As designers, Halloween is irresistible. The fall leaves are twisting in the wind. Houses and stores are adorned with deliciously devilish decorations. And almost everyone you know is planning a costume that will be the envy of the neighborhood. It’s a veritable feast for the eyes and for the creative soul who enjoys a taste of the dark side.

Take advantage of Halloween happenings in the Seattle area. The Seattle Times has a great compilation of events, pumpkin patches, family activities, haunted houses, and more–all happening right here in our neck of the woods.

We picked a few gems off the list and added a few of our own that we thought you might like. (But be sure to check out the Seattle Times list, which has lots of activities for the kiddos.)

Haunted Houses

Seattle’s Georgetown Morgue: The Georgetown Morgue of Seattle is a facility for tragic stories of death. The morgue has a history of thousands of funeral preparations, cremations, and the processing of animal carcasses. The morgue holds what is considered to be the most horrifying unsolved crime in Seattle history. Nine of their staff were forced into the crematorium chamber. There were no surviving witnesses, nor were suspects ever identified.

Nightmare at Beaver Lake: There’s something disturbing in the woods. Every year in October, a fearsome shadow falls over Beaver Lake Park. A group of demented, dedicated volunteers crawl out of the dark to put on an event that will leave you screaming.

Costumes

Costumes are available at Costco, Target, and party stores everywhere. But if you’re looking for something a little different and more creative, here are two options that will help you pull together a killer costume.

The Scarlet Curtain: For the past 10 years, The Scarlet Curtain pops up in the Newport Hills Shopping Center, offering gently used costumes and costume pieces. Owner Nancy Horner has been creating costumes for Opera, Theatre, and corporate events since 2006. When you walk into The Scarlet Curtain, come in with an idea and Nancy will help you pull it all together. Visit the store’s Facebook page for updates and ideas. The Scarlet Curtain Facebook Page.

Photo credit: The Scarlet Curtain

A Masquerade Costume For high quality costume rentals or for purchase, check out A Masquerade Costume located in Redmond. The store employs professional wardrobe stylists and makeup artists to help you put together a one-of-a-kind look.

Photo credit: A Masquerade Costume

Thriller Events

Obsessed with Michael Jackson’s Thriller? Join up with Thrill the World, an annual worldwide simultaneous dance of Michael Jackson’s Thriller for world record and charity. There are two locations this year. The Seattle Thrillers event and  Thrill the World in Redmond.

Check out last year’s Seattle Thrillers Occidental performance (right near the Seattle Allovus office):