Have a spooktacular time in Albany

Get into the spirit of the Halloween season and beyond in and around Albany with trick-or-treat events, haunted corn mazes, a good old-fashioned trip to the pumpkin patch, holiday markets and much, much more

Here are a few fun and exciting events you won’t want to miss.

In lieu of the traditional trick or treating in downtown Albany, The Albany Downtown Association/Movies at Monteith is sponsoring a Downtown Halloween Character Hunt contest, from Oct. 15 through Oct. 30. A fun activity for the whole family, be on the lookout for your favorite Halloween movie characters displayed on posters throughout downtown for a chance to win a movie night prize basket to the Pix Theater! Print out a Character Hunt entry form here before leaving home and record your discoveries, then drop it off at the ADA office, 126 Ferry St. SW, before 5 p.m. on Oct. 30. Happy hunting!

While you have the costumes out, get ready for the Downtown Facebook Costume Contest, which will be held Halloween Week, Oct. 26-30. To participate, have a picture taken by an Albany Downtown Association volunteer between 3 and 5 p.m. during that week at Two Rivers Market. For more information, contact the Albany Downtown Association at 541-928-2469 or director@albanydowntown.com. Photos will be posted on the ADA Facebook page on Halloween and winners will be selected by the public based on the number of Likes and Shares. The winner in each age group will receive a First Burger Kid Meal, and Albany Historic Carousel & Museum ride token, and a ticket to The Pix Theater. Runners-up will receive a movie ticket to The Pix.

The Trolley of Terror will not be stalking the streets of Albany this year. Instead, the Monteith Historical Society is holding the Monteith Historical Ghost Walk on Oct. 30. Experience the most “spirited” tales told by lantern-light. Ghost walk tours are booked by appointment only for groups sheltering in place together, up to 10 people. Cost is $10 per group. The tour is currently full, but a waiting list is available. Call or text 541-220-0421. The list is quite long, but interior tours of the house, ghost stories included, are being offered. Call for details.

The Trick-or-Treat Cruise Thru REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED please see the rest of this list and the Albany area events calendar for more opportunities to enjoy the season.

Visit The Barn at Hickory Station for their Truck or Treat event on Saturday, Oct. 31. Visit The Barn and 10 food trucks for 11 threats from 4 to 9 p.m. Please wear a mask where age appropriate.

Halloween on Main & Grant: Oct. 31, from 11 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Lebanon. Live performances and a virtual costume contest. Dress up in your Halloween best and enjoy live performances by two local dance groups, the Hocus Pokie Dancers and the Gypsy Spirit Dancers. Also, submit a family appropriate costume picture at the Facebook page here for the virtual costume contest. The top three most-liked photos will win People’s Choice Awards. Winners will be announced on this Facebook page and the Lebanon Downtown Association website.

Here is a list of more places to visit and events to take in during the Halloween season:

Farms and fun

Davis Family Farm: Take hayrides to the pumpkin patch and enjoy cider and donuts throughout October. Open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost is $4.50 for the hayride, corn maze and hay pyramid, 4380 NE Hwy 20, Corvallis. 541-752-0697.

Grandpa’s Fresh Market: Grandpa’s Pumpkin Patch, 36533 Hwy. 226, will be operating as self-serve this year with an honor system. Pay in a lockbox, so please have cash. The patch will be monitored for assistance if needed. The farm stand is located at 36483 Hwy 226. 541-928-8778.

Bose Family Farm: A corn maze and more! Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. 35765 Cyrus Road NE, Albany.

The Melon Shack: The Haunted Corn Maze, ongoing through Oct. 31, plus pumpkins and fresh donuts! NE Garden Ave at NE Highway 20, Corvallis. Check days and times at https://www.facebook.com/themelonshack, or call (541) 243-4152.

Peoria Road Farm Market: Open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, 33269 SE Peoria Rd. if you are hunting for that special pumpkin, this is the place to look, with several colorful varieties to choose from.  Their fruit, vegetable, and flower market is about 1.6 miles down Peoria Road on the left, just off Highway 34,

Don’t forget your Albany Farmers’ Market to find your perfect already picked pumpkin with a large variety to carve, cook, or bake it in a pie, along with all the other tasty harvest treats our valley has to offer. The market is open every Saturday from 9am – 1pm.

Spooky stuff

Morningstar Grange Haunted House: 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 30 and 31; 7 to 9 p.m. Cost is $5. Proceeds will benefit local food banks and the Morningstar Grange, 38794 Morningstar Road NE, Albany. COVID-19 guidelines will be in effect. Masks will be required to enter. For information visit  Facebook – Haunted House at Morningstar Grange, or the Calendar of Events at the Albany Visitors Association.

Tennessee Thunder Railroad: Saturdays and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. in October, 37672 KGAL Drive, Lebanon. Cost is $6 adults, $5 kids 2-11, and under 2 free. Admission also gets you access to the pumpkin patch, fall themed photo backdrops, 4 acres to roam, pumpkins, cornstalks and glass gem corn available for purchase, along with train-themed items in the gift shop. For information, 458-223-0258, or here.

Runaway Pumpkin Express: 12 to 1:30 p.m., Oct. 31, 750 S 3rd St., Lebanon, 541-619-0342. Dress up hop aboard this 1.5-hour train ride through the streets of Lebanon. For more information, 541-619-0342, or visit here for tickets.

An Evening with Edgar Allen Poe – Virtual: Oct. 31, Albany Civic Theater actors will perform six different haunting adaptions from the wonderful and creepy world of Edgar Allan Poe. The performance will be presented as an old-style radio show live on Facebook. This is a free event, but if you would like to support the arts, you can “buy a ticket” for any amount you choose at this link. For information, 541-928-4603, or visit Albany Civic Theater

Sweet Red Bistro “After Dark” events: The Historic Downtown Albany night spot will be holding events during Halloween Week: Oct. 27, Spooky Trivia Night (sold out), 6:30 p.m.; Oct. 28, Wicked Wednesday, 8:30 p.m.; Oct. 29, Thriller Thursday, 8:30 p.m.; Oct. 30, Freak Show Friday, 8:30 p.m.; Oct. 31, Nightmare on First Street, 8 p.m.

Note: Due to Covid-19 restrictions, some traditional events have been cancelled or altered. For current updates on physical distancing and other requirements, call ahead or check the website for your destination before heading out.