Halloween-themed events galore this year, with some tweaks | Scene

Halloween is back, with some favorite seasonal attractions already scaring off impatient visitors. This is great news for the children and adults of Yakima Valley looking to satisfy their sweet tooth and frightening urge in a safe way.
But as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, some events will not happen. There will be no Steve Hahn Auto Group Trunk or Treat, which has been a huge annual event. And while there are goodies in Yakima’s Barge-Chestnut neighborhood, it’s up to individual owners if they want to hand out candy. In a typical year, the neighborhood attracts over 1,500 children and the city closes some streets to keep them safe. Neighbors expect things to be scaled back this year.
Madd Hatters Haunt at Union Gap was canceled last year but is open again, with guarantees. All frontline staff have been vaccinated and volunteers will have their temperatures taken when they arrive, said Barb Petrea, who owns and operates the site with her husband, John.
Everyone is required to mask themselves, and the popular haunted house has been split into two main sections to allow for social distancing.
The Petreas own and operate Escape the Maddness Escape Rooms as a for-profit business in one location, but Madd Hatters Haunt is run by a non-profit organization they set up and benefits community organizations across the country. non-profit. This year, about 275 people representing 16 organizations have volunteered or volunteered at the hangout, said Barb Petrea.
Volunteers work in the Haunted House to raise funds for their organizations, with ages ranging from 18 to 70. “People even came to fundraise for a family member who has cancer,” she said.
In another effort to support a local nonprofit, Madd Hatters Haunt is offering $ 5 off admission next Thursday and Monday and Tuesday for those bringing in new packages of infant socks or underwear at 6 p.m. years. The socks and underwear will go to the Voices for Children Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports abused and neglected children in the foster care system throughout the Yakima Valley.
While COVID-19 canceled some Halloween attractions, volunteers at Yakima Valley Trolleys feared their event might not happen due to mechanical issues. A broken tire threatened to cancel the annual Halloween races, but the rides are back on track.
Some trips on the historic cart system have been canceled as supporters researched how to fix the tire – not an easy task given its unique attributes. Modern mechanics are not trained to repair old streetcars. But maintenance supervisor Russ Wentworth, with the help of Scott Neel, devised the best way to weld the damaged wheel.
“This long process ended last Friday,” said an Oct. 10 post on the nonprofit organization’s Facebook page. “A test to Selah was completed today and the cart was found to be ready for Halloween races.”
Here is a list of some Halloween-related events that run through the end of the month, one of which ends on November 1. See next week’s scene for the Dia de los Muertos deals.
■ Madd Hatter’s Haunt, 208 Ahtanum Road in Union Gap; 6.30 p.m.-8.30 p.m. Oct. 21, 24 and 28, 6 p.m.-10.30 p.m. Oct 22-23, 6.30 p.m.-9 p.m. Oct 25-27, 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Oct 29-30, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. October 31; $ 13 or two for $ 25, VIP $ 18 or two for $ 35; www.maddhattershaunt.com, 509-930-0432. Masks will be mandatory to enter the haunted house. There is a large waiting room outside with a numbered waiting system. When the group number is called, guests can move around the socially distanced line.
■ Union Gap Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, 3213 Tacoma Street in Union Gap; 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday to Thursday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday to October 31; $ 10 entry, free for children 2 and under, groups of 20 or more save $ 1 on each entry; www.ugcornmaze.com, 509-453-3200. The Haunted Maze opens at 7 p.m. on evenings the Corn Maze is open to the public.
■ Haunted Tents, 1022 S. 37th Ave. in Yakima; 12 pm-4pm and 6.30pm-11pm; free, but donations are accepted for Make-A-Wish Alaska & Washington; www.facebook.com/TheHauntedTents; 509-424-1214. Michael Indorf’s annual exhibit features 360 maze feet with 14 displays hidden inside, lots of surprises, and lots of fun stuff.
■ Trunk or treat, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., West Side Church, 6901 Summitview Ave., Yakima.
■ Trunk or treat, 6-8 p.m., Owens Harley-Davidson, 1707 N. First St., Yakima. Yakima Police, Yakima Fire Department and Yakima County Sheriff’s Office will be present, along with food trucks.
■ “Rocky Horror Picture Show”, Orion Cinema, 202 E. Chestnut Ave. in Yakima. The Camp Classic will be presented at 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Downtown Theater. Prepare your rice and toast! The pub and theater are reserved for ages 21 and over, and tickets can be purchased online in advance.
■ Downtown Ellensburg Trick or Treat, 3 pm to 6 pm, downtown Ellensburg merchants.
■ Trunk or treat, 6 pm-7:30pm, Holy Family Parish, 5315 Tieton Drive in Yakima in the main parking lot.
■ Haunted Trolley rides for all ages, from 10 am to 3 pm on both days. Yakima Valley Trolleys will operate on its shorter Pine Street line. The trips take around 30 minutes round trip. At his “Haunted Power House” at 306 W. Pine St. in Yakima, there will be spooky decorations and refreshments. Tickets cost $ 5 per person for all ages and do not need to be purchased in advance. Face masks are compulsory. Costumes are welcome.
■ Second annual Mending Wings trunk or treat, 6:00 PM in the Yakama Nation agency parking lot, 401 Fort Road in Toppenish. People will be asked to stay in their vehicles and wear masks. For more information, call Anna Miller at 509-930-7558.
■ Trunk or treat at the Dairy Queen in Wapato, from 2 pm to 5 pm. This will be a drop-in event at 318 S. Wapato Ave. where kids can get a free ice cream cone. Park at the Wapato post office or down the street.
■ Boo Central at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, 1 pm to 3 pm, east and north patio of the student association and recreation center patio. The event will feature Halloween inspired games, face painting, interactive stations, candy prizes and giveaways with over 30 clubs and organizations.
■ Halloween party at Skateland, 1 pm to 4 pm, 2506 Old Town Road in Union Gap. Mummy wrap and costume contest during the afternoon public skate session. One category will be reserved for 10 years old and under and the other for 11 years old and over. There will be a Halloween exhibition to take pictures. Admission is $ 8.95.