West Seattle, Washington
22 Friday
(WSB photo from October 2023 Trick or Trees)
Every year, the weekend before Halloween is so full of seasonal activities, we’ve nicknamed it Hallo-weekend. This year that’ll be Saturday and Sunday, October 26-27. And we just got word of yet another event – the King County Wastewater Treatment Division sent word of this year’s Trick or Trees tree giveaway in Highland Park:
We are teaming up with the Dirt Corps, Duwamish Valley Youth Corps, and Highland Park Improvement Club to host our third annual tree giveaway to support community goals around neighborhood greening. Join us at one of our upcoming events in Highland Park and South Park to pick up a free native tree and learn about King County’s efforts to reduce pollution into the Duwamish River. Trees are available for community members and organizations based in South Park and Highland Park, on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. No registration is required.
Trick or Trees
When: Saturday, October 26, from noon to 4 p.m.
Where: Highland Park Corner Store, 7789 Highland Park Way SWThe event will include free trees, treats, and a Halloween costume contest for pets.
Find out more about Trick or Trees on the HPCS website.
As we continue spotlighting West Seattle Halloween decorations, here’s a haunt to see day or night!
Thanks to the texter who sent day and night views of that house on SW Andover just west of 42nd SW. Want to show us yours (or a display you’ve admired)? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (See what we’ve published already by scrolling through our Halloween-coverage archive here.)
We’re continuing our spotlight on West Seattle Halloween decorations, with photos sent by readers. These are from Amanda:
Our wonderful, Halloween-loving neighbors have outdone themselves again. Located on the NE corner of 42nd Ave SW and SW Hudson. Plenty to see on both sides of the yard during the day.
Thanks to everyone who’s sent photos/video so far – you can scroll through our Halloween-coverage archive (including past years) by going here. And if you have a display to suggest we showcase, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Once again this year, Dirk at 37th/Graham is putting on a Halloween lights-and-music (tune to 87.9 FM when nearby) extravaganza, and that’s what we’re featuring tonight as our Halloween-decoration spotlights continue.
Twice as many lights as last year, Dirk says, and the music is inspired by Hans Zimmer‘s recent live performance, including movie music from James Bond (in the clip above), Dune, Wonder Woman, Interstellar, Pirates of the Caribbean, and likely more. This show may not be running every evening until next Friday, so if you happen by and it’s not on, put it on your list for next weekend and beyond. Not particularly spooky music, but hey, how many times in one season do you want to hear “Thriller”? Dirk, by the way, is very interested in feedback, especially on the music, so when you see the full show, come back here to comment! (All our Halloween-related coverage, including decorations, is archived and scrollable here. And if you have decoration pics and/or video to share, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!)
With Halloween now three weeks (and one day) away, we’ll be featuring decoration displays daily – tonight, the spooky shelves at Alki Mail and Dispatch (47th/Admiral)! Proprietor Bree sent the photos, explaining:
Just wanted to share a few pictures of our Haunted Dispatch and let everyone know they are welcome to come check it out! We actually still have some work to do, we are aiming for a full family friendly indoor haunt by Halloween, and we also wanted to let everyone know we will be welcoming trick or treaters the whole day during business hours, (7 am-7 pm) and we will be handing out awesome goodie bags!
Got decorations? Send us pics, with general location info (“7000 block of Streetname SW,” for example), and whether it’s better seen by day or night (or both!) – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! We’re archiving these stories (and other Halloween-related news) here.
Earlier this week, we published our annual request for pics of must-see West Seattle Halloween displays – and now that the big night is less than four weeks away, it’s time to start showing them! Among the first displays shown to us is the one in the pic above and video below, from Halloween devotées R & B (aka Ron & Brian), who report, “We’re not even close to being finished yet but we’ve got something up on 47th between Hanford and Hinds.”
If you have a Halloween display to show off, send your pic(s) and location – doesn’t have to be the exact address, as long as people can find you if they want a firsthand look – to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Photo sent by Janelle Otterholt, ‘skeletons sunning themselves in Genesee Hill neighborhood’)
Just four weeks and one day until Halloween. Who’s counting? West Seattle’s many devoted Halloween fans, some of whom already have decorated their yards, windows, decks, balconies … If you’re among them, we’ll be showcasing Halloween decorations again this year and would love to receive a photo! You don’t have to provide your exact address as long as it’s a vicinity where people who want a firsthand are likely to find the display (“in the xx block of xxth Street,” for example). It’s also helpful if you indicate whether the display’s more intended for night – lights? – or day (or spooky any time of day). westseattleblog@gmail.com or text to 206-293-6302 – and thanks to the people who’ve already sent photos. P.S. Business displays welcome too – past years have shown that some go all-out with the seasonal spirit!
(WSB photo, Monster Dash’s mascot in 2023)
Fall’s fun costumed 5K, the West Seattle Monster Dash, is exactly one month away. Organizers just sent the announcement, and we notice that you have only a few more days to sign up at lower rates. The Monster Dash – set for Saturday, October 26, at Lincoln Park – is a fundraiser for West Seattle’s Cooperative Preschool program. As organizers describe it, “This event is a costumed 5k trail run/walk, Kids Dash, and Kids Zone featuring games, activities, and prizes. Paid registration includes a T-shirt featuring our iconic Monster (all races) and bib with timing chip (5K only).” The 5K starts at 9:30 am, and the Kids’ Dash at 10:30 am. Adult and youth 5K registration is at the lowest price if you sign up before next Tuesday (October 1) – to register, go here. The Monster Dash (in its lucky 13th year!) is also still welcoming sponsors – go here.
It’s been a spirited Halloween season of events and decorations…a few more photos before the night ends:
Among the last decorated-home photos we received were these, from Zach, Colleen, and Melina: “We’re pretty proud of our display this year. Lots of skeletons, lots of lights, lots of pumpkins! 5933 32nd Ave SW”
Shawn and Rob on 48th SW sent a photo late this afternoon of their awareness-raising display and trick-or-treat plan:
Last year approximately 1,500 books were banned in schools across the United Stated and 22% of those books directly addressed issues of race and racism. In an effort to bring awareness to this issue and to encourage people to talk about why everyone should be allowed to choose for themselves and their families what they read, we will be passing out treat bags filled with candy, ACLU bookmarks and $5 gift certificates to Pegasus Book Exchange tonight to the first 100 trick or treaters (young and old)! Exercise your rights. Rebels read banned books!
Meantime, we made a few stops tonight, including our every-few-years visit to the front-yard animatronic “Nightmare on 44th”:
Creator Dave told us earlier this season that this might be the last year for his Halloween-only show full of creepy characters.
Early in the evening, we visited another event that had been listed in our West Seattle Halloween Guide – the block party on 37th in Upper Morgan, Here are the neighbors who joined forces to make it happen:
Also seen in that neighborhood – a reminder that the next holidays aren’t far away:
(added) Larry sent photos “from our Halloween block party tonight on 31st between Elmgrove and Thistle”:
And if you want to stretch out Halloween, Ron and Brian plan to keep their show going a few more nights:
Well, the budget was a little tight this year but we still managed to pull off a fair presentation for our most favorite day of the year! We had over 120+ Trick ‘r Treaters show up at our door, we ran out of the regular-sized candy bars we stocked up on at Costco, and we resorted to offering bananas!
One more time – thank you to everyone who sent photos, video, tips, event listings …. true community collaboration!
–
As mentioned here last week, after more than a decade and a half of animatronic Halloween shows – even an online-only pandemic production – the curtain is about to fall on Skeleton Theatre, forever. Tonight until 9 pm, and again 6-9 pm, this time it’s a sort of hybrid event: A very brief “performance” (video above) and then the chance to get up on stage, see behind the scenes, take pics with the skeletons. You can watch from backstage too. As the producers explain online, “Basically, you can watch the stuff we usually hide.”
Skeleton Theatre has been a Halloween tradition since 2006, masterminded by Chris Walker with a supporting crew of family and friends. (We’ve been covering it since year 2!) It’s in the front yard on the southwest corner of 36th/Hanford.
(Avian version of trick-or-treating – sent by Jerry Simmons)
Tonight’s the big night, so we have one last two-part event preview for you! First, the Halloween happenings, from the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide:
TRICK OR TREAT AT WS ARCADE: West Seattle Arcade (2758 Alki SW), open 11 am-10 pm, says, “Come trick or treat at West Seattle Arcade! Anyone who comes down in full costume on Halloween will be given a treat and 10 free credits to play with.”
PUGET BLVD. NEIGHBORHOOD PARTY,: 3-6 pm, all welcome, details here. (5014 Puget Boulevard SW)
TEAL PUMPKIN PROJECT TRICK-OR-TREATING: Some local homes have non-candy treats available as part of this longrunning effort to make Halloween more inclusive for kids with food allergies and other challenges. See the list of addresses in our Halloween Guide.
TRICK OR TREAT AT THE KENNEY: 4 pm, kids are invited to come to the main lobby at The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW) to trick-or-treat.
UPPER MORGAN BLOCK PARTY: 5-10 pm, 37th SW between Raymond and Graham, details here.
MEEDS MANOR HAUNTED HOUSE: The legendary Meeds Manor Haunted House is opening for Halloween night 5:30-9 pm. Details in our calendar listing. (3011 45th SW)
SOUTH ADMIRAL BLOCK PARTY: “Our neighbors have organized a block party on Halloween night, which will include a closed street for safe trick-or-treating and food trucks. (Walnut Ave SW between Hanford and Hinds)
SKELETON THEATRE FINALE: Skeleton Theatre returns, with “Junior.” We’re told this will be the last year of the show performed by animatronic skeletons on a front-yard stage at 36th/Hanford. 6-9 pm, frequent showtimes; more info here.
NIGHTMARE ON 44TH: Tonight, “Nightmare on 44th” returns! Animatronic front-yard show, 6 pm to 9 pm. 3800 block 44th Ave SW.
SPOOKY SHOW: Nightfall Orphanage, spooky experience at 4544 51st Place SW, extended hours for Halloween, 6-10 pm. No admission charge, but charity donations requested – food or funds. Host requests that you PLEASE follow the parking rules explained on the website – thank you!
ARBOR HEIGHTS TRUNK OR TREAT: 6 pm, Trunk or Treat at Arbor Heights Community Church. (4113 SW 102nd)
HALLOWEEN CONCERT: Night of AL, 7 pm in-store at Easy Street Records (4559 California), free, all-ages: ” Coldwave -synth pop sensation returns to Easy Street. You are in for a treat. All ages. For fans of Stranger Things music, Sisters of Mercy, and all your favorite goth-industrial bands. Bar will be open.”
BAR PARTY: Revelry Room hosts Halloween Get Down, with DJ Mister Moon at 8 pm, costume contest at 9:30 pm. (4547 California SW, off the alley)
Now, the non-Halloween happenings, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
Here’s what’s happening for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
POSTCARDS TO VOTERS: 10:30 am at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), meet up for long-distance political networking.
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE CONTINUES: Final week! Noon to 8, Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) is open, and you’re invited to come see the work displayed by community members in its annual Southwest Artist Showcase.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
FOOTBALL: West Seattle High School plays a postseason game against Rainier Beach, 6 pm at Memorial Stadium downtown. (401 5th Ave. N.)
LEARN ASL: Free class, 6 pm at West Seattle Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (4001 44th SW) – info’s in our calendar listing.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
FREE TRACK RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.
THE CLAY CAULDRON: 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), sign up in advance or drop in to work on your project(s).
SING! Singers have an open invitation to join the Seattle Metropolitan Singers – “all treble voices welcome” – just show up for one of their rehearsals, Tuesdays 7-9 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).
TRIVIA X 4: Four places to play Tuesday nights – 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW); also, 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska).
BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: Play bingo with Cookie Couture at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm. Free, all ages!
You can look ahead any time via our event calendar – if you have something to add to it, please email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Three more home displays to show you on this Halloween Eve:
Kristi and Mark sent the video, explaining, “We have been working on our skeleton pirate ship off and on for about 8 years. We’ll have the thunderstorm and the cannons going on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Come find us is you dare! 2652 52nd Ave SW”
This photo from Joanna is a sneak peek:
She explains, “We will have a display in Arbor Heights on Halloween. Address is 9616 39th Ave SW, just past 98th where 39th DEAD ENDS (insert spooky laugh!).”
And here’s David‘s display:
He says, “I think we have a pretty great display at our house, especially at night. It is all sorts and sizes of spiders and webs, along with other inflatables. 4042 55th Ave SW.”
Thanks again for all the tips and pics – see all our spotlights by scrolling through our Halloween coverage archive; most are also in our Halloween Guide (though we’re still catching up with a few to add there too).
In the trick-or-treat-event section of our West Seattle Halloween Guide, we invited people to let us know if they’re participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project, “a simple way to make trick-or-treating safer and more inclusive for the one in 13 children living with food allergies, and many others impacted by intolerances and other conditions.” We’ve heard from (updated) 21 participating homes so far, and added those addresses to the Halloween Guide, in case that helps your family’s trick-or-treating plan; if you’re a Teal Pumpkin home too, it’s not too late to let us know so we can add you to the list – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Until 7 pm, everyone’s welcome at the decorated West Seattle High School courtyard where Fall Fest is happening – a student-created community event for this Halloween Eve. Indoors and outdoors, you’ll find games …
Also some fundraising sales (bring cash), like the one we mentioned in today’s preview list – the AAPI Club‘s candy sale:
Student organizers from the Class of 2026 who let us know about this include Lilly and AJ:
Go support students and get into the Halloween mood! (They’re showing “Nightmare Before Christmas” in the Commons, too.) WSHS is at 3000 California SW, and the courtyard entrance is off the south end of the parking lot.
On this Halloween-Eve-Eve, three more West Seattle displays to show you, starting with this one at Ashley‘s house:
We have a Halloween display at 7019 14th Ave SW. We have a giant spider named Garth, a giant skeleton names Indiana Bones, and a humorous mausoleum.
There are several other decorated houses on 14th and Myrtle.
A texter sent this photo of macabre marine life in a window along 34th north of Thistle:
And not only did Alki Mail & Dispatch (47th/Admiral) send this photo from their spirited in-store display, customer Al tipped us about it too:
Though this hectic Hallo-weekend is wrapping up, we still have some Halloween-night info to add to the Halloween Guide – and there’s one more big pre-Halloween event tomorrow, the Fall Fest at West Seattle High School – check back!
Another one-of-a-kind West Seattle Halloween event today – thanks to Jeff Jones for sending photos from the Witches and Warlocks Paddle!
With costumes and standup-paddleboards, the participants headed out onto Elliott Bay from the Seacrest area.
Maari Falsetto of Inner Alchemy Treasures & Transformation organized it.
This is the third year for the Halloween paddle, which Maari said was intended to “cast a spell of JOY and FUN.”
(WSB photos, video unless otherwise credited)
10:58 AM: Halloween in The Junction is on! The costume parade, led by the West Seattle High School Marching Band, will soon leave Junction Plaza Park and head around the Farmers’ Market, then around the extra block that’s closed for today’s celebration, California between Alaska and Edmunds. Trick-or-treating is getting under way – find candy outside participating businesses as well as at booths south of Alaska. The Seattle Thrillers are set to perform at noon, and there’s a surprise performer – The Bubbleman is here.
We’re helping hand out candy (while it lasts!) near Walk-All-Ways. See you here!
11:20 AM: The parade is over (added: video) …
(Photo by Holli Margell)
… and the trick-or-treating has ramped up.
11:50 AM: Huge turnout. Hundreds of pieces of candy already distributed. (We’ve gone to the store in search of more.) In the booths here on California south of Alaska, you’ll find local schools and organizations with treats and activities, like Westside School (WSB sponsor):
And Tilden School (WSB sponsor):
Coming up: Thrlllers perform here at Walk-All-Ways at noon.
12:19 PM: Many creative costumes!
Everything stopped dead in its tracks, of course, when the Seattle Thrillers started their show:
They’re also doing a slow-speed audience-participation version:
The Bubbleman – who’s emerged from retirement – remains here close to our booth, with low-key bubbly fun:
The party’s on until 2 pm. (And yes, we found more candy.)
12:45 PM: The pace has slowed. More time to appreciate the costumes!
If we were judging, we’d have to say this multi-holiday family wins:
And we have to go out on another candy run!
1:31 PM: New phenomenon this year – non-costumed adult trick-or-treaters. (Hey, the free candy’s for everyone!) Meantime, we should note that it’s not just those of us who have been hanging out in the street who are handing out treats – your Junction businesses are at the heart of this, long before it turned into a block pqrty – this is presented by the West Seattle Junction Association! It’s an especially big day for kid-oriented businesses, like Curious Kidstuff:
And 3 Little Birds:
And a visiting-for-the-day business, from south of The Junction – West Seattle Nursery:
Thanks to everyone who’s stopped to say hi, too!
2 PM: Party’s over, as somebody just said. We’ll be adding video and more photos later.
7:19 PM: Still in the process of doing that. Meantime, regarding the comment discussion about leaving Alaska open to cross-traffic this year, Marco says he emailed WSJA and executive director Chris Mackay has replied that they’ll definitely return to doing that next year.
Hallo-weekend began with almost 300 mostly costumed people running 5K through Lincoln Park for the West Seattle Monster Dash. Cheering them on – the mascot monster:
Reasons to cheer included not only the costumes but also the cause: The Monster Dash is a fundraiser for South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools, which serve hundreds of local families at five West Seattle/White Center locations. But it’s also just plain fun.
Here are the results. The 5K was followed by two short fun runs just for kids.
Thanks again for all the great Halloween-display photos, videos, and tips! More to show you tonight:
That’s the Patch family’s “haunted yard” at 5206 23rd SW – nightly “through Halloween from dusk till 9:30. Come see the show and walk the graveyard. Full bars on Halloween night.” They sent video too:
In Gatewood, Yma says, “Come say hi to our ‘pets’ out front! Portland St off California, mid block. Across the street from Berg’s Pumpkin Patch“:
And Joseph sent the next photo with the warning, “Quick heads up. Alert! The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man was spotted. Corner of Manning and 53rd. Be Advised”:
They’re hoping to welcome lots of trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. (Scroll through our Halloween coverage archive for all the displays we’ve shown this season!)
Meantime, check our Halloween Guide for what’s happening through the big night – including Halloween in The Junction tomorrow, starting with the 11 am costume parade led by the West Seattle High School Marching Band, followed by trick-or-treating at businesses and booths, until 2 pm. See you there!
4:39 PM: This might be the most unusual trick-or-treating experience in West Seattle this Halloween season … Trail or Treat at Camp Long. Until 8 pm, you’re invited to the park at 5200 35th SW to visit some of the park’s cabins for trick-or-treating in partnership with local businesses/organizations that have “adopted” cabins for the occasion. Nature activities are happening too. Get a map outside the lodge, follow the lighted paths! You can roast marshmallows over a campfire at one shelter to make s’mores:
5:54 PM: More photos! The Washington Native Plant Society offers mask-making at one cabin:
Girl Scouts are greeting trick-or-treaters at another:
Nature activities include the opportunity to learn about owls and spiders:
Camp Long told us earlier this month that this is the first time they’ve had Trail or Treat since 2005!
Those are the biggest “treats” at Trick or Trees, happening until 4 pm outside Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) – free trees, thanks to DIRT Corps and the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps! All sizes, various types – even small ones you can grow in a container. You can also groove to the sounds spun by DJ Dr. Lehl:
If you haven’t had lunch yet, you have fresh-grilled options (and a big covered seating area to enjoy themO:
The folks from Highland Park’s community organizations HPAC and HPIC are there too, as co-sponsors – you can get an update on the HPIC (Highland Park Improvement Club) rebuilding plan:
At 3 pm, there’s a pet-costume contest, with prizes from Highland Park’s own Addy’s Pet Shop. Note that one block of SW Kenyon, between Highland Park Way and 10th SW, is blocked off for the party. If you want a free tree, get over there soon – there was still a good selection during our visit about half an hour ago, but it’s first-come first-served.
The next round of West Seattle business-district trick-or-treating is on! Until 2 pm, at least half a dozen businesses at Alki Beach (see the map here) are welcoming trick-or-treaters, along Alki Avenue between 57th and 63rd. Trick-or-treating with a view!
Lots of families here to enjoy it.
In tonight’s Halloween-decoration spotlight, Jason has again adorned his corner (52nd/Dakota) with dozens of jack-o’-lanterns! Some years he’s had a hundred. Go count this year’s lineup while admiring them! Thanks again to everyone who’s shared decoration-location photos/video/tips – we have more to show you before Halloween arrives; you can scroll through our coverage archive to see everything we’ve already shown. And plan the rest of your Hallo-weekend with our West Seattle guide – we’ll be adding more events before the night’s out!
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