ARLINGTON — A full day of events is scheduled in downtown Arlington the Saturday before Halloween.
The annual pumpkin carving contest will be held at Arlington Hardware & Lumber, located at 215 N. Olympic Ave. Contestants are encouraged to drop off their decorated pumpkins and register on Friday, Oct. 28, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Saturday, Oct. 29, from 7-10:30 a.m. Judging of the pumpkins will take place on Oct. 29 at 11 a.m., with a drawing for a bicycle from all entries at 11:30 a.m.
The Downtown Arlington Business Association is sponsoring the annual pumpkin pie contest. Bring your homemade specialty pumpkin pies to the gazebo at Legion Park, located at 114 N. Olympic Ave., from 11 a.m. to noon on Oct. 29. Winners will be announced at 12:30 p.m. The new downtown clock purchased by DABA will also be dedicated to the city at 11:30 a.m. that Saturday. For more information, log onto www.arlingtonwa.org.
The “October Hunt” garage and vendor sale is also happening that day. Visit the downtown Arlington parking lot to hunt for new and used treasures. For more information or for a vendor form, log onto www.arlingtonwa.org.
Arlington United Church is hosting a “Harvest Party” on Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The church is located just east of Olympic Avenue, at 338 N. McLeod Ave. The free events include a bouncy house, a fun house, a rummage sale and games. For more information, log onto www.auc1.org.
DABA is also sponsoring trick-or-treating along Olympic Avenue, at participating businesses, that Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. At the same time, Lifeway Foursquare Church is hosting “Trick or Trunk” in the Arlington City Hall parking lot. A costume contest will follow at Legion Park at 1 p.m., with prizes provided by the Arlington Arts Council.
Special guests “The Pirates of Treasure Island” invite you to visit their pirate ship that same day near Legion Park. The pirates will be judging the costume contest and will also be hosting a benefit with the Arlington Kiwanis Club for Kids’ Kloset and the Arlington Food Bank. Please help by bringing a pair of new children’s shoes and food items for the food bank. The pirates will be available for visits from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The “Great Pumpkin Roll” is making another comeback, with Lifeway Foursquare Church sponsoring the event. Bring your pumpkin and register at the top of First Street Hill at 1:30 p.m. The roll starts at 2 p.m. and all ages are welcome.
New this year is the Arlington “Zombie Walk.” Zombies will meet up at the parking lot near Julie’s Styling, located at 413 N. Olympic Ave. Zombies can pay $5 to participate in the walk. Artscape Photography will be setting up a temporary photo studio in the Petite Sweet Bakery and, for a $5 donation towards the school art fund, will take digital photos of any zombies and trick-or-treaters who wish to be documented. At 3 p.m., the zombies will travel south on Olympic Avenue and congregate at Legion Park. Once the shamble reaches its conclusion at Legion Park, there will be a judging for the best zombie. The winner will receive a complimentary “Brain Bauble” crown built to their specifications from Fogdog Gallery. For more information, log onto www.fogdoggallery.com.
For more information about these events in Arlington, please call the recreation office at 360-403-3448 and log onto www.facebook.com/arlingtonwa.
The Arlington High School Future Farmers of America will also get into the Halloween spirit with a “haunted house” on Oct. 28-29, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on both days, in the AHS greenhouse. Adults pay $5, while kids 12 years and younger pay $3. On the “Kids Day” Saturday, from 3-5 p.m., kids pay $3 while parents enter free with their child’s admission.
