Weekend Warriors: October 29-31
Okay, parents! Halloween weekend is finally here! As you are well aware, Halloween falls on a Sunday this year. That means you have all weekend to get in the Halloween spirit. And that also means you'd better have lots planned so as to avoid (or at least delay) having some impatient, overly-anxious, soon-to-be trick or treaters on your hands! Luckily, there is a lot (and I mean a LOT) to do this weekend to celebrate Halloween. For more ideas, check out the UrbanMamas calendar page and PDXKidsCalendar.com.
Get the weekend started right by watching, what else, an elephant squish a giant pumpkin at the Oregon Zoo. Friday at 10:30 AM. Free with admission ($10.50 for ages 12-64; $7.50 for ages 3-11; free under 3).
The Zoo is also hosting Howloween at the Zoo, where your little ones can come in costume to participate in a zoo-wide scavenger hunt. Goodie bags filled with candy and prizes will be given out for completed hunts at the zoo's exit. Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 4. Also free with admission.
If you're at the zoo on Sunday, you may as well swing by the World Forestry Museum between 12:30 and 4:30 for the 9th Annual Pumpkin Carving Challenge. You can watch master chefs as they try to carve their way to becoming Portland’s Premier Pumpkin Sculptor. There will be a scavenger hunt and pumpkin decorating for kids. Special $5 admission, and free for kids in costume!
The Children's Museum is also having a special Halloween Bash this Sunday. Take part in a museum wide parade, make special creations, and go on a museum wide scavenger hunt. The event takes place from 10 to 3, and is free with admission ($8 for ages 1-54, free under 1).
And if you still haven't had your fill of scavenger hunts, you can sign up for a Halloween scavenger hunt across PDX. You will need a car and a phone to participate, and the cost is $45 for a team of 2-4 people. Cash prize for the winner and for best costume! Meet on Saturday at 5:30 at the Montavilla Community Center.
This sounds very spooky, so may not be best for the littlest of little ones. But if you are all feeling brave, take a Tour of Untimely Departures. Meet some of Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery's residents at their graves and hear the unusual circumstances surrounding their untimely departures. Ghostly guides share the history of Lone Fir as they take you through the cemetery on a path lit with candles. Sunday, at 45 minute intervals beginning at 6 PM. $10 per adult or $15 per family.
Or get scared by watching Northwest Children's Theater production of Three Roses on the Grave, a combination of three scary Edgar Allen Poe stories into one scream-worthy one-act show. Best enjoyed by ages 10 and up. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 PM.
Here's another option for spooky entertainment. Vagabond opera presents its third annual Halloween bash: The Transylvanian Voodoo Ball – a live-music, dance party, spiritual séance, Halloween celebration! A family-friendly matinee featuring Joe the balloon guy is on Saturday at 3. Tickets are $12 for adults, $7 for kids, and are available here.
There's still a lot - lot! - more. More than I have room to list! So I'll just give you all one more for each neighborhood.
North Portland: Mississippi Treehouse is hosting a Halloween celebration, with interactive storytelling and shadow puppet theater, prizes, candy, cider, and cookies. Sunday from 3-5 PM. Free!
Northwest Portland: Playworks presents its Healthy Halloween party. Kids age 12 and under are invited to stop by participating merchants for healthy treats, and parents can shop sweet deals along NW 23rd all day on Saturday. There will also be face-painting and master pumpkin carvers. You can buy raffle tickets to win one heckuva jack-o-lantern.
Northeast Portland: The Village Free School is hosting a healthy, vegan-friendly Halloween Carnival. There will be 25 cent games, prizes, treats, and movies. Friday, from 6-9 PM. Suggested donation of $10 per family.
Southeast Portland: If you live in Southeast, you have to take part in the annual Westmoreland Monster March. Kids converge at Llewellyn Elementary School on Sunday at 3 to show off their costumes and march through Westmoreland. Free! (We'll be there! If you see the six-month old in a Grumpy Bear costume, come say hi!)
Southwest Portland: Halloween in Multnomah Village. Have fun trick or treating at local shops and get a head start on your candy haul. Sunday at 2 PM. Start at the Starbucks. Free!
And some non-Halloween activities:
Disney on Ice: Let's Celebrate! "Let's Celebrate!" features more than 50 favorite Disney characters from 16 different stories in a jam-packed celebration of holidays and festivals from around the world. Shows are Thursday from Sunday at various times and for various prices. See the website for details.
Oregon Children’s Theater presents Alice & Wonderland: A Rock Opera at the Newmark Theater on Saturday at 2 and 5 and Sunday at 2. Tickets are $16-24 and are suitable for all ages.
Penny the Puppeteer presents The Princess and the Peanut at the Hillsdale library on Saturday at 11 AM. Free!
Catch You Who, with typhoon and red fang at McMenanims' Kennedy School. You Who is a monthly kids rock variety show, with DJs, dance, comedians, cartoons, puppets, and more. Sunday at 1 (doors open at noon). $11 for adults, $6 for kids.
Hope that gives you some ideas. Don't forget to double-check event details by calling or checking the website of the venue, performer, or host organization. And Happy Halloween!
It would be nice if you could still post non holiday activities. I realize its a holiday weekend, but not evryone does halloween.
Posted by: jm | October 27, 2010 at 08:46 PM
There were non-halloween options listed at the bottom of the post jm!
Posted by: jessi | October 28, 2010 at 08:33 AM
I can not wait to see Alice & Wonderland! A rock opera for families. Woo hoo!
Posted by: Jenny | October 28, 2010 at 09:31 AM
My bad. I didn't. Read down that far.
Posted by: jm | October 28, 2010 at 11:08 AM
There are also two great events at the Portland Farmers Markets this weekend!
GREAT PUMPKIN EVENT- PSU MARKET (South Park Blocks between SW Hall & SW Montgomery)
Bring your Halloween creativity to the PSU Market this Saturday for the 12th Annual Great Pumpkin Event! This free, family-friendly event features a pumpkin carving contest beginning at 9:00 at the center of the market near the music stage, with prizes for best child and adult designs at 12:30. There’s also a children’s costume parade at noon, complete with goodie bags; meet at the information booth. Popular violin, cello and accordion trio 3 Leg Torso plays from 11 am - 2 pm.
HALLOWEEN HOEDOWN- KING MARKET (NE 7th and Wygant )
A long and fruitful season at King Market wraps up on Halloween with a true Halloween harvest celebration: the first King Market Halloween Hoedown. This fun, free event features pumpkin painting from 10:00-2:00 and a "trick or treat" costume parade around the market at noon. Musical entertainment includes the rocking old time dance band The New Five Cents (10-11:45 am) and classical guitarist Allan Matthews (12:15-2 pm).
Posted by: Amy Hunter | October 29, 2010 at 01:47 PM
And we have Trick or Treating at Milagros from 11 to 5 on Sunday!
Just come in anytime during store hours on Halloween (11am – 5pm) and kids can get a free fun wooden Milagros top or a special Milagros Pirate Tattoo!
Costumes are welcome but not required and no purchase is necessary.
http://milagrosboutique.com/2010/10/28/trick-or-treat-with-milagros-on-halloween/
Posted by: Jennifer Fuentes | October 29, 2010 at 09:18 PM