Jeff Belanger

Jeff Belanger, author, adventurer, podcaster, storyteller

Adventurer, Author, Storyteller, Podcaster

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New England Legends, News, Views, & Interviews

New Halloween Episode of New England Legends Airs Tonight on PBS

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Ghosts and Witches – the new television episode of #NewEnglandLegends airs tonight on NEPM-TV (at 9pm) and Vermont Public Television (at 8:30pm)! Both channels are showcasing a night of Legends episodes. In this episode of New England Legends, host Jeff Belanger heads to Western Massachusetts, where the mountains hide a dark secret: a haunted train tunnel known as The Bloody Pit, where 200 lives were lost during its construction. Then we travel to the Green Mountain State in search of witches. In 1765, Margaret Krieger of Pownal, Vermont, was accused of being a witch and had to face a horrible test to prove her innocence. Her gruesome ordeal stands as Vermont’s only recorded witch trial.

GBH's All Things Considered Radio Program.
New England Legends, News, Views, & Interviews

All Things Considered: Regaling tales of the Gloucester Sea Serpent, a forgotten legend of cryptozoology

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Jeff Belanger joined GBH’s All Things Considered host Arun Rath on the radio to discuss the weird. If we were to ask you to name the possibly real water monster with humps, you’d surely say the Loch Ness Monster. But by the time this interview is over, your answer should be the Gloucester Sea Serpent. Our local monster is arguably even older and more widely witnessed than Nessie. For a deep dive into the Gloucester Sea Serpent, there’s no better guide than local folklore expert and host of the “New England Legends” podcast Jeff Belanger. He joined GBH’s All Things Considered host Arun Rath to discuss this chapter of cryptozoology. What follows is a lightly edited transcript. You can listen to the segment and read the transcript here: https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2024-05-22/regaling-tales-of-the-gloucester-sea-serpent-a-forgotten-legend-of-cryptozoology

New England Legends Zombie Prom 2023 - Photo by Tim Rice.
News, Views, & Interviews

New England Legends Presents Zombie Prom 2024: A Night of Dancing with the Dead for a Worthy Cause

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Milford, Massachusetts – January 29, 2024 – New England Legends, the creators of the popular New England Legends podcast, are thrilled to announce the return of their much-anticipated Zombie Prom fundraiser on Saturday, February 17th, 2024 at 7pm. The ghoulishly delightful event will take place at the DoubleTree Hotel in Milford, Massachusetts, promising attendees an unforgettable night of dancing, games, raffle prizes, and a pizza party—all in the spirit of raising funds for a charitable cause. Hosted by Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger, the minds behind the New England Legends podcast, the Zombie Prom has become a cherished alternative celebration for those looking to escape the clichés of Valentine’s Day. Uniting undead enthusiasts and those with a taste for the macabre, this event offers a unique, entertaining and light-hearted experience for attendees to revel in the delight of the unconventional. Event Details: Date: Saturday, February 17th, 2024 Time: 7:00 PM Location: DoubleTree Hotel, Milford, Massachusetts A Night of Fun and Philanthropy: The Zombie Prom is not just about dancing with the dead; it’s also about giving back to the community. This year’s fundraising recipient is the Community Harvest Project, a non-profit farm based in Grafton, MA. The organization engages volunteers to grow fruits and vegetables for hunger relief, working towards the vision of creating connected communities that ensure access to healthy food for all. Dress Your Worst or Be a “Victim”: Attendees are encouraged to embrace the spirit of the night by dressing in their most dreadful attire or by coming as “victims” without costumes. The more creative and gruesome, the better!  Best costumes will be crowned King and Queen of the Undead! Entertainment Highlights: – Dance the night away to the beats of DJ Neto. – Engage in games and activities throughout the evening. – Stand a chance to win exciting raffle prizes. – Indulge in a delicious pizza party to satisfy your undead appetite. Ticket Information: Ticket information for Zombie Prom 2024 can be found in the event section of www.facebook.com/newenglandlegends.  They are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Purchase your tickets ahead of time by Venmoing Community Harvest Project at https://account.venmo.com/u/chpinc. BE SURE TO PUT “Zombie Prom 2024” in the comments. Join the New England Legends Facebook Group for more information and updates. For media inquiries, please contact: Ray Auger raywmrc@gmail.com 617-851-7542 About New England Legends: New England Legends is on a mission to chronicle every legend in New England one story at a time. We’re doing this through our award-winning weekly podcast which has garnered over 4 million downloads in 91 different countries, our award-winning, Emmy-nominated television series on PBS and Amazon Prime, and through our super-secret Facebook group. Come in and join the movement!  About Community Harvest Project: Community Harvest Project is a non-profit farm that harnesses the power of community volunteers to grow fresh fruits and vegetables for hunger relief, fostering connected communities with access to healthy food.

Jeff Belanger chats with Laurie Cabot, the Official Witch of Salem, Massachusetts.
News, Views, & Interviews, TV and Film

New England Legends Extra: Laurie Cabot – The Official Witch of Salem

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In 2017, Jeff Belanger sat down with Laurie Cabot, the Official Witch of Salem, Massachusetts. Cabot discusses her life, her arrival in Salem in 1969, the history of witchcraft, Samhain and Halloween, and the role she played in turning the city of Salem into what it is today. Excerpts from this interview first aired in Episode 6 (Witchcraft: Uncovering the Hidden History of New England Witches) of the New England Legends television series on PBS.

The Bridgewater Triangle Documentary
News, Views, & Interviews, TV and Film

The Bridgewater Triangle Documentary – Now Available on Youtube

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The 2013 award-winning hit featuring Jeff Belanger is now available on YouTube! The Bridgewater Triangle Documentary In 1983, Cryptozoologist Loren Coleman published his book, Mysterious America. In it, he described a 200 square-mile area in Southeastern Massachusetts with a long history of strange, paranormal, and sometimes, sinister activity. He called the region “The Bridgewater Triangle.” The triangle includes a number of locations known for unexplained occurrences; the most prominent of which include the legendary Hockomock Swamp and the infamous Freetown-Fall River State Forest. The triangle’s traditional boarders are revealed by connecting the dots between the town of Abington to the North, the town of Freetown to the Southeast, and the town of Rehoboth to the Southwest. The area hosts an unusually high volume of reports involving strange happenings, baffling mysteries and sinister deeds. From ghostly hauntings and cryptid animal sightings, to UFO encounters and evidence of satanic ritual sacrifice, the Bridgewater Triangle serves as one of the world’s most diverse hotspots for paranormal activity. The first-ever feature-length documentary on the subject, The Bridgewater Triangle explores the history of this fascinating region. The film features a number of local residents providing first-hand accounts of unexplained occurrences. In addition, an all-star assembly of paranormal researchers, folklorists and authors provide expert analysis regarding the many mysteries of the triangle. Starring: Loren Coleman, Jeff Belanger, Christopher Balzano, Christopher Pittman, Tim Weisberg, & Many More! Narrated by: John Horrigan Directed by: Aaron Cadieux & Manny Famolare © 2013 Bristol County Media LLC & Flib Productions

News, Views, & Interviews

Belanger Talks About the Creepy Origins of Long Ago Christmases

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Jeff Belanger, local author and explorer of the unexplained, broke down the Christmas holiday into its (creepy) origins during his virtual event on December 3rd, hosted by the Bellingham Public Library. Belanger’s program started by taking us back thousands of years to when winter solstice (Dec. 20 to Dec. 23) was a time of fear for survival. Not knowing then what we know now, people would wonder if the sun would return, if they’d have enough food without farming, and if their shelter would hold up. Preparation for the winter solstices led to the creation of festivals like Saturnalia (Rome) and Yule (Scandinavia). These festivals became times of merriment, celebration, and unity—all in preparation for the unknowing that would follow the winter solstice… Click here to read the rest of the article by Ashley Kazijian at the Bellingham Bulletin.

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