Halloween events scheduled throughout Basin

File photo A past Halloween brought out the Mario Brothers – and fairies and firefighters and superheroes and ninjas and a whole bunch more – to downtown Moses Lake. Communities around the Basin are hosting events for the whole family Wednesday.

by Richard Byrd & CHERYL SCHWEIZER
| October 30, 2018 3:00 AM

MOSES LAKE — Between trick-or-treat walks, trunk or treats, harvest parties and other events, there will be a lot of candy out there for kids on Halloween night.

Moses Lake

The Moses Lake Business Association will sponsor its annual “Chills and Thrills” downtown trick-or-treat walk from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Trick-or-treaters will have plenty of opportunity for candy in the three blocks between the Moses Lake Post Office, 223 W. Third Ave., to the Desert Plaza building, 124 E. Third Ave. No modern Halloween is complete without zombies, and the Ballet Academy of Moses Lake will perform a zombie dance to the Michael Jackson pop classic “Thriller” about every half-hour.

The annual Halloween walk at Moses Lake High School is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m.; the high school is located at 803 E. Sharon Ave. It’s for children 2 to 10 years of age.

Students decorate classroom doors along the school’s cavernous halls – and decorate the halls, too – dress in costume and hand out candy. Admission is free, but students will accept donations for the Moses Lake Food Bank or UNICEF.

Churches, too, are getting in on the trick-or-treating. Generations/Assembly at Moses Lake will sponsor a “trunk-or-treat” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the church, 431 Brown Ave. The First Baptist Church of Moses Lake congregation will sponsor a trunk-or-treat too, in the parking lot at Frontier Middle School.

The Moses Lake Presbyterian Church will sponsor a harvest party from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church, 1142 W. Ivy St.

Soap Lake

“A “Truck or Treat” event, organized by the Soap Lake Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Grant County Fire District No. 7 and Masquers Theater, will be held at the Soap Lake Police Department building, 223 Second Ave. SE, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Halloween night.”

Quincy

The Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring and hosting a downtown trick-or-treat on Halloween from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Each member business gets two bags of candy, and downtown streets will be closed from 3:30 to 6 p.m. For more information, or to participate, contact Cari Matthews at the chamber at 509-787-2140.

And once you’re done trick-or-treating around downtown, the Quincy Recreation Department is holding a free Halloween Party at the Quincy Activity Center, 105 Second Ave. SE. There will be games, arts and crafts, a photo backdrop and treats.

“Activities are geared for kids 10 and younger but the whole family is welcome to attend,” according to the Quincy Recreation Department.

For more information, contact the Quincy Recreation Department at 509-787-3523 x251.

Ephrata

A number of Halloween events will be haunting Ephrata on All-Hallows Eve.

Downtown Ephrata will be full of families as the Chamber of Commerce hosts and sponsors its annual downtown trick-or-treat of participating businesses from 4 to 6 p.m., with a number of stores staying open late for the festivities, according to a news release from the City of Ephrata.

While this is going on, the United Methodist Church at 117 C St. NW will be having a “Trunk-or-Treat” and grilling hot dogs.

In addition, the American Legion Post in Ephrata will be hosting its own “Trunk-or-Treat” along with kids’ games in its parking lot at 276 Eighth Ave. NW from 5 to 8 p.m.

City officials are advising everyone driving through downtown Ephrata to drive very slowly and carefully, and to take the time to say hello to local business people.

“While you are downtown, please take a moment and thank the local businesses, churches or organizations you visit,” read a statement from City Administrator Wes Crago. “Operating a small business in a small town is difficult, and the spirit of generosity displayed by the Chamber in hosting this festival is impressive.”

For more information, contact the Ephrata Chamber of Commerce at 509-754-4656.