Ghouls and goblins are making their way into dark corners throughout town in preparation for the annual Haunting of Coupeville.
Festivities start Sunday, Oct. 1 and run through the entire month.
Beginning Oct. 1, scarecrows will be placed outside businesses throughout town for the SCARY-CROW TRAIL. This year’s theme is Wizard of Oz. Pick up a map at the Coupeville Chamber of Commerce or Coupeville Library starting Oct. 3 and vote for your favorite entry.
“There was a lot of enthusiasm from people this year,” said Lynda Eccles, executive director for the chamber. “Everyone is just working so hard. It’s going to be a fun October.”
The WEARY BONES REST STOP graveyard can be accessed daily through the Rec Hall parking lot on Coveland or from Alexander Street next to the chamber. Carefully stroll through Weary Bones Rest Stop and delight in the wording on the gravestones.
All month long, the Sherman Pioneer Farm will operate a HAUNTED BARN that will be open 3-6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends.
Shermans will also have a PUMPKIN PATCH and trolley rides during daylight hours on weekends in October. Visitors can ride the trolley, pick a pumpkin, buy a squash or decorative gourd and some baked goods. They can also watch the Trebuchet fling pumpkins for the “Magnificent Munching Moo Cows.” On weekdays, an appointment is required to visit the patch. Call 360-678-4675.
A HAY BALE MAZE at Sherman Farm will also be open weekdays 3 p.m. to dark and weekends 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. with haunting after dark, and it will also host a Farm Dance on Oct. 28. Details for that event are still to come.
Front Street Grill is hosting a MURDER MYSTERY MASQUERADE at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19. Seats are $55 per person and feature a three-course dinner with a beverage. Figure out whodunit during this epicurean enigma, where guests feast on top-notch fare while professional actors put their sleuthing minds to work.
Fort Casey will once again hold the ever-popular HAUNTED FORT 6:30-10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 20-21. The event will include children’s trick or treat lane, games, ghost stories and a bounce house.
There will be food vendors as well as the haunted fort/switchboard tours for kids ages 10 and older. Tickets are $8 per person or $30 for a family of up to six. All proceeds benefit restoration of the Admiralty Head Lighthouse.
The CATCHING CASPER 5K RUN/WALK will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at Coupeville Elementary School. Participants wear costumes and then trick or treat upon finishing. $20 per individual or $60 per family. Proceeds benefit the Coupeville High School Class of 2018.
The Halloween TORCHLIGHT PARADE will be held later that day. Participants gather at Cook’s Corner Park at 4:45 p.m. for costume judging then the parade starts at 5 p.m. going down Front Street.
The Whidbey Bicycle Club is hosting two TRICK OR TREAT BIKE RIDES through Fort Ebey. Rides are family and kid friendly. For more information, go to www.whidbeybicycleclub.org
Coupeville’s GREAT PUMPKIN RACE will round out the month with races happening 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29 on Alexander Street.
The highlight of this free event is a unique side-by-side, single-elimination race featuring handcrafted, decorated Pumpkin RaceCars in a funky, hilarious, suspenseful and dramatic display of American ingenuity.
One event that won’t be returning this year is the corn maze next to the bowling alley.
“It was an awful lot of work,” Eccles said. “But who knows? If we can get more volunteers, maybe it’ll be back next year.”
• For information, go to www.hauntingofcoupeville.com
