Who doesn’t love a good scare, especially when you’re in college? Don’t worry, we’re not talking about finals (though those can be pretty terrifying). We’re talking about the spookiest festival of the year: Halloween! Every year, you and your friends dress up in creepy costumes, go out for some fun, or maybe indulge in a little trick-or-treating (let’s be honest, we’re all kids when it comes to candy). But did you know there’s one university that takes Halloween to a whole new level? Welcome to Georgetown University, home to a spine-chilling tradition that makes Halloween far more than just a horror movie marathon.
For the past 40 years, the Georgetown Programming Board (GPB), a student run organization at Georgetown University, has hosted an event called Haunted Healy on the Saturday before Halloween. During this event, the second floor of Healy Hall is transformed into a haunted house. Students volunteer to dress up as terrifying creatures, chasing their peers and creating nightmares that will last a lifetime. Fun fact: According to the university’s official website, this eerie tradition is based on an urban legend that claims the upper floors of Healy Hall are sealed off because of an exorcism that once took place there.
Speaking of exorcisms, Georgetown’s Halloween celebrations don’t stop there. Did you know that the iconic 1973 film The Exorcist Was filmed in and around the campus? Talk about spooky connections! For years, GPB has hosted a late-night screening of The Exorcist on Copley Lawn the night before Halloween. After the film, students head to the Jesuit graveyard to howl at the moon as the clock strikes midnight, officially ushering in Halloween. This tradition is known as Healy Howl.
In 2023, The Healy Howlwas ranked #1 on Niche’s list of the most outrageous traditions at US colleges, according to the university’s official website. Niche is an education marketing firm that connects students and parents with schools and universities.
Here’s another fun fact: William Peter Blatty (C’50), the author of The Exorcistwas inspired to write the novel after reading about a real exorcism that occurred in Mount Rainier during his time at Georgetown University.
Now that’s a tradition horror enthusiasts won’t want to miss!