Winter Ghost Stories with Girl After Dark

We are so excited to announce our upcoming event with Girl After Dark! Join us for a spooky evening in the Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories in the dark of winter. We have several writers from the Pittsburgh chapter of the Horror Writer’s Association who will be sharing their original pieces with us before a screening of House on Haunted Hill.

This event is free at The Poetry Lounge bar in Millvale, PA at 7pm on January 18th, 2026.

The tradition of telling ghost stories towards the end of the year came about in Victorian England before electricity when families gathered indoors and sought a way to pass the time during the long, cold nights. Prior to the printing press and widespread literacy, stories were told in the oral tradition, passing down from generation to generation and bringing people together for a communal event. Ghost stories and supernatural tales were often at the forefront of these gatherings in reflection of the darkness of the season. While seemingly macabre, these haunting stories immersed people in the slowness of winter, offering a cathartic understanding that spring is right around the corner, if only one can make it through the night.

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Article Written by Theresa B

Theresa writes about the intersection of art & anthropology and gendered horror. She loves demonic possession, satan, and can be found on Letterboxd.

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