Dressed as a mermaid, Lisa Dreeszen hands out candy to excited children outside of Sea Gypsy Gifts at a previous Halloween event in Astoria. hailey hoffman/ The astorian Family-friendly Halloween events on the North Coast carolyn hoard Quentin Lamping stands next to the ‘Scooby-Doo’ sign he painted for the Boo Bash event. Continued from Page 4 together for seven years in the Wil- lamette Valley. Belden is excited to introduce this tradition to the Asto- ria community. The Boo Bash will be open to all, not just residents of the apartment. The event’s focus will be a costume contest, an event that Astoria Police Officer Sam Whisler helped plan early this summer. Whisler unexpectedly died of natural causes in July at the age of 26. While he served on the costume planning committee for the event Whisler picked a fairy tale category for the contest lineup. Participants can also choose to compete in the spooky or funny costume categories. “He was an absolute joy who cared about the community,” Belden said. Belden said she and Whisler shared a love of community and helping oth- ers. The Boo Bash will also serve as a fundraiser for Whisler’s family. A donation station will be set up to bene- fit his wife and kids. To honor Whisler, the Emerald Heights staff will dress in an “Alice in Wonderland” theme. Boo Bash games will include a magnetic fishing game, wooden egg toss and a ring toss with a witches’ hat and a blow-up giant tarantula. The Boo Bash is also the start of the apartment’s “Caught Ya” program. The initiative aims to catch kids doing something nice, and reward them with prizes. Aside from the Halloween pro- gram, Emerald Heights provides donated school supplies to children and encourages community members and businesses to donate as well. “We give residents the opportunity to not just be neighbors, but friends and family. It stops being an apartment, and starts being a home,” Belden said. Downtown Trick-or-Treat Seaside Halloween Happening Downtown Astoria Saturday 3 to 5 p.m. Downtown Seaside Saturday and Sunday Put on your best costume and head downtown, because downtown astoria Trick-or-Treat is back! head to your favorite shops to get candy from select retailers. check for a sign in front of each shop to make sure they are welcoming trick-or-treaters this year. The seaside downtown development association will host several halloween events this weekend. Masks (in addition to costumes) are required to participate. Participants should social distance. Witches, Wizards and Waffles Garden of the Surging Waves, Astoria Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. sparrow dance co. will hold a free children’s halloween event this weekend. a costumed pet parade will take place at 10 a.m. saturday. Those interested in participating should sign in at 9:30 a.m. at seaside slushies and dogs. a halloween carnival will be held saturday with games and pumpkin carvings at select busi- nesses from noon to 3 p.m. at the end of the carnival, a giant pumpkin will be dropped into a pool of “ducks and beavers.” Trunk or Treat will be held saturday from 4 to 5 p.m. a Witches Paddle will take sunday at Quatat Park. Participants should arrive by 11:30 a.m., the paddle begins at noon. Kids can come at dusk and howl with Willard the Wizard and cackle with brunhilda the Witch and enjoy halloween-themed dances. The event will be light-hearted and perfect for those pre- schoolers and early elementary age. Warrenton Fall Festival Follow sparrow dance co. on Facebook for performance updates due to weather. Warrenton will hosting the 2nd annual Fall Fes- tival and Trunk-or-Treat. The event is sponsored by spruce up Warrenton. Ilwaco Halloween Block Party Lake Street, Ilwaco 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday Ilwaco will host a halloween event with live music from the North coast blues band from 5 to 7 p.m. Quincy Robinson City Park, SW 4th and Alder Street in Warrenton 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday admission is free. The festivities include a trunk- or-treat, several carnival games, craft booths and food carts. 4-h will host a petting zoo. The beach ballet will facilitate a “Thriller” dance at 7 p.m. Families can participate in Trunk-Or-Treat and register on the spruce up Warrenton Facebook page. Trunks should be set up and ready by 10:30 a.m. decorating trucks is encouraged but not mandatory. Games and candy will be part of the celebra- tion. For the first time, the Warrenton Fire depart- ment will present a pumpkin launch. Thursday, OcTOber 28, 2021 // 5