanoak.com
“Dear Evan Hansen”
OCTOBER 24
The Tony Award-winning musical “Dear Evan Hansen” is a coming-of-age story about a teenage boy struggling with anxiety and depression. Recommended for ages 12 and up. 7:30 p.m., the Ford Center. fordcenter.org
Square Jam Session
OCTOBER 25
Free, live music on the downtown Oxford Square, 5-9 p.m. visitoxfordms.com
Ole Miss Football
OCTOBER 26
In their first season in the SEC, the Oklahoma Sooners come to Oxford for their first game against Ole Miss since 1999. Wear powder blue. Game time 11 a.m., Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. olemisssports.com
Spooky Sipps
OCTOBER 30
Spooky wines and creepy concoctions from the kitchen are paired in this seasonal tasting event. Tickets, $40. 5:30-6:30 p.m., the Sipp on South Lamar. thesippms.com
“Homeless in Black and White”
OCTOBER 4
An opening reception for Damon Palmer’s photography (on display from Oct. 2 to 31) is sponsored by Sarah Young. 5-7 p.m., Gumtree Museum of Art, Tupelo. gumtreemuseum.com
Fall Into Tupelo Fall Fest
OCTOBER 4-5
Fall Fest kicks off with Chili Fest on Friday at 5 p.m. Tickets, $10. Family Fun Day takes place Saturday, noon-4 p.m., with free games and activities. Fairpark, Tupelo. tupelomainstreet.com
Artifact & Relic Show
OCTOBER 5
The Magnolia State Archaeological Society hosts a display of Native American artifacts
from around the Southeast. Free. 8 a.m.2:30 p.m., Crossroads Arena, Corinth. crossroadsarena.com
Brantley Gilbert Concert
OCTOBER 11
Brantley Gilbert’s Off the Rails Tour features special guests Adam Calhoun and Demun Jones. Tickets from $25, 7 p.m., Cadence Bank Arena, Tupelo. cbarena.com
TCT Haunted Theatre
OCTOBER 11-31
Immerse yourself in TCT’s annual Haunted Theatre. Open Oct. 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 from 7-11 p.m., and Oct. 31 from 7-10 p.m. Tickets, $15. the Lyric, Tupelo. tctlyric.com
Fall Festival
OCTOBER 12
Fleet Feet Tupelo and Tupelo High School put on a 1-mile fun run for kids in grades
K-6, plus pumpkin painting, dunking booth, costume contest, food vendors and more. Noon-4 p.m., Tupelo High School. facebook.com/fleetfeettupelo
Pretty in Pink
OCTOBER 12
The Tennessee Valley Authority and Wear It Well Inc.’s gala benefits breast cancer awareness. Tickets from $60. 6 p.m., Cadence Bank Arena Conference Center, Tupelo. wearitwell.org
Booneville Fall Festival
OCTOBER 19
Booneville’s annual fall festival features artists, craft vendors, food, music, a classic car show and more. Downtown Booneville. visitbooneville.com
Celebration Village
OCTOBER 23-26
Sanctuary Hospice House hosts its holiday market fundraiser with shopping, food, music and fellowship. Find schedule and
A progressive craft beer tasting with participating downtown Tupelo retailers. Tickets include a sampling glass and map. 5:30-9 p.m., downtown Tupelo. tupelomainstreet.com
“Celebrating Life”
OCTOBER 26
The NMSO presents pianist Yaron Kohlberg and performs two works of Sir Edward Elgar. Tickets, $30. 7:30 p.m., Link Centre, Tupelo. nmsymphony.com
Southern Flea Market
OCTOBER 26-27
The Southern Flea Market spends a weekend in Corinth. Open 9 am.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sunday. Crossroads Arena, Corinth. crossroadsarena.com
“Rocky Horror Picture Show”
OCTOBER 31
Tupelo Community Theatre hosts an adult-only screening of the film. Tickets, $20. 8 p.m., TCT Off Broadway. tctlyric.com
APPLE CIDER COCKTAIL
THIS SIMPLE AND ORIGINAL SEASONAL COCKTAIL WILL PLEASE ADULT PALATES THIS FALL.
RECIPE BY SARAH GODWIN | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
If October had a flavor, it would be apple cider. Here’s an adult version of warm apple cider: a cocktail mixed up with your favorite bourbon whiskey and a drop of citrus to brighten the flavor. Serving it warm makes it even more appealing on a crisp fall evening.
APPLE CIDER
6 ounces apple cider
3-4 ounces bourbon whiskey
1 teaspoon fresh lemon or orange juice Cinnamon sticks
In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook apple cider until warm. Do not boil. Pour warm cider into a short tumbler; add bourbon and juice, and stir. Garnish with cinnamon sticks, and serve.
Cocktail
Fall Fall at Chadwick Farms
A BRAND-NEW PUMPKIN PATCH DESTINATION NEAR OXFORD OFFERS FAMILIES AN OUTDOOR ESCAPE TO EXPLORE THIS MONTH. WRITTEN BY EUGENE STOCKSTILL | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
Hudson and Barney Chadwick
AAt Chadwick Farms, you won’t get to see the Great Pumpkin, a brokenhearted Linus, an enraged Sally, or Snoopy, the flying ace. But you will witness a Lafayette County man’s dream come true.
Located at 113 CR 215 just outside the Oxford city limits, Chadwick Farms is a full-service pumpkin patch, which means you have a bunch more to do than ride out to pick a pumpkin to carry home with you. It’s a destination you can take family and friends for a day in the great outdoors on a blue-sky, crisp autumn afternoon.
Hudson Chadwick, owner of the farm, opened the pumpkin patch earlier this month. Admission is $18 per person; children under
age 3 are free. Food and beverages are extra. Chadwick Farms is open Friday afternoons and evenings, Saturdays and Sundays.
“We’ll be open until dark,” Chadwick said. “You could make an afternoon of it.” He imagines a school bus full of children coming after school lets out on a Friday.
At Chadwick Farms, you can:
Ride one of four wagons to the pumpkin patch, one of which is wheelchair-accessible.
Hear family-friendly music playing in the background.
Spend time at a big old red barn and a petting zoo with a pig, goats and chickens (and possibly some guest appearances by exotic animals).
Take a hayride to the pumpkin patch even if you have allergies, since all the wagons have benches, not actual hay.
Find some much-needed shade under one of several large pavilions.
Turn the kids loose on a huge playground with giant tube slides and tree houses with rope bridges.
Get lost in the corn maze or take a walk on the path near the pond.
And, coming soon, enjoy a coffee bar, expected to open later this month.
“My 7-year-old is super excited,” said Chadwick, an electrical contractor who also owns the restaurant Rafters on the Water in Sardis, during an interview in late August.
Evey (she’s the 7-year-old) is the ultimate inspiration for Chadwick Farms.
A native of Jackson, Chadwick grew up connected to Oxford and Ole Miss.
His uncle, Billy Chadwick, who played tennis with his father, Barney Chadwick, at Belhaven College, became the tennis coach at the university and helped forge a lifetime of
Lafayette County connections for Hudson.
Not long ago, daughter Evey had such a wonderful experience at a pumpkin patch, that her father, who knew he wanted to spend more time with his family, experienced an epiphany.
“Ooo, I want to do this,” he said.
When a 95-acre farm right by their house went up for sale, he bought it. Walking around the farmland one day, he had a second light bulb moment.
“Here’s the pumpkin patch,” he said, gazing around him. “We’re here.”
Construction began last year, with carpentry, dirt and plumbing work going to subcontractors. (Chadwick, of course, did all the electrical work).
The pumpkin patch is the first to be this close to Oxford. The next closest is at least a 45-minute drive away. “That’s your whole day,” Chadwick said.
No more. And in case you think Chadwick Farms will close once fall turns to winter, think again.
“We’ve got big Christmas plans,” Chadwick said. “We’ll have spring flowers.”
What, we wondered out loud with Chadwick, is the single best part about this big idea of his that finally has become reality? The rolling hills, the pastures, the pure scenic beauty of the place, that’s what.
“The fact that we’re going to get to share it. That is the most exciting part,” he said. “It’s gorgeous.”
Magnolia Sound
YOUNG MUSICIAN AND ENTREPRENEUR SILAS CALDWELL BALANCES HIGH SCHOOL, A GUITAR SHOP, SONGWRITING, RECORDING AND TOURING, AND STILL HAS ENERGY TO SPARE.
WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
Music, in one form or another, has created the framework of Silas Caldwell’s young life. Tupelo-born, he lived his first seven years in the birthplace of the rock ’n’ roll king. When he turned 8, his family moved to Oxford, often cited as a center of hill country blues. At age 12, he moved about 250 miles north to Nashville, known by many as Music City.
He was born to music-loving parents, Missy and Tony Caldwell who surrounded their young son with their own favorite sounds, an eclectic musical mix. Silas grew up watching his dad play with hill country artists; his mom grew up on classic country and singer/songwriters like Bob Dylan. And his great-grandfather on his mom’s side, I.A. Turner from Skuna Bottom, Mississippi, played guitar for Western swing artist Sonny James. Silas never met his great-grandfather, who played a Gibson ES-335 Walnut TD, but he searched the United States for a guitar like Turner’s made in the same year
in the same factory. He found one, and it is now Silas’ primary guitar.
Silas, now 17, is thriving as a young entrepreneur and a singer/songwriter/ musician who’s making quite a name for himself in Nashville and beyond.
His first formal foray into learning to play music was at age 4, with Dr. Christopher Thompson and a Suzuki violin. He’s also an alum of Oxford’s Roxford University that offers lessons in guitar, bass, vocals, drums and more, and gives young musicians the opportunity to perform in groups.
At age 14, Silas and three other teens formed a cover band, Derailed. They had a large following and played multiple venues around Nashville, but when two members moved to Florida, the band ceased to be.
“When Derailed ended after two years, there was a real void,” Silas said. “I was at a loss as to what to do with all the time and energy I’d spent on that.”
That was when a longtime interest in
owning a business reemerged. With support from his parents, and some of the money he’d made and saved while playing with Derailed, Silas and his dad became business partners in Caldwell Guitars of Nashville which opened in 2021.
“Silas has done most of the work on the business,” said his proud dad, a therapist with a full-time private practice in Nashville. “He did the tax paperwork, the website, all the front-end work that I had to sign off on. He is at the store every day.”
Silas, a high school senior, attends a hybrid home school that gives him time to work in the store, which is open by
appointment. He’s met lots of cool guitar people, including a few famous folks.
In his spare time, Silas writes music.
“I started becoming serious about song writing when I was 14,” he said. “Typically, for me, the lyrics come first — something I’m feeling, getting something off my chest, heartbreak and desire are something we all go through. It’s like peeling back the layers on an onion.”
Heartbreak and desire? Silas laughed. “No girlfriends now,” he said. “No time and no money for girls.”
He does, however, find time for the music. In addition to song writing, Silas
tours, sometimes solo, but more often with his band Silas Caldwell and The Magnolia Sound. Established in 2023, the band features Arthur Stover on drums; Dayton Swords, lead guitar; Tony Caldwell, bass guitar; and Silas on vocals and guitar.
A highlight for Silas was playing at The Bluebird Cafe, a famous Nashville venue. He wasn’t too nervous, but his dad was.
“I was nervous for him,” Tony said. “Everyone performing had either a Grammy or a No. 1 hit. And there was 15-year-old Silas, but he was great.”
These days, much of the music Silas plays is original.
“I would rather play original music for 10, than covers for hundreds,” he said.
His musical influences are diverse and include some Mississippians: Neil Young, Patti Smith, Lucinda Williams, REM, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, R.L. Burnside, John Moreland, Andrew Bryant, Water Liars.
In August, Silas played a homecoming concert of sorts at the Link Centre in Tupelo. Back in Tupelo a few weeks later, he performed at Change Festival. And on Oct. 3, he’ll be in Oxford at the Powerhouse as a guest on Thacker Mountain Radio. Though he’s now a Nashville resident, Silas clearly loves the state of his birth.
“I wouldn’t rather be from anywhere else but Mississippi,” he said. “There’s blues, rock, mainstream music as we know it. It’s where it all came from.”
CALENDAR | RECIPES | FEATURES | EVENTS | LASTING IMPRESSIONS
Happy Halloween
A TUPELO WOMAN FINDS JOY DECORATING HER FAMILY HOME TO THE HILT FOR EVERY HOLIDAY.
WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
Holidays are a big deal inside — and outside — the Tupelo home of Jeff and Christi Houin. No matter the calendar’s date, if it’s a special occasion, the home is decorated to fit the bill.
Close friends have claimed Christi Houin missed her calling. Chances are, she would agree. When pursuing a profession, Houin took a stab at several, but accountants ought to have an affinity for arithmetic and teachers should feel a passion for the classroom. Science, however, made sense to Houin, who ended up in nursing school at Louisiana State University where she met her husband who was in medical school. They have been married 34 years.
“When Jeff was in medical school and we were in an apartment, there was not a lot of money for holiday decorations,” said the New Orleans native. “And when we had our first two kids and I was working full time, there was no free time to explore decorating.”
Since moving to Tupelo 28 years ago, Houin has had opportunities to hone her decorating gifts to near perfection. She’s also known for her incredible set dressing and set designs for many Tupelo Community Theatre productions through the years.
The mother and grandmother of four decorates for every holiday — major and minor. When pressed to pick a preference, Houin chose Christmas.
“I love all holidays,” she said. “But I’d have to say Christmas is my favorite. It takes over my house. I start decorating for Christmas the weekend before Thanksgiving. At Thanksgiving, the inside of the house looks like Christmas, but the outside will still be decorated for Thanksgiving.”
Continued on page 44
Continued from page 43
There is method to this madness.
“I have so much to put out,” she said. “If I don’t start when I do, it won’t get finished in time.”
Second on her list of favorite holidays is Halloween. (In third place is Mardi Gras.) Decorating for the day designed for trickor-treating dressed in masks and costumes, both scary and stylish, begins on Oct. 1. But Houin confesses: If the weather cools off a bit earlier, she may start in September.
There’s no tossing decor up willy-nilly for Houin: There is always a plan, and it’s rarely the same from year to year.
“I always try to change up a bit or add to,” she said. “I take plenty of photos and often go back to them to help me decide on changes or tweaks to make each year.”
When the Houin family lived in Tupelo’s Oak Meadows, she decorated more generically, more for fall with lots of jack-o’-lanterns and scarecrows. But now Houin has about 1,000 square feet extra to consider since the family moved into their 113-year-old, three-story home on South Church Street in historic Mill Village.
Sure, there still may be pumpkins and scarecrows to be found, but there are also spiders — this year big, furry spiders spinning webs along the staircase banister in the entry hall — sugar skulls, skeletons and even witches.
“I’m not a witchy person, per se,” Houin said. “But I have added some when I see something I like.”
The Houin house hollers Halloween from the front porch, into the entry hall, sitting room and formal dining area. The kitchen is usually decorated, too. Check out the manse’s multiple mantels for more frighteningly fun fanfare. Look carefully for the fleur de lis turned sugar skull, an idea that came to Houin in the wee hours.
“This is why I don’t sleep,” she said. “Because I think of this kind of stuff all the time.”
How many holiday decorations does she have?
“I never think I have enough until I start taking them out,” Houin said, laughing. “All my holiday stuff is stored in the basement.
Tupelo’s Christi Houin has a knack for holiday decorating, and Halloween is no exception.
The only time I need help is when it’s time to drag up the big crates — I’m a short woman and can’t maneuver them.”
A basement full of stored decor does not necessarily mean Houin has enough. New holiday decor hits store shelves annually, and you’d better believe she checks it out.
“Jeff may sometimes grumble about my shopping for more, but he loves the way our house looks when I am finished. He knows it feeds my soul, so he loves that I do it.”
And she has no plans to curtail her holiday home beautification, especially since her grandchildren have a great appreciation for her efforts.
“I think I love decorating for Halloween so much because it reminds me of my childhood,” Houin said. “My family didn’t decorate like I do, but they always made every holiday feel special. I have tried to do the same for my children and grandchildren. To see the looks of awe and surprise on their faces is worth all the work.
“And I think one of the purposes in life is to make things beautiful. So, that’s what I like to do in my own space.”
FOOTBALL TRAINING CAMP
The Eric Matthews Football Camp teaches football fundamentals, character values and even offers opportunities for mothers to participate. It took place July 27 at Robins Field in Tupelo.
1. Eric Matthews Football Camp coaches and players 2. Coach Vashon Pearson and Coach Robert Hicks
Anthony Mitchell
Eric Matthews
William Barr and Harry Dukes
PHOTOS BY JACQUELINE SAVOY
DANCE LIKE THE STARS
The Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi hosted its 19th annual Dance Like the Stars on Aug. 3 at Cadence Bank Arena. The fundraiser benefits the nonprofit organization.
1. Allie Martin, Jonte Amos and Alyssa Martin
2. Jeffery Kent and Heather Franks
3. Kim, Bethany and Robby Bounds
4. Rose Leigh and Rubye Del Hardin with Meredith Tollison and Melanie Deas
5. Dena Richardson, Barbara Cook, Sylvia Rose and Gail Mays
6. William Teer and Tammy Wilson
7. Michelle Martin, Daniella Oropeza and Katrina Berry Ivy 8. Andrew Davis and Tiffany Phillips
Robert Bass and Sara Davis
PHOTOS BY LISA ROBERTS
NEMCC BACK-TO-SCHOOL
Northeast Mississippi Community College students went back to school on Aug. 19 to begin the fall semester.
PHOTOS BY LIZ CALVERY
1. Sam Lamy, Kierra Slack and Aston Reynolds
2. Kortney Trice and Alana James
3. Zareli Ozuna and Anna Slack
4. Maria Jenkins
5. Jonah Warren, Riley Yates and Riley Barnes
6. Trey Haynes and Dream Carnell
BIRTHDAY BAR CRAWL
The second annual Tom Booth Birthday Bar Crawl took place Aug. 9. The event celebrates the life of Tom Booth, former executive director of Tupelo Community Theatre. All proceeds went to TCT.
1. Daniella Ratliff and Jessica Bragg
2. John Benjamin, Josh Sullivan, Ashley Benjamin, Amanda Sullivan, Pam Cook and Michelle Lindsey
3. Donna and Chris Stevens with Carla Durham
4. Ken and Rachael Hill
5. Robyn Talley, Allen Jackson, Robin Jackson, Lisa Ross and Dalton Russell
6. Burt and Tina Wilkinson
7. Jeff Houin, Haley Johnson, Beverly Williams, Maggie Houin and Victoria Wise
8. Thomas and Shannon Gray
9. Joni Nolan, Patti Fudge, Richard Tucker, Laurie Rials and Phillip and Amy Counce
10. Diane Cates, Karen Dodson, Cora Polson, Kim Jones, Rhonda Sinclair, Kim Wade, Kim Wright, Tracy Conwill, Suzanne Oakley and Tommy Green
PHOTOS BY LISA ROBERTS
11. The Yellow Team
SALTILLO RODEO
The Saltillo Rodeo, presented by Saltillo Main Street and Deep South Rodeo Productions, took place Aug. 9-10.
5.
6.
PHOTOS BY LISA ROBERTS
1. Jack Hester
2. Cash and Colt Smith with Jayden Shaw and Zachary Stephens
3. Kara Riley, Landri Barkley, Alinea Loagi, Sawyer Crump and Sloan Carter
4. Jordan and Laporsha Shumpert
Callie, Brewer (Gus) and Drew Rhudy
Robbie Sandlin, Kenzie Roberts, Wesley Roberts and Pete Brock
PARADE OF CHAMPIONS
The July 31 Hometown Parade of Champions celebrated Saltillo and Guntown high schools, including their combined seven state titles.
PHOTOS BY LISA ROBERTS
1. David Gist, Adam Hall, James Guthers, Ronnie Taylor, Brian Mckee, Richard Bryant and Randy Holt
2. Corie Smith and Olivia Williams 3. Jessie Tomlinson and Avari Vance
Zaria Thorton and Layla Gambrel
Jolia Tomlinson, Rebekah Duffie and Charley Moon
Market at the Meadry
TCT’S HAUNTED THEATRE
FOR MORE THAN A DOZEN YEARS, STEVE MILLER’S MAGIC HAS TRANSFORMED THE LYRIC IN TUPELO INTO THE TOWN’S MUCH-ANTICIPATED HAUNTED THEATRE.
WRITTEN
AND
RESEARCHED BY LESLIE CRISS | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY STEVE MILLER
Don’t ask Steve Miller to watch a horror movie — he just can’t. They bother him too much. But when Halloween rolls around, invite him to a haunted house, and he’s all in.
He and his kids used to go to anything haunted offered in the month of October. This included a visit years ago to what he believes was the very first Haunted Theatre at Tupelo Community Theatre’s Lyric.
“Tracy Conwill told me to come see it,” Miller said, laughing. “I did. And it was just plain bad. It didn’t make sense; it was too theatrical. And people like to be scared.”
He was told if he could do any better, he should show up and help with the next Haunted Theatre.
“I showed up to help and was told, ‘It’s all yours,’” Miller said.
And so he’s been in charge of TCT’s Haunted Theatre for the past 13 years. He has help from Dave Dawson, who has built
“I STAY EXCITED ABOUT THE HAUNTED THEATRE. I JUST LOVE DOING IT.”
— Steve Miller
many sets for productions, along with a cast of 16 other volunteers.
It seemed like a great idea — a Haunted Theatre, a fun and frightening community event to raise money to help support the local theater. Even without the macabre magic Miller brings to the annual October event, the Lyric is said to be home to a resident ghost named Antione.
The Haunted Theatre that started out “too theatrical” has morphed through the years into a huge annual production guaranteed to scare even the bravest souls.
“In the early years, we had no budget,
no money for the Haunted Theatre,” Miller said. “We didn’t know what we were doing.”
So, Miller and a few others started visiting haunted houses far and wide to learn how to put together a successful experience.
In recent years, animatronics and pneumatics have been added to the spooky adventure, but Miller has also hung onto many classic Halloween scaries.
Todd Barnett, who’s been on stage in many TCT productions, often accompanies Miller to yard sales and to The Halloween & Attractions Show in St. Louis, the only industry trade show of its kind in the world. Miller is always in search of more ghastly and ghostly items to add each October.
“I stay excited about the Haunted Theatre,” he said. “I just love doing it.”
The 2024 Haunted Theatre is open from 7 to 11 p.m. October 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26; and from 7 until 10 p.m. October 31. Tickets are $15 per person.
This year’s Haunted Theatre at the Lyric in Tupelo will be open Friday and Saturday nights starting Oct. 11, plus the night of Oct. 31.
