Howloween
If you love visiting the zoo and celebrating a spooky Halloween, you’ll love the Oregon Zoo’s special Howloween event. Kids can visit the zoo in costume to see special occasions, like animal pumpkin feedings, and get lots of special treats. It promises to be both educational and lots of fall fun! Most Howloween events are included in the zoo admission price, but getting a unique treat bag is an additional $3 per bag.
West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta
Participate in a fun and wacky Oregon fall tradition with the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta. Located just twenty short minutes south of Portland in Tualatin, Oregon, this event features dozens of boaters, many in elaborate character costumes, canoeing along the water in carved giant pumpkins. Kids will be endlessly amused with this silly sight of thousand-pound pumpkins being rowed across the water! Visitors can also explore the art fair and vendors along the waterfront or pick up a delicious meal from many local food vendors in attendance. The most athletic families can also participate in the Regatta’s annual 5K run the morning of the big boat race. Parents will be delighted to find beer tastings and samplings of alcoholic beverages as well.
Bell’s Orchard
It’s harvest season, which means the apples are ripe for the picking! Located just 30 minutes southwest of Portland in beautiful Beaverton, Bell’s Orchard features a special “short orchard,” making it perfect for little ones to wander amongst the trees picking their own fruit. The orchard features a wide variety of delicious apples, plus peaches and pears for you to take home as well! The orchard is open for picking Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. All apple varieties can be taken home for only $2 per pound!
Oaks Park Scaregrounds
If you’re a fan of the Oaks Amusement Park during the rest of the year, wait until you see what they have for the fall! During October, visitors to the Oaks Amusement Park in Northwest Portland will get to visit the Oaks Park Scaregrounds, where the entire park itself is haunted! The special event features three haunted walkthrough attractions, photo opportunities, pumpkin patches, as well as the park’s well-known and beloved rides, games, and concessions. There are even alcoholic beverages available for adult purchase! Park admission starts at $19.95, although prices vary based on the night of attendance and don’t include rides or special activities.
Mike Bennett’s Crypto-Zoo
Each fall, Portland residents get the special treat of visiting the Crypto-Zoo, a public art installation located in the St. John’s Old Bank of American Building that’s incredibly creepy. Visitors walk through the immersive museum that features 26 life-sized cryptids and monsters. Kids will get a chance to play fun Halloween games and visit with special characters. Visiting hours are 10 am to 5 pm daily. The best part is that the Crypto-Zoo is entirely free for all guests!
