COLUMBIA COUNTY, Updated Friday, Oct. 30, with trunk-or-treats in Scappoose and Rainier, two parties at the Moose Lodge in Warren, and a Friday night option for adults.
Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, the forecast is dry, and most of what Columbia County has planned for the day is free.
Weather: The National Weather Service forecast issued Thursday night calls for a partly sunny Halloween with a high near 55 and a 9 percent chance of rain, after patchy frost and fog burn off before 11 a.m. It cools fast once the sun goes down, toward a low around 34, so trick-or-treaters will want a layer under the costume. Friday is the wetter day, with a 50 percent chance of showers.
St. Helens
Kiwanis Children’s Fair. The Kiwanis Day Breakers Children’s Fair runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at McBride Elementary, 2774 Columbia Blvd. It is free, no booth may ask for donations, and more than 30 groups are bringing games, crafts, a reptile show, a hayride, and the Dancing Witches. The Tribune has the full rundown here.
Houlton Trick-or-Treat Trail. From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 14 shops along Columbia Boulevard in the Houlton District hand out treats to kids carrying a $2 trail bag, according to the South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and the trail flyer from St. Helens Main Street, which presents the event with the chamber and Columbia County Rider. Bags are sold at the riverfront shuttle stop at First and St. Helens streets and at the chamber office in the old train depot, 2194 Columbia Blvd. One treat per person per shop. The trail runs about a mile end to end, from the chamber at the top of the hill to Purrz and Paws Pet Supply at 380 Columbia Blvd., with Emmert Motors, Sunshine Pizza, El Tapatio, Christina’s Chest, Bertucci’s Chocolates, Richardson’s Furniture, Glazed and Confused, Sweet Relief, Dari Delish, Sass at Home, Uptown Wine and Table, and Cigar and Vape Outlet in between. The flyer says nothing about closing the street and asks visitors to use marked crossings.
The free shuttle, and a way around the parking. A free Rail-to-River shuttle loops between the riverfront festival and the Houlton District from noon to 5 p.m. both days, about every 15 to 20 minutes, with stops at the chamber office, Glazed and Confused (in front of the Lutheran church at 1945 Columbia Blvd.), Dari Delish (across the street from 1680 Columbia Blvd.), Sass at Home (1271 Columbia Blvd.), Purrz and Paws (380 Columbia Blvd.), and First and St. Helens streets at the festival. For locals who want a look at Halloweentown without the $25 lot or the neighborhood parking hunt, the practical route is to park in Houlton, ride the bus down the hill, and ride it back up. Restrooms are open at the chamber office during shuttle hours. Stewie, the skeleton the chamber installed outside the depot, hosts the final “Spirits, Ghosts and Ghouls” weekend of Haunted Houlton.
Spirit of Halloweentown, final weekend. The city’s tribute to the Disney movie filmed here closes out Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., centered at 275 Strand St. on the riverfront. The festival schedule for Halloween day: St. Helens Dancing Witches on the stage at 11:40 a.m., 2:40 p.m., and 4:40 p.m.; the Outrageous Fortune pirates fire their cannon from 1 to 2 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m., with pirate storytime at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.; costume contest on stage from 3 to 4 p.m.; Mr. Magic at 5 p.m.; and Jack the Pumpkin lit from 8:30 to 9 p.m. A free Twilight walking tour leaves the Columbia Theatre at 2 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday. Sunday runs the same hours with the witches at 11:40 a.m. and 3:40 p.m.
No cast members from the movie are scheduled this weekend; the last appearance was Judith Hoag on Oct. 24 and 25, according to the festival’s entertainment page.
Walking the plaza, the vendors, and the stage shows is free. A pass is needed for the haunted house, the alien exhibit and reptile show in the Masonic Building, the Boo Bash Pavilion, the hay maze and pumpkin bowling, the filming-location trolley (until dark), and a photo with Jack. When the Tribune first checked on Oct. 20, online passes were $49.09 for ages 13 and up and $28.87 for ages 6 to 12 with fees; kids 5 and under are free. Online is cheaper than the box office, per the festival’s tickets page, and busy dates sell out. Parking at the official lot, 451 Plymouth St., is $25 online or $30 on site. Organizers ask visitors not to park in residential neighborhoods.
For adults, the Klondike’s Kathleen Dering offers psychic readings from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and a ticketed “Sangria Séance” from 9:30 p.m. to midnight, per the festival’s community page.
The festival is run for the city by its tourism contractor, Treadway Events. On Sept. 10 the St. Helens City Council voted 5-0 to move $250,000 from the tourism fund’s contingency to cover a “budget shortfall for Spirit of Halloweentown and Holiday in the Plaza” (Resolution 2099) and to lend the tourism fund another $100,000 from the community development fund, interest free, to be repaid by June 30, 2027 (Resolution 2100).
Harvest Party at Columbia River Foursquare. The church at 555 Commons Drive hosts a kids’ Harvest Party from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, with free admission and “tons of candy,” according to the event flyer. A sensory-sensitive half hour runs from 5:30 to 6 p.m.
Fall-o-ween at Sunset Park Community Church. The church at 174 Sunset Blvd. hosts “Fall-o-ween” from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, with costumes, chili, hot chocolate, and apple cider, according to the event flyer.
RV Trunk or Treat at Deer Meadow. Deer Meadow RV Park, 58551 Kavanaugh St., opens its trunk-or-treat to the public from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, with “lots of goodies for the kiddos and parents,” according to the park’s announcement to guests, which also shows off the Halloween decorations residents have put up.
Scappoose
Downtown Trick or Treat. Twelve downtown Scappoose businesses hand out candy from 3 to 5 p.m. on Halloween in an event sponsored by MORE Realty, according to the event map and the sponsor’s announcement. The route runs along Columbia Avenue from Heritage Park to Sawyer Street: Wanda the Witch greets kids on the porch of the Watts House by the park, and the stops include Compassionate Inhome Caregiving, Dance 4 Fun, Sushiro Ramen Cafe, Saige Chiropractic, Center Market, a pizza vendor, MORE Realty (serving coffee and cocoa), Columbia River Jewelers, Stella Salon and Spa, Oregon First Realtors, and the Scappoose Police Department. The city’s October newsletter said businesses that want to join can call Connie Thorpe at 503-438-5798.
Trunk or Treat at Scappoose Auto Center. Scappoose Auto Center, 51801 Columbia River Highway, opens its lot for trunk-or-treating from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, with food and candy, according to the event flyer. It is sponsored by Northwest Paint Pros LLC and Pacific Soak LLC. Questions: 503-922-2121.
$5 movie. Scappoose Cinema 7, 33520 S.W. Edward Lane, is showing the 2005 animated film “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday, Nov. 3, with tickets at $5, according to the theater’s website and its social media post.
Pumpkin Fashion Show. Friday is the last day to vote for your favorite decorated pumpkin at the Scappoose Public Library’s seventh annual Pumpkin Fashion Show. Questions: 503-543-7123.
Warren
Moose Lodge kids party. St. Helens Moose Lodge 591, 57317 Old Portland Road, hosts a kids’ Halloween party open to the public from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, according to the event flyer.
Moose Lodge costume party. The lodge follows it that night with a “Rock’n Halloween and Costume Party” featuring live music from Monkey Hand. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the band plays from 7 to 10 p.m. or later. Admission is free, no membership is needed, and all ages are welcome with minors accompanied by an adult. There is a costume contest, food and drink specials, raffle baskets, and 50/50 drawings, with donations going to Life Empowered of Columbia County, according to the event flyer.
Vernonia
Halloween Children’s Parade. The Intercultural Society of Vernonia runs its children’s parade through downtown on Halloween afternoon, rain or shine, with businesses handing out treats along the sidewalks. The society’s website still shows last year’s schedule, a 4 p.m. lineup at City Hall on Bridge Street and a 4:30 p.m. start, and had not posted 2026 times as of Thursday night. Check the society’s page before you go.
Rainier
Trunk or Treat at Mather Martial Arts. Mather Martial Arts Academy, 75940 Rockcrest St., hosts a trunk-or-treat with Rainier Sound Authority and Mather Uppercuts from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, with candy, costumes, and decorated trunks, according to the event flyer. The flyer asks anyone who wants to hand out candy or donate to call the academy, 971-278-4739.
Harrel Family Farm. The county’s pumpkin patch at 27192 Dike Road is open Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., its last two days of the season, per the farm. Admission is free. The barrel train, bounce house, apple slingshot, pedal cars, and tire pyramid slide cost $5 each; pumpkins run $5 to $15.
The city’s calendar lists no city-run Halloween event this weekend; the city’s own trunk-or-treat was Oct. 24.
Clatskanie
Conyers Creek Pumpkin Patch. The patch at 75656 Clatskanie Heights Road has its last weekend Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission and parking are free, pumpkins are 75 cents a pound, and the haunted walk, billed as “full on freaky,” is $3 a person or $10 a group.
Columbia City
No city event is scheduled. The police chief’s note in the October city newsletter warns that Halloweentown traffic means more foot traffic in town and asks drivers to slow down.
Friday Night, for Adults
Pastime Tavern. The tavern at 2019 Columbia Blvd. in St. Helens has a Halloween night Friday, Oct. 30, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., according to the event flyer.
The Highway Club. The club at 343 S. Columbia River Highway in St. Helens has a Halloween party Friday at 7 p.m. with karaoke, costume contests, and themed drinks, and an adult trick-or-treat event Saturday, according to the event flyer. The flyer does not give a Saturday start time.
Sauvie Island
Columbia County has no corn maze of its own this year. The nearest are a short drive south on Sauvie Island, in Multnomah County, and all three farms close for the season this weekend.
The Pumpkin Patch, 16511 N.W. Gillihan Road. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday. Free admission; pumpkins $2 to $15. A 25-acre u-pick field, a 5-acre corn maze with an America 250 theme, an animal barn, a gift shop, and a cafe.
Bella Organic Pumpkin Patch and Winery, 16205 N.W. Gillihan Road. Open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Halloween. Pumpkin patch admission is free; the corn maze and other activities cost extra. Food and vendor booths are cash only.
Topaz Farm, 17100 N.W. Sauvie Island Road. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Weekend admission is $12 online or $15 at the gate; Friday is free, though hayrides, the cow train, and the mini-digger aren’t offered on free days.