As October marches on, the veil gets thinner and the weekends get spookier. We’ve got lots of ways to kick off the Halloween celebrations this weekend, plus a couple other awesome events (hint: apples and airplanes)…so read on!

Oct 21-23

St. Helen’s Spirit of Halloweentown

Get in the spirit of the spookiest season with the St. Helen’s Spirit of Halloweentown celebration. This weekend (and next!) enjoy endless photo-ops, Severed Head Tractor Rides, ghostly walks through downtown St. Helens, face painting, and SO much more! There will be plenty of Halloween fun to have for ghosts and goblins of all ages, including a Halloween Story Time and a Family Pumpkin Carving Contest. Free to attend, some events require tickets, discovercolumbiacounty.com

Oct 21-23

Hood River County Heirloom Apple Celebration

It’s prime harvest season in the Hood River Valley! Time for heirloom apples and some of the best fresh fruits and veggies the area has to offer. Take a drive through the Hood River Fruit Loop this weekend to taste crisp apples, apple pies, tarts, jams, caramel apples and some of the best apple butter in Oregon. Don’t forget to stop off at the other fun spots along the way, like the alpaca farms, wineries, and lavender fields. Free, hoodriverfruitloop.com

Oct 22

Hillsboro Air Fair

Got a little pilot in the family? Take ’em to the Hillsboro Airport this weekend to get a taste of what it’s like inside one of Oregon’s busiest airports. Take a tour of the airport, check out the aircraft displays, and enjoy lots of children’s activities. Don’t forget to scope out the flight simulator and try your hand at landing in the Hillsboro Airport! Delicious comfort foods will also be provided by Retrolicious. Free, eventbrite.com

Oct 22

Halloween Night Flight

Start your Halloween celebrations by learning all about the creatures of the night, with the help of the Portland Audubon Society. Get face-to-face with the Great Horned Owl, Turkey Vulture and Raven! Enjoy arts and crafts and different learning stations, and then get in touch with your nocturnal side on a naturalist-led walk through the Audubon Sanctuary. Free, registration required for night walk, audubonportland.org

Oct 23

Poor Farm Pumpkin Patch and Carving Challenge

Head to historical Edgefield for this new event! Nothing says Halloween like a pumpkin carving, and these folks have it down to an art! Cast your vote on the best pumpkin from the Artists Carving Contest, and then grab your own pumpkin from the patch and carve it indoors or take it home. Enjoy seasonal ales on tap, fresh cider pressed right there from estate-grown apples, snacks and pizza, and a kids’ Halloween movie! $10, mcmenamins.com