By Kirk Boxleitner
The remaining days of October offer no shortage of seasonally appropriate events and activities for a wide range of ages who want to celebrate the Halloween spirit.
From Wednesday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Nov. 2, the Jefferson County Historical Society (JCHS) is offering 90-minute “Strange Shadows: Uncanny Tales of Port Townsend” walking tours, covering “ghostly encounters, unexplained disappearances, historical oddities, UFO sightings and strange tales from the sea,” before visiting the historic jail spaces inside the 1892 City Hall building.
The JCHS Museum of Art and History is also offering “Hidden Haunts” scavenger hunts, to uncover “eerie and mysterious” stories throughout the museum, and its “Haunted Jail” coincides with Halloween trick-or-treating in downtown Port Townsend.
From 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30, the Chimacum School District will conduct its fourth-annual “Trunk-or-Treat” at the main Chimacum Junior/Senior High School campus along Rhody Drive, which the Chimacum Schools PTA explained aims to bring together neighbors from across not only Chimacum itself, but also Port Hadlock and Irondale.
“For many of our rural families, where neighborhoods aren’t always walkable, this event provides a rare opportunity for kids to trick-or-treat safely, and experience the excitement of Halloween in their community,” said Maggie Chumbley, speaking for the Chimacum Schools PTA. “Participation continues to grow, with support from East Jefferson Fire Rescue, the Rakers Car Club, Carl’s Building Supply, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and many local shops and service providers.”
From noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center museum exhibit at Fort Worden State Park will offer Halloween-themed crafts, a boneyard scavenger hunt and “spooky” marine facts, at 502 Harbor Defense Way, across from the beach and pier.
The afternoon of Oct. 31 will see the Port Townsend Main Street Program celebrate its 29th annual Downtown Trick or Treat and costume parade, which encourages people to dress up in their “ultimate themed” costumes, as their favorite superheroes, or as the scariest creatures they can come up with.
Children from preschool through sixth grade are encouraged to show up in costume, but must be accompanied by adults.
Parade participants are asked to assemble at 3:45 p.m. at the 1st Security Bank plaza, at the intersection of Adams and Water streets, before the friendly Main Street witches lead off the parade at 4 p.m., marching from Water to Polk streets.
Trick-or-treating immediately follows the parade, at participating businesses throughout downtown Port Townsend, on Water and Washington streets, and in between Water Street, and some side streets from Madison to Polk streets, will be closed to traffic from 3:30-5:30 p.m. for public safety at this event, which typically draws between 1,500, and 2,000 attendees.
The later afternoon and evening of Oct. 31 offer their own haunted happenings and spooky shows, as the Starrett House, at 744 Clay St. in Port Townsend, hosts a Victorian-style séance from 6-8 p.m.
To mark the birthday of George Starrett, builder of the house that bears his name, Matthew Bell plans to conduct a séance “in true 19th century Victorian fashion,” followed by a pause to share tea and cake, and concluding with a presentation on the history and cultural fascination with séances during the Victorian era.
And from 8 p.m. on Oct. 31 to 3 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, the Manresa Castle Hotel at 651 Cleveland St. in Port Townsend will host “Memento Mori 3,” presented by As Above, So Below. Manresa Castle opens its doors for a night of “haunting music, immersive art and spirited revelry,” with three stages of “top-tier sound and performance,” and 40 rooms “of history and mystery,” for which attendees can come “dressed to impress,” or borrow an outfit from the castle’s costume bin.
Check the rest of The Leader for other opportunities to trick-or-treat and/or close out the spooky season in style.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.ptleader.com ’
