Celebrating Canada's Greatest Ghost Story!
Is everyone ready for Esther Fest 2026? Amherst’s annual frightening fun fest continues to grow. In addition to favourites like Ghost Investigations, The Great Amherst Street Party, the Psychic Fair, The Witch Dance, and Ghost Walks, this year will welcome even more, including:
- Screening of a new Great Amherst Mystery documentary
- Victorian Séance
- Play about Helen Creighton, the author of Bluenose Ghosts
- Pub Crawl with Esther Cox
- Witchy Dance Lesson
- And More!
Find all information on The Great Amherst Mystery website, or by checking out Esther Fest on Facebook.
The Great Amherst Street Party
An annual highlight of Esther Fest, the Great Amherst Street Party will take place on October 24, 2026 from 1-4 p.m. in Victoria Square. This is going to be so much fun! We'll share more details here as the date approaches.
The Story of Esther Cox
Esther Fest takes place in Amherst each October - a celebration of horror and the paranormal, inspired by Esther Cox and her story.
In 1878, Amherst made international headlines when Esther Cox, an 18-year-old town resident, reportedly found herself at the centre of a bizarre series of events that became known as The Great Amherst Mystery.
Strange rappings and bangings were heard throughout her home. Objects flew through the air. Esther writhed in pain and swelled to twice her normal size. Countless people watched as fires were started and an unknown hand scratched into the wall above Esther's bed: “Esther Cox You Are Mine To Kill.”
The story has become known in paranormal literature as one of the best-documented cases of poltergeist activity on record. The New York Sun said it was, “...in all probability the greatest (tale) of its kind in this or any age.” MacLean’s magazine called it, “Canada’s most famous ghost story and a classic poltergeist case.”
The story has been featured in many books and television programs about the supernatural.
