Photo: Fall Leaves on The Evergreen State College’s Campus by Shayna Clayton
By Miette Deschenes
It’s that time of year again. October has come around, bringing chills and thrills to everyone’s doorsteps. Halloween is just around the corner, and for many Greeners, it may be hard to find a good way to celebrate. Maybe you don’t like going to parties, or you’ve seen all the scary movies you can handle, and you’re wondering what else there is to do on Halloween night. Luckily, there are a lot of great events going on in the Olympia area for those who are looking for something new to do this year.
If you’re looking to stay on campus this Halloween, there are a few different options. Police Services usually has candy to give out to trick-or-treaters, so you can stop by SEM I 2150 to get some free treats. There will also be a costume contest on the third floor of the Library Building from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Halloween. Greeners Planning Activities (GPA) will be throwing a Halloween party on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The party, which will take place in the newly renovated ALCOVE in the College Activities Building, will include cupcake decorating, games, and a costume contest.
If you’re looking for a full day of festivities, Community Gardens will be hosting their annual Harvest Festival on Sunday Oct. 27 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. This year the theme is “Resilience & Regeneration.” There will be a demonstration on how to tan hides as well as the annual oyster shucking competition. There is also live music, contra dancing, cider pressing, chestnut roasting, local food vendors, and pumpkin carving. Best of all, it’s free to attend, which makes it the perfect choice for those who want to celebrate the autumnal parts of the Halloween season.
On a similar note, The Olympia Farmers Market will be hosting its annual Harvest & Halloween Celebration on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to their typical farmer’s market fare, there will also be a photo booth, cooking demonstrations, pumpkin decorating, a pop-up library from the Olympia Timberland Regional Library, and a free raffle. While the costume contest is only for families and kids 12 and under, all other activities are open to all ages. Proceeds from the costume contest will go towards the Olympia Farmers Market Farm-to-Table food drive. Additionally, Scuff and Al of local band Hokumville will moderate the contest and keep the crowd entertained. The market celebration will take place at The Olympia Farmers Market, 700 Capitol Way S.
If farm and harvest events are up your alley, there are a few other options as well. Ashley Creek Farms will be having their Pumpkin Fest every day through Halloween, a great choice if you enjoy going to pumpkin patches and want to get some festive gourds for your home. The farm is located at 9221 Littlerock Road SW. If you prefer your farms with maize, then Rutledge Family Farm has a variety of corn maze attractions. On top of having a regular corn maze, the farm also has a Haunted Corn Maze event and Zombie Paintball. Tickets are available on their website at rutledgecornmaze.com or on location at 302 93rd Ave. SE. Prices range from $9 to $21. They are also hiring actors for their Haunted Corn Maze.
For those who are looking to go downtown to celebrate, there are a variety of fun events happening. Going to Exit Puzzles to do an escape room challenge would be a thrilling way to spend your Halloween night. There’s also Burial Grounds, a great local coffee shop with appropriately spooky decor and unique-themed drinks.
Local tapas restaurant Octapas will be hosting a Halloween-themed concert and costume contest on Oct. 31. Olympia folk-punk band Gang o’Wizards will be performing, with Oregon-based rock band Spunj opening. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $5.
If you’re 21 or over and looking to party this Halloween season, Olympia has several events that might excite you. Buzz’s Bar & Grill is hosting a costume contest with cash prizes and a concert from Portland singer Beth Willis. The contest will take place on Oct. 26 at 9 p.m. Buzz’s Bar & Grill is located at 5018 Mud Bay Road. Local favorite cafe Le Voyeur will also be throwing a festive bash on Oct. 26. The first half of the night, which starts at 7 p.m., is an all-ages party with Canadian garage rock band Dead Ghosts performing. Washington indie band The Stravinsky Riots will be opening. At 10 p.m. the party will transition to a 21+ event. Olympia heavy metal band Exiled to Fire and Louisiana prog metal band Forming the Void will be performing. Pre-sale tickets are available at purplepass.com for $5, or they can be purchased at the venue day-of-show for $8. Proceeds from the ticket sales will go to EGYHOP, a local organization that provides emergency supplies and services to the homeless population of Olympia. If you’re looking for a crazy party that will benefit a good cause, this may be the place for you. Le Voyeur is located in downtown Olympia at 404 4th Ave. E.
Matchless Brewing, located just outside of Olympia in Tumwater, has two different Halloween events for the 21+ crowd. On Oct. 26, local jam band The Lumens will be playing at 7 p.m. Costumes are encouraged and admission is free! The bar will also be hosting a trivia night on Oct. 24 and Oct. 31. Admission costs $2 and the games include cash prizes, which will be double value on Halloween night. Teams can be up to eight people, and it’s recommended to arrive half an hour early to guarantee seating. Matchless Brewing is located at 8036 River Drive SE, Tumwater, WA, 98501.
It’s pretty clear that Olympia has a lot going on for the Halloween season. Whether you like going out drinking, playing scary games, or celebrating the harvest, there are lots of different choices for how to spend the spookiest night of the year. Be safe, be silly, and most of all be spooky.
