Fall fun for every ghoul and ghostie
October seems like a good excuse to celebrate Halloween all months long — planning for costumes, get-togethers and special events. Be sure to check ahead to make sure event details haven’t changed.
Through October
Library Halloween Fun
Branch libraries of the Whatcom County Library System host mask-making activities and story times throughout October. Free.
Details: 360-305-3600, wcls.org.
Oct. 22
Pumpkin Patch in the Pool
The annual event is from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center, 1114 Potter St., hosted by Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department and Friends of the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center. Participants swim around and pick a pumpkin and can enjoy games and water safety activities. $5.
Details: 360-778-7665, 360-778-7000, www.cob.org/ahac.
Oct. 27
The Arc of Whatcom County’s Halloween Party
The Arc’s Halloween Party is hosted by Arc’s Young Adult Self Advocacy Group from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Bloedel Donovan Community Building, 2214 Electric Ave. and is accessible to individuals of all abilities and appropriate for all ages. Free, but donations for Bellingham Food Bank encouraged.
Details: 360-715-0170, arcwhatcom.org.
Oct. 28-29
“Nightmare on Railroad” and Halloween Bash
Young actors from Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth produce all-ages shows at 6:30 p.m. and 21-and-over shows at 9:30 p.m. at Boundary Bay Brewery, 1107 Railroad Ave. to raise scholarship money for BAAY students. BAAY actors lead guests to the haunted chamber at the “BOO-ery,” with Lisa Markowitz’ BAAY Dance Company presenting an artfully ghoulish performance. Then audience members will be led down a scary road to the Garden of Doom Dungeon. It’s open to all ages until 10 p.m. and then it’s for those 21 and older until 11:30 p.m. $5.
Details: 360-306-8531, baay.org.
Oct. 29
Trick-or-Treat in Ferndale, “Haunt the Park”
The Ferndale Chamber puts on Downtown Trick or Treat from 3 to 5 p.m. in downtown Ferndale at approximately 40 stops, marked by balloons and signs.
Maps can be picked up the week before the event at the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce, 2007 Cherry St., Ferndale Mini Mart 2085 Main St., and at Ferndale Public Library, 2125 Main St.
The chamber hosts the second “Haunt the Park” at historic — and spooky — Pioneer Park, right after Downtown Trick or Treat from 5 to 7 p.m. Haunt the Park gives families the opportunity to snoop around the outside of the historic haunted houses of Pioneer Park and trick-or-treat the cabin porches. Free.
Details: 360-384-3042, ferndale-chamber.com.
Ghost Stories on Bellingham Bay
Come join the spooky fun at the Whatcom Territorial Courthouse, 1308 E St., the oldest bring building in the state of Washington. These old walls have stories to tell! Tickets available in advance only at Village Books, produced in partnership with Whatcom County Historical Society. Family-friendly ghost stories for elementary school-ages told from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.; scary stories for adults told from 7 to 9 p.m. $3 for family-friendly stories; $5 for adult stories.
Details: 360-393-6782, whatcomhistory.net.
Oct. 31
Trick-or-Treat Downtown
Downtown Bellingham Partnership hosts its annual trick-or-treating from 3 to 5 p.m. Participating merchants will display a poster. Free.
Details: 360-527-8710, downtownbellingham.com.
Trick-or-Treat in Fairhaven
Trick-or-treating is from 3 to 6 p.m. at stores in the historic district. Photos of costumed kids will be taken this year at a location to be named closer to the event. Free.
Details: fairhaven.com.
Thrillingham
Watch citizens of Whatcom County emerge as zombies and dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” at 8 p.m. in Bellingham’s Maritime Heritage Park, 500 W. Holly St. Free event; buy raffle tickets for $1 to support Blue Skies for Children.
Details: thrillingham.com.
Fall is a great time to visit area farms and farmers markets around Whatcom County, where kids can pick the perfect pumpkin. There are also a few special family-friendly events in our region.
Sept. 2-Oct. 2
Lynden High School FFA Corn Maze
The annual corn maze is open from 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays, 2 to 10 p.m. Saturdays, 2 to 6 p.m. Sundays (and Labor Day), with flashlight mazes after dark, just south of Lynden on Hannegan Road. $6 for those in seventh grade and older; $4 for students kindergarten through sixth grade, free for preschoolers (must be accompanied by an adult).
Details: 360-354-4401, lyndenffa.com/corn-maze.
Sept. 3-Oct. 30
“Harvest Happens”
“Harvest Happens” takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday at Bellewood Acres, 6140 Guide Meridian, with u-pick or we-pick apples and pumpkins, apple bin train rides, live music, a corn maze, a corn cannon, face painting and more. Free.
Details: 360-318-7720, bellewoodfarms.com.
Sept. 10
Whatcom County Farm Tour
Discover Whatcom County farms through the annual self-guided, 12-stop Whatcom County Farm Tour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Families can meet local farmers, explore the farms, and taste the bounty our region has to offer. Free.
Details: 360-647-7093, sustainableconnections.org.
Sept. 17-18
Assumption Parish Harvest Festival
The Harvest Festival is from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 17 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Church of the Assumption, 2116 Cornwall Ave., with a vintage car show, an arts and crafts fair, a used book sale, a bake sale, a variety of food booths, plus a spaghetti dinner and all-ages trivia contest on Saturday night and a pancake breakfast Sunday morning. Children’s activities include carnival games, inflatable rides, miniature golf, and more. Free.
Details: 360-733-1380, assumption.org.
Oct. 1-2
Fruit Festival
Cloud Mountain Farm Center, 6906 Goodwin Road near Everson, opens its farm from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 1 and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 2 for samplings of more than 200 varieties of fruit and fruit products to taste and enjoy. There’s also live music, and Julia’s Pumpkin Patch is open for u-pick. $3.50 per person, $9 per carload.
Details: 360-966-5859, cloudmountainfarmcenter.org.
Oct. 9
Harvest Festival
Ferndale Downtown Association hosts its eighth annual Harvest Festival and pumpkins events from noon to 2 p.m. at the front field by Pioneer Park. There will be small pumpkins given to children to draw faces on, plus cookies and apple juice, pumpkin games and a scene available for fall photos. The culminating game, for all ages (including adults) is the pumpkin rolling contest to see who can get closest to the bull’s eye on the ground, with prizes to the top three in each age category. Free.
Details: 384-1453, ferndaledowntown.org.
Oct. 29
Harvest Festival
Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St., hosts its fourth annual Harvest Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with an arts and crafts fair, a haunted house and other activities for children. Free.
Details: 360-733-3837, buf.org.
Whatcom County Farms
BelleWood Acres
6140 Guide Meridian, Bellingham
Details: 360-318-7720, bellewoodfarms.com.
Bellingham Country Gardens
2838 E. Kelly Road, Bellingham
Details: 360-223-3724, bellinghamcountrygardens.com, Facebook
Cloud Mountain Farm Center
6906 Goodwin Road, Everson
Details: 360-966-5859, cloudmountainfarmcenter.org.
Hopewell Farm
3072 Massey Road, Everson
Details: 360-927-8433, hopewellfarm@live.com, Facebook.
Joe’s Gardens
3110 Taylor Ave., Bellingham
Details: 360-671-7639, joesgardens.com.
Mama’s Garden
2600 Valley Highway, Deming
Details: 360-595-2110, Facebook.
Misty Mountain Farms
5969 James Road, Deming
Details: 206-406-5345, Facebook
Slanted Sun Farm
Lawrence Road, Everson
Details: 509-290-2965, Facebook
Spring Frog at the Holistic Homestead
5709 Putnam Road, Everson
Details: 360-303-3711, holistichomestead.net
Kamm Creek Farm
850 Hampton Road, Lynden
Details: 360-815-4360; kammcreekfarm.com, Facebook
Lynblu Farms
371 Birch Bay-Lynden Road, Lynden.
Details: 360-815-0631, and Facebook
Farmers Markets
Thursdays
Lynden Farmers Market Noon-5 p.m. 324 Front St., Lynden, through Oct. 13.
Details: 360-961-4061, lyndenfarmersmarket.com, dave.timmer@arocha.org.
Bellingham Thursday Market 4-7 p.m. Sept. 1-29, Depot Market Square, 1100 Railroad Ave.
Details: 360-647-2060, bellinghamfarmers.org.
Fridays
Ferndale Farmers Market 1-6 p.m., 2007 Cherry St., Ferndale, through Oct. 28.
Details: 360-220-3847, ferndalepublicmarket.org and on Facebook.
Saturdays
Twin Sisters Market 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nugents Corner, Mount Baker Highway, Deming; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center, 8251 Kendall Road, through Oct. 29.
Details: 360-599-3944, twinsistersmarket.com.
Bellingham Farmers Market 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Bellingham Farmers Market, 1100 Railroad Ave., through Dec. 17. Kids vending days are the last Saturday of the month, demo days are the second Saturday, and chef in the market days are the third Saturday.
Details: 360-647-2060, bellinghamfarmers.org.
Lummi Island Farmers Market 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Islander Store field, 2106 S. Nugent Road, Lummi Island, through Sept. 3.
Details: 360-380-0979, 360-758-2815
Blaine Gardener’s Market 10 a.m.-2 p.m., H Street Plaza, Blaine, through Oct. 29.
Details: 360-332-6484, blainechamber.com.
Mondays
Grow Market Stand 3 p.m. Northwest Youth Services, 1020 N. State St., through Sept. 26.
Details: 360-734-9862, nwys.org.
This story was originally published August 24, 2016 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Fall fun for every ghoul and ghostie."