A very coastal Halloween
Spooky Spectacular • Tuesday, Oct. 31, in Lincoln City
By Linda Turner Griepentrog
For the TODAY
Ghosts, goblins and witches, oh my! ‘Tis the season for spooky adventures of all kinds to celebrate Halloween. But, how did this spellbinding event really start?
The holiday began in the 17th Century as a Celtic festival celebrating the end of summer and the beginning of harvest season. During this time, the gods became visible to mortals and would play tricks on them. Costumes, most often animal skins, were used to help keep the evil spirits at bay.
In the early 1900s, Halloween came to North America. Working class families would visit the homes of the rich asking for “soul cakes” in trade for prayers for lost loved ones, and the promise of no trickery.
Today, according to the National Retail Federation, Halloween spending will top $12.2 billion, with 73 percent of Americans planning to celebrate. Average per-person spending on this ghostly endeavor is predicted to be $108.24, with the largest percentage spent on costumes.
This year’s favorite costume trends are, no surprise, Barbie and Ken. But the classics are still popular — ghosts and goblins, witches, pirates and cartoon characters.
Recent years have seen the rise of Trunk-or-Treat events — a grouping of cars in a particular spot like a school parking lot all with trunks bedecked for the holiday and owners handing out treats to costumed kiddos. This creates a safe trick-or-treating alternative than going door to door in the neighborhood.
So, not only does Halloween have a long history, but it can be a huge amount of fun. Check out some coastal events you might want to attend.
Manzanita
Tuesday, Oct. 31
Hall-o-nita
Throughout Manzanita
Trick or Treat safely by visiting businesses displaying a pumpkin in their window. 3-5 pm.
Tillamook
Downtown Trick or Treating
Tillamook Main Street
Rain or shine, businesses will be dishing out candy to all the little goblins and ghouls. 3-5 pm.
Pacific City
Saturday, Oct. 28
Trick or Treat the Dory Fleet
Kiawanda Community Center • Pacific City
Like a trunk-or-treat with a Pacific City twist: dory boats decorated as pirate ships, Viking long ships, alien ships and even vampire lairs. 5 to 7 pm, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Drive.
Lincoln City
Friday, Oct. 27
Halloween Costume Party
Nokturnal
For ages 21 and over. 9:30pm, 1330 NE Hwy. 101.
Saturday, Oct. 28
Halloween Costume Party
Beach Club & Event Center
8 pm, 2020 NE 22nd Street.
Halloween Costume Party Extravaganza
Vin & Bräu at The Pines
7 pm-midnight, 5040 SE Hwy. 101. $15.
Haunted Taft
Sapphire Center • Lincoln City
Discover some of the coast’s spookiest tales in this bayfront ghost tour. $25. 7 pm, 4840 SE Hwy. 101. For the complete schedule and to purchase tickets, go to HauntedTaft.com.
Scream Halloween Party
Chinook Winds Casino Resort
A grown-ups’ night of club music, adult beverages and a costume contest, offering a share of $2,000 for the best male, best female, best duo, funniest and casino’s choice. 9 pm-2 am, 1777 NW 44th Street. FMI, call 888-CHINOOK.
Tuesday, Oct. 31
Trick or Treat
Driftwood Public Library
3-5 pm, 801 SW Highway 101.
Trick or Treat
Lincoln City Community Center
3-5 pm, 2150 NE Oar Place.
Spooky Spectacular
Lincoln City Outlets
Find candy, games and lots of fun on this walk-through experience, located in the lower parking garage. 5 to 7:30 pm, 1500 SE East Devils Lake Road.
Gleneden Beach
Saturday, Oct. 28
Halloween Costume Party
Fishing Rock Eatery • Depoe Bay
Eat, drink and be scary at this Halloween bash, featuring live music from Old Peculier and Sitka. 6-10 pm, 3245 Hwy. 101.
Sunday, Oct. 29
Trick or Treat
Salishan Marketplace • Gleneden Beach
A target-rich environment for candy acquisition, with an art gallery, toy store, candy shop, bakery, clothing and homewares boutique, outdoor adventure shop, fitness club and café all taking part from noon to 4 pm, 7755 Hwy. 101.
Tuesday, Oct. 31
Trunk or Treat
Gleneden Beach Community Hall
Visit the decorated cars and snap up some candy for the road. 5-6 pm, 110 Azalea Street. FMI, go to www.glenedenbeach.org.
Halloween at the Hall
Gleneden Beach Community Hall
An adult party complete with costume contest, sweet and savory treat bar, photo booth, fortune telling and a host of spooky activities. Beer and wine for sale. 6:30-8:30 pm, 110 Azalea Street. FMI, go to www.glenedenbeach.org.
Newport
Saturday, Oct. 28
Halloween Bash
Primaltones Community Venue
All ages 7-10 pm; over 21 from 10 pm-1 am, 2925 SE Ferry Slip Road. Donations appreciated.
Sunday, Oct. 29
Trunk or Treat
Newport Foursquare Church
5-6:30 pm, 225 NW 15th Street.
Trunk ‘R Treat
Northwest Nazarene Church • Newport
5-7 pm, 227 NW 12th Street.
Tuesday, Oct. 31
Trick or Treat
Newport City Hall
All departments will be festively decorated for the event, costumes will be the order of the day, and goodies will be given at each department. 5-7 pm, 169 SW Coast Highway.
South Beach
Oct. 27, 28, 31
Forest of Freaks
South Beach • Newport
Get chilled to the bone at this open-air haunted house. Venture into the dark forest and hear screams and creatures from the night howl as the dead leaves fall from above. $8. 8-10 pm, 116th Street and Dogwood.
Toledo
Tuesday, Oct 31
Trick-or-Treat Main Street
Main Street • Toledo
A chance for kids to go from store to store to get candy and also explore vehicles like fire trucks police cruisers, dump trucks and more. 3:30-6 pm.
Waldport
Saturday, Oct. 28
Trunk or Treat
Foursquare Church • Waldport
4-6 pm, 480 North Bay Street.
Trunk or Treat
Waldport Community Center
6-7:30 pm, 265 E. Hemlock Street.