Witchcraft, History, and Horror: OCTC Hosts Salem Witch Trials Event Series

Sept. 19-Oct. 31, 2025

by Katie Powers

Owensboro, KY (09/16/2025) — Owensboro Community & Technical College's (OCTC) Heritage, Humanities, and Fine Arts Department invites the community to a month of thought-provoking and spine-chilling events centered on the Salem Witch Trials. From academic talks and student performances to horror film screenings, a student research exhibition, and even a cat adoption event, the series offers something for everyone this fall.

Running from Sept. 19 through Oct. 31, this is the second year OCTC has hosted Salem Witch Trials-themed programming. The 2025 series expands on last year's success with more events, more community involvement, and new opportunities for students to showcase their work.

"We're thrilled to bring this series back for a second year - and to do it even bigger and better," said Matt Alschbach, OCTC history professor. "The Salem Witch Trials remain an endlessly fascinating lens for examining history, culture, and human behavior. This lineup allows both our students and the community to engage with the topic in creative and meaningful ways."

Event Schedule

• Fri. Sept. 19 | Learning Resource Center (LRC), Main Campus
  Student Research Exhibition Opens - Featuring research projects created by OCTC students, the exhibition will be on display in the Library's Learning Resource Center through Oct. 31, 2025.
• Tue. Sept. 30 | 7-8:30 p.m. | WKU-O Badgett Conference Center
  "Global Histories of Witchcraft: Belief, Power and Persecution Across Cultures" - A lecture by OCTC History Professor Matt Alschbach, hosted by the Owensboro Area World Affairs Council (OAWAC).
• Mon. Oct. 6 | 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | ATC 107
  "God's Justice or Satan's Deception: The Role of Religion in the Salem Witch Trials" - A lecture by OCTC Associate Professor Dr. Chris Cummins, followed by student performances of "Trials and Tribulations of Salem's Witches" directed by Theater Professor Grae Greer.
• Wed. Oct. 8 | 4:30-7 p.m. | ATC 107
  Movie Night: "Long Legs" - Part of the Horror and Culture film series sponsored by ENG 299 and the Humanities Department.
• Tue. Oct. 21 | 12:30-1:45 p.m. | MS Teams & ATC 107
  Greg Houle, host of "The Salem Witch Trials Podcast" virtual presentation and Q&A. Greg Houle is a direct descendant of Ann Putnam Jr., one of the most prolific accusers in Salem.
• Wed. Oct. 22 | 4:30-7 p.m. | ATC 107
  Movie Night: "Late Night with the Devil"- Part of the Horror and Culture film series sponsored by ENG 299 and the Humanities Department.
• Thur. Oct. 23 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | OCTC Library
  Cat Adoption Event - In partnership with It Takes a Village No-Kill Animal Rescue Shelter. Donation bins will also be available across OCTC campuses throughout September and October. The shelter is currently in need of copy paper, pill pockets, bleach, martingale collars, 44-gallon trash bags, and 4-quart stainless steel water buckets.
• Wed. Oct. 29 | 4:30-7 p.m. | ATC 107
  Movie Night: "Oddity"- Part of the Horror and Culture film series sponsored by ENG 299 and the Humanities Department.

Event Details

All events are free and open to the public. For OCTC students, these activities are Merit Approved. See the main OCTC Facebook page for related links and information for each event: https://www.facebook.com/OwensboroCTC

Contact

For more information, please contact:
Matt Alschbach, OCTC History Professor
Email: matt.alschbach@kctcs.edu

With programming stretching from the opening of the student research exhibition on Sept. 19 through Halloween week, the Salem Witch Trials series transforms October into a month of history, learning, and community engagement at OCTC.

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