West Seattle, Washington
22 Friday
(WSB photo – Skeleton Theatre stage site)
After more than a decade and a half, the West Seattle front-yard animatronic Halloween show Skeleton Theatre is about to hang up its (bone) spurs. We stopped by the corner of 36th/Hanford after the Skeleton crew started building this year’s stage/set, and they told us this would be their last year. The website‘s not updated yet for this year, but it has tons of history on this longtime local Halloween favorite, which dates back to the mid-’00s (they even did an online version for pandemic year 2020). It’s usually full of corny jokes, lighting and sound effects, and of course, the animatronic skeleton stars. All they would tell us about this year’s show is that it’s called “Junior,” and that the name would make sense when we see the show. The schedule is the same as previous years – Halloween night and the night after (October 31-November 1), 6 pm-9 pm, more or less continuous shows with a reset break between them.
3:23 PM: It’s the traditional kickoff to Hallo-weekend – West Seattle’s first round of business-district trick-or-treating, happening right now in the Admiral District. The onslaught of trick-or-treaters hasn’t quite arrived yet, but the businesses at and around Admiral/California are ready and waiting – above, the Bebop Waffle Shop crew; below, the folks at Baked Custom Cakes:
And don’t miss the spooky ceiling-dwelling spider at Alki Bike and Board (WSB sponsor):
Here’s what the Circa crew cooked up:
This year the trick-or-treating is just the first event in an expanded slate – some grownups-only events are happening too. See it all on the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide page, including the full list of where and when you’ll find special trick-or-treat events in the next few days. This one in Admiral is on until 6 pm – more photos later!
5:44 PM: As promised – more scenes from around the Admiral District!
Lots more trick-or-treating this weekend – again, see the list in our Halloween Guide!
Both of these are near Admiral (where business trick-or-treating kicks off Hallo-weekend tomorrow afternoon!):
The photo above is from Nichol, whose display is at 2752 38th SW. The photo below is from Wyatt, who has a message, too:
Hi, community! We are slowly but surely catching up to all of your amazing displays, and before long, our block will be in full spook to welcome all of you Trick-or-treaters to our annual Halloween spectacular! Come by for some new items, ideas, and humorous twists! I want to note that my display doesn’t and never will have an age limit for trick-or-treating. I love putting together an experience for all to enjoy, and believe that everyone should have some hot chocolate for Halloween!
Wyatt is at 40th/Charlestown. See everyplace we’ve featured by scrolling through our Halloween coverage archive; for the dozens of events coming up between now and the big night, see our West Seattle Halloween Guide!
(Awaiting the Great Pumpkin on 34th near Barton – photo by Mark Watters)
The big Hallo-weekend is almost here, with trick-or-treat events, carnivals, haunted houses, spooky shows, even a run through the forest and paddling on the Sound! We don’t want you to miss out on any of it, and that’s why we’ve been updating our West Seattle Halloween Guide, where you’ll find a list of more than three dozen Halloween/Dia de Muertos options unfolding over the next six days. (And if we’re missing something, please let us know so we can add it! Thank you!)
Now tonight’s Halloween decoration spotlight: Darrell sent photos of the display he createdin the 9000 block of 18th SW – a sight to see, day or night:
If you’ve seen the Halloween display at Trader Joe’s – Darrell’s responsible for that too!
Just six nights until Halloween – and dozens of events in the days and nights until then – we’re still adding to the list on our West Seattle Halloween Guide page!
Thanks to Lauren for sending photos of tonight’s featured Halloween display – “pics of my house on SW Portland in Gatewood! It’s Berg’s Pumpkin Patch.”
Halloween is one week from tomorrow, and this weekend is full of festivities – we’re continuing to add to our West Seattle Halloween Guide! If you have info for it, please email westseattleblog@gmail.com as soon as you can; thanks!
Multiple readers suggested we check out this Halloween display at 37th/Graham. As our video above shows, it’s a light show with music. The yard has additional decorations too:
You can hear the music via 87.9 FM.
We’re continuing to spotlight West Seattle displays nightly through Halloween – if you have one to suggest, whether yours or someone else’s, please email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – with or without photos – thank you!
One week from today, while the West Seattle Farmers’ Market will be in its usual spot on California SW between Alaska and Oregon, an extra block will be closed for The Junction’s Halloween celebration. To recap, the West Seattle Junction Association decided, starting this year, to split what had been the Harvest Festival into two events – the Fall Festival, with a variety of games and activities, happened four weeks ago, and Halloween in The Junction, with a costume parade and trick-or-treating, happens next Sunday (October 29th). It’s set for 11 am-2 pm, kicking off with the costume parade starting at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska), led by the West Seattle High School Band as in years past. Then at noon, the Seattle Thrillers will perform. An extra block of California SW, from Alaska to Edmunds, will be closed to vehicle traffic; you’ll find trick-or-treating and activity booths there (as well as treats offered throughout Downtown West Seattle by businesses). See you in The Junction next Sunday!
P.S. This and other business-district-trick-or-treat events – along with other Halloween-season events – are listed on our West Seattle Halloween Guide page.
Our nightly Halloween-decoration spotlights continue. Thanks to Aaron for sending tonight’s photos with the simple note that this is “on 64th Ave SW, between Admiral and Alki.”
Got/seen a great display? Let us know – with or without pics – via westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (And see our list of seasonal events, including major trick-or-treat opportunities, at westseattleblog.com/halloween.)
On the first of this year’s two “Halloweekends,” there’s lots to do, and one fun event is happening right now – the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s second Great Pumpkin Search. Between now and 3 pm, you can go to the Endolyne business district (centered on Wildwood/45th/Brace Point) and search for hidden pumpkins large and small. FCA adds, “As a bonus, there will be special pumpkins and holiday gifts to find in various locations.” But don’t wait – it’s popular – FCA told us they’d counted 23 pumpkin-hunters in the first five minutes!
Not all Halloween decorations are spooky and macabre. Two examples in tonight’s spotlight: Above and below, we found Snoopy and The Great Pumpkin in a Gatewood yard, near 37th/Elmgrove.
And Jerry Simmons sent this photo celebrating the love-it-or-hate-it candy corn (location not provided):
Lots more decorations to show you – with Halloween still 11 nights away. We’re also listing them in our West Seattle Halloween Guide, along with all the local trick-or-treat events, haunted houses, parties, carnivals, etc. – we’ve got a new bunch to add later tonight, and there’s still room if you haven’t sent yours yet – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Tonight’s Halloween-display spotlight features photos sent by J, who includes a trick-or-treat invitation for the big night (now just 12 days away):
We are again excited for Halloween, adding more decorations to our home this year.
Intention – to supply the best stuff – sour gummy full-size candies – and get our community jazzed about celebrating future years together!
Find us at Charlestown Ave SW at bottom of hill.
Got a display to suggest – yours, or someone else’s? Email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (Every display we’ve shown is viewable on our West Seattle Halloween Guide page as well as by scrolling through our Halloween-coverage archive.)
Three Fauntleroy notes:
(WSB photo, cake-contest entries, last Sunday)
FALL FESTIVAL RECAP: On behalf of the volunteer organizers of the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, held this past Sunday (WSB coverage here), Ben Weagraff tells us the light rain didn’t get in the way of a good time:
This year, we estimate that the crowds were comparable to the year before. We feel comfortable saying that we had over 1,000 people. We built almost 500 birdhouses and painted almost 800 pumpkins. We also welcomed more than 100 community volunteers to help make the event possible.
The most noteworthy thing was from 24 Carrot Parties (the bunny people) – she said that she had never seen such well-mannered children at a community event this large. Usually at an event like this, they have some “behavioral challenges” and are worried about their bunnies — but that wasn’t the case with our children and our neighbors.
To make planning easier for all of our vendors, we agreed to Save the Date for October 20, 2024 for next year’s festival.
PUMPKIN SEARCH: This Saturday (October 21st), the Fauntleroy Community Association invites you to this year’s Great Pumpkin Search. Volunteers will hide pumpkins around the Endolyne Triangle area: “There will be little pumpkins, easy to find for the little ones, and larger pumpkins for the grown-ups who come. As a bonus, there will be special pumpkins and holiday gifts to find in various locations. This is a first-come, first-served event so don’t wait too long.” This is set for 1 to 3 pm.
(WSB file photo, youngest participants in past salmon-drumming event)
SALMON DRUMMING SUNDAY: It’s almost time for the coho to come home. Every fall, the Fauntleroy Watershed Council gathers community members to drum and sing by the creek to welcome them. The more voices, and drums, the better. It’s a short, fun, memorable gathering – bring whatever you want to use for a drum, or just bring yourself (and family members neighbors …). This happens 4 to 4:30 pm Sunday (October 22); just go to upper Fauntleroy Way at SW Director and follow the drumbeats down a driveway to the gathering spot.
Tonight’s featured West Seattle Halloween decorations are the “spooky apartment” inhabited by Alex and Emma. Alex sent the photos and writes:
We painted the pumpkin and ghosts ourselves! We had a lot of fun putting this together and seeing it every day! Added a photo in the day, and night!
They’re off California SW, near The Junction. All the decorations we’ve shown – along with seasonal events, trick-or-treating and beyond – are featured in our newly launched West Seattle Halloween Guide; you can send suggestions to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Just under two weeks until Halloween, and dozens of special events are scheduled – so, to help you find them, as of early today, our annual West Seattle Halloween (etc.) Guide is up: Trick-or-treat events, festivals, costume contests, carnivals, performances, spooky displays, bar parties, Dia de Muertos events, more. The guide is at westseattleblog.com/halloween and will continue to evolve between now and November 1st – adding events as we hear about them, and removing the ones that have already happened – so keep checking in. And if we’re missing YOUR seasonal community-welcome event – please send info as soon as you can – westseattleblog@gmail.com – so we can add it; thank you!
(West Seattle Monster Dash photo – this is its mascot ‘Monster’)
If you haven’t already seen this year’s West Seattle Monster Dash in the WSB Event Calendar, organizers want to be sure you know you’re invited to this truly fun run! Here’s the reminder they asked us to share with you – still time to get a pre-race-day registration discount:
Join us this year for the 12th annual Monster Dash fundraiser to benefit South Seattle College’s Cooperative Preschool Program! 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). Jogging strollers welcome; please leave pets at home.
Monster Dash 5K and Kids Dash
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Lincoln Park, 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW
9:30 am 5K/10:30 am Kids Dashes$40 Adult 5K Registration ($45 on race day)
$15 Kids Dash Registration ($20 on race day)Register: runsignup.com/Race/WA/Seattle/WestSeattleMonsterDash
Donate: runsignup.com/Race/Donate/WA/Seattle/WestSeattleMonsterDashPacket Pickup Event:
Thursday, October 26, 3-6 pm
West Seattle Runner
2743 California Ave SW, Suite 101All funds raised benefit the SSCC Parent Advisory Council’s program-wide initiatives, including outreach, equity, and tuition assistance.
As we continue showing you Halloween decorations from around West Seattle – with two weeks to go until the big night – we have three different photos of creatively displayed skeletons. Above, Marsha Munson spotted those two on Beach Drive SW near Lowman Beach; below, we happened onto this campy scene in the driveway of a Gatewood home:
And John sent the photo of his skeleton lookout on a deck near California/Genesee:
All the decorations we’ve shown so far can be found in this WSB coverage-category archive, and on the Halloween Guide page we’ll be launching before the night’s out. If you have a suggestion, please email us – with or without photo(s) – at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
As we continue spotlighting West Seattle Halloween-decoration displays, tonight’s photos are from Ryan, who announces:
The light show at 4040 47th Ave. SW (4040 House) is once again live for Halloween.
The show will run nightly from 6 pm-9 pm.
We have all-new music and some new lights. There is a new feature “the haunted jukebox”. Those watching can request songs from a playlist. More information can be found at 4040house.com.
We ask people remember to keep the noise down and if you do drive, please park along Dakota or Andover.
Big thanks again to everyone who’s sending tips, with and without photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and see what we’ve already showcased by scrolling through our Halloween archive, here!
(Photos courtesy Camp Long)
West Seattle’s Camp Long (5200 35th SW) has two special events ahead – and multiple ways for you to be part of them. One is the first “Trail or Treat” since 2005! This is set for 4-8 pm Saturday, October 28. Camp Long’s Matt Kostle explains:
The idea is to have community organizations and members “adopt” a cabin, which simply means they would volunteer to provide people to decorate the cabin however they want (and can totally include info about their organization/programs/etc.) and have someone or several people there during the event to hand out goodies of their choice (we are recommending more natural items like fruit leathers or things like that as opposed to the standard trick or treat candy)! Dressing up is of course encouraged as well but not required!
We will create a pathway with lights that goes to all the respective cabins for folks to stop at for goodies and will end at one of our shelters for activities from our Naturalists, a campfire with smores goodies and some story telling!
With that we have an ask of the community and that is that we need organizations to adopt these cabins! We have a few already spoken for but would love more from the community! We would also love to have support in the form of anyone who wants to volunteer helping set up on the day of the event! Camp Long feels like such a perfect place for this type of family friendly event but we would love to spruce it up even more so in addition to people, if anybody has any décor they would be willing to donate to this event please let us know! I am attaching a photo (above) all the way back from 2005 which might have been the last time we did an event like this to showcase some decoration ideas! We would also love lighting for the pathways if anyone is able to help with that! We will share the final lighted pathway that we will map out based on how many cabins we have participating. We are hoping to wrap up getting volunteers signed up by the 19th! Please reach out to us at camp.long@seattle.gov or 206-684-7434 to sign up for volunteering or adopting a cabin for the event!
Camp Long is also planning a Día de Muertos Ofrenda! Above is a photo of last year’s ofrenda.
The Seattle Parks & Rec Environmental Education Team would like to invite our neighbors and community to participate in this beautiful Mexican tradition. The altar will be located on the north side of the lodge and available for viewing beginning October 28 at Camp Long’s Trail or Treat event. The installation will be available until Nov 10 and we would love for the public to participate by adding pictures, nameplates, or special items to our community ofrenda. This is a way to celebrate and honor the life of loved ones who have passed. For more information, you can reach out to Nicolasa Hernandez, Seattle Parks & Rec Community Naturalist, at Nicolasa.Hernandez@seattle.gov
Thanks to Jerry Simmons for contributing tonight’s featured Halloween-decorations photo. Somewhere in West Seattle, the spirit of the soothing-voiced TV painter Bob Ross is haunting a garage door! (Got a display to suggest, yours or someone else’s? We’ll be featuring at least one nightly through Halloween. westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to let us know – and thanks to everyone who’s already sent suggestions!)
We’re continuing to spotlight local Halloween decorations. Tonight’s photos are from Lacey, who tells us: “We have our annual display up. Big pumpkin scarecrow, lots of skeletons, and a spooky graveyard. We are a half block south of Roxbury on 18th Ave SW. Fun to see day or night!”
If you have – or have seen – a memorable display, let us know so we can feature it! Email westseattleblog@gmail.com (with or without photos – if it’s just a tip, that’s OK too). See what we’ve already shown, by scrolling through our Halloween coverage archive here.
Want to have a Halloween-season block party on your non-arterial street? SDOT is offering the Trick Or Streets program again this year:
We encourage anyone who is interested to apply for this free permit and close your street to vehicles during the week of Halloween and Día de Muertos for safer trick-or-treating and community-building festivities!
This year, Trick or Streets are available from October 28 through November 5. One of the coolest things about this program is that you can close your street until 10 pm.
There are multiple ways to apply; the deadline is next Tuesday (October 17).
Add another business-district trick-or-treating event to your pre-Halloween list – Alki Beach Trick-or-Treat is back for a third year! Participating businesses along Alki Avenue SW between 63rd SW and 57th SW will have treats for costumed kids, noon-2 pm on Saturday, October 28th. Plus, organizers add: “Don’t miss a surprise performance by Debbie’s Delridge Dancers at 1 pm, at the Statue of Liberty Plaza!” (That’s at 61st/Alki.) See the map and participant list here (and check back for updates before the big day).
P.S. If you missed the earlier announcements, the other two major business-district trick-or-treat events announced so far are Admiral, 3-6 pm Friday, October 27th, and The Junction, 11 am-2 pm Sunday, October 29th.
| 1 COMMENT