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Speaking Engagements Folklore & Haunted History Lectures

Be sure to send your requests early. Roxie typically starts booking a year ahead!
Roxy holding a speaking event in front of a large crowd

All of our presentations are available through Zoom Virtual Classroom and in person!

Roxie Zwicker, founder of New England Curiosities has been sharing her stories of New England Legends, History and Lore since 1993. Her lectures and speaking engagements have captivated guests, business groups and organizations throughout New England. Some of the organizations Roxie has presented for include the National Haunters Convention, Maine Old Cemetery Association, Old Berwick Historical Society, Kiwanis New England, The University of Maine, Augusta, the Seacoast Science Center, Rundlett Middle School in Concord, Brick Store Museum, Rotary International, Wentworth By the Sea, New Hampshire Retired Teachers Association, Maine Retired Educators, the University of New Hampshire among many others. The Old Berwick Historical Society and the Bridgewater Historical Society said that the talks presented by Roxie were the most highly attended and successful of their speaker series.  In the summer months New England Curiosities has even told tales aboard the M/S Mount Washington on beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee.

In addition Roxie has been on numerous radio shows and television programs throughout the region and the United States. Roxie is also a Toastmasters International Certified speaker.

There’s no need to wait until Halloween. These engagements are offered all year long! New England’s fascinating history and stories are just waiting to be told! 

Roxie can customize a program to fit your group’s specific needs. With a professional presentation her virtual tours can take your group on a visual journey to experience the stories and places from every corner of New England. References provided upon request.

Graveyard Stories, Stones and Superstitions of New England Series

Take a virtual journey through New England’s most evocative burial grounds, brought to life from the pages of Roxie’s acclaimed graveyard book series. From the deep woods of Connecticut to the rolling farm fields of Massachusetts, the rugged mountains of New Hampshire, the peaceful hills of Vermont and the windswept shores of Maine, this richly illustrated presentation explores the history, artistry, and mystery of the region’s cemeteries. Discover Colonial and Victorian burial customs, decode the symbolism etched into some of New England’s oldest gravestones, and hear the ghost stories that linger in both celebrated and long-forgotten sites. Featuring Roxie’s stunning photography, this engaging talk is one of her most popular—and can be tailored to focus on any New England location for a more localized experience.

Salem’s Haunted Legacy: 400 Years of Folklore and Fear

Step into Salem, Massachusetts—one of America’s most legendary and enigmatic cities—where history and haunting intertwine across 400 years. From the weathered. speaking stones of Charter Street Burial Ground to the quiet shadows of Howard Street Cemetery, this presentation invites you on a journey beyond the familiar stories of the Witch Trials to uncover lesser-known tragedies, unexplained phenomena, and deeply rooted folklore. Drawing on our own experience living in the one-and-only “Witch City,” we’ll explore the hidden corners, enduring legends, and eerie encounters that continue to shape Salem’s identity today—revealing a past that is anything but silent.

Treasures of the Tides: The History and Mystery of Sea Glass

Discover the irresistible allure of beachcombing along New England’s storied coastline, where whispers of 16th-century shipwrecks and pirates still linger in the sand. In this engaging presentation, Roxie explores what sea glass is, how it forms, and how to successfully find and identify these ocean-worn treasures. Drawing from her remarkable collection of more than 4,000 pieces—some dating back to the 17th century—she brings each find to life with dramatic, history-rich stories that reveal how these artifacts made their journey into the sea. Along the way, you’ll get a visual tour of her collection and pick up practical tips and tricks to begin your own beachcombing adventures with a sharper eye and a deeper appreciation for the past. Roxie has presented at the International Sea Glass Festival in Mystic Seaport, the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum Sea Glass Festival in New York and the Northeast Sea Glass Expo in North Hampton, New Hampshire.

Spirits of the Bay State - The Ghosts of Massachusetts

Ghosts of Massachusetts. The Bay State is home to some of the most historic places in America, what ghostly stories can be found walking down its many old roads and highways? Find curious abandoned places, haunted beaches, tavern ghosts and eerie cemeteries. Take a spirited virtual journey highlighting stops in many cities and towns and explore stories of legends on this fun tour of mysterious area haunts.

Spirits of the Granite State - The Ghosts of New Hampshire

A search of the legends and ghosts of New Hampshire. Follow the peaceful dirt roads to long forgotten ghost stories, you’ll hear superstitions from some of the quaint, small towns and learn of unusual occurences that still can’t be explained today. Find out some of the best places to explore spirited happenings. This presentation features tales from the White Mountains to the ghosts of the Seacoast. Journey through haunted woods, find mysterious cemeteries and be captivated by ghostly lighthouses during this virtual journey. New Hampshire has a lot more than just beautiful scenery – and this presentation will take you there.

New England Witchcraft Tales - Stories Outside of Salem

Do you know the tales of other New England witches outside of Salem, Massachusetts? This presentation guides guests through witchcraft stories from western Massachusetts to New Hampshire and Maine for tales that you may not be so familiar with. Learn about some of the New England place names that relate to old witchcraft tales. The presentation also highlights the evolution of customs and superstitions relating to witchcraft throughout New England. Not all witches come from Salem!  Attendees might find themselves checking underneath their front doorstep, in their chimneys or in their backyards for remnants of these stories!

Haunted Portsmouth - Legends & Lore from the Colonial City by the Sea

Roxie literally wrote the book on this one. Taken from the pages of her first book, Haunted Portsmouth, this presentation is filled with fascinating facts about Portsmouth the “City of the open door”, and little known history as well, woven with intriguing true ghost stories. A journey through the side streets of this town’s local legends and lore that spans hundreds of years from fascinating Colonial tales to stories of the secrets beneath the city streets. Roxie has gathered captivating stories from the locals that they don’t share with everyone. This virtual tour also includes stories from Fort Constitution, Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse and the Wentworth by the Sea in New Castle, the tiny island that once was part of Portsmouth. We promise you won’t look at the city the same again after this presentation from a very entertaining perspective!

Tempus Fugit - Connections to the the Spirit World

Tempus Fugit – Time Flies. Roxie has spent years working with her tour guests to help them better understand messages from the spirit world. In this compelling presentation, she explores what it means to go beyond the veil, sharing the many ways people experience and interpret communication with spirit. Attendees will learn how to build a meaningful connection with guides and ancestors—often closer than we realize—and gain insight through Roxie’s firsthand stories of spiritual encounters and healing. Thoughtful and engaging, this presentation offers a glimpse into the ways these experiences can bring comfort, clarity, and perspective during life’s most challenging moments.

Other presentations available

The Victorian Parlor in New England Virtual Tour

The Victorian Parlor: Take a trip back in time to the days of the Victorian Parlor. Did you know the word parlor – meant to talk? The parlor was the focal point of many home and was often a gathering point for many curious happenings. In this presentation we will gather in a virtual parlor with Roxie Zwicker of New England Curiosities to explore some of the amazing stories from New England parlors. From evenings focused on spiritualism, seances and tea leaf readings to gatherings of both the somber and eccentric, what might you find when you walk inside these often richly decorated rooms?  Beautiful graphics and vintage photos bring guests back in time over 150 years ago for an eye opening gathering.

Halloween Folklore – History, Traditions & Customs

Join Roxie for an enchanted voyage into the magic and folklore of the Halloween season. The spiritual veil to the other world is at its thinnest at this time! The fields are bare, the leaves have fallen from the trees, and the skies are going gray and turning cold. The Halloween season offers us a variety of enchantments around us, from nuts, pumpkins, colorful leaves and cornstalks, you can feel the energy in the air!

Discover the intriguing history of Halloween in early America in this entertaining session full of spooky lore, games, decorations and customs. Dive into the traditions of the holiday and delight in Halloween themed divinatory tools, costumes and Victorian parties. If you’ve always loved the charms of Halloween, you’ll love this beautiful presentation that features antique photos and ephemera.

Echoes in the Grand Hotel: Spirits of Wentworth by the Sea, New Castle, NH

Join author Roxie Zwicker for a presentation on one of New Hampshire’s most legendary properties, the Wentworth by the Sea. Step back in time and take a virtual tour of the property, learn about the robber baron, Frank Jones and how he created a Victorian hotel in all its opulent glory. Hear stories about the legendary guests, parties and goings-on from over 100 years of history. Review the years when the hotel’s future was in peril and how it was resurrected with spirits from the past. Roxie has interviewed members of the Wentworth staff, former guests and the locals for an assemblage of tales you won’t soon forget.

Wicked Tales of  New England

Join author and storyteller Roxie Zwicker for an entertaining evening of curious tales that reveal New England’s quietly strange side—stretching all the way back to Colonial times. In this lively presentation, Roxie shares some of the most unusual stories from her collection, featuring eccentric characters, eerie omens, and delightfully superstitious silliness. You’ll also encounter darker accounts of wicked people and their equally wicked deeds, brought to life through chilling old newspaper headlines. Drawing from every corner of the region, these stories are creepy, astonishing, and wonderfully weird—told with Roxie’s signature blend of humor and wit.

Haunted Road Trips of New England

Take a virtual road trip along the strange highways and hidden byways of New England with mystery maven Roxie Zwicker of New England Curiosities. In this engaging presentation, you’ll uncover offbeat landmarks, curious secrets, mysterious locations, and even a few actively haunted sites that bring the region’s character to life. Blending history, folklore, and a sense of adventure, Roxie guides you to unforgettable places that just might inspire you to map out your own journey into New England’s wonderfully eerie side – or run in the other direction!

The Sorcery of Strange Skies in New England

Since New England’s Colonial days people have looked to the skies to interpret signs, unusual objects and curses. Join Roxie Zwicker of New England Curiosities for a look at the bizarre mysteries that have captivated people, brought about strange superstitions, fear of unknown and “what’s out there.” Explore lesser known tales and events during this captivating virtual tour and presentation. You’ll be looking up and pondering what’s out there after this presentation.

 

Victorian Mourning – Customs and Superstitions

Cemetery Symbolism and Superstition – Can be customized to local cemetery locations

Haunted Lighthouses and Ghost Ships of Northern New England

Secrets of Spiritualism in Victorian New England

Spirits of the Pine Tree State – The Ghosts of Maine

Spirits of Cape Cod and the Islands – Haunted Places, Folklore & Strange Tales

Spirit Communication – History, Tools & Techniques

Angels on Your Shoulders – Angel Signs, Symbols & Messages

Riding Through the Past – The History of Victorian Trolley Service from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to York, Maine