A Halloween Revival
On Halloween, the dead have been known to rise.
So it only follows that the kid-fest once held in the Convention Center will be back Friday - in a new location.
Friday’s “Mall O’ Ween” at the Spokane Valley Mall is an old party with a new name and new place. It’s really the reanimated return of “Hallelujah Halloween,” which was held downtown during the 1980s. Calvary Chapel stopped hosting the event in 1992, but promoter Dan St. John brought it back to life at the Convention Center in 1995 as, simply, “Halloween I.”
Last year, he lost the Convention Center to a craft fair and moved the event to the fairgrounds as “Halloween II.” This year’s shindig is subtitled “Halloween III.”
“We were real clever,” St. John yucks.
He got the idea while dating a woman with a 5-year-old daughter. The girl wanted to go trick-or-treating. He called the Convention Center to see about the legendary party, only to find it hadn’t been held for years.
St. John moved fast, and along with the Inland Empire Campfire Council brought it back in time for Halloween.
The motivator: “I was trying to impress Mom.”
Apparently it worked. He’s still dating the girl’s mother.
It almost didn’t happen this year. St. John, the Spokane Valley Mall’s assistant marketing director, is no longer self-employed. He didn’t have time to plan. And 1996’s party ended up $1,500 in the red.
Then the new mall stepped in.
As in years past, there’ll be games and ghouls, costumes and candy. St. John says 20 companies or civic groups are sponsoring game booths.
“We have somebody from Re-Max doing Twister.”
A bunch of uniformed Trekkies will give kids the chance to try their hand at phaser-blast target practice.
All stores in the mall will also have their own games.
It should be big. Last year at the fairgrounds, 7,600 young tricksters were treated. St. John expects at least 8,000 this time.
It’s open to kids 12 and under who bring a parent. Hours are 4 to 7 p.m. It’s free, but St. John is asking visitors to bring canned goods to donate to the Spokane Food Bank. Last year, the young Frankensteins donated 5,000 pounds of canned chow.
Other spooky happenings
NorthTown, too, is host to a haunting. Kids 12 and under can trick-or-treat throughout the place from 5 to 7 p.m. Free bags for goodies can be picked up at the info desk in the mall’s center court.
“It’s pretty much while supplies last,” says mall marketing director Sherri Burton. “We encourage kids to come early.”
She expects about 2,000.
Shadle Center’s Halloween party, sponsored by COPS Northwest, is strictly under wraps. Mummy wraps.
“I don’t want to give too much away,” says organizer Ethel Allen.
She will say it’s happening tonight, from 3 to 7 p.m. There will be games, treats and punch. And the top-secret “Haunted Room.”
Merchants at University City Shopping Center will pass out candy to kids in costumes from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday.
The KZZU Haunted House in Post Falls will scare the loafers off kids and adults alike tonight from 6:30 to 10 p.m. It’s open Friday from 6:30 p.m. to midnight.
Take the Spokane Street exit off Interstate 90 in Post Falls and turn right at the light. Turn left on Fourth, and it’s three blocks down. Admission: $4. Proceeds benefit the Post Falls Lions Club.
You’re only as old as you feel. A “Jason” hockey mask probably makes you feel about 12.
Just ask the folks at the North Star Senior Center, 8415 N. Wall. The center will have a daytime costume dance from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday.
Only two bones ($2) gets seniors cake, ice cream, and the chance to cut a rug.
“I’m coming as a cowgirl,” says organizer Gloria Meaders. “A gentleman lent me a hat. Everyone’s curious about the gentleman’s hat in my car.”
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo
MEMO: For more Halloween events for kids and grown-ups both, check the listings in Friday’s Weekend section.