Seattle, WA

This month has just sped by on me. I can’t believe it’s already time for Halloween weekend. I haven’t even bought candy yet. (I’m not counting the candy corn pumpkins because they are long gone!)

Let’s start with Family Friendly Halloween events.

The City of Bothell invites the community to join in the Safe Halloween fun on Friday, Oct. 31. Bothell’s Main Street merchants will open their doors from 5 to 7 p.m. to provide a safe, easy, and candy-filled way to celebrate Halloween. All activities are free unless otherwise noted. Main Street will be closed from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Traffic will be diverted in and around this area. For those interested in celebrating Halloween earlier in the evening, Safe Halloween will also take place at Country Village (23718 7th Avenue West, Bothell) from 4 to 6 p.m.

Safe Halloween
When: Friday, Oct. 31st, 2008
Where: Main Street, Bothell
$$$: Free

For your little book nerds, like myself, there is Literary Halloween. Families are invited to celebrate Halloween by dressing as their favorite authors or literary characters and visiting the store.

Literary Halloween
When: Friday, Oct. 31st, 2008, 7pm
Where: University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, Seattle
$$$: Free

Central Market invites you to bring your little goblins and ghouls out to enjoy their inflatable house, play games and win prizes.

Central Market Halloween Party
When: Friday, Oct. 31st, 2008, 5-7:30pm
Where: Central Market, 15505 Westminster Way N, Seattle
$$$: Free

Children’s Home Society of Washington’s North Seattle Family Center is hosting its annual Fright Night Trick-or-Treat Walk. The Walk ends at the Fright Night Party hosted this year by the Lake City Lions Club. Kids can pick up trick-or-treat bags at North Seattle Family Center (4pm-5:30pm) and collect goodies at Lake City businesses (4pm-6pm) while walking to the community center for a Halloween party (6pm-8pm) that features games, a costume contest, prizes, and a haunted house.

Fright Night Trick-or-Treat Walk & Halloween Party
When: Friday, Oct. 31st, 2008, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Lake City Community Center, 12531 28th Ave. NE, Seattle
$$$: Free. An optional donation of $5 per family is appreciated to help fund the center’s programs and services.

A Halloween hike offers spooky sights geared toward kids 2 and up (though geared for 5-8). Information about nocturnal animals adds to the fun. Advance registration is required; register by phone or at the website. Children under age two are discouraged from attending and strollers are not permitted.

Haunted Hikes
When: Ongoing Each Fri, Sat, Sun 10/24/08 - 11/1/08
Where: Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, 1625 118th Avenue SE
Bellevue, WA
$$$: Adults $10; Children (2 and up) $8

What could be better at Halloween than a Haunted Castle? Families can explore a historic building in search of spooky sights and hidden surprises, and then enjoy carnival activities, games, and treats. There will be plenty of spooky sights and hidden surprises to explore. 100% of the proceeds from this event will go to benefit the Des Moines Area Food Bank.

Halloween at the Haunted Castle
When: Friday, Oct. 31st, 2008, 6:30pm-9pm
Where: Landmark on the Sound, 23660 Marine View Drive S, Seattle
$$$: Free with donation of non-perishable food item

Kids are invited to put on their costumes and visit IKEA, where they can pick up a bag and map at the entrance and trick or treat throughout the store. While supplies last.

Trick-or-Treat Spooktacular
When: Friday, Oct. 31st, 2008, 4pm-7pm
Where: IKEA, 601 Southwest 41st Street, Renton, WA
$$$: Free

The Museum of Flight becomes The Museum of Fright during a spooky evening full of stories, treats, games, and dead-ucational activities.

The Museum of Fright: Spooky Halloween Celebration!
When: Friday, Oct 31, 2008: 4:00pm-9:00pm
Where: Museum of Flight, 9404 East Marginal Way S, Seattle
$$$: ADMISSION TO THE MUSEUM OF FLIGHT IS FREE AFTER 4 PM

Downtown Edmonds blocks off 5th Avenue and Main Street on Halloween night for an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 kids and parents in costume to trick-or-treat participating businesses. There is music and games and a ton of family fun in one of Edmonds best community events.

Edmonds Halloween Celebration
When: Friday, October 31st, 2008, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Where: Downtown Edmonds, 5th Ave & Main Street, Edmonds, WA
$$$: Free