It’s time to get ready for Halloween in Bellingham and Whatcom County! When you’re looking for some spoooooky Halloween fun, check out this round-up of what's happening around town.
Bayview Cemetery Tour
Join local history buffs The Good Time Girls for a guided tour of Bellingham's Bayview Cemetery. Explore monuments, tour the grounds, and hear stories about those who have been laid to rest since the founding of the cemetery in 1887.
Gore & Lore Tours
Runs Fridays and Saturdays through October
Between Bellingham and Fairhaven Village, there is a lot of "Gore and Lore" to explore, which is why The Good Time Girls offer different tours for each part of town! Rated PG-13 (for violent, gory, and potentially scary topics), spend a fall evening being captivated by spooky tales told by a costumed tour guide. Depending on the tour you select, find out all about what's haunting those historic brick buildings in Fairhaven or hear dark tales involving Downtown Bellingham and discover other eerie local legends.
All month long
Each October, the Pickford Film Center hosts Doctober, a month-long documentary film festival. Although it's not a Halloween-related activity, you know it's fall when the Pickford officially announces this annual event.
It’s the largest documentary festival in the northwest, screening over 40 films in one month!
October 7
Come celebrate Halloween by getting freaked out! An open-call show of artists of all ages and experience levels show work about the Uncanny Valley.
"In aesthetics, the uncanny valley is a hypothesized relation between an object's degree of resemblance to a human being and the emotional response to the object. The concept suggests that humanoid objects that imperfectly resemble actual human beings provoke uncanny or strangely familiar feelings of uneasiness and revulsion in observers" -Taken from Wikipedia
The show can also be viewed online at Makeshiftartspace.org/gallery
Every Friday and Saturday in October, plus October 30
7:30 & 9:30 p.m.
The Upfront Theater is back, and they're delivering everyone's favorite improvised murder-mystery all October long!
The Upfront's cast of improvise comics take inspiration from the audience to create their character and then find out if they will WITNESS, KILL, or BE KILLED.
*This show is all-ages!
October 27 - December 22
‘Ghostwalk, A Creative Haunting of Sehome Hill’ is a locative media piece that celebrates the return of student voices to the WWU campus.
Locative media treats location-based technology (such as GPS and Wi-Fi) as a canvas. This piece is a showcase of student work that explores themes of haunting, place, and (im)permanence. To create this piece, students in creative writing and audio engineering classes worked together to create a series of "ghosts" in the form of poems, short stories, songs, and radio plays that are tied to specific GPS locations on the Western campus and the nearby Arboretum. You can experience this piece by downloading the Gesso app onto your phone, and walking to the locations on the map.
To our knowledge, this is the first piece of locative art in Bellingham, WA. Please be advised that this work is similar to an “open mic” event, and some of the student works within it explore adult themes.
October 29
There is no better time than Halloween weekend to get dressed up and dance the "Time Warp" at a midnight movie tradition! Seeing The Rocky Horror Picture Show live is all about audience participation but Bellingham’s boldest actors will also be joining in on the fun and bringing the cult classic to life in front of the movie screen.
Festival Begins October 28
If it bleeds it will lead the competition at this horror filled film festival! For over ten years, Bleedingham has been supporting those who love to make and watch horror movies here in the Pacific Northwest. Submit your own spooky short to have it reviewed by a judging panel or just join in for the scares at several activities, including the annual awards ceremony to view the top selected films.
October 29
Prepare to party with Sleepy Alligators, a Grateful Dead cover band, at Boundary Bay Brewery on Saturday, October 29th in the taproom! Costume contest, photo booth, dance party and more!
The doors open at 8:30 p.m., this is a 21+ only event.
$5 in advance at the brewery OR purchase at the door.
Starts October 21
In Ferndale, Whatcom Frightmare Haunted House will be presenting a range of scares for all ages.
Earlier in evening, the "lighter scare" will be perfect for younger kids. Those brave enough for a "full scare" should stop by later at night when the haunted house will be dark and ready to frighten.
No need to scream from hunger - the food truck WTF (Where's The Food?) will also be on site.
October 28, 29, and 31
Come one, come all to the annual Nightmare on Railroad in the Boundary Bay Brewery FEAR Garden! The brewery warehouse and beer garden will be transformed into spooky scenes filled with ghosts, ghouls, and surprises at every turn.
This Halloween event is all-ages and features BAAY's Haunted Dancers.
All ages are welcome form 6-9 p.m. From 9:00-11:00 p.m., the event becomes 21+ only.
October 29 - 3 -6 p.m. (Movie around 6 p.m.)
Local businesses, organizations & community members will set up "treat stops" along the route from Lora Lane to the Birch Bay Vogt, Community Library Property. Each stop will have tasty treats for the little ones to collect!
At the Birch Bay Vogt, Community Library Property enjoy a photo costume contest, treats & Halloween activities for the whole family! Bonus: If the weather cooperates, we will show an outdoor movie: SCOOB!
Oct. 30 & 31
Dress up and trick or treat through the resort!
Let's have a spooktacular time in Downtown Bellingham! Enjoy a family-fun and safe alternative to neighborhood trick-or-treating. Bring your costumed kiddos and stroll around to grab goodies from participating businesses.
October 31, 3 - 6pm
Head down to "FEAR"haven Village to enjoy an early evening of safe trick or treating. Don't forget your costume! There will be a photo book in Finnegan's Alley.
Bellewood Farms in Lynden, Washington, has been a Whatcom County favorite for years, especially in the fall when the air is crisp, apples are ready to be picked, and the pumpkin patch is overflowing.
Travel Tip: Check out our blog Fall Favorite: Harvest at Bellewood for the inside scoop on everything you can experience at this popular family-friendly location.
Stoney Ridge Farm is a fam-favorite! Stoney Ridge has train rides for kids and wagon rides for all, and a corn maze that’s included in the cost of admission. They also sell pumpkins, gourds, squash, apples, corn stalks, and flowers, so you can continue to enjoy the full fall spirit at home.
October 28
The Bells are participating in the Barkley Boo-levard event happening from 5-7 p.m. in Barkley Village! Trick-or-treating starts at the gazebo and ends at the village green. The Harvest Market will be happening on the village green with live music and vendors! Swing by businesses on your way (including the Bells Team Store) for prizes, raffles, contests and more!
October 29
Celebrate Halloween at the spookiest biergarten in town. $5 cover, music at 8 p.m. Whalien's coming to perform a special Halloween set, with Smooth Kiwi kicking things off!
October 29
Come out to for the first Sensory-Friendly Boo at Bloedel Donovan Park! This year families looking for a fun and inclusive Halloween event can experience Boo at Bloedel early to make crafts and win prizes playing carnival games. A limited supply of headphones will be available at the door.
October 29
Join us for some FREE fall fun! Take home one of the 160 pumpkins placed around the market! We'll also be handing out free stickers and apples to the kiddos! Costumes are highly encouraged.
October 29
Jump into historic Ferndale as local actors bring an interactive mystery to life at the historic Pioneer Village. Interview suspects, examine a crime scene and solve this Halloween-themed Mystery in the Park.
FREE to all amateur gumshoes, detectives, wannabe Sherlocks and investigators. This event is done in conjunction with the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce Downtown Trick or Treat and the Whatcom Frightmare haunted house. More details available at www.cityofferndale.org/FerndaleThings
All Month Long
Semiahmoo Resort has spooky events planned all month long! Book a trip and enjoy fall festivities like a weekly Hitchcock Happy Hour, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, and Halloween movie night.
Also check out their Murder Mystery Weekend, happening the week after Halloween.
October 19
Come to Black Fern Coffee in the Granary Building for pumpkin carving night! Bring a friend or two and carve your Halloween pumpkin! For $25, they'll provide all the materials, pumpkin, tools, ideas, wine, beer, snacks, and clean up, just bring your crafty brain and spooky attire! Your ticket gets you everything you need to carve a pumpkin, including the pumpkin, and a glass of wine to get your creative juices flowing.
Starts October 21
Event festivities begin on 10/21 with live music by Steven Fletcher and the tapping of a giant pumpkin filled with a fall-spiced ale! A fall produce stand will feature fresh local favorites, including apples, mushrooms, corn, squash, and homemade bread for purchase. On Saturday, October 22, events continue with pumpkin carving and the Flight of Fall Festival Beer Competition! Tickets for beer tasting and bites of fall will be sold for $20 each. Fall bites include apple dumplings, campfire pretzels, bratwursts, beer cheese, and more! The event is accompanied by live music from The Moving Hats Band.
October 30
Come show off your costumes to Taylor dock and the boardwalk! Show us your sea witch, water warlock or whatever weird costume you can find in your closet! Get featured on the Community Boating Center's Instagram and help us carry on this wicked tradition! This is an open-boating event. $15 - per person to participate with any type of CBC broomstick! $5 - if you BYOB (Bring your own boat…eghm excuse me, broomstick.)
