It’s already October, which means it’s fall. The weather is getting colder and the leaves are doing that thing where they turn pretty colors. But most importantly, it means Halloween is coming. 

If you’re anything like me you might be wondering what there is to do in the area to celebrate Halloween. In no particular order, I’ve compiled a list of what I think are the top 5 local things to do this Halloween.

First on the list is Northwest Ghost Tours, a ghost tour in Oregon City. 

They offer two different tours, the Oregon City tour and the Mcloughlin Promenade tour. 

The Oregon City tour will take you through the Oregon City Elevator, Clackamas County Courthouse, the pedestrian tunnel, and the Old 8th St. Dock Mill Site.

The Mcloughlin Promenade Tour will take you through the Ermatinger House, St. John’s Church, Oregon City Elevator, Singer Falls, and the McLoughlin House. 

There’s also a special tour on the 31st, which combines both tour routes into one. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for children 13 years old and under. Both tours are walking tours, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.

 You can find more information and purchase tickets HERE.

If you’re wanting a haunted house experience, Scaregrounds PDX at Oaks Amusement Park is where you’ll want to go. There are scare actors stalking the grounds of the park, and spooky food and drinks available at Sinister Snacks.

There are three main attractions to go to, each with their own unique twist. There are also nine side attractions you can do, which include the rides and games that are already at the park. 

One of the haunted houses available to go to at the Scaregrounds. Photo credit to Scaregrounds PDX.

The price for general admission to the park changes depending on the night, but the median price is $30. Rides, games and side show passes are sold separately, so it’s easy to mix and match for a unique experience. 

Scare actor posing in front of Oaks Park roller coaster. Photo credit to Scaregrounds PDX.

Scaregrounds PDX is open every weekend of October. They’re also open Oct. 21, 30, and 31, and Nov. 1 and 2. For more information, visit their site HERE. 

Boo Bash at CCC Niemeyer Theater.

Here at Clackamas Community College, there’s Halloween fun too. The Boo Bash is a family friendly event being put on by the drama club.

Boo Bash event flier.

There’s activities for everyone including pumpkin decorating, a costume contest, face painting, a photo booth, and lots of fall treats. There will also be a magic show and a preview of Mary Poppins performed by the Oregon City Children’s Theater. This event is on Oct. 27 from 2-5 p.m.

Admission is free, but some events do have ticket prices. Tickets for these events will be sold at the door, but you can find more information HERE.

If you’re looking to go to a pumpkin patch, EZ Orchards Harvestfest is the one that made my list. It’s located in Salem, but it’s close to Silverton which makes it easy to get to. This is one of my favorite local farms, and their Harvestfest happens to be going on right now.

Signs at the Harvestfest, Photo credit to EZ Orchards.

Hayrides, a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, and a corn maze are the activities. They also have their classic cider and doughnuts there, which remind me of my childhood. 

Pumpkin patch at EZ Orchards. Photo credit to EZ Orchards.

The Harvestfest is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays they are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information check HERE. 

For the final event on my list, I chose Portland Center Stage’s performance of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

“Sweeney Todd” follows the story of a barber who returns to his home in London after being falsely imprisoned for 15 years. Upon arrival he finds out that his wife is dead, and he decides to seek revenge on the men who destroyed his family. 

I attended a Thursday matinee of the show, and was impressed. From the moment the live orchestra began, I had chills until the very end. Everything about this show has an eerie vibe, especially as the story gets darker and darker.

Tickets are around $40, but there’s a student discount which brings the price down to around $20. The show started running on Sept. 29 and continues through Nov. 3.

For more information about showtimes and tickets, click HERE. 

Hopefully this list can inspire you to go do something fun for Halloween this year. There’s something for everyone out there, whether you’re looking to be scared or just experience the fall atmosphere. Happy Halloween!