The local's favorite party of the year begins Saturday, Oct. 28, and continues through Tuesday, when Halloween actually takes place. Unless noted, all of the following events are free and open to all.
Beginning on Friday, the Hailey Halloween Hoopla is sponsored by the South Valley Merchants Alliance. It includes a costume contest at the Liberty Theatre from 5 to 5:30 p.m. There will be best-costume prizes awarded for children, teens and adults. The merchants will be staying open late for trick or treating from 4 p.m. to the witching hour. For more details, call 720-2639.
The Hailey Hotel will host a spook to-do at 9 p.m. tonight, with music by The Sonics, and no cover charge.
On Saturday, The Pumpkin Patch will be held at the Teddy Bear Corner Preschool & Daycare from noon to 6 p.m. The Pumpkin Patch will feature a children's train ride and pumpkin picking. Teddy Bear Corner is located at 23 Buttercup Road, in Hailey. For more details, call 788-1955.
The Community Library Children's Library will host a Halloween party with costumes, games, food, crafts and tricks at 3 p.m. The library is located at 415 Spruce St. in Ketchum. For more details, call 726-3439, ext. 116.
At nexStage Theatre, on Main Street in Ketchum, a Kids' Halloween Costume Contest will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. There will be prizes for everyone. Children up to the age of 12 are welcome. For more details, call 726-9124.
Experience one of the most fun valley traditions, the Halloween Masquerade On Ice, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., sponsored by community organizations, at the Sun Valley Indoor Ice Rink. The costume parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. There will be prizes and awards. Skate rentals are available through Sun Valley Co. But come early, as there are only a certain number available for rent. There will be free refreshments. For more details, call 788-6474.
At "a place for wine," diVine, in Hailey, a "wicked pre funk party" will be held Saturday from 8 to 10 p.m. It will feature costumes and door prizes—$15 per person entry, or $25 for two. Ghoulish goodies and a glass of wine are included.
A new entry this year is a dinner and the Best Darn Halloween Costume Party in Stanley to benefit cancer victim Kim Gilliand and her family. A benefit dinner will be served at the Bridge St. Grill in Lower Stanley from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Of money collected, 80 percent of the proceeds will go directly to Gilliland and her family. The cost of the dinner is $50. Reservations should be made at 481-2298. Following, the party at the Kasino Club kicks off music by the Hailey-based band In Search of the Red Headed Fiddler. There will be costume prizes along with a silent auction and raffle. Doors open at 4 p.m., with music beginning at 9 p.m.
Join the Nightmare from 9 p.m. to midnight at the Halloween Party at the nexStage Theatre in Ketchum. Entry is only $10 and includes dancing, refreshments and a costume contest. This is an over-21 party. Spinning discs will be DJ Lenny Joseph. For more details, call 726-tkts.
Down at West Magic Resort there will be more fun to be had with Black Magic at 7 p.m. Finger foods will be provided by camp chef Alan Laudert. There is a Pumpkin Carving Contest and a costume contest with judging at 10 p.m. A raffle will follow the costume contest. The grand prize is a Weatherly 270 Ultra Lightweight.
All proceeds go to build a new firehouse for the West Magic Fire District, south of Bellevue.
On Sunday, Oct. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. the Wood River Community YMCA, Ketchum Police Department, and Ketchum Parks Department will be co-hosting the annual Hemingway Halloween Party at Hemingway Elementary School in Ketchum. There will be games, food and candy. For more details, call 727-9622.
All Hallows Eve will be celebrated from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, at a costume party and dance fundraiser for students over the age of 13 at the Community Campus in Hailey. A DJ will be spinning discs. This dance is the main aspect of Wood River High School student Matt Alloway's senior project to raise money for the Hailey Ice Rink project. There will be a bachelor auction, as well as costume and pumpkin carving contests. The entry is $7. For more details, call Alloway at 721-1497.
The Mint in Hailey is holding a Halloween Party on Tuesday and the Silver Dollar Saloon in Bellevue is having two events: an Amateur Night Halloween Party with Deaf Dog at 9 p.m. on Saturday, and the Pro Night Halloween Party with DJ Rage, at 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
Finally, on Tuesday, Oct. 31, Halloween will be celebrated all over the valley, so watch out and enjoy the parades of little dancers, goblins, pirates, animals and fairies.
If you and your family are looking for an alternative to Halloween, check out the Harvest Celebration, sponsored by Wood River Valley churches. The party goes from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Community Campus in Hailey. There will be a puppet show, face painting, crafts, food and more. Costumes are welcome. For more details, call 578-0560.
Can you top this? The windblown man took away the top prize at nexStage Theatre?s Halloween bash in 2005. Photo by Dana DuGan
