The Town of Amherst has announced the return of the Great Amherst Street Party on October 24, 2026, from 1 to 4 p.m. in Victoria Square. This free outdoor event is the first confirmed, dated activity for this year’s Esther Fest, which runs from October 21 to 31.
Esther Fest celebrates the story of Esther Cox, an 18-year-old Amherst resident who in 1878 became the centre of bizarre paranormal events known as The Great Amherst Mystery. Reports included strange rappings, flying objects, fires, and a threatening message scratched into her bedroom wall. MacLean’s magazine called it Canada’s most famous ghost story, while The New York Sun said it was “in all probability the greatest (tale) of its kind in this or any age.” More details are available on the Town of Amherst website.
The street party has been an annual highlight since Esther Fest first launched in 2017, an idea proposed by local playwright Charlie Rhindress after writing a play about Cox in 1991. The 2025 event featured live music, vendors, bounce castles, a petting zoo, and a pie-eating contest. Residents can expect similar family-friendly activities at this year’s gathering in Victoria Square.
While the festival embraces the supernatural legend, some historians note the disturbing reality behind the story. Author Laurie Glenn Norris, who wrote “Haunted Girl: Esther Cox and the Great Amherst Mystery,” suggests the 1878 events likely began as a prank by Cox seeking agency after trauma, and cautions the festival may overshadow her personal crisis. Skeptical investigators also dismissed the mystery as a hoax, alleging Cox may have caused the phenomena while in a dissociative state.
The Great Amherst Street Party offers Amherst residents a chance to enjoy the festival atmosphere at the heart of this annual celebration.
