The Tampa Theatre will once again hold its annual ‘A Nightmare On Franklin Street’ film festival. This year, according to Jill Witecki with the Tampa Theatre, “We will have 13 nights of fright creeping down Franklin Street this October.”
The frightful fun starts on Friday, October 19 and runs through Halloween on Wednesday, October 31. “This year, Tampa’s most historic and most haunted movie palace is pleased to announce an all-new line up of classic horror films, creepy cult favorites; an expanded selection of ‘Mummy & Me’ family friendly films; an evening of live storytelling; more ghost tours than ever before; Halloween happy hours; and a 14-hour marathon of A Nightmare on Elm Street,” explained Witecki.
The movies in this year’s line up include the world premiere of Dr. Paul Bearer’s Comedy, Hi Noon, Goodbye Dr. Paul, on Friday, October 19 at 6:30 p.m. This will be followed by a 9:30 p.m. showing of the cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
There will be an all-day horror marathon on Saturday, October 20 as all six films in the A Nightmare On Elm Street series is shown beginning at 10 a.m. with the 1984 classic.
Other movies in the lineup include ones for the young fans such as Corpse Bride (Sunday, October 21), Hotel Transylvania (Monday, October 22) and Hocus Pocus (Saturday, October 27). You can also catch other horror classics such as Psycho on Monday, October 22, The Shining on Tuesday, October 30 and the 40th anniversary of Halloween on Wednesday, October 31.
In addition to movies, you can go on a Ghosts of Tampa Theatre Tours on select days including a late-night tour on Friday, October 26.
One of the things that makes the Tampa Theatre unique is its original Might Wurlitzer Theatre Organ. Come hear it on Friday, October 25 as Dr. Stephen Ball plays a live accompaniment to The Cat and The Canary.
If you like listening to scary stories, come out on Monday, October 29 as local author and storyteller, Deborah Frethem takes to the stage to tell stories of local ghosts. She will sign copies of her book after the show.
The Tampa Theatre is located at 711 N. Franklin St. in downtown Tampa. Tickets to the movies, Ghost Tours and other events vary. Please visit www.tampatheatre.org/Nightmare for more information and to get tickets.
