Event alert: Scary times

The County Seat Theater Company's Halloween Spooktacular is on again this weekend. Born of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the theater went outdoors with a Halloween drive-through and show. It was a lot of fun, those who were at that first one said, so the theater has kept it going.

The fun starts at 6 p.m. tonight and Saturday in the back parking lot at the Encore Performing Arts Center and Gallery, home of County Seat at 2035 Highway 33 South (on the frontage road) in Cloquet.

Visitors can drive through Spooktacular Alley and watch spooky scenes (photo, above)from the safety of the car while listening on a radio channel to recorded ghost stories told by CST actors.

Once parked, audience members can take in some hot chocolate, an outdoor Halloween movie, Scaryoke singing, spooky walking trails, a fortune teller and other Halloweenish activities. The theater has some new inflatables, including a Harry Potter castle.

The gallery will also be open for a little more of a scare, with animatronics and a collection featuring more than 20 vintage dolls, restored, handpainted and newly outfitted by Jennifer Soukkala.

The event is family friendly and open to the public from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A suggested donation of $5 per person or $20 per car is requested, with proceeds going to the garage and workshop expansion of the theater.

Other events

The Pine Knot ran a long list last week of area Halloween happenings, leading up to trick-or-treating on Tuesday. Here is a recap:

• The Haunted Shack and Ru-Ridge Corn Maze are at 1781 County Road 1 in Carlton. The Haunted Shack includes three attractions: a haunted hayride, haunted trail and the haunted shack. Hours are 7-10 p.m. Oct. 27-28. Cost: $20; get $5 off with military ID, student ID or coat drive donation.

• Ru-Ridge Corn Maze is open 4-8 p.m. Friday (bring flashlights in the evening), 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $8, free for age 2 and younger. Hayrides are $3 extra, horse rides are $5. Enjoy an 8-acre corn maze and lots of family activities, including games and a petting zoo, hay rides and a corn pit.

• Haunted Hawthorne in Cloquet is a free display, with donations accepted. Glenda Miller and her family at 827 Hawthorne St. will have frights in the backyard maze 7-10 p.m. tonight and into Halloween night. While admission is free, donations are appreciated. Children under age 12 should be accompanied by an adult.

• The Haunted Forest is at 7187 Saginaw Road in Saginaw. Open 7-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 7-9 p.m. Sunday, with trick-or-treat 2-5 p.m. for age 12 and under. Admission is $20 for age 13 and older, $10 for 12 and younger. Get $1 off with food donation. Visit facebook.com/hauntedforest7187.

• Carlton's extremely popular downtown trick-or-treating event takes place 1-3 p.m. Saturday. Be prepared for a large crowd and plenty of treats from local businesses.

• SonLife Community Church in Wrenshall will conduct a trunk-or-treat from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31.

• MarksMan Trading Post, at 227 1/2 Hwy 33 N. in Cloquet, will have a trunk-or-treat event Sunday, 4-6 p.m.

• Word on the street is that this year's version of the William A. Irvin haunted ship in Duluth is quite a scare. It will be open this weekend through Halloween night. Find details and tickets at duluthhauntedship.com.

- Pine Knot News