Nothing says Halloween like a nice walk…through a cemetery…after dark! The Vancouver Heritage Ambassadors are having their 9th Annual Cemetery Tour this weekend, Friday and Saturday, October 21-22, 2011. Tours start every 15 minutes beginning at 5 pm, with the last tour starting at 7pm.

A guide and lanterns will illuminate the way through this mildly spooky historical presentation. Meet some of the historic people from Clark County’s past, who are current residents of Vancouver’s Old City Cemetery. Just a reminder, no ghosts or undead will actually be making an appearance; it’s just good historic fun…right?

Meet at the southeast corner gate of the Old City Cemetery (Mill Plain and Grand Blvd) and be sure to dress for the weather and walking. Tickets are $6 per person, children under 10 are free. The International Air Academy is offering complimentary parking.

For more information, call 360-695-5602 or visit Vancouver Heritage Ambassadors on Facebook (and while you’re on Facebook, be sure to visit Clark County Live!, too).

This post: “Old Vancouver City Cemetery Tour” was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

“There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.” Linus – It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.

The spirit of Halloween is alive in my neighborhood, and so begins our family’s quest for the great pumpkin, and all the fun that goes along with it (fun being the operative word here). So, we must pass by the overflowing bins of pumpkins at the local grocery stores, and head out to the pumpkin patch.

But which patch to go to? Here are four local favorites:

Bi-Zi Farms: Pumpkin Patch open to the public every Friday (2-5:30 pm), Saturday and Sunday (10 am-5:30 pm) through Halloween.  They offer Hay Rides, Cornfield Maze, Straw Bale Maze, Hay Bale Pyramid, Petting Zoo, Pumpkin Patch, Live Music on Saturday and Sunday, and the famous Pumpkin Launch. The Cornfield Maze is also open Friday and Saturday nights from 6-9:30 pm. Visit Bi-Zi Farms for more information, including an aerial view of their cornfield maze. (9504 NE 119th St, Vancouver; 360-574-9119)

Pomeroy Living History Farm: Pumpkin Lane will be open every Saturday (10 am-5 pm) and Sunday (1 pm – 5 pm) through October 30. They offer Hay Rides, Hay Bale Maze, Pumpkin Patch, Entertainment, Animal Petting, Pumpkin Flume, Antique Tractor Display, Log House tours and the Farm Cafe. Visit Pomeroy Living History Farm for more information. (20902 NE Lucia Falls Rd, Yacolt; 360-686-8111)

Joe’s Place Farms: Pumpkin Patch and Farm are open every day from 9 am to 5:30 pm. They offer Hay Rides after 4:30 pm on weekdays and all day on weekends; they also have a Cornfield Maze, a Tee-Pee, “Play in the Hay”, and lots of fresh produce in their store.  Joe’s Place does not have a website, but you can visit them in real life at 701 NE 112th Avenue, or give them a call at 892-3974.

Alderbrook Park: Newly renovated and now open to the public, Alderbrook Park is offering Harvest Fun every Thursday through Sunday (11 am – 6 pm) in October, and Halloween Fun on, well, Halloween! They offer Pumpkins, Train Ride, Maze, Horse Rides, Petting Zoo, Treasure Hunt, Straw Bale Pyramid, Bounce House, Pedal Boats, Hot Drink, and complete access to their 63 acre park! Visit  Alderbrook Park for more information. (24414 NE Westerholm Rd, Brush Prairie; 360-882-4444)

Please, leave a comment and tell us about your favorite place or pumpkin adventure!

This post: “The Great Pumpkin is in Clark County” was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

Kids of all ages can have fun and be safe this Halloween! It’s the Battle Ground Halloween Fun Fest with tons of free events around Battle Ground, taking place on Monday, October 31, 2011 beginning at 3 pm.

Trick-or-Treating is a top priority for children and the safety of street crossing and checking treats is important to parents.  From 4:00 to 6:00 pm on Monday, October 31st all businesses that are spooking an orange jack-o-lantern in their window invite trick-or-treaters in for a special treat…or trick!  Crosswalk safety will be monitored by The Battle Ground Air Force ROTC, Battle Ground Kiwanis Club and Prairie Key Club.

Battle Ground Village will also have safe trick or treating with their Streets of Treats on Friday, October 28, Saturday, October 29 and Monday, October 31st from 3:00-7:00 PM.

Safeway will be serving Hotdogs, Apple Cider, and Hot Chocolate to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness.

Mallard Landing will hold a Wild Wild West Carnival from 5-7pm.  Bring the whole family to enjoy this Wild Wild West themed Trick-or-Treat event.  Kids can participate in the cake walk and spook house or play lots of games to win prizes and treats!

Meanwhile at the far east end of town at Fairgrounds Park, the City of Battle Ground will be presenting Fright Night at the Battle Ground Community Center from 4 pm to 6 pm; full of games, music, dancing, prizes, treasures, tricks & treats.  Pioneer Feed will adorn the Community Center with hay bales to set the atmosphere for this fun fall event. Battle Ground Albertson’s will again be providing cakes and cookies for the Cake Walk; for fifty cents you too can have a chance to win.  All proceeds benefit the North County Community Food Bank.

The Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce, the City of Battle Ground, the North Clark County Community Food Bank and local Battle Ground businesses all work together to put on this fun community event. Visit the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce for more information, or call 360-687-1510.

This post: “Halloween Spirit Alive in Battle Ground” was originally featured at Clark County Live!
For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

The City of Battle Ground, the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce and local businesses present yet another spirited Halloween with a myriad of  special events!

The Halloween Fun Fest will kick off Friday, October 29th when Battle Ground businesses will be vying for the Spirit Award  and the Best Scarecrow in Downtown Battle Ground Award sponsored by Mallard Landing. The Spirit contest is won for originality and creativity. A prize is presented to businesses showing the most spirit by its Halloween decorations and by its employees who dress for the occasion. The Best Scarecrow prize is given to the business with the Best Scarecrow placed in the front windows of the business, as a greeter inside the front door, or outside the business. Judging begins at 11 am!

And what would Halloween be without Trick or Treating? Battle Ground Village will have safe trick-or-treating with their “Street of Treats” both Friday and Saturday (October 29 and 30) between 3 and 7 pm. Also on Friday, there will be “Trick or Treat Street” (on Main Street, East of SR503) from 4 to 6 pm. All businesses that are participating will be spooking an orange jack ‘o lantern in their windows and crosswalk safety will be monitored by the Battle Ground Air Force ROTC, Battle Ground Kiwanis Club and Prairie Key Club.

Also on Friday, the Battle Ground Community Center (912 E Main Street) will be hosting “Fright Night” between 4 and 6 pm; a free community Halloween party full of games, music and dancing, prizes, treasures, tricks and treats. The “Pirate Ship Halloween Carnival” will take place at Mallard Landing from 5 to 7 pm.

For more information, please call the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce at 360-687-1510. Whew! That’s one frightfully full Friday night!

This post: “Nothing to Fear in Battle Ground” was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

Autumn in Clark County is officially here. Yes, I know the calendar said it officially started on September 22, but for me, it’s not Autumn until our family heads out in search of the Great Pumpkin. One of Clark County’s popular pumpkins spots is Bi-Zi Farms in Glenwood (9504 NE 119th St).

Fat, skinny, tall, oblong, or just plain weird shaped (those are the ones I look for), you’re sure to find the pumpkin of your dreams here. But what to do with the ones that don’t pass muster? LAUNCH ‘EM! That’s right, each person gets to launch two pumpkins from a huge pumpkin slingshot!

Admission is $8 per person (under 2 are free) and includes the following: One free pumpkin of your choosing, hay ride, corn maze, corn bin, petting zoo, duck races, straw bale maze, straw bale pyramid, corn shelling and grinding, live music, hot chocolate and two tries at the pumpkin launch!

Bi-Zi Farms is open to the public Fridays between 2 pm and 5:30 pm, Saturdays and Sundays between 10 am and 5:30 pm. In addition, the Cornfield Maze only will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm for a $5 charge. I’m barely adventurous enough to attempt the maze in the daylight hours after studying the map, I can’t imagine going through it in the dark!

This post: “Pitching Pumpkins is Bi-zi Business” was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

Are your neighbors a little creepy? Are there strange lights and sounds coming from their house and garage? Have tombstones been springing up on their front lawn? Do they live within the NSCNA boundaries? If you answered “YES!” to these questions, then good for you!

It’s time for the 5th Annual North Salmon Creek Neighborhood Association (NSCNA) Halloween House Decorating Contest! Houses will be judged on creativity, originality, and the use of the “Halloween” theme. “Special lighting, musical effects, and live actors are encouraged. Remember that small details like lighting pumpkins and playing spooky music will make the experience for everyone more spooktacular!” Enter your own home, your neighbor’s home, or that creepy house on the corner.

Nominations can be submitted to Dan Bodell (909-5256), or any NSCNA officer, or email the information to NSCNA@SalmonCreekLive.com or regular mail to NSCNA, 15300 NW 21st Avenue, Vancouver, WA, 98685. Nominations should include the name, address, and phone number of the participant. Judging will take place October 30 and winners will be announced at the November NSCNA meeting, Tuesday, November 16, 7 pm at Riverview Community Bank.

Interested in being a judge for the contest? Email your information to NSCNA@SalmonCreekLive.com or call Dan at 909-5256.

The North Salmon Creek Neighborhood Association (NSCNA) will be having its fourth annual Halloween House Decorating Contest this year for homes in the NSCNA boundaries.  “Winners will receive bragging rights and a Best in the NSCNA award.  Enter yourself, your neighbor, or that house that catches your eye with a ghoulish graveyard.”  (Just make sure it is “just for decoration” ).

Email nominations to NSCNA@inthecouve.com or call Carrol Heller at 360.433.2676 (or any other NSCNA officer), be sure to include the address, and name and phone number (if available) of nominees.  Judging will take place on October 30, with winners announced at the November 17th meeting.  Interested in being a judge?, contact NSCNA@inthecouve.com.

Check out the latest North Salmon Creek Neighborhood Association Newsletter more information.