Hayride-Cemetery Walks: Pumpkins, Ghosts & Cemeteries

We are pumped to be teaming up with Johnson’s Nursery & Gardens, Forestvale Cemetery, and historian Ellen Baumler for pumpkin picking, corn mazes, and hayride ghost story cemetery tours…and a dash of philosophy for good measure (I mean….really…one can’t talk about ghosts without unearthing some deeply philosophical matter!).

Here’s the Scoop

Johnson’s Nursery & Gardens will be open from 12noon-6pm for Fall festivities (i.e., pumpkin picking, corn mazes,  koi pond and fire pit, etc.) every Saturday and Sunday starting September 19th through roughly October 18th or 25th (depending on the pumpkin inventory).  Activities are free to the public (the farm does ask that if your little ones use the bouncy house, to please show your love by purchasing a pumpkin).  Pumpkins, jams, honey and more can be purchased on site.

5935 McHugh Lane, Helena, MT 59602

***This year, we will be joining the fun on the first two Saturdays in October by offering hayride ghost story cemetery tours led by Ellen Baumler.*** 

After playing at Johnson’s Nursery & Gardens (or before), load into our hayride wagon (we’ll be parked on-site near the pumpkin patch!) and take a ride down the road with us to Forestvale Cemetery, where we’ll hear ghost stories, wander the cemetery grounds, and learn more about its residents and history! 

Saturday, October 3rd

— 1pm – 2:30pm Hayride Ghost Story Cemetery Tour

— 3pm – 4:30pm Hayride Ghost Story Cemetery Tour

Saturday, October 10th

— 1pm -2:30pm Hayride Ghost Story Cemetery Tour

— 3pm – 4:30pm Hayride Ghost Story Cemetery Tour

**Due to COVID and general hayride logistics, space for these walks are limited to 17 people per ride-walk.  No sign-up required…first come, first serve.  We’ll begin seating on our hayride trailer, 10 minutes before departure time until full.**

Our hayride ghost story cemetery tours are FREE to the public.  Open to all ages.  Donations welcomed and help support our guest storyteller and guide honorariums and philosophy in the community activities.

Additional Information

Johnson’s Nursery & Gardens is a small family farm dedicated to delivering fresh produce, plants, herbs, vegetable starts, on the farm honey, fresh jams, hay, and more.  They also have an amazing “pick your own” pumpkin patch, bouncy house (for kids), fire pit and koi pond, and corn maze which they open up every Fall…replete with Halloween decorations and good cheer!

Founded in 1890 as the Helena Cemetery, Forestvale Cemetery occupies 150 acres (according to current tax records) in the Helena Valley. The name was changed to Forestvale in 1901.  There are over 14,000 individuals buried at Forestvale, including many notable Montana pioneers. It is also the final resting place of motion picture star Myrna (Williams) Loy, a Helena native.  

If you live in Helena or are a Montana history buff, you are probably familiar with the work of the amazing Ellen Baumler.  An award-winning author, historian, and storyteller, Ellen served as the Montana Historical Society’s interpretive historian from 1992 until her retirement in 2018.  Over the years, she has delighted and educated learners of all ages on Montana’s heritage and helped bring to light many of Helena’s most colorful stories through her historical sleuthing! She has penned numerous articles and books, including Montana Chillers: 13 True Tales of Ghosts and Hauntings for young readers, Dark Spaces—Montana’s Historic Penitentiary at Deer Lodge, and most recently Haunted Helena: Montana’s Queen City Ghosts.  You can find Ellen in her Reeder’s Alley office “History Takes Time” or jaunting about town on one her famous historical tours.