Harry Houdini died on Halloween in 1926, and a century later the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum in Pelham Bay Park is marking the anniversary with an evening devoted to him. Mansion Magic: A Houdini-themed Halloween Evening runs Thursday, October 29, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the museum, 895 Shore Road. It is one of several programs on the museum's fall calendar, which also includes a free Regency dance workshop this Sunday and a Dungeons and Dragons weekend in early November.

The Houdini evening, Thursday, October 29

The program is led by Professor Shreeyash Palshikar, a magician and performing artist. According to the museum's listing, he traces Houdini's path from childhood through his rise to fame and his death, and mixes Western and Indian magic into the performance. The evening also takes up some of the questions that still follow Houdini: how he pulled off his escapes, what frightened him, why he campaigned against the Spiritualist movement of his day, and whether he did intelligence work while touring the world.

Tickets are $40 for adults and $35 for students, seniors and Bartow-Pell members, sold through the museum's online ticketing page linked from the event listing.

Free Jane Austen country dance, Sunday, October 25

Before that, on Sunday, October 25, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., the museum is bringing back its free workshop in Regency country dance, the style of the ballrooms in Jane Austen's novels. Dance teacher Amy Frey leads the session and teaches three period dances: the Duke of Kent's Waltz, the Haymaker's Jig and the Hole in the Wall. No partner is needed and the class is open to everyone, but the museum asks people to register in advance through the Tickets link on the event page.

Dungeons and Dragons weekend, November 6 to 8

The following month, the museum turns its rooms over to tabletop gaming. Dungeons and Dragons Weekend offers three sessions: Friday, November 6, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, November 7, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, November 8, at 2 p.m. Each game lasts about three hours and is run by a professional Dungeon Master, with actors from Red Monkey Theater Group joining in as Dungeon Masters and players. No experience is needed. The Friday and Saturday games are for ages 21 and up; the Sunday afternoon game is open to ages 12 and up. Tickets are $65 per person per session, which covers light food, soft drinks and a set of dice, with beer and wine on Friday and Saturday. Proceeds go to the museum and to Red Monkey Theater Group.

More on the grounds this fall

On Saturday, November 7, from 11 a.m. to noon, arborist Marc Brodsky leads a free Tree ID Walk on the museum grounds as part of its Native American Heritage Month programs, looking at the estate's trees and how the Indigenous people who lived on this land used them. The rain date is Saturday, November 14, and sign up is through the museum's event page. On Friday, November 13, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Palshikar returns with musician Neel Murgai for A Magical, Musical Diwali Celebration, a family show that combines magic with sitar music; tickets are $40, or $35 for seniors, students and members.

Elsewhere in the park on Halloween itself, NYC Parks' Urban Park Rangers lead a free Outdoor Skills: Animal Tracking session on Saturday, October 31, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Pelham Bay Nature Center.

Getting there

Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum is at 895 Shore Road in Pelham Bay Park, the Bronx. The museum's directions: take the 6 train to Pelham Bay Park, the last stop, then the Westchester Bee-Line 45 bus, which takes MetroCards, to the stop for Split Rock Golf Course and the museum, about 10 to 15 minutes. For evening programs, check the Bee-Line schedule before you go, since the museum's posted bus times cover daytime hours. Regular hours for the mansion and carriage house are Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m., with general admission $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, and free for members. The gardens and grounds are open daily from 8:30 a.m. to dusk. Questions go to the museum at 718 885 1461 or info@bpmm.org.

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