AMHERST, Mass. -- On Saturday, Oct. 13, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College will open its doors as "The Haunted Museum" during its annual family-friendly event featuring the spookier parts of Amherst's art collection. The fun-filled afternoon of seasonal activities for children of all ages is free and open to the public.

The Mead Docents, an energetic group of college student volunteer guides, will lead the Halloween-themed celebrations, offering "candlelit" tours of the museum's galleries, spooky stories, and scavenger hunts. The docents will also offer interactive art-making projects, including mask making and pumpkin painting. Local apple cider and doughnuts will be served. "The Haunted Museum", part of the Mead's Family Fun Days series, is made possible by the Friends of the Mead Art Museum.

"'The Haunted Museum' is an annual Mead tradition and is always a tremendous success with children and grown-ups," noted museum director Elizabeth Barker. "We couldn't wait to repeat it. The docents do a wonderful job leading art-looking and art-making activities tailored to the interests of a wide range of visitors. We hope many families will take advantage of Amherst College's free on-campus weekend parking, and join the fun!"