You're invited to a tour that combines a bit of history with a bit of mystery. Stories by Lanternlight: Ripped From the Headlines will be offered on Friday, Oct. 15, and Saturday, Oct. 16, with rain dates of Friday, Oct. 22, and Saturday, Oct. 23. Tours will begin at 6:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m. and will start and end at the Historic Wrightsville Museum, located at 309 Locust St. Groups will be limited to 20 for each tour.

"We're calling this tour 'Ripped From the Headlines,' because the stories that will be told are based on events that happened in Wrightsville's history," explained Joyce Heiserman, events director. "These are events that would have appeared in local newspapers at the time."

Heiserman noted that Wrightsville has had at least five newspapers throughout its history, which gives the tour organizers a lot of stories to choose from. "These events are so historically varied and wide, we know they would have been headlines in the papers, even if we don't still have the actual paper with the headline," she noted. "The museum committee reviews the information, and all of the tour is based on actual facts from the community."

Costumed guides will lead tourgoers through nine sites before the tour wraps up with a campfire featuring s'mores and hot apple cider back at the museum. Comfortable walking shoes and a flashlight are recommended.

The tour is a fundraiser for Historic Wrightsville Inc., which operates two sites in town - the museum on Locust Street and the Burning of the Bridge Diorama on Hellam Street. "We use the proceeds from the tours to help with upkeep, paying utilities, general operating funds, including archiving and gathering of materials, and needed repairs," Heiserman explained.

The group has been offering the lantern tours for about five years, she said, adding that the event has the "flavor" of Halloween without too much of the fright. "It's not gory or anything, but there will be a few scares along the way," she remarked. "The tour will feature lots of historical facts and information about residents and happenings in the town throughout the years."

For more information or to reserve tickets, call the Historic Wrightsville Museum at 717-252-1169, email historicwrightsville1963@gmail.com or stop in.