After a soldout inaugural event last year, the Historic Lantern Tour of Elizabethtown will return this October with new stories, historical characters, and - for the first time - a Lantern Trolley Tour.

Presented by Winters Heritage House Museum and Elizabethtown Preservation Associates Inc., the second annual tour will explore this year's theme, "Elizabethtown: The Road to Liberty."

The new 90-minute Lantern Trolley Tour will be offered on Thursday, Oct. 15, with tickets available for two departure times: 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The trolley tour will be followed by the traditional lantern-lit walking tours on Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17, with tour times at 6:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m. The walking tour route is a half mile and takes about an hour.

"Guests will step back into the 1700s to discover what life was like in early Elizabethtown and how the growing call for American independence affected the people who called this community home," explained Teresa St. Angelo, director of the Winters Heritage House Museum. "The journey begins at the historic H.U. Coble House, an 1877 Victorian home that is part of Winters Heritage House Museum. There, a storyteller will welcome guests before guiding them on a journey into Elizabethtown's past."

Along the way, guests will encounter costumed historical characters and hear true stories of the people, places and events that shaped the community during the years leading to the creation of the United States of America.

"Through their stories, guests will discover how events unfolding throughout the Colonies reached the streets, homes, taverns and families of early Elizabethtown," St. Angelo said.

Following both the trolley and walking tours, guests will continue their evening at Winters Heritage House Museum, where period dancing, music and refreshments will add to the historic atmosphere.

The Winters Heritage House Museum exists to preserve local history and keep the town's Colonial heritage alive. Exhibits change regularly throughout the year, and a variety of hands-on programs are hosted on-site, including Colonial story hour, traditional sewing and quilting circles and hearth cooking demonstrations. The museum also houses the Seibert Genealogy and Research Library, featuring family records, photos, maps, deeds and other documents that help visitors connect with their roots and learn more about the people who shaped Elizabethtown.

"The Historic Lantern Tour was created to take history beyond museum walls and allow visitors to experience Elizabethtown's past in the streets and places where that history happened," St. Angelo remarked. "Staff and volunteers are excited to welcome guests for an unforgettable evening of history, storytelling and fun as lanterns glow, historic characters emerge and the streets of Elizabethtown come alive with stories from more than 250 years ago."

Last year's tours sold out, and advance ticket purchase is strongly encouraged.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.wintersheritagehouse.org.