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Halloween Happenings | Trick or treats, harvest festivals and more options for spooky fun

Posted on October 21st, 2024 By: Vince Dice

Halloween is coming up fast. Here’s where to get your haunt on.

Downtown trick-or-treating

The annual downtown Gig Harbor trick-or-treat event is from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, along the waterfront.

The event centers around Skansie Brothers Waterfront Park, but extends to businesses all around the downtown area. Harborview Drive between Pioneer Way and Rosedale Street closes to make things safer for trick-or-treaters.

The 2023 downtown trick or treat. Photo courtesy of the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance

A variety of local nonprofits set up booths at Skansie to hand out candy and information. In addition, Gig Harbor Church of the Nazarene at 7721 Pioneer Way hosts a trunk-or-treat with games, inflatables and more.

The Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance organizes the event. Find more information here.

Rattle Dem Bones

Work off some Halloween calories in advance on Sunday, Oct. 27, at the Rattle Dem Bones bike ride and costume contest.

Rattle Dem Bones supports the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation’s Community Recreation Fund, which provides scholarships to help local youth participate in sports.

The ride includes three courses: the 25-mile Monster Hill Challenge; the 14-mile Son of Monster route; and the Mini Monster Fun Course for families with young children, which takes place at Swiftwater Elementary School.

Costumed bike riders prepare for the 2023 Rattle Dem Bones ride.

The Monster and Son of Monster rides both begin and end at the Kimball Drive Park and Ride. The 25-mile Monster stretches as far as Olalla Valley Road and has three rest stops with refreshments. The 14-mile Son loops back at 14th Street NW and has two rest stops.

Cyclists ride in their Halloween costumes. Prizes are awarded as part of a post-race costume contest.

The race runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 27. Festivities continue through the costume contest awards ceremony at 1:30 at the park and ride, and Wet Coast Brewing hosts an after-party that afternoon.

Click here to register and for course information.

Witches Brew

The second Witches Brew paddle event is from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26.

Costumed paddlers will launch at 2 from the Gig Harbor Boat Launch, 8725 Randall Dr. They will paddle out to the Gig Harbor Lighthouse, where they will share BYOB refreshments and take a “coven picture.”

Bring nonperishable food to the boat launch for a “fill the cauldron” donation to Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank. Requested items include cereal, tuna, juice, canned soup, canned vegetables, cookies, crackers and snacks.

More than 50 people participated in the first Witches Brew last year. Costumes are highly encouraged; some people bring candy to hand out to spectators.

Jack-o-Lantern Jubilee

The Tom Taylor YMCA hosts the Jack-o-Lantern Jubilee from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24. The event is open to everyone, whether or not they are members of the Y.

The event includes pumpkin parades, face painting, arts and crafts, bounce houses, (of course) trick-or-treating.

Uptown trick-or-treat/giant pumpkin carving

Uptown Gig Harbor hosts its trick-or-treat event from 4 to 6 p.m. on Halloween night. Business throughout the shopping complex on Point Fosdick Drive will hand out candy.

Also at Uptown on Halloween, Russ Leno will return to carve a giant pumpkin. The carving starts at 11 a.m. near the Uptown pavilion and continues until about 4:30 p.m.

Russ Leno pauses while carving a King Kong figure in a pumpkin at Uptown Gig Harbor on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Vince Dice

Sehmel Trunk or Treat

PenMet Parks hosts a trunk-or-treat at Sehmel Homestead Park from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25. The event includes decorated cars, music and a guaranteed treat or goodie for each kid from each car.

Miracle Ranch Harvest Fest

Just across the county line at Horseshoe Lake, Miracle Ranch hosts one more weekend of its annual Harvest Festival.

The festival at Miracle Ranch, 15999 Sidney Road SW, continues Friday through Sunday, Oct. 25 through 27. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Admission to the festival is free, though you will need to buy tickets to participate in many of the activities. Most activities require either one or two $6 ticket.

Those include pony rides, archery, pumpkin launching, paintball, dirt biking and more. Hay rides and some other activities are free.

A hay ride at Miracle Ranch’s Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct. 19. Photo by Vince Dice

Haunted Forest

My Haunted Forest continues on weekend evenings through Nov. 1. The forest is at 17616 S. Vaughn Road NW. Tickets cost $30, or $45 for a “fast pass.” Click here for information.

Harbor Life trunk or treat

Harbor Life Church hosts a trunk or treat from 5 to 7 p.m. Halloween night. Activities include carnival games, a cake walk, caramel apples, laser tag and more. The event is free and open to all 4417 56th St. in Gig Harbor.