Theatrics at the Haunted Mulford Farm in East Hampton

The brave souls who dared to enter the Haunted Mulford Farm: Witch Trials got the thrills they came for on the opening night of the annual theatrical presentation on Friday. The ghoulish production continues at nightfall on Saturday, so there's still time to get your spook on.

The East Hampton Historical Society has hosted a Halloween fright-fest at the historic Mulford Farm for the past three years. Every year the theme changes, and this year witch trials flew from Salem to East Hampton. Richard Barons, the society's executive director, said that in keeping with the mission of the society, the theme is a fun and spooky take on an actual little known event in East Hampton heritage: the witchery accusation and subsequent trial of Elizabeth Blanchard Garlick, known as Goody Garlick, in 1657. Though she was spared her life, she was charged with bewitching her former boss Lion Gardiner's daughter, who had died in a fit of hysteria.

A long line of people, some in costume, came out to walk through the "haunted" farm. They were funneled in and out of the many barns on the property, seeing a different scary scene in each one, just like any haunted house. Witches screamed condemnations for accusing Garlick and screamed in agony. In other areas, hands grabbed people's legs as they walked by. Another witch scared viewers off with realistic-looking bloody pigs from their cauldrons.

"We love it. It brings in a different clientele and it shows how elastic history can be,'" Barons said. The farm, which is open seasonally, is usually used for historic tours. He thanked Kate Mueth, the artistic director at Guild Hall, who, he said, was instrumental in putting the theatrics of it all together.