Colonial Williamsburg Ghost Tour for Children: Stories

An hour of ghost stories told your way through Colonial Williamsburg

The Children's Ghost Tour of Colonial Williamsburg is a one-hour evening walking tour designed for children up to age ten, featuring three to five ghost stories told by an expert guide near the Governor's Palace, Bruton Parish Episcopal Church, and the Colonial Courthouse. All children must be accompanied by at least one adult over 18. The stories are entertaining and fun, not frightening, and the tour includes plenty of photo opportunities in the historic district.

Step-by-step itinerary

Children's Ghost Tour in Williamsburg

• Hear stories near Palace Green
• See 17th Century Colonial Church
• Hear stories by 18th Century Courthouse

The Experience

You arrive at Colonial Williamsburg on a free evening and want something the whole family can do together without worrying whether the stories will keep your youngest awake that night. This tour runs one hour, which means you can fit it into the time between dinner and bedtime, and the guide knows exactly what works for children who are still figuring out the difference between history and spooky. The walk stays in the heart of the colonial district, moving between the illuminated Governor's Palace, the 17th-century Bruton Parish Episcopal Church, and the 18th-century Colonial Courthouse—all places your family will recognize from the daytime exploration.

The guide tells three to five ghost stories as you walk, and the stories are built around the actual history of these buildings rather than invented scares. You'll stand near the Palace Green while the guide speaks, with the Governors Palace lit up behind the narrative, then move to the church and then toward the courthouse. The evening light and the historic setting do the atmosphere work; the guide does the storytelling work. Children stay close to their adult, and the pace is slow enough that even younger legs keep up. Strollers and prams work fine on all the surfaces.

The tour includes plenty of spots to stop and take photos—the illuminated buildings frame well in the evening, and families often use these moments to let children catch their breath or ask questions about what they've just heard. By the end of the hour, your child has heard real stories connected to real places, and you have pictures to prove you were all there together.

What’s included

• One hour of ghost stories told by an expert guide.
• three to five stories told while walking through Colonial Williamsburg.
• external views of the Governor's Palace, Bruton Parish Episcopal Church, and the Colonial Courthouse.
• evening photo opportunities throughout the historic district.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Lonnie Sandifer Tours

Is this one for you?One hour fits neatly into an evening without cutting into bedtime, which is what makes this tour work for families with young children. The stories are entertaining rather than frightening, so your child hears real history without the nightmares.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can my five-year-old handle a ghost stories tour without getting scared?

The Children's Ghost Tour is designed specifically for children up to age ten and focuses on entertaining, fun stories rather than frightening ones. The guide knows the difference between history and horror and builds the narratives accordingly.

How long is the walk and will my child need to keep up the whole time?

The tour runs one hour total, and the pace is slow enough for small children to manage comfortably. Strollers and prams work on all surfaces throughout Colonial Williamsburg, so younger children can ride if they get tired.

What exactly will we see during the tour?

You'll walk near the illuminated Governor's Palace on the Palace Green, visit the 17th-century Bruton Parish Episcopal Church, and pass the 18th-century Colonial Courthouse. The guide tells stories at each location while you stand and listen, and the evening lighting makes the buildings visible and atmospheric.

Do I have to stay with my child the whole time?

Yes, all children must be accompanied by at least one adult over 18 years old throughout the tour. The group stays together, and the adult stays with the child.

Will there be time to take photos?

Yes, the tour includes plenty of evening photo opportunities. The illuminated historic buildings provide good backdrops, and the guide builds in moments where families can pause and capture the moment.