Thursday, October 21, 2021

Local destinations: Halloween!

It was inevitable, really: as soon as I decided to keep it light for the rest of the month, everything that I think about writing about sounds too serious.

However, writing about hoped for travel reminds me that between the pandemic and caring for my mother, I was still able to do a lot of travel writing. The travel blog, which posts on Saturdays, started because there was so much to say about Australia and New Zealsnd. There has also been a lot to say about Oregon City and Washington Park. I don't know that the travel blog is as exciting as it used to be, but it is still gratifying.

One thing that has been very gratifying is that we have done a lot of cool things. I have material for weeks, even if we stopped trying new things.

On October 2nd I started posting about seasonal things, and I have continued to do so:

One of the downsides of blogging about seasonal events is the concern that people who might want to go after reading it will read it too late, especially given that we do many of the things on Saturdays.

Therefore, I thought it might be nice to (here on the main blog) mention some of the activities that you yourself can do this fine Halloween season. There are just two weekends left. 

Activities done, but not yet posted:

The Laika exhibit at OMSI: This only goes through the 31st. There are figures and sets on display from the five movies, which you can view on the big screen at the Empirical Theater.

The Laika exhibit is free with either a movie ticket or a regular OMSI admission. Their main exhibit is on Nelson Mandela. I highly recommend it, but that goes through February so there isn't the same time crunch.

For Halloween spookiness, I was watching many of these movies at home. That will probably be another post.

Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt at Cook Park: We did this last year, but had to cut it short. This year's successful completion is all the sweeter. Pumpkin signs are at five locations in the (rather large) park, with clues on their web site. Free. Through October 31st.

We will probably do this, time and weather permitting:

OMSI Halloween Laser Light Show: We just found out about this, but we have figured out how to pair it with some other things we want to do. Currently Tuesday through Sunday, at 12:30 and 4 PM. Tickets are $7.50. Their information is tied up with the ticketing, so the link might not work right.

Pumpkin Display at West Linn: I just learned this existed this year, but West Linn has a long tradition of a lighted display with over 200 pumpkins. There are only four nights remaining: the 23rd, 24th, 30th and 31st, from 5 - 10 PM. Free.

We might still do this:

Halloween Fantasy Trail at Wenzel Farm: I have done this before, but I think it was 2003. I am curious as to how it has grown, or if it has grown. There are two problems. One is that this is supposed to be a very wet weekend, and it is outdoors. Also, getting there is such a pain, on dark winding roads, and we had two failed attempts to see their Christmas trail a few years ago. So, I am not ruling it out, but it seems less likely. Nightly through the 30th from 7 - 10 PM, but also Noon to 5 PM on Saturdays. $7 for adults, cash only.

We are not doing this:

As much as we enjoyed the Oaks Park festivities last year, we are doing other things this year. Maybe you weren't there last year.

I already wrote about this:

Of the existing posts -- Hoffman Farms, the Pirates Halloween Adventure, and the Spooky Farm Walk at Frog Pond Farm -- they are all really different experiences. If you want to have a nice, not too strenuous time with young children, definitely the Pirates. If you want to spend some time listening to music and buying produce, maybe a train ride, definitely Hoffman.

And if you want to be grown-up scared, go to Frog Pond after dark. Watch your step.  

Enjoy your October! I promise you I am.

2 comments:

Hykel said...

The website for Halloween Fantasy Trail at Wenzel Farm said it wasn't open for 2021.

sporktastic said...

I was late to seeing this, but it looks like they did Halloween, but then did not do Christmas. Maybe Halloween didn't go well.