Updated October 29, 2020, 4:00 pm
PINE PLAINS — While some fall traditions have changed this year due to COVID-19, the Pine Plains Free Library and The Little Nine Partners Historical Society have devised a safe way to still host the annual Evergreen Cemetery Lantern Tours, sharing ghoulish history while making sure tourists social distance.
An unfailing source of autumn amusement for residents, visitors and history buffs alike, the tours are one of the library’s most popular fundraisers, a night that draws attention to the town of Pine Plains and casts the spotlight on the people who helped shape its history. Given the crowds that have come in the past, fans might wonder what organizers have in mind during a global pandemic. Though they had originally planned on doing a video broadcast only, Little Nine Partners Historical Society President Dyan Wapnick said they received such an overwhelming response from people who wanted to see a live tour that they decided to do both a live version and a video broadcast and work with social distancing guidelines.
“We believe this will be one of the few live tours in the area this year,” Wapnick said, “and we are taking every precaution necessary to make it both safe and enjoyable. I think it shows that people are looking for some normalcy in their lives, and this is something that the town looks forward to every fall. It’s a fun and educational way to support the library.”
As far as adapting the tours to fit COVID-19 guidelines, Wapnick said they had to scale back the number of people allowed on each tour to 25. Meanwhile, Beth McLiverty, president of the Pine Plains Free Library Board of Trustees, said they’ll have staff on hand to ensure social distancing and face masks are enforced.
“It’s a completely contact-free event and outdoors, so we feel we can safely do this,” McLiverty said.
All tickets must be purchased in advance, check-in will be contactless, simply involving checking guests off a list. There will be an optional one-page tour program that guests can choose to pick up or not. To make sure they never exceed a capacity of about 35 to 40 people at the check-in area (including staff), McLiverty said guests won’t be allowed to linger after the shows. Hand sanitizer will be made available, and the staff will sanitize its hands every 20 to 30 minutes.
“We would never want to compromise our community’s safety,” McLiverty said, “so even though we won’t raise as much money as in the past, we believe this is a good compromise to have a smaller event for people to enjoy while following safety protocols.”
This year’s tours will be held on Friday, Oct. 30, with a rain date of Sunday, Nov. 1. With each tour timed at 60 minutes, the tours will be held at 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Meeting at 19 Maple St. in Pine Plains, spectators will take the tour through the Evergreen Cemetery.
Tickets cost $15 for adults and $5 for students and seniors, and may be purchased either online at www.pineplains-ny.gov/evergreen-cemetery-lantern-tour-october-302020 or in-person at the Pine Plains Free Library, located at 7775 South Main St.
Should one prefer a virtual tour, McLiverty said it can be viewed on YouTube starting on Sunday, Nov. 1.
For more information, call the library at 518-398-1927 or go to www.pineplainslibrary.org.
Update: October 29, 2020, 4:00 pm
Due to the incoming inclement weather, the Pine Plains Free Library and The Little Nine Partners Historical Society’s Evergreen Cemetery Lantern Tours planned for Friday, Oct. 30, will be moving to Sunday, Nov. 1. Please note that all tour times are already full.
Anyone who has already purchased a ticket but can no longer attend should let organizers know ASAP as they have a waiting list for the event.
Meg Sher, executive director of the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village.L. Tomaino 
