Spooky Sights: Where to celebrate Halloween 2018 in the Inland Northwest


click to enlarge Spooky Sights: Where to celebrate Halloween 2018 in the Inland Northwest
King Family Haunted House
The King family's annual haunted house is back to spook ya this year.
Halloween is just around the corner, so it's time to start planning where to trick-or-treat, get spooked or party all night in your super original costume! Here's a rundown of some Inlander-recommended Halloween events happening around the Inland Northwest this year:

FAMILY FRIENDLY

Eighth Annual Great Pumpkin Race
Meals on Wheels Spokane hosts this annual fun run, offering 1K and 5K distances, through the historic (and spooky) Greenwood Memorial Terrace cemetery in West Spokane. After the race is a fall festival and an actual pumpkin race, for which gourds on wheels fly down a hill. $5-$25/person. Sat, Oct. 27 at 9 am. Register at mowspokane.org.

Spokane Humane Society Trunk-or-Treat
Help support the cats and dogs cared for by the local shelter at this annual trick-or-treating event. Pets, kids and adults are all encouraged to dress up festively, including those registered to pass out candy from their decorated cars. Bring a donation of non-clumping kitty litter to enter any competition category. Free; all ages. Sat, Oct. 27 from 1-4 pm. Details on Facebook.

Fall Leaf Festival
Though not specifically Halloween themed, this annual event celebrates all things fall, centered around the beautifully colored trees at Spokane's Finch Arboretum. Play in the leaves, sip hot cider and tour the Arboretum. Other activities include composting demos, a scavenger hunt and more. Free. Sat, Oct. 27 from 11 am-2 pm.

Green Bluff Jr. Grange Haunted House
This event bills itself as just spooky enough for young ones to enjoy but not leave with any lasting trauma. There will be games and snacks for sale, too, to benefit the Green Bluff Junior Grange. $3/person. Fri, Oct. 26 and Sat, Oct. 27 from 6-10 pm.

Spooky Loof
This special teens-only event at Riverfront Park's historic Looff Carrousel offers an evening for local teens (ages 13-18) looking for a fun and safe Halloween celebration. Activities include music, food, video games, carrousel rides and more. $12-$15. Sat, Oct. 27 from 7-10 pm. More details here.

Haunted Hallows: The Music of Harry Potter
The Spokane Symphony's special Halloween weekend concert series celebrates the music of Harry Potter for the third year in a row. Guests are encouraged to dress in costume and come early for pre-concert activities in the lobby. $20-$125. Sat, Oct. 27 at 2 and 8 pm; Sun, Oct. 28 at 3 pm. Tickets at spokanesymphony.org.

Spark-O-Ween
Come to Kendall Yards' Spark Central learning center for a day filled with creative activities, trick-or-treating and more. Costumes are welcome. Free. Sat, Oct. 27 from 2-3 pm. More info at spark-central.org.

Light Up the Park Chewelah
The rural town's community celebration includes a zombie run, pumpkin flotilla, family movie, performances, games, pumpkin carving contests and more. A highlight is the city's attempt to display 2,018 carved and lit pumpkins throughout Chewelah City Park, and visitors are encourage to bring their own to contribute to that goal. Free. Sat, Oct. 27 from 3-8 pm. Details on Facebook.

10th Annual Monster Dash 5K
The annual race in Manito Park is hosted by the Spokane Swifts running team, with proceeds benefiting local nonprofit Active 4 Youth. There's also a kids' fun run after the 5K race. $10-$25/person. Sun, Oct. 28 at 8:30 am. Register at spokaneswifts.com.

HAUNTED HOUSES

Scarywood
Each year for a full month, Silverwood Theme Park in North Idaho transforms into one of the best and scariest haunted house experiences in the region. Areas of the park showcase classic horror themes: zombie infestations, cursed tombs, a demented funhouse and more. $26-$45/person. Thu, from 7-11 pm, and Fri-Sat, from 7 pm-midnight; through Sat, Oct. 27. More at scarywoodhaunt.com.

Demonic: Survive the Underworld
Local horror-themed escape room Unit 55 offers a terrifying new challenge this season. Guests enter a scenario in which some experiments with a Ouija Board have gone horribly awry, leaving them with 55 minutes to escape bloodthirsty demons. $25/person. Thu-Sun; sessions offered from 3-11:30 pm through Nov. 11. Details at cartelhaunts.com.

Creepy Hallow
The Northwest Renaissance Festival, between Nine Mile Falls and Tumtum, transforms its wooded grounds into a delightfully horrific haunt each October. $5/person. Fri-Sat, from 7 pm-midnight through Oct. 27. More at facebook.com/creepyhallow.

Spook House Halls of Horror
The King family of Mead is back again with another fantastically spooky haunted house that's open to the public. This year's haunt, many months in the making, is free to attend, but the family is accepting donations at the door to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Open Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 26-30 from 7-9 pm. Details on Facebook.

FOR ADULTS

SpookWalk
The Friends of Coeur d'Alene Park, a group supporting the park in Spokane's Browne's Addition, host a walk through the historic neighborhood that's replete with tales of "murder, mayhem and mystery." Proceeds support the nonprofit. $20/person. Oct. 26-27 and Oct. 31 from 6:30-8:30 pm. Register by contacting [email protected]

Random Fandom Trivia Night: Stephen King
The Spokane Valley Library's themed trivia night for adults continues with a timely query on all things relating to the foremost contemporary horror writer's work and life. Costumes are welcome at these events, for which teams can also bring their own snacks or have food delivered to the library. Free. Fri, Oct. 26 from 6:30-8:30 pm. Details at scld.org.

For more local Halloween events, check the
Inlander's online events calendar at Inlander.com/events. Our staff picks for more spooky events coming up — live music and film — can be found here!
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Chey Scott

Chey Scott is the Inlander's Editor, and has been on staff since 2012. Her past roles at the paper include arts and culture editor, food editor and listings editor. She also currently serves as editor of the Inlander's yearly, glossy magazine, the Annual Manual. Chey (pronounced “Shay”) is a lifelong resident...