For those of you who wish to get spooked by ghouls and ghosts rather than drunk Halloween partygoers, October activities in Portland are just the thing.
The Pumpkin Patch, located just 15 minutes from downtown Portland (16511 NW Gillihan Loop Rd.), boasts the popular Haunted Maize. That’s right, it is a family-fun maze constructed from large corn stalks.
Though the punny title makes it seem like it won’t be too scary, it becomes a decent adrenaline rush when people dressed in ghostly outfits jump out to startle lost maze participants. It’s almost like real-life Slender Man.@@http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/slender-man@@ You wander around a place that always seems to circle you around to where you’ve already been, not knowing when something will appear — unless you turn 180 degrees, because that is practically an invitation to being jumped. And, all right, “family-fun” in this case refers to the amount of fun you can have with witnessing your siblings getting scarred for life and your parents entering another mid-life crisis.
But if that doesn’t appeal to you, have no fear! (or do, if that gets you in the Halloween spirit). There are also hayrides, farmers markets and pumpkin-carving events at the Patch.
Scream at the Beach (1230 Jantzen Beach Center) has attractions for anyone with a good Halloween spirit. Have a costume that you’ve always wanted to show off, but not at a college party? Wear it to one of Scream’s costume events. Know a bald professor who’s negatively self-conscious about being bald? Bring him to one of the wig parties. Kicked out of the Patch because your insane pumpkin-carving skills made a little girl cry more than when she was trapped in the Maize? Enter a pumpkin-carving competition. And when you feel like getting spooked again, wander through the haunted woods.@@http://www.yelp.com/biz/scream-at-the-beach-portland@@
Or, venture to Fright Town (Portland Memorial Coliseum, 300 North Winning), which shows an eerie blend of haunted mansion and horror museum. Clowns and ghouls lurk in the Chop Shop, and a twisted haunted mansion experience awaits you at Elshoff Manor.@@http://www.yelp.com/biz/fright-town-portland@@
