The Port Townsend Main Street Program has some very special events planned for October.

For many of us, fall is a favorite time of year, with the changing light, historic buildings framed by scarlet  leaves, and pumpkins cropping up on porches and in store windows. Of course, there’s the anticipation about Halloween and all the fun it brings. 

On Oct. 28 and Oct. 29, we will explore our town’s haunted past by resurrecting the Haunted Histories and Mysteries event! Believers say that “the veil is thinnest” between this world and the next on the weekend of Halloween. The Cotton Building at 607 Water St. will be our information headquarters. See more at ptmainstreet.org.

We are working with paranormal investigators to explore the Mount Baker Block Building and Manresa Castle. Fort Worden is also a hot spot when it comes to spirits, and we are grateful to fort staff for allowing investigations at Alexander’s Castle, the Schoolhouse, Point Wilson Lighthouse and its duplex as part of this event. The U.S. Lighthouse Society volunteers at Point Wilson will be at the lighthouse to answer questions. They are raising funds for its restoration and this event supports that effort.  People can tell their own ghost stories at “Taps at the Haunted Guardhouse” at the fort. All are invited to attend this free event. Fort Worden Hospitality is opening Taps for one night only from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29.

The gifted psychic Ankhasha Amenti will do presentations on “psychometry” at the Cotton Building. Guests are invited to bring a treasured object and some will be chosen for Ankhasha to “read.” 

The Victorian Heritage Association is collaborating with Main Street to offer Haunted Walks downtown — they are popular and sold out!  They have been gleaning true ghost stories told through newspaper accounts, books, and people’s recollections. Are you curious about the Hastings Building, its history and its future? We will go inside this rarely accessed building, and meet members of the family who are descendants of Lucinda Hastings, who built this landmark building in 1889. 

I love all the connections around town. I like the idea that when you look out the windows of the Hastings Building, you have the same viewpoint as Lucinda Hastings had in Victorian times. On the haunted walks, people will hear stories about things that happened at places that we still pass by every day, connecting the past with the present.

More Halloween fun is happening on Oct. 31 at the Downtown Trick or Treat and Costume Parade coordinated by the PT Main Street Promotion Committee. Children pre-kindergarten through sixth grade and their parents are invited to gather at 3:45 p.m. at 1st Security Bank Plaza. The parade starts at 4 p.m. 

For public safety, Water Street will be closed to traffic from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing all the creative costumes; tiny dinosaurs, superheroes, fairytale characters, and creatures of every kind roam the streets. Thanks to our generous merchants for providing the treats!

Other Main Street News: 

KOMO TV’s “Seattle Refined” show visited us recently to film footage featuring  Port Townsend’s haunted history. The segment was scheduled to air Oct. 25.

ArtsWA filmed a video segment on Creative Districts in September for its website and other promotional uses. It featured the Port Townsend Creative District and the Chewelah Creative District.

The Tyler Plaza Lighting Enhancement Project will begin the week of Oct. 24 and will span several weeks. 

Although the plaza will be closed temporarily during this project to install overhead lighting, access to the adjacent businesses will be available. 

Winter Marketing and Holiday Lights and event planning: The Port Townsend Main Street Program is working with the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce on a winter marketing campaign to spread the word regionally about visiting Port Townsend in the fourth quarter. Thanks to the city of Port Townsend Lodging Tax Advisory Committee for funding this campaign and the winter lights in the trees program.  The Port Townsend Main Street Program is coordinating the lights in the trees, which are going up in the Downtown and Uptown historic districts. 

For more about Port Townsend Main Street’s activities, visit ptmainstreet.org.

(Mari F. Mullen is the executive director of the Port Townsend Main Street Program, a nonprofit organization founded in 1985. Its mission is to preserve, promote, and enhance the historic business districts — Uptown and Downtown. The Port Townsend Main Street Program is one of 36 Main Street Programs across Washington state.)