Mary King's Ghost Fest goes online to spook all over world

Published on Friday 6 March 2009 09:16

IT has been sending a shiver down the spines of residents across Edinburgh for the last four years.

But the UK's biggest ghost festival will also be spooking ghost hunters right across the globe as part of a new online addition.

This year, Mary King's Ghost Fest will offer spook-seekers the chance to view Edinburgh's paranormal hunt over the web.

Lisa Robshaw, marketing manager for the festival which is organised by The Real Mary King's Close, said: "This year there is a lot more of a technological stance on it. Ghostwatchlive.com is the first online live paranormal investigation in Scotland and it's to encourage ghost hunters around the world to experience Ghost Fest, and bring Edinburgh's haunted reputation out into the wider world.

"A team of ghost hunters and psychic mediums will be down in The Real Mary King's Close and people at home can take part from their living room. They will be able to web chat in if they see anything, and put questions to the team, so somebody in Sydney could be taking part in Edinburgh's largest paranormal festival."

The ten-day festival in May features a host of paranormal events and investigations across many of the city's haunted sites, with new venues for 2009 including Gilmerton Cove, The People's Story, The Museum of Edinburgh, The Scotsman Hotel, Vogrie House and Malmaison.

Along with Ghostwatchlive.com, new events for 2009 include The Paradox Experience – described as one of the most "technically advanced" ghost hunts – which uses the latest paranormal equipment.

Mrs Robshaw added: "This will be the first time that The Paradox Experience has taken place in two underground locations on the same night – Blair Street Vaults and Mary King's Close – and it is the first time that it has come to Mary King's Close."

This year's events will be led by some of the UK's top paranormal investigators, including parapsychologist Dr Ciaran O'Keeffe and Steve Parsons, from Living TV's Most Haunted. Mark Turner, co-founder of Ghost Finders Scotland, will lead a paranormal investigation at The Real Mary King's Close.

The programme spans everything from overnight vigils and ghost hunts, to clairvoyant gatherings and ghostly family storytelling, to ensure there is something on offer for all ages.

Mrs Robshaw said: "Edinburgh has a rich paranormal history and this year we are trying to make Ghost Fest more accessible for people to take part."

People are invited come along to the multi-award winning festival, which runs from May 8-17.

Tickets go on sale for all events from Friday March, 13.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FRIGHTS

Investigating Haunting Experiences, Friday May 8 and Saturday May 9, 7pm-10.30pm Back-to-basics ghost hunt led by two of the country's leading experts on haunting – Dr Ciaran O'Keeffe and Steve Parsons – at The Real Mary King's Close.

&#149 Without a Ghost of Chance, Saturday May 9, 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm Ghostly storytelling event held at The People's Story. People are invited to explore the more mysterious and treacherous tales of Edinburgh's haunted past.

&#149 City of the Dead's Victorian Seance, Friday May 15, 7pm-9pm - Join mind reader David Lesault for a night of old time Victorian spookery in a specially adapted vault at South Niddry Street.

&#149 The Paradox Experience Ghost Hunt, Friday May 15, 7pm-10.30pm, The Real Mary King's Close Join inventor Paul Rowlands and the North West Spirit Seekers deep underground for one of the most technically advanced ghost hunts ever. Participants can move on to the infamous Blair Street Vaults to continue the investigation overnight with Mercat Tours.

&#149 Ghostwatchlive.com Saturday May 16, 10.30pm-2.30am Open anyone online around the world. The Ghostwatchlive.com team will investigate, provide historical facts and alternative insights into The Real Mary King's Close. Participants will be encouraged to observe, join in and pose questions to the team.