PHOTO ESSAY BY DAVID WELTON Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
November 2, 2016
The Langley Mainstreet Association sponsored a “Spooktacular” Halloween party Monday afternoon. Costumed merchants and businesses provided treats for young and old in a community-wide family-friendly atmosphere, proving that Langley is one of the happiest seaside towns in the country.
This ladybug was fascinated by the talking skull at Ott and Murphy.Jango Fett revealedYoung Mary Poppins in front of the Dog HouseA hungry shark emerges from a feeding frenzy at Ott and Murphy with sugary treats.Father “Scream” is a source of family pride.FBI agents investigate the kidnapping of a child by a green alien.The elfin chef at Portico serves hot corn chowder on a chilly afternoon.All were invited to a “Trunk or Treat” at the Langley United Methodist Church parking lot for a tailgate carnival, games, cider, and cupcakes.A happy creature feasts at a trunk-load of Halloween goodies.David Tiller distributes treats at Whidbey Island Natural.A fierce beast and a wicked witch stand guard over the candy kettle at John L Scott Real Estate.A hungry mom scores a slice from Village Pizzeria.Minding grandaughter’s umbrella when she enters a crowded store
David Welton is a retired physician and staff photographer for Whidbey Life magazine.
WLM stories and blogs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. You may link to this story. To request permission to use or reprint content from this site, email info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.
BY LARA DUNNING Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor October 21, 2015
October’s final fall days feature scarecrows, jack-o’-lanterns and pails of candy. Add in two nights of eerie ghost tales in an historic lighthouse, Halloween games and a spine-shivering Haunted Fort with phantoms, zombies and witches and you’ve got a unique Whidbey Island experience. Just wend your way to “Admiralty Head Lighthouse Haunted Fort” at Fort Casey State Park between 6:30 and 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24 for frightful fun.
More fun and frightful events across the island are listed at the end of this article!
The ghost of this Civil War soldier hovers close to the historic Haller House. (photo by Martha McCartney)
What do the
Spooky Nights Entail?
You’ll see a lit path guiding you from Fort Casey Historical Park’s picnic parking lot through the woods to the Lighthouse ticket booth. Individual admission is $7 or $25 for a family and all proceeds will go to restoring the Admiralty Head Lighthouse. From there, guests will choose their frightful delights.
The main attraction is a 114-year-old gun battery’s gruesome underground chambers. Groups will enter its shocking rooms (too frightening to describe here!) and, hopefully, return in one piece. There will also be ghost stories told inside the Lighthouse, kid-friendly games like putt-putt and beanbag toss and a creepy crawly “Wild Worm World” sponsored by the Waste Wise Program will be on the lawn next to the lighthouse. Cotton candy, sodas and various flavors of waters may be purchased on-site.
But Why a
Haunted Fort?
“Haunted fort—the words alone are enough to draw people here,” said Sharon Sharpe, Program Specialist for Washington State Parks, “and the lighthouse is a building that needs restoration. I thought: wouldn’t it be a great way to raise funds for its restoration?”
Wooden scarecrows point the way along Scarecrow Corridor in Coupeville. (photo by Martha McCartney)
Pressing restoration needs include repairing the exterior of the lighthouse, refinishing the wood floors and restoring a Fresnel lens. Managing restoration projects and coordinating around 45 volunteers is one of Sharpe’s many duties. When Sharpe put the call out for Haunted Fort volunteers, the positive response turned the idea into reality.
“To me, this is really a community event,” Sharpe said as she watched over two dozen volunteer actors practice their roles in dress rehearsal. Under leader Ann Kugler’s direction, they moaned and groaned and stayed in character. “They’ve really come together to help,” Sharpe said. “This couldn’t happen without their support.”
Over 60 volunteers will participate in Admiralty Head Lighthouse Haunted Fort—in a range of roles from parking lot attendants to storytellers to ghoulish guides—to provide a wickedly good evening.
Now the Question Is: Will you Dare to be Scared??
(Please note the Haunted Fort is recommended for individuals aged 10 and above; guides recommend children in the younger range of that age bracket be accompanied by an adult.)
Also, if you have a Discover Pass, please display it after parking, as the Park will be paying for cars that don’t show permits while attending the event.
For more information about Admiralty Head Lighthouse, including directions to the Fort Casey Park, click on http://washingtonlighthouses.org/admiralty-head-lighthouse/. Also see the article in the new Fall/Winter print issue of Whidbey Life Magazine, on sale now throughout the island or subscribe online by clicking here now.
Other Whidbey Island
Halloween Activities:
October: Scarecrow Corridor, Coupeville (find more scarecrows like the ones in the photos for this article)
Oct. 23: Boys & Girls Club Frightville, Boys & Girls Club, Oak Harbor
Oct. 31: Frida Kahlo Dia de los Meurtos, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, Langley
Image at top: A skullish scarecrow is part of the assemblage by the Coupeville Garden Club at Cook Park. (photo by Martha McCartney)
Lara Dunning is a freelance writer. She has been published in The Crossing Guide, Anacortes Chamber’s Around Town and Waggoner’s Pacific Northwest Boating. Her interests include young adult novels, history, hiking and locavore inspired food.
WLM stories and blogs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Linking is permitted. To request permission to use or reprint content from this site, email info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.
