Here’s your guide to fall fun west of the Narrows. Pumpkin patches, haunted forest await
Fall has arrived, which means it’s time to pick which autumn festivities you want to attend in the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula area — if not all of them.
Scarecrow Festival
The annual Scarecrow Festival will take place Saturday, Oct. 7 at Sehmel Homestead Park.
You can enjoy this free event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This year the event features a pumpkin launcher, food trucks, hay rides, music, food trucks, games and local shopping.
As always, the main event at the festival is the community scarecrow competition, with entries created by local businesses, community groups and families. Each team will create a scarecrow and have it displayed at the festival.
They will have four categories for prizes this year, two of which are decided by attendees who vote at the event.
- People’s Choice - Best in Show (judged by public vote)
- Most Unique (judged by public vote)
- Most Creative
- PenMet Parks Choice
Haunted Forest
The Haunted Forest at 17616 S. Vaughn Road NW opened for their eighth season on Sept. 30.
On opening day, bring canned soup and chili donations for Food Backpacks 4 Kids to get $10 off your general admission tickets for the day.
It’s open 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Sunday. Friday and Saturday it’s open 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Each year Anni Grandia Dodson and Mark Dodson turn their Vaughn property into a haunted forest for visitors to walk — or run through.
The haunted forest trails that hundreds of people walk through each fall are actually part of a horse cross country course. Grand Farms is an equine training facility on 27 acres the Dodsons own.
Each year they adopt a new theme with new terrors along the trail.
“This year promises a very unique haunt experience. If you are a fan of medieval horror fantasies like Game of Thrones, Dungeons and Dragons, and Lord of the Rings, then imagine entering a world of necromancers, dragons, and evil minions of a terrible Queen,” their website said. “She has cast a dark spell on the forest and you will have to brave them on your quest through the haunted forest!”
The last day of scares is Oct. 29.
Tickets can be bought on their website: myhauntedforest.com/home-buy-tickets.
The Haunted Forest is also one of 12 farms that are part of the Key Peninsula Farm Tour.
Key Peninsula Farm Tour
The annual Key Peninsula Farm Tour will take place the weekend of Oct. 7-8.
You’ll have 12 options of farms around the area to visit. They’ll each have different activities.
A map and additional information for each farm can be found here.
Throughout the farms you’ll find handmade goods, free hot dogs, horse rides, an apple cider festival with a variety of treats, pumpkin patches, and more.
Pumpkin patches
Artondale Farm - 5925 Artondale Dr. NW, Gig Harbor.
Artondale Farm is a small, family-run farm open seasonally from April through December. They have organic produce, culinary plant starts, and bath and body products.
For spooky season they’ll have pumpkins for you to pick out.
They’re open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Harbor Farms - 7777 Rosedale NW, Gig Harbor
Harbor Farms opened their patch on Sept. 29 and is reservation only through the end of October.
Admission includes 90-minute farm access, the pumpkin patch, petting zoo, play areas for the kids, photo opportunities and more.
Harbor Farms is also one of 12 farms on the Key Peninsula Farm Tour.
Local Boys Fruit & Produce - 6702 Tyee Dr. NW, Gig Harbor
At the Local Boys Fruit and Produce Stand you’ll find pumpkins to choose from.
They’re open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Turnbull Trees Farms - 1512 Whiteman Road SW, Lakebay
Turnbull Tress is another small family farm with pumpkins.
Starting Oct. 7, you can give them a visit from 10 a.m. to dark.
instagram.com/turnbulltrees/?hl=en
Bill Family Farm - 9501 159th St. NW, Gig Harbor
Bill Family Farm has corgis, sheep, Nigerian dwarf milk goats, chickens, and a pumpkin patch, the Gateway previously reported. They will also have the first ever Key Peninsula Farm Tour corgi races, the Gateway reported.
Bill Family Farm will be open Saturday, Oct. 7. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the Key Peninsula Farm Tour.
All Hallows Eve
All Hallows Eve is a community Halloween event put on by Key Pen Parks.
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 28 you can visit Gateway Park for an evening of spookiness.
It’s encouraged to come in costume.
There will be face painters, hay rides, an apple slingshot, pumpkin bowling, food, candy and more.
Fall Family Night
The Harbor History Museum will host Fall Family Night on Friday, Oct. 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The event will feature activities, crafts, cocoa and cookies, and spooky tales from professional storyteller Karen Haas.
This event is recommended for age 12 and under.
Those interested need to RSVP with the museum at education@harborhistorymuseum.org. Admission is $10 per child, $5 for Harbor History Museum members.
Trick or Treat in the Harbor
On Halloween you can also head to downtown Gig Harbor and participate in trick or treating at local businesses.
“Bring your little monsters, superheroes, and Jedi Knights to trick or treat at businesses along the downtown waterfront,” the Gig Harbor Waterfront Alliance said.
The event will run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Trick or Treat at Uptown
If you have little ones or just like candy, you can also trick or treat at Uptown Gig Harbor from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Halloween.
Gig Harbor Macaroni KID Trunk or Treat
Gig Harbor High School’s lower parking lot will have local vendors with trunks full of goodies for trick-or-treaters Oct. 14.
This free outdoor event will run from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Visit gigharbor.macaronikid.com for more information.
The event is hosted by Macaroni KID Gig Harbor and local businesses.
This story was originally published September 30, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
