Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood has high spirits for Halloween. Many residents adorn their homes with spooky season decorations and organize a well-attended, nighttime trick-or-treat event for kids.
This year, Jill Capicchioni brings more cackles into the community for all ages with “Riverwest Radio Ghost Walk,” an ongoing, self-guided tour that leads folks to hauntingly-adorned houses in Riverwest and Harambee.
The houses will be decorated from Monday, Oct. 4 through Thursday, Oct. 31. Participants pick up a book for $10 featuring 21 short ghost stories written by local writers and a map that leads them to the homes that will be decorated to reflect the theme of the ghost story.
The Ghost Walk book is available at Fischberger’s Variety, Nessun Dorma, Woodland Pattern, Bliffert Lumber Riverwest, Riverwest Grown and Riverwest Co-op.
"Basically you buy the book, and then take a walk with your friends, read the ghost stories and look at the home decorations any time during the 3 1/2 weeks," says Organizer Jill Capicchioni. "The Ghost Walk is also something fun a family can do as you do not have to visit all the sites on one night."
The event is a fundraiser for WXRW 104.1, better known as “Riverwest Radio,” and all proceeds of the sale of the book will go to the station. Founded in 2016, Riverwest Radio is a non-commercial, low-power, community-focused FM radio station.
Capicchioni got the idea for the Ghost Walk fundraiser from a similar event that took place in the Brewers Hill neighborhood about 20 years ago.
"I thought it could be a fun way to get folks out walking around and because Riverwest loves Halloween," says Capicchioni. "I also wanted to include the Harambee neighborhood since they are also serviced by Riverwest Radio."
In conjunction with the month-long Ghost Walk, Capicchioni will install a public art piece along the Beerline Trail that's connected to one of the stories. The art is made of 300+ stick sculptures that were constructed during the RW24 event.
"It’s a great way to support Riverwest Radio and get in the Halloween spirit," says Capicchioni.
For more information, go here.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
