Halloween Town

Who’s ready for the scariest, spookiest and most frightening holiday of the year? Eugene and Springfield become Halloween towns with all sorts of themed events already underway. Start the early weekend off with Fright at the Museum at the Springfield History Museum Oct. 19. The first two hours are family-friendly with less scare. As the day fades into night, everything gets spookier with the lights down low. Don’t worry if you miss the first night; there are six days of this haunted house fundraiser through Oct. 28. This weekend only, Oct. 19 to 22, is Nevermore: Stories of Edgar Allen Poe filling the Hult Center. Ballet dancers take the stage and read aloud five of Poe’s most disturbing and brilliant works. Now is also the perfect time to grab some popcorn and settle in front of the screen for a horror film to raise your heart rate. Head to the Art House for the showings of the 1980 film Friday the 13th Oct. 20 and 21. Watch as camp counselors try to reopen a summer camp, but plans change as an unknown assailant appears. Or check out the Halloween Laser Spooktacular at the Eugene Science Center Oct. 20. Immerse yourself in a sing-along with classics such as “Monster Mash,” “Ghostbusters” and “Purple People Eater.” If you’re feeling artsy and in the holiday spirit, join Art with Alejandro at the Creepy Cemetery Painting Party Oct. 21. Creative and eerie vibes collide with a step-by-step guide through the painting while enjoying a free drink. Check out the What’s Happening calendar listings for more hauntingly fun activities to attend.

Fright at the Museum is 4 pm Oct. 19 through 28 at the Springfield History Museum, 590 Main St., Spfd. Adults are $5 each, kids 5-18 are $3 each and kids under 5 are free. Families of 5+ have a discounted rate of $20. More information at Springfield-OR.LibCal.com. Nevermore: Stories of Edgar Allen Poe is 7 pm Oct. 19, 7:30 pm Oct. 20 and 21 and 2:30 pm Oct. 22 at The Hult Center. Tickets are $15-76 at HultCenter.org. Friday the 13th plays 9 pm Oct. 20 and 21 at the Art House, 492 E. 13th Ave. Tickets $9.50-15 at EugeneArtHouse.com. Halloween Laser Spooktacular is at 6 pm and 7 pm Oct. 20 at the Eugene Science Center, 2300 Leo Harris Pkwy. Each show is $7.50 at EugeneScienceCenter.square.site. Creepy Cemetery Painting Party is 3 pm Oct. 21 at Art with Alejandro, 246 E. 5th Ave. Tickets are $45 at ArtwithAlejandro.com.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

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None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!