Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Alternative
Halloween activities
—
What to do this
Halloween, without normal
trick-or-treating, parades, or
firehouse fun? The following
are considered low- to mod-
erate-risk in terms of Covid,
except where noted:
Socially Distanced
Trick-or-Treat
Public health experts say no
to regular trick-or-treating. If you
must indulge in the traditional
sweets-fest, try “one-way trick-
or-treating where individually
wrapped goodie bags are lined up
for families to grab and go while
continuing to social distance (such
as at the end of a driveway or at
the edge of a yard).” No to trunk-
or-treats, incidentally. If you’re
preparing bags, wash your hands
with soap and water for at least 20
seconds before and after.
Drive-Thru Halloween
at The Lodge in Sisters
On October 31, families can
drive through the front entrance
area of The Lodge in Sisters,
just across from the post office.
From 1 to 3 p.m., The Lodge
will “provide a safe experi-
ence” and hand out treats;
www.thelodgeinsisters.com
Online Costume
Sharing
One local family
plans to make their
own costumes, then
upload photos for
th eir ch u rch ’s
costume con-
test. Second-
g r a d e r
Ophelia
will
be
By T. Lee Brown, Correspondent
dressing up as Ursula the sea witch;
her brother Max, in 5th grade, will
transform into a refrigerator. Kids
ages 0-12 can also send in photos
to win prizes at www.downtown
bend.org/halloween-2020.html.
Blue Moon Howl
As storyteller Susan Strauss
recently shared with local kids in
a beautiful performance, wolves
were heroes and helpers in the old
stories. This Halloween, a full Blue
Moon illuminates the night. When
the moon becomes clearly visible
around 7 p.m., step outside and
howl like a wolf! Six feet away
from the other wolves, of course.
Cozy Halloween
at Home
“We are going to play a sort of
spooky game called ‘Mysterium’
and make some fun Halloween rec-
ipes the evening of,” says Sisters
mom Nicole. Her family plans to
carve pumpkins a few days before.
Other families plan to watch scary
movies, decorate their homes, and
make their own Halloween music
videos to share with relatives.
Library Activities
Grab a Creepy Craft kit at
Deschutes Public Library starting
at 10 a.m. on Saturdays in October
— including Halloween Day. Kits
available while supplies last. On
October 31 at 10 a.m., wear your
costume for an online Halloween
Story Time for ages 0 to 5 at
https://bit.ly/2Yaurca. Join com-
munity librarians for Halloween
songs, rhymes, stories and fun.
Celebrate the Ancestors
Many contemporary Halloween
themes derive from Gaelic cul-
ture, which calls this time of year
Samhain (pronounced SAW-
wenn). Some believe you should
stay indoors on All Hallow’s
Eve or the Sídhe might
Sisters
Dental
—
kidnap you. During Samhain, the
veil between the worlds is thin,
they say — a good time to honor
those who have come before us.
Say a prayer or blessing. Assemble
an altar of photos, meaningful
objects, poems, and candles cele-
brating friends, family, and ances-
tors who have passed. Mexican
culture’s famed Día de los Muertos
(Day of the Dead) occurs on
November 1, also known as All
Souls’ Day or All Saints’ Day.
People of Mexican ancestry often
set up ofrendas to departed souls,
adorned with sugar skulls, photos,
food, drink, copal incense, and
other traditional items.
Modified Costume Parade
With a handful of friends, plan
an open-air costume parade with
safe social distance. Make sure
people wear protective masks
— you can buy or decorate them
to be part of a costume. Oregon
Health Authority notes that cos-
tume masks are no substitute for
COVID-safe masks.
“If screaming will likely occur,
greater distancing is advised,” says
OHA.
DD Ranch
Folks in Sisters know DD
Ranch for their grass-finished beef.
This time of year, the Terrebonne
ranch also offers pumpkin patch
fun, hay maze, hay rides*, pet-
ting zoo, pony rides, and the DD
Dirt Express Train*. The cowboy
arcade features a BB gun range,
giant slingshot, and archery.
Pumpkin patch is open daily. Other
activities are open weekends, along
with beer garden, food booths,
and vendor booths selling local
goods. Free entry. Activity tick-
ets start at $2.50. Info at www.
ddranch.net/pumpkin-
patch.
Smith Rock Ranch
A working farm in
Terrebonne producing seeds,
wheat, hay, pumpkins, and
squash, Smith Rock Ranch
looks more like a carnival this
time of year. Genuine corn
maze, pumpkin patch, petting
zoo, pony rides, carriage horse
rides*, food booths, safari tractor
ride*, and mini golf are among the
offerings. A pumpkin cannon lets
folks splat squashes at a battered
old truck. (Note: On a recent visit,
social distancing, masks, and dis-
infecting appeared to be observed
only roughly.) Ticket required;
online reservation recommended.
Entry fee of $30 includes admis-
sion to The Maize plus five activ-
ity tickets. Information available
at www.smithrockranch.com
Crescent Moon Ranch
Heading out to the Terrebonne
pumpkin patches? Stop by the
alpaca farm north of the turn-
off to Smith Rock on Highway
97. Feed alpacas in the field,
then peruse alpaca-wool yarns
and hats and mittens in their
boutique, built in an antique
potato cellar. Learn more at
www.crescentmoonranch.
com
* Going on hayrides
or tractor rides with
people who are not in
your household are
considered high
risk by Oregon
H e a l t h
Authority.
Stitchin’ Post Gallery
Featuring the “Whisper Project” by Central Oregon SAQA Members
WE
ARE
HERE
FOR
YOU!
Trevor Frideres, D . M . D .
Greg Everson, D . M . D .
541-549-2011
491 E. Main Ave. • Sisters
www.sistersdental.com
Hours: Mon., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tues.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fri., 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
311 W. Cascade Ave. Sisters, Oregon
(541) 549-6061 • stitchinpost.com
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