CELEBRATE FALL and HALLOWEEN BAINBRIDGE ISLAND STYLE – OCTOBER 2023
As many islanders know, we love our holidays here on Bainbridge, and celebrating Fall and Halloween is no different. There’s a lot going on throughout the month and here at the Island Wanderer Blog, we’ve done our best to compile a list of what’s happening!
Now until Oct 13, 2023 – COSTUME SWAP at KiDiMu – Find your next kid’s Halloween costume at KiDiMu! Halloween Costume Swap – please drop off clean, outgrown, no-longer-needed children’s Halloween costumes and accessories in the donation bin outside of the museum’s front lobby. The donation bin will be out daily from 9am – 4pm.
On October 14th, 21st and 28th, come to KiDiMu and “shop” for a “new-to-you” costume.
All month – PUMPKIN WALK at Bainbridge Gardens – Pumpkin Walk 2023 is an all-month, fun, festive, free, family-oriented event hosted by Bainbridge Gardens. People of all ages come to walk along Bainbridge Gardens’ historic Nature Trail, to view hundreds of hand-designed pumpkins. Mon-Sat: 9am-5:30pm, Sun: 10am-4pm – Free Admission
All month – Bainbridge Island/Suyematsu PUMPKIN PATCH 2023 located on the Day Road Farm at 9229 Day Road E. They have a huge variety of carving pumpkins and winter squash, and their patch is filled with everything you need for your fall decorating and baking. They have beautiful fresh fall wreaths, ornamental corn, corn stalks; unique and unusual pumpkins and gourds; autumn bouquets, fresh local produce, U-cut dahlias…and more! This year, they are bringing back their popular Kiddy Hay Maze and tractor rides around the pumpkin patch. Pumpkin Patch Hours: Saturday & Sunday: 10am to 5pm / Monday thru Friday: 1pm to 6pm / School tours for kids of all ages available! Contact our Farm Coordinator, Bethany, at 206-802-4066 for more details or to schedule!
All month – Winney Farm U-PICK PUMKIN PATCH – 5145 McDonal Avenue NE –While you’re there, stop by the farm store for fresh meat (pork, beef, poultry and more!) as well as fresh eggs, veg and baked goods. Order online here, and pick-up after your pumpkin hunt!
Oct 10 – Nov 4, 2023 – ANNUAL SQUASH HUNT at Bloedel Reserve and SPOOKY PLANTS WALK – Explore the grounds with your map in search of these home-grown decorative delicacies! Pause at the Residence to snap a photo of yourselves with our largest pumpkin and guess its weight.
As you search for squash along your walk, venture into the mysterious world of carnivorous plants: discover the prickly secrets of armored flora, hold your nose as you encounter the eeriest, stinkiest plants around, and uncover the enchanting wonders of plants pollinated by nocturnal beetles and moths. It’s a hauntingly fun experience that will leave you entranced by the wonders of the plant kingdom. Win prizes at the Shop at the Gatehouse when you complete the all-ages scavenger hunt.
Timed tickets are required and the event is included with cost of admission to the Reserve. Learn more about the history of our annual squash hunt here.
Oct 17 – 19, 2023 – HAUNTED HAYRIDE AT BATTLE POINT PARK. Presented by the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District. Venture into Battle Point Park as they guide you through winding, fog-shrouded trails. Whether you opt for a themed costume or snuggle up in your coziest scarf, you’re invited to join them on Boo Boulevard for a spectacular and enchanting array of activities that will leave you spellbound.
Prepare for an enchanting evening filled with crafts, exciting games, prizes, captivating photo opportunities, and much more. As the mystical night unfolds, anticipation builds as you secure your spot on one of their hay wagons. Be on the lookout for the spooking specters of zombies, creepy crawly spiders, and the haunting presence of ghosts; this spooky-not-scary adventure promises thrills, chills, and enchantment at every turn.
Seats fill up rapidly, so don’t delay in reserving your spot among the hay bales. To register, visit www.biparks.org/register or call the Customer Service desk at 206-842-2302 and use Activity #541013. For questions, please visit www.biparks.org/special-events, where you’ll find a list of Haunted Hayride FAQs. This year’s Haunted Hayride will take place at the south end of Battle Point Park, beginning at the west entrance on Battle Point Drive NE and ending at the Arrow Point Drive NE exit. Please arrive at the route entrance for check-in 10 minutes before your registration time.
Oct 10, 2023 Red Pine Park Work Party – Presented by Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District and Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation at Red Pine Park
Oct 14, 2023 – Conservation Work Party – Presented by Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District and Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation at Strawberry Hill Park
Oct 19, 2023 – Moritani Preserve Work Party – Presented by Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District and Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation at Moritani Preserve
Oct 21, 2023 – Trails Work Party – Presented by Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District and Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation and Bainbridge Island Land Trust at Gazzam Lake Nature Preserve
Oct 15, 2023 – WEED WARRIORS AT STRAWBERRY PLANT PARK: Join Weed Warriors at Strawberry Plant Park, aka “John T. Nelson Park at Strawberry Cannery Cove” at 240 Weaver Road NW. Park at entrance on Weaver NW and Shepard NW from 1pm – 3pm.
Weed Warriors and their crew of volunteers have been doing a marvelous job pulling the invasives here. If anyone has some starts of native flowers such as fire flower (the relabeled fireweed) or foxgloves, they’d love to plant them here. Please call, email, or text Jeannette at jfranks1@comcast.net, 206-755-8461 with questions and/or to please RSVP.
Oct 28, 2023 from 1pm – 6pm FALL FARM FEST at Wardwell Farm/ Scrappy Art Lab Collaboration – Autumn has arrived on the farm! It is time to reserve your carving pumpkins and tuck in at one of our pumpkin carving stations, make a family scarecrow, bedazzle whimsical gourds, sample chilis from local chefs, do a bit of hay bale squash bowling, sip mulled cider, pop back some cookies and gather with friends.
Ticket Package 1: $75 / family includes entrance to our chili contest, 2 carving pumpkins & use of all of our carving tools, 3 whimsical gourds for bedazzling, a scarecrow kit, squash bowling, light refreshments & general autumn fun on the farm.
Ticket Package 2: $25 / Couple or family that wishes to simply drop by and hang on the farm without all of the pumpkin & chili madness. Additional pumpkins may be available the day of the event, while supplies last.
Register by OCT 22, to ensure they can order the supplies! BUY TICKETS!
The new collaboration between Scrappy Art Lab and Wardwell Farm is officially up and running! They offer farm, garden & nature-based art camps for our community; hosted teacher friends at Ordway for their back-to-school retreat; are currently pairing up with Nature Nuts to offer sweet family mornings on the farm; offering a variety of after school programming; and continuing to enjoy weekly visits with their dear friends from Stephens House. Located at 9200 Wardwell Rd NE (off the Sportsman Club Rd and Hwy 305 intersection).
Oct 28, 2023 from 11am – 2pm – Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA) and KiDiMu present DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS COMMUNITY CELEBRATION 2023 – The museum is transformed with a BIMA Community Day event that is memorable, beautiful, and rich with cultural significance. An opening procession of butterfly-costumed kids lead guests down a flower path into a museum humming with music, art and activity. Centered around a traditional ofrenda, a colorful, multi-paneled shrine created by artist Araceli Cruz, guests are encouraged to add their own mementos and stories honoring loved ones who’ve passed on. Enjoy samples of champurrado (traditional Mexican hot chocolate) and pan de muerto, make-and-take art activities, and strolling musicians sharing traditional Mexican folk songs. Original artwork by Angelina Villalobos.
Oct 28, 2023 – IT WAS A DARK & STORMY NIGHT presented by Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network (Barn) – Get into the Halloween spirit with chilling stories because the ghouls are back in town – in person! After darkness falls, these wonderful local authors will emerge in BARN’s Great Room with stories each has written to frighten and bewitch you. Join us for a festive evening sipping wine and Dark ‘N’ Stormy cocktails and nibbling yummy treats. You can even come in costume … if you dare.
This year, the authors will be Lynn Brunelle, a four-time Emmy Award-winning writer for the television series “Bill Nye the Science Guy;” Jon Mooallem, a journalist, author and contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and This American Life; Luciano Marano, photojournalist, reporter and author; Jennifer Longo, photographer, journalist, and author of several books including “What I Carry;” and Rafe Posey, islander and author of “The Stars We Share” and “The Book of Broken Hymns” who teaches at a maximum-security prison and works as a bookseller at Eagle Harbor Books. Get Tickets Here
Oct 29, 2023 from 2pm – 6pm – Islandwood – HOWL-O-WEEN! It’s baaaaack… Enjoy our trails and get some mileage out of your Halloween costume at the same time! This family-friendly event will feature warm cookies, hot cider, and seasonal treats for you, a visit to the garden to learn the science of squash, storytelling next to a roaring bonfire at the Friendship Circle, a fall craft in the art studio, and a boneyard investigation with Dr. McDiggins! A naturalist will be delivering a lecture about wildlife in the Great Hall. Naturalists will be on the trails to visit with you and share some spooky scientific facts about nocturnal wildlife. We can’t wait to see you all dressed up. *Costumes encouraged but not required. Please remember that this is a family-friendly event if you are an adult in costume. For tickets, visit: Events for October 2023 – IslandWood
If cost is a barrier to you or your family, please contact Christina Woolf at christinaw@islandwood.org for financial assistance.
If all of that wasn’t enough – HOMETOWN HALLOWEEN IN WINSLOW IS BACK! Presented by Bainbridge Island Downtown Association at Winslow Way – Trick or Treating along Winslow Way on Oct 31, 2023 from 4-6 pm
Downtown merchants welcome all ghosts and goblins, witches and warlocks, Elevens and Dustins to ramble Winslow Way in search of tasty treats, spooky tunes and thrilling mobs! Complimentary hot apple cider will be sponsored by Town & Country as well as chili and hot dogs at Eagle Harbor Church for a UNICEF donation. Don’t forget to look for your favorite teacher scooping at Island Cool. DJ Sidecar (sponsored by Cook Family Funeral Home) will be spinning tunes near Winslow Mall. Winslow Way between Ericksen and Madison will be closed to through traffic from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. BOO!
For more events throughout the month, visit BIDA’s event page at Events – Bainbridge Island Downtown Association (bainbridgedowntown.org)
*Images and information provided and used with permission from the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association, Scrappy Art Lab, Suyematsu Farm, BIMPRD, KiDiMu and BIMA.
Did we miss an event? Let us know and we’ll happily update our article.
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