With October in full swing, harvest-focused events seem to be taking over Tacoma and the surrounding South Sound. Whether picking pumpkins at Pierce County patches or foraging for mushrooms at area forests, the bounty of the season is ripe for the gathering. But no harvest time is complete without scores of Halloween-centric haunts to spook and delight, which is why you’ll find many hair-raising happenings throughout the region. From family friendly fun runs to scream-inducing haunted houses, the South Sound is brimming with events to please every type of thrill seeker.
Find out what’s happening over the next two weekends and plan your spooky itinerary using our community events calendar, or check-out our top picks by reading through the list below.
Friday, Oct. 24 – Sunday, Oct. 26
- Get a head start on your holiday shopping at the Tacoma Holiday Food & Gift Festival, Friday, Oct. 24 – Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Tacoma Dome.
- Enjoy old timey harvest activities during the Ol’ Time Harvest Festival happening Friday, Oct. 24 – Saturday, Oct. 25.
- Hoot ‘n’ Howl with the whole family at Northwest Trek on Friday, Oct. 24 – Saturday, Oct. 25.
- Find the perfect pumpkin at Pierce County pumpkin patches.
- Share ghost stories around the campfire during the 20th Annual Bonfires, Beaver Pelts and Bogeymen Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25 at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum.
- Take part in a family friendly Monster Dash the evening of Saturday, Oct. 25, in Gig Harbor.
- Peruse, “pick,” and purchase a glass pumpkins by the Tacoma Glassblowing Studio at Puyallup’s Glass Pumpkin Patch on Saturday, Oct. 25.
- “Do the Time Warp” during a live production of the Rocky Horror Picture Show on October 25 at Proctor’s Blue Mouse Theatre.
- Support 2nd Cycle – Tacoma’s community cycle center – during a benefit show on Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Fulcrum Gallery. Proceeds benefit 2nd Cycle’s move to their new location.
- Get in costume and collect comics during Halloween Comic Fest happening at Destiny City Comics and other participating comic book stores on Saturday, Oct. 25.
- Get ready to laugh with The Capitol Steps on Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts’ Pantages Theater.
Friday, Oct. 31 – Sunday, Nov. 2
- Head to the woods and forage for mushrooms with these tips from South Sound Mushroom Club President, Chris Herrera.
- Safe, fun, Halloween trick-or-treating awaits at Proctor Treats in Tacoma’s Proctor neighborhood on Friday, Oct. 31.
- Collect candy indoors during Tacoma Mall‘s Safe Halloween Trick-or-Treating event on Friday, Oct. 31.
- Enjoy a live, Halloween performance of The Phantom of the Opera at University of Puget Sound on Friday, Oct. 31.
- Dare to be scared at South Sound-area haunted houses.
- Take a day trip to Gig Harbor.
- Get a head start on your holiday shopping at Tacoma local businesses.
- Dress up and win prizes during Emerald Queen Casino‘s Halloween Bash on Saturday, Nov. 1.
- Celebrate Dia de los Muertos at the Tacoma Art Museum and enjoy free admission on Sunday, Nov. 2.
- Check off a few items on our list of “50 Things to See and Do in Tacoma.”
- Stay dry with these ideas for rainy day family fun (for every budget).
Have an event you would like to see on our calendar? Submit it here.
SouthSoundTalk aims to be your source for positive information and events happening in Tacoma, Puyallup, Gig Harbor and Pierce County. If you have a suggestion for an post, send us a note at submit@southsoundtalk.com. For more events and to learn what’s happening in Tacoma and the surrounding area, click here.