Halloween may be spooky, dark and mysterious, but oh, is it a whole lot of fun!
Here’s a roundup of spooktacular doings across the North Olympic Peninsula:
Port Townsend and Jefferson County
* The 12th annual Port Townsend Main Street Downtown Trick or Treat and Costume Parade will begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The event is open to costumed youngsters, preschool through sixth grade, and their parents.
Participants are to meet at 3:45 p.m. under the Bank of America clock at Water and Adams streets.
The parade will be led by a pumpkin-orange truck moving in the direction of the Swain’s Outdoor store plaza.
Everyone is asked to walk to the plaza, then turn around and begin trick or treating from Radio Shack back to the police station.
Participating merchants will have “trick or treat” signs in their windows.
Water Street will be closed to traffic 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. from Madison to Polk streets.
Flashlights and visible clothing are recommended. Last year 1,500 children and parents participated.
For information, click on www.ptguide.com/mainstreet.
* The sixth annual Haunted House sponsored by Chimacum Lodge 343 IOOF, welcomes ghouls and goblins tonight and Tuesday, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Complimentary cookies, juice and coffee will be served — along with candy for the children.
The Haunted House (the IOOF lodge) is at 11322 Rhody Drive (state Route 19) in Port Hadlock.
West End
* Forks True Value is celebrating its 10th anniversary on Halloween by serving coffee, cake and cookies from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
Those who attend get a chance to win a prize.
* Forks Library plans a Halloween storytime at noon on Tuesday.
Children who are 3, 4 and 5 years old are invited.
The event will include stories, crafts and music.
Port Angeles
* Downtown merchants will open their doors and candy bags to thousands of children on Tuesday.
The annual Downtown Port Angeles Trick or Treat will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Parents and children should look for orange pumpkin posters in the windows of participating merchants.
Free photos are scheduled to be taken by the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain at the southern end of Laurel Street.
* A haunted house is open at the Clallam County Fairgrounds, 1608 W. 16th St., tonight through Tuesday night.
Hours will be from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Sponsored by the Rainbow and DeMolay groups, cost is $2 at the door with an additional $1 charged for every other walk-through. Refreshments will be for sale.
Sequim-Dungeness Valley
* On Tuesday, children can head to downtown Sequim.
Merchants with pumpkins in their storefronts will welcome them from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
* On Tuesday, the Sequim Valley Lions Club will hand out bags of apples donated by local farms, candy donated by local merchants and McDonald’s coupons beginning at 4:30 p.m.
It will be behind Sequim McDonald’s restaurant, 107 S. Seventh Ave.
* Also on Tuesday, the Kings Way Church, 1023 Kitchen Dick Road, will have its Pumpkin Patch Bash.
Games, prizes, rides, candy, maze and a food concession are planned from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The public is welcome, but only “friendly” costumes are requested.
* Another church is offering a safe place for youngsters on Halloween.
From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, decorated cars with Halloween treats displayed in the trunks will be at the parking lot at Eastern Hills Community Church, 81 Savannah Lane, across from Carlsborg Post Office.
Free hot dogs and cider, live music, a bounce house and hay rides will be offered.
For information, phone 360-681-4367.
* The Hallow-ed Eve Harvest Festival at Faith Lutheran Church, 382 W. Cedar St., will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Phone 360-683-4803.
* The Sequim Community Church, 950 N. Fifth Ave., will present “A Walk through the Wilderness” from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
Live music, candy, food and games are planned.
Phone 360-683-4194.
The Olympic Bible Fellowship’s Awana Harvest Party at Sequim Assembly of God, 640 N. Sequim Ave., is planned from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
A chili cook-off, pumpkin carving contest (bring your own pumpkin), best dessert contest, face painting, treasure hunt, bingo, crafts, candy for the kids and other events are offered.
Phone 360-683-6731 for more information.
* The Pumpkin Patch, on Kitchen Dick Road just off of Highway 101, is open Sunday through Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. and from noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
A 1½-mile corn maze costs $5 for those under 16 and $10 for people 16 and older.
A smaller straw maze is available for young children at $3 per each child, with parents admitted free.
Pumpkins can be chosen and taken home for 25 cents per pound.
Wagon rides are $4 for adults and $2 for children.
Horseback rides for children are $3.
The pumpkin shoot, in which attempts can be made to shoot pumpkins into a bin, is $5 for three tries. A hole-in-one pays $100.