Trick-or-treat, trunk-or-treat and a haunted forest: Skagit’s Halloween lineup

Downtown Mount Vernon and downtown Anacortes open their doors to costumed kids, Burlington hosts a free fall festival, and Anacortes Parks will scare you silly in the woods.

Costumes ready? Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and towns across Skagit County are planning plenty to do on the big weekend and the week before. Here’s a roundup.

Haunted Forest at Washington Park, Anacortes — Saturday, Oct. 24

Anacortes Parks & Recreation is turning the trails at Washington Park into a spooky after-dark walk. The fun starts at 6 p.m. and runs until about 8 p.m. along Loop Road.

• Tickets are $15 a person and must be bought ahead of time through Anacortes Parks & Recreation. There are no walk-ups.
• The city suggests the walk for adults and older kids.
• It’s dark in the woods, so a flashlight or headlamp is required.
• Costumes are welcome.

Want to do the scaring instead? The city is also looking for volunteers to dress up and play creatures along the trail. Sign-up links for both are on the city’s Haunted Forest page, or email coa.parks@anacorteswa.gov.

Trick or Treat on 1st Street, Mount Vernon — Friday, Oct. 30

The Mount Vernon Downtown Association’s yearly trick-or-treat runs from 4 to 6 p.m. along South 1st Street. Families can show up any time during those two hours and collect candy from downtown shops.

This year five local nonprofits are adding activities: NAMI Skagit, The Salish Sea School, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, Camp Korey and Youthnet. Ideas & Abilities, the Yousling family, WECU and CPI are helping pay for the candy.

The association could still use more candy. Bags can be dropped off at KLT:works, bLoom or LIDO Collective downtown. Questions: (360) 336-3801.

KarMART Fall Festival and Trunk-or-Treat, Burlington — Saturday, Oct. 31

KarMART on Bouslog Road is hosting a free fall festival from 1 to 5 p.m. on Halloween, with trunk-or-treating, carnival games, face painting, pumpkin painting, music and food trucks. Address: 1751 Bouslog Road. Questions: Shaune Pilcher, 360-757-0815.

Downtown Trick-or-Treat, Anacortes — Saturday, Oct. 31

Downtown Anacortes businesses will hand out treats from 4 to 6 p.m. along Commercial Avenue between 3rd and 10th streets. It’s free, and the Downtown Anacortes Alliance invites kids, teens, adults and even pets to come in costume. More at downtownanacortesalliance.org.

Stay safe out there

With sunset coming early, add a flashlight or some reflective tape to costumes, and keep an extra eye out for little ones crossing downtown streets.

Hosting a Halloween event in Skagit County that’s open to the public? Send the details to Skagit Breaking and we’ll add it to our coverage.

Sources: City of Anacortes, Haunted Forest; Anacortes Chamber of Commerce event listings for Haunted Forest and Downtown Trick-or-Treat; Mount Vernon Downtown Association, Trick or Treat on 1st Street; Burlington Chamber of Commerce, KarMARTUSA Fall Festival.