Halloween events spook Basin

Moses Lake celebrates Halloween on Oct. 31

COLUMBIA BASIN — Ghouls, goblins, princesses and pirates will all bring life to Halloween this holiday.

And communities throughout the Basin have organized family events for trick or treaters and festival goers ready for a ghoulish good time.

Events begin Friday whene candy will be handed out to trick or treaters at Fleetwood Homes on Broadway Avenue from 6 to 8 p.m. Moses Lake Fire Department firefighters will also be on hand selling raffle tickets.

The Boys and Girls Club will be holding a Harvest Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at McCosh Park. The festival will include wagon rides, a hay bale maze, pumpkin patch pick, candy hunt and food and drink. The cost for the festival is $5 per person. For more information on the event or the club, contact the Boys and Girls Club at (509) 764-9694.

On Halloween night, The Moses Lake Business Association is coordinating trick or treating along Third Avenue, where participating merchants will be handing out candy from 5 to 7 p.m. Third Avenue from Alder to Beech streets will be closed to through traffic during the event, but the cross streets of Division and Ash will remain open to traffic.

"It's really lots of fun," said MLBA Executive Director Sally Goodwin, "There's lots and lots of kids downtown."

Trick or treaters can also take their costumes and candy sacks to Moses Lake High School, where candy will be passed out from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Elsewhere in Grant County, downtown businesses in Ephrata will be passing out treats from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday afternoon.

Residents of Mattawa are invited to a carnival at Morris Schott Middle School from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, which will include a petting zoo and fun house. The carnival is free, but tickets will be available for purchase at the carnival for use at the numerous booths at the event.

The Nightscare Production haunted house is open at the Grant County Fairgrounds through Halloween. Hours are from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Starting Sunday, the house is open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and organizers plan to keep the doors open until the line ends on Halloween night. Admission to the haunted house is $4 for adults and $3 for kids. A donated can of food drops admission prices by $1.

The Othello Rodeo Association is holding its fourth annual straw bale maze at the Othello rodeo grounds. The maze will run until Halloween. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the maze is open by appointment only. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday the maze is open 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and does not have people haunting it. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. the maze will be haunted. Admission is $3 per person. For more information or to make an appointment contact Shelly Gensen at (509) 750-5674.

Throughout the Halloween weekend numerous business, restaurants and lounges have planned costume contests and Halloween dances. Check your favorite establishment for details.

Each community in the Basin has officially decided to observe the holiday on Monday, Oct. 31.