Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Dawson.
Hi Veronica, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
So Cal born and raised. My twin sister Tamantha Bowman and I were delivered at Arcadia Methodist and went on to live in El Monte, Baldwin Park, and practically every city west of the 605 fwy, off the 10fwy, West Covina, Covina. You know? Raise the rent, now we got to move, single mom mentality. When our mom got hitched in the late 80s, we officially had a hometown, Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Where our parents still live.
After joining the United States Coast Guard, serving 4 years active duty. My first civilian job was as a curator for the Wignall Museum located at Chaffey College. I decided to use my GI Bill to take night classes and ultimately earned my Bachelors degree at University of Phoenix. I spent most of my twenties in Hollywood before what we now know as the “Hollywood Ovation” shopping center. Pre-Kodak theater even, the good ol’ Hollywood and Highland days. I have such fond memories of clubbing, seeing movies at Mann’s Chinese Theatre and sneaking around The Roosevelt Hotel. Somewhere in this timeline, I got married to my high school sweetheart Eric Dawson, and had a family. Moved around from Rancho, Riverside and now reside in Fontana. A lot of life was happening. I recently celebrated my 30th wedding anniversary!
In 2016, I was approached by our local Historical Society President to help with events. Having just returned from Europe, I honestly was not exactly sure how I was going to add more to my plate. I was a homeschool parent, who took project based work to have flexibility as a mom of 3. Who was also transitioning from homeschool life to placing my younger 2 children into an Art School located in the heart of Pomona. No lie, I heard a voice tell me “help them” and so I did. I attended their next board meeting and said “If you let me host a Sleepy Hollow show, I will help you”.
You see, in the brief time I had spent on the property, I noticed a significant Sycamore Tree in their courtyard and instantaneously thought that’s my “Tree of the Dead” (smile). To my delight, they agreed. For me, it was a win, win. As I would have loved to own my own historic home, this was the next best thing. I had already worked for a historic wedding venue, a beautiful Queen Anne Victorian in the area and also worked for an interior designer in historic Redlands.
This partnership with our local historical society was a natural fit. I would get to help caretake, aid in maintaining Victorian era “Living Museums” while continuing to grow my knowledge of Historic Preservation. Not knowing then, that by Fall of 2020 I would launch with my twin sister “Frolicking Chronicles” a podcast dedicated to Paranormal, Travel, Cocktails with a Splash of Pop Culture.
My twin and I have spent much of our time exploring Historic sites from Hollywood, CA to New Orleans, LA. Discovered, along with beautiful architecture and furnishings, comes something else told at almost every Historic location. A Ghost Story! Seeking to understand why places were haunted? Exposed us to both the enjoyable history, and sadly the ugly past. Dark Tourism and its complexities became a mission for us to bring awareness using our platforms, blending both the celebration of historic preservation while sharing all the layers of these places. We had a lot to say and our podcast was just the beginning.
When the world stopped, earlier that year, it had halted everything I had grown at The Etiwanda Historical Society. We had roughly 15 private events scheduled. ALL CANCELLED. Simultaneously, I had been headhunted that June to consider becoming the new Event Administrator for another local Historic Venue “Hidden Oaks” formerly “El Rancho Grande” located in Alta Loma. The neighbor of one of our living museums, remembered me and my work during our Sleepy Hollow shows. She wanted me to take over her position, having been completely overwhelmed by what we now call “Covid Brides”, she was going to retire and said my name came to her one night. Spooky happenstance, maybe?
The turnaround of all of the above would have sent anyone overboard, I did not_know_how_ I was going to manage “all the things”… Yet, I was willing to give it all a go. And wow, here we are! I help operate 3 historic properties within the Inland Empire. Like, WOW. My days consist of managing the historic wedding venue Hidden Oaks and its event staff. Along with operations of The Etiwanda Historical Society and Frolicking Chronicles LLC.
The world stopping, created huge financial strains on many and especially non-profits. I mean, if you’re not OPEN? How do you generate income?
And this is where my worlds collided “Historic Preservation meets Spooky aka Halloween and Horror” the creation of my biggest event “Summer Spook Nights” in the summer of 2021. Of which, would be brought under the Frolicking Chronicles LLC company umbrella.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh Lawd, the struggle… Most of us in the museum world know, museums struggle in general. Membership declines, generous donors decline (the old folks were dying) and the lack of service oriented communities decline, meaning limited people resources to help keep properties maintained. With no understanding of how we were going to get through it, life was getting pretty scary.
On my way to a board meeting, I literally had 3 words drop “Summer, Spook, Nights”. Seriously, it was like a muse fairy just sprinkled 3 pieces of fairy dust over my head in the words of “Summer Spook Nights”. The idea, a Halloween and Horror market faire. Celebrating small businesses (which were also suffering when the world shut down) and historic preservation. The horror community loves a victorian house back drop. Killer combo, pun intended.
The struggle, getting these OG, Founding Board Members to be open to my idea. There really is a generational stigma towards the Horror Community. I absolutely felt it during my presentation. Bottom line, I told these directors “You think these are not your people. In fact, these are your people!”
We’ve been impressed with Frolicking Chronicles LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our company is 100% Woman owned, 100% Veteran owned. Frolicking Chronicles LLC began as paranormal podcast hosted by twin sisters. It has grown in us becoming Event Producers of Summer Spook Nights, a Free, Family Friendly event that celebrates both Historic Preservation and Small Businesses.
We also have a great love and admiration for New Orleans, LA. Tamantha Bowman, my twin sister was activated during the BP Oil Spill and lived there for a time. Having traveled all over the world to various paranormal related areas. NOLA continues to be a core location of much that drives us. We are Saints fans, we are Anne Rice fans. We now react to the Interview with the Vampire series via our YouTube channel. Which is a whole story within its-self.
I believe what sets us apart from others is our desire to have “conversations”, support people and be a resource for others. On our podcast, folks are going to learn and hopefully be inspired. I think it is also note worthy, that we started our podcast as an extension of ourselves and proudly have a platform that is anti-ageism. We are no Spring Chickens, haha.
We are currently in production of Season 5 of our podcast. Our next Summer Spook Nights show will be held on Saturday, June 21st, 2025 at The Chaffey Garcia House, Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Happy to say our local residents look forward to our show! Guests come from all over Southern California to participate in the VIBE! NEW this year my twin Tamantha Bowman is heading up the travel portion of our company via Paranormal Travel Agent. We are also looking to launch our Paranormal Tours with options to investigate.
Everyone can learn more about us via our website: www.frolickingchronicles.com
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Great question. We were born year of the Tiger, does that merit LUCK? We think so. We also believe in being ready for when opportunities present themselves. Sometimes, I have no idea how we are going to accomplish this or that. Yet, inside me, I feel this EXCITEMENT! THAT SAYS: “DO IT”.
I would be amiss to not admit, the uncertainty or not having clear clarity of all the things. Dealing with board members, venues you don’t own… When you don’t know how? or why? Yet, it all comes together in the end.
Having your people find you, having moments where you find your people. THAT IS SOMETHING! THAT IS LUCKY!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://frolickingchronicles.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/summerspooknights/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4I8xazBOW2hOzDerTFsWeg/videos
