Discover a darker side of the holiday season on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. as author Troy Taylor hosts a private dinner and an evening of Christmas ghost stories at the American Oddities Museum in Alton.

In centuries past, families gathered around the fire at Christmas to share eerie tales of winter nights when the dead were said to walk the earth. Taylor brings this chilling tradition to life with stories of old holiday customs, Christmas monsters and seasonal tragedies, murders and disasters said to have left lingering spirits behind.

For those seeking something beyond the usual holiday festivities, this American Hauntings Dinner and Spirits event offers an evening of history, mystery and holiday chills.

Details of the night:

• Location: American Oddities Museum, 301 Piasa St., Alton.
  
• Schedule: Doors open at 6 p.m. for private museum browsing; dinner begins at 7 p.m.
  
• Buffet dinner: Includes two meats, two vegetables, pasta, salad, bread and drinks.
  
• Bookstore: Books will be available for purchase at the museum’s American Hauntings Bookstore and can be signed by Troy Taylor.