Plenty of Halloween events for kids this weekend

Whatcom County offers plenty of holiday fun for kids, including a new Halloween event designed to bring more pumpkin fun to children with food allergies, sensory issues and disabilities.

The Sunnyland neighborhood is hosting its inaugural Pumpkin Polka Trick-Or-Treat event from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at various homes.

The event was organized by resident Jenn Mason, whose daughter has cerebral palsy. Participating homes will be well-lighted and promise no loud music, flashing lights or spooky decorations. They will hand hand out stickers and toys instead of candy. Dogs and other animals will be kept inside, and no shouting of “Trick or treat!”

For details, go to pumpkinpolka.com or to the Pumpkin Polka Trick-Or-Treat page on Facebook . A map of participating homes will be posted online.

Many other children’s events are planned Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31. All are free unless otherwise noted.

BELLINGHAM

▪  Because Halloween is on a Saturday, the Downtown Bellingham Partnership will have its annual trick-or-treating from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday. Participating merchants — sometimes nearly 100 — will display a poster.

▪  A Halloween-theme Family Activity Day at Whatcom Museum promises art projects and a chance to see exhibits — including the new “Unhinged: Book Art on the Cutting Edge” — at a reduced rate. It’s from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the museum’s Lightcatcher galleries, 250 Flora St. Admission is $3; free for museum members.

BLAINE

▪  Halloween Fright Night features games, refreshments and conversation for grades six through 12 in an after-hours event from 6:15 to 9 p.m. Friday at Blaine Public Library, 610 Third St. Register online by clicking on “events” at wcls.org or by calling 360-305-3600.

FAIRHAVEN

▪  Trick-or-treating will be 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Stores in the historic district will be decorated for the season and free family photographs will be taken in the atrium of Finnegan’s Alley, at 1106-1114 Harris Ave., between 11th and 12th streets.

▪  Members of Bellingham Storytellers Guild will tell scary stories appropriate for young children from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday in the downstairs Readings Galley of Village Books, 1200 11th St.

▪  A Monster Mash costume party and parade for school-age children is 4 p.m. Friday at Village Books, 1200 11th St. There will be games, treats and origami craft activities based on the book “Monstergami” by Duy Nguyen. A parade through Fairhaven follows.

▪  Bellingham Storytellers Guild presents “Extremely Scary Stories,” for children 13 and older and adults who delight in serious macabre from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the Fireplace Room of Fairhaven Branch Library, 1117 12th St.Definitely not for small children.

FERNDALE

▪  Trick-or-treating is 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday on Main Street, sponsored by Ferndale Chamber of Commerce with more than 40 businesses distributing candy. Main Street will be closed between First and Third streets for the safety of children and their families.

▪  An all-ages Haunt the Park party from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Pioneer Park features refreshments from a cauldron, and trick-or-treating at the historic cabins. Some areas of the park will be “haunted.”

This story was originally published October 30, 2015 at 6:30 AM with the headline "Plenty of Halloween events for kids this weekend."