Plenty of Halloween options in Blaine, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo

With widespread vaccination, trick-or-treating is much safer this year than last. The Whatcom County Health Department is considering it a low-risk activity as long as trick-or-treaters and their chaperones follow a few steps, according to an October 21 press release. 

The health department encourages those going trick-or-treating this Halloween to be vaccinated, wear a properly fitted mask or face covering, keep trick-or-treating groups small and all contact outdoors, and to wash hands before eating candy. Costumes should not be worn over a mask or face covering, and vice versa, as it may cause difficulty breathing.

Those handing out candy should also get vaccinated for Covid-19 – the health department said even one dose provides some protection – wear a mask, wash hands, keep contact outdoors, discourage crowding at doorsteps and should not invite trick-or-treaters inside.

Unlike trick-or-treating, Halloween parties are only considered low-risk if everyone is fully vaccinated. The health department encourages those who choose to gather indoors with unvaccinated people from more than one household to wear masks, stay 6 feet apart and keep the windows open.

Here are a few trick-or-treating events in Blaine, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo to keep families entertained this weekend.

Trick-or-Treat on the Berm

Saturday, October 30, 3:30-6:30 p.m.

Join the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce, Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2, and Friends of the Birch Bay Library on the newly completed berm pathway for the first trick-or-treat event on the berm. The event will start at the south end and end at the community library property. Trick-or-treaters will find several pop-up tents decorated as mini open-aired haunted houses along the path. Enter the photo costume contest by having your photo taken at the library.

There will also be spooky trivia at the library 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Holiday Featured Movie 

Night at Semiahmoo Resort

Saturday, October 30

Hocus Pocus event: 5-8 p.m. (movie begins at 6 p.m.)

Tickets are $10 per person or $30 for a family of four (+$5 for each additional person). Includes popcorn, face painting, a costume contest and photo booth access. Limited tickets are available and can be purchased on semiahmoo.com.

Rocky Horror Picture Show: Begins at 9 p.m. (21+)

There will be an interactive movie experience with a themed welcome drink. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased on semiahmoo.com. Rocky Horror costumes are encouraged.

C Street Halloween 

Carnival Spooktacular

Sunday, October 31, starts at 5 p.m.

Freeman house and Blaine Food Bank on C Street

This is a partnered event between the Freeman family and Blaine Food Bank.

Freeman’s house

For the Freeman’s seventh annual Halloween carnival, the theme will be Pirates of the Caribbean. Trick-or-treaters will get their treasure maps and chocolate gold coins at the ticket booth upon entering and use the maps to navigate the yard to find their treasure. There will be nine interactive, carnival-style game booths along the way as well as cotton candy and popcorn available. New this year is a photo booth and prizes for best costume. Fitting the theme, a life-size pirate ship will shoot off cannons every five minutes.

Windermere Real Estate, The Rustic Fork Eatery, Chuckanut Bay Foods and Pacific Building Center all donated to the event. Brownies and warm adult beverages will be available for parents at Calypso’s Cantina at the Freeman house. The event is all outside and groups will be socially distanced. Treats are pre-bagged. 

Last year, they had 450 trick-or-treaters. Gina Freeman said the line went around the block 5-7 p.m. “We love giving to the community and seeing the magic in all the kids' faces,” she said.

Blaine Food Bank

The food bank will have several stations in its tent with live characters distributing candy. Food bank general manager Sally Church said last year they had a fortune teller, ghosts, witches, scarecrows, a shipwrecked pirate and a haunted cemetery with a grim reaper, and will be adding a couple of more vignettes this year. “Our volunteers had so much fun that we all wanted to do it again,” she said, and hopes more families on C Street join as well to make it an annual community event.