FUN & FEARFUL FESTIVITIES FOR FALL

Autumn has rolled in like a morning mist once again, and here in the great city of Portland where it’s especially dark and spooky this time of year, one may desire to wander the city and experience the thrilling attractions and spooky experiences it has to offer.

Not all of Portland’s Halloween offerings will leave your wallets bone-dry. In fact, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to partake in some of these spine-chilling festivities.

The Davis Graveyard is a long-standing annual testament to the art of haunting, put on at the corner of Southeast 43rd Avenue and Johnson Creek Boulevard throughout October. The macabre spectacle features a bone-chilling display of unearthly decorations, including an array of tombstones paying homage to silver screen legends and beloved pop culture icons. As you venture further, you will encounter ghostly carriages, eerie skeletons, and a mesmerizing light show that will send shivers down your spine. The best part? This hair-raising experience won’t cost a single penny.

Beyond the confines of the Davis Graveyard, other neighborhoods in Portland are known for their bewitching yard displays. Irvington and Laurelhurst neighborhoods, as well as the Eastmoreland and Alameda neighborhoods, come alive with ghoulish creativity, each offering a unique blend of spooky delights.

As the season of pumpkins arrives in all its glory, pumpkin patches across Oregon beckon you to partake in the harvest festivities. Roloff Farms located in North Plains (near Hillsboro, west of Portland) is one of the nation’s better-known pumpkin patches and runs all month. Sauvie Island plays host to Bella Organic Farms’ pumpkin patch and corn maze, as well as The Maize at The Pumpkin Patch, where you can navigate haunted corn mazes and pick plump pumpkins with your loved ones.

In Southeast Portland, Historic Oaks Parks is putting on its traditional Scaregrounds event all the way through Nov. 4. The event unleashes a trifecta of blood-curdling haunted walkthrough experiences, surrounded by a carnival of thrill-packed amusement rides, spooky side attractions, a devilishly fun round of mini golf, roller skating, and a treasure trove of concessions.

For some spine-tingling musical entertainment, Portland’s very own shockrock industrial group, Dead Animal Assembly Plant, will take center stage in a night of monstrous horror at Dante’s, on Tuesday, Oct. 11. The show, $12 for adults 21 and over, promises an electrifying lineup featuring bands such as 2 Shadows, Dying in Salem, Vampire Champagne, and Flares, for an unforgettable night of auditory frights.

All is not lost for the kids, teens, and young adults who want to rock out this spooky season, either. Wednesday 13 will headline a massive frightfest, where they will perform their hits from their previous Murderdolls incarnation, on Oct. 24 at The Bossanova. Opening acts will include Gemini Syndrome, Infected Rain, Black Satellite, and Hideous Monster, for a show not to be missed.

For those who have a taste for the extraordinary and the downright bizarre, the Oddities and Curiosities Expo is an otherworldly gathering that showcases a mesmerizing array of hand-picked vendors, dealers, artists, and small businesses from across the nation. The realm of the strange runs Oct. 21-23 at the Oregon Convention Center.

But wait, there’s more: Portland’s annual Run Like Hell Marathon is back! On Oct. 28, don your scariest costume and compete not only in a half-marathon, but a costume contest as well. As runners, walkers, monsters, and the undead cross the finish line they will arrive to live music, beer, food, and captivating entertainment.