Oct. 11

event to kick off month of downtown merchant spirit, fun

for public.

GHOULSBO — It’s a spirit challenge of spooktacular proportions gearing up in Little Norway’s downtown. Starting Oct. 11, All Hallows’ Eve will be the name of the game on Front Street. The public is invited to vote on which shops come up with the best scarecrows, storefront decor and overall Halloween spirit.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Saturday booths at Heavenly Choices, the Sons of Norway lodge, the Vei Haven walkway and Good Scents will be set up to provide ample kid-worthy activities, including mask making, pumpkin decorating, fishing for critters and scary story time at Liberty Bay Books. All will be at no charge, said Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association marketing chair Eileen Angilletta.

She said the whole street will participate; in fact, many have already placed their scarecrows outside their business doors. A black-clad creation guards the entrance to Voodiez, while Poulsbo Running & Walking Co.’s bug-eyed creature stands at the street’s southernmost corner.

“We felt with the centennial … the street dance was fabulous but it really didn’t hit our children,” Angilletta said while describing how the HDPA came to create the spirit month. Her shop, Heavenly Choices, has put together a fairy scarecrow. Votes on the creations will be taken through Oct. 27 at various downtown ballot boxes. “We needed to show the community our kids are important.”

Though the event comes at no cost, donation jars collecting for the Poulsbo Marine Science Center will be placed throughout the shops. The center will be open for tours.

Angilletta said kids are encouraged to dress in costumes, though the event takes place a few weeks before Halloween. Come Oct. 31, HDPA president Tammy Mattson said 2,000 are once again expected to take part in the annual Front Street trick-or-treating event, during which the road is closed so participants can gather candy from the shops and brave the Tizley’s Europub haunted house.

The month’s end event will also signal the closure of spirit month.

For more information, call (360) 697-3366.