A skeptic joins a ghost tour of Cannery Row and walks away entertained.

Erik Chalhoub here. I don’t believe in ghosts—there are logical explanations for the so-called “sightings” reported over the years. Even though it’s been 12 years since he died, I still see my cat out of the corner of my eye at home, but I’m convinced it’s my brain conjuring up something it saw every day for so many years.

Despite this, I’m intrigued by the idea of the paranormal. For the last decade, I’ve made annual trips to Los Angeles-area theme parks specifically for their Halloween events (I’m wearing a Knott’s Scary Farm T-shirt as I write this), and I’m a fan of ghost hunting shows on TV, as absurd but wildly entertaining they are. I root for those that seek out spirits, because I would love to see proof of their existence. But with technology making it too easy to fake things, I would have to see it with my own eyes, in person.

Earlier this year, as I was interviewing Will Roberts for a story on Zucchini’s Tricks and Things, he mentioned that he was organizing ghost tours on Cannery Row in Monterey, and invited me to join in one of the walks. I thought it would make a perfect story for Halloween, and in this week’s edition of the Weekly, fittingly published on Oct. 31, I wrote about the ghost tour and the growing “haunted tourism” industry that is slowly gaining a hold in Monterey County.

I joined a tour of about a dozen people on a Friday evening, led by guide Adam Kinkade, who shared the history of Cannery Row, as well as the stories of ghost sightings that have been handed down over the years. Kinkade wove the factual history with the paranormal, pausing for dramatic effect in certain spots and trailing off in others to fuel the mysteries of Cannery Row. 

We also were given a choice of a story for the grand finale: sea monsters or ghost ships. The group voted for sea monsters, but now I’m curious to hear about the ghost ships—a clever marketing tool to get you to take the tour again.

Our group found the tour informative and entertaining, and I recommend you book your own. Even if you’re a skeptic, you’ll come away learning something about Cannery Row and the greater Monterey area.

Although Halloween is over, it’s never too early to start planning your costume for next year, as Sloan Campi writes in his article.

Carmelite Jorge Andrade creates his costume months in advance of Halloween, which is revealed at a party complete with music and a walk down a staircase. Andrade may go above and beyond most Halloween revelers, but he offers some sound advice for those who can’t decide what to wear for the occasion: discover what inspires you, and create a costume around it.

How did you celebrate Halloween this year?