Mercer Island has lots of Halloween fun in store for kids and families! We’ve compiled a list of the spooktacular upcoming events ahead, and many of them are free! So gather your ghouls and goblins, and don’t forget to wear your costume!
Youth Theatre Northwest presents The Halloween Detective and the Case of the (Not So) Haunted Mansion
October 21 – 29
Saturdays 10 am – 2 pm & Sundays 1 – 3 pm
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 4400 86th Ave SE
Cost: $10 for kids; free for parents/guardians
Madame Crocosmia’s home was once the scariest mansion around, with folks coming from far and wide to tour its haunted halls. But the Halloween fun ended the day all the scary disappeared. Where did it go? No one knows, but life hasn’t been the same since. With their loss of fright, the ghosts now spend all day making really terrible jokes. No one has paid for a tour in ages, so if the ghosts can’t find their scary, Madame could lose everything! Detective J.L. Pinkerman is determined to solve this case, but he’ll need the help of some junior detectives to sort all this out. Can Pinkerman count on you to save Halloween?
In contrast to a traditional haunted house, Youth Theatre Northwest’s Halloween activity is a non-scary, 30 minute guided adventure specifically created for the most imaginative tots, preschoolers and early elementary age children (ages 3 – 8). This fun detective story, paired with your child’s problem solving skills, will make for an incredibly creative afternoon where your child gets to save the day.
Halloween costumes are encouraged! Also, please note that The Halloween Detective is an outdoor, rain or shine event. All guests are encouraged to dress weather appropriate and wear suitable shoes.
2nd Annual MI Pumpkin Walk
Saturday, October 21, 5 – 8 pm
Pioneer Park, Island Crest Way and SE 68th Street
Cost: Free! (Carved pumpkin donations encouraged)
This year is the 2nd Annual Mercer Island Pumpkin Walk! The event will be starting an hour earlier this year, so families with younger kids can take a daylight stroll to see the pumpkins. Starting at the Northwest Quadrant of Pioneer Park, take a walk along NW Perimeter Trail to see a glowing display of carved pumpkins for all ages to enjoy! No flashlights or headlamps, and costumes are optional. Glow stick necklaces and hot chocolate will be provided for the kiddos while supplies last.
The community is encouraged to contribute pumpkins to help make this event a success again this year! If you’d like your carved pumpkin to be on display, you can drop it off that day anytime between 9am and 4pm. Meet at the corner of SE 68th St. and 84th Ave SE. They are also still looking for volunteers for this year’s event!
Learn more >>
Parents Night Out: Halloween Party!
Saturday, October 21, 5 – 10 pm
MI Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
Cost: $25/Child; $15/Sibling
This Halloween Party is open to ages 5 – 12! Drop the kids off in costume for a night of ghostly fun with the Mercer Island Parks & Recreation staff. They will be playing some Halloween games, making some horrific crafts and of course watching a Halloween movie. Reservations are required, so please call (206) 275-7609 to reserve your spot. (Course: 17297)
MIPC Fall Festival
Wednesday, October 25, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
MI Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave SE
Cost: Free; Thanksgiving donations suggested
Mercer Island Presbyterian Church invites you to join in the fun at their annual Fall Festival. Activities include: trunk & treat, dinner, costume parade (Kids and Adults!), bouncy house, games, and more!
The schedule of events are:
- 5:30 pm – Trunk & Treat
- 6 pm – Dinner
- 6:30 pm – Costume Parade & more
Please bring a donation for the children’s ministry’s annual Thanksgiving Mission Project. The goal is to provide full Thanksgiving meals to the families at First Place School of Seattle. Items needed include: 40 turkey roasting pans; 40 boxes of mashed potatoes; 40 boxes of stuffing; 40 cans of gravy; 40 cans of yams; 40 cans of cranberry sauce; 40 cans of veggies; 40 boxes of Bisquick; and 40 paper bags to contain items. Money donations also welcome.
Learn more >>
Halloween Open House and Canned Food Drive
Saturday, October 28, Noon – 4 pm
Mercer Island Martial Arts, 2630 77th Ave SE
Cost: 5 items for MIYFS Food Bank
This year, Mercer Island Martial Arts is celebrating 20 years of hosting their annual Halloween Open House and Canned Food Drive! The festivities include a bouncy house, costume contests, a martial arts demo from our demo team, candy, and prizes. Drop-in anytime! Stay for ten minutes or two hours. Parents/caregivers requested to attend the open house with their children. Admission to the party is 5 items for the Mercer Island Youth & Family Services Food Bank.
The food bank is especially in need of toiletries, but they are also in need of the following items: Canned fruit and juices, pasta sauces, chicken and beef broth, rice products, canned tuna and meat products, hearty canned soups, peanut butter, jellies / jams, breakfast items, granola bars, boxed cereal and oatmeal, boxed cake and frosting mixes, and toiletries.
Learn more >>
MIPC Concert Series: What’s That Noise?
Saturday, October 28, 6:30 pm
MI Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave SE
Cost: $10 – $20 donations encouraged; free for children under 10
Is it a scary sound, a spooky story, or just a silly song? When these three favorite Northwest family-friendly performers get together, anything can happen! This all-ages event is perfect for young ones and the young at heart — it will feature singer-songwriter Nancy Stewart, impressionist Charlie Williams, and William Bryant on the organ. Costumes welcome, too!
Trunk or Treat at St. Monica Catholic School
Sunday, October 29, 5 – 6 pm
St. Monica Catholic School, 4320 87th Ave SE
Upper Parking Lot
Cost: Free!
Trunk or Treat is a fun, safe way to celebrate Halloween. Participants of the event decorate their cars/trunks in the upper parking lot and children walk from trunk to trunk to look at the decorations and receive candy and treats. This event provides a controlled and safe family environment for trick-or-treaters of all ages. If you’d like to participate, or if you’d like to volunteer, please visit their website for more details on what to bring, costume rules, and how to set up your trunk for passing out candy.
9th Annual Halloween Trick or Treat at Local Businesses
Tuesday, October 31, 3 – 5:30 pm
Mercer Island Town Center, various locations
Cost: Free!
For the 9th year, Mercer Island businesses in the Town Center and South Mercer Shopping Center are inviting ghosts, goblins, firefighters, princesses, devils, zombies and other characters to trick or treat at their businesses. They’ll be handing out treats from 3 – 5:30 PM.
There will be over 60 businesses passing out candy! Participating business will have a poster of a Jack O’ Lantern in their window and there will be a list of candy stops available on the Chamber of Commerce website and at the businesses. Please bring a non-perishable food item for the M.I. Youth & Family Services Food Pantry. Items can be dropped off at Banner Bank, the Chamber office, C Michele, Au Courant and MI Martial Arts.
Learn more >>
Haunted Library at Aljoya
Tuesday, October 31, 3 – 5:30 pm
Aljoya, 2430 76th Ave SE
Cost: Free!
While you’re Trick or Treating at local businesses, make sure to stop by Aljoya. Take a walk through the Haunted Library for some spooktacular fun (and candy, too)! Open to all ages, and don’t forget to wear your costume!
Learn more >>
Feature Image Credit: Mercer Island Pumpkin Walk Facebook page
