(First 10 photos by Meghan Jones for WSB)

Those are the Walmart R60 Plungers, just one of many groups that turned out and ran into the water at Alki Beach today during the Seattle Polar Plunge, raising money for Special Olympics of Washington, which supports athletes with intellectual disabilities. Photojournalist Meghan Jones was there for WSB. This was the second year the Seattle event – one of several around the state – was held at Alki after a few years away. A hallmark of the event, costumes:

They weren’t in costumes or uniforms, but members of the pro rugby team Seattle Seawolves took the plunge, too:

The water today was in the mid-40s, about the same as the air. Plunges went into the water in groups based on how much they’d raised – those with the most went first.

Augmenting the splashing – an SFD fireboat:

Public-safety workers are among the most fervent supporters of Special Olympics, so many agencies were represented. Below, members of the King County Sheriff’s Department Fire Unit and the Monroe Police Department congratulated each other on braving the brisk water:

Law enforcers weren’t just participants – they were there as protectors too. These SPD divers were standing by and also helped out by finding a pair of lost keys and a wedding ring that slipped away during the plunge.

Two officers from the Seattle Police Mounted Patrol – which is based in Highland Park – were on shore, too:

As noted in our previews, the Polar Plunge was accompanied by a beer and food-truck festival:

Missed it all? You can support Special Olympics by donating online.

Haven’t bought that Valentine’s Day gift yet? Via the West Seattle Junction Association, here are two ideas (though the presents’ payoffs are delayed):

(WSB file photo)

FLOWERS: You can adopt a flower basket that’ll hang in The Junction all summer, with a plaque honoring your Valentine. $159 covers the entire season. Go here to get started.

WINE: The spring Wine Walk in The Junction isn’t until May 15th, but tickets sell out way in advance, so get yours now, and you’ll have a date night to anticipate all spring. Here’s how.

From Seattle Parks‘ Lifelong Recreation program:

If you are an adult aged 50+ in West Seattle, Lifelong Recreation (Seattle Parks and Recreation’s senior program) has some great programs coming up! Scholarships are available for all programs.

New class looking for more participants like you! Relaxation Meditation

Explore a personal journey of relaxation and stress relief using easy and effortless meditation techniques. Each week you be guided to step into the gift of silent awareness and walk out feeling a little lighter! Classes run on Tuesdays, 10-11 am, through March 17. $50 for the series.

Field trip to Olympia Capitol

Join us on a pleasant and informative trip to our state capitol in Olympia. Receive a guided tour of the Legislative Building beginning at noon, then enjoy free time to explore the inviting, spacious grounds. Thursday, January 30 from 9:30 am-3:30 pm, $31 (online registration ended, but call to check for spots)

Field trip to Seattle Art Museum: Aaron Fowler Exhibit and Others

Join us to see works of great new art! Fowler’s large-scale sculptural assemblages (using found materials) are showcased around the world and are infused with personal meaning that call attention to a range of complex concerns, issues, and ideas- American history, identity issues and black experiences. Pick-ups from Hiawatha and High Point Community Centers, lunch fee on your own. Thursday, February 6 from 10 am-2:30 pm, $11

Field trip to Seattle Repertory Theater: “The Children”

Love theater but hate driving and parking downtown? Join us in for a matinee performance of of this potent, witty drama which is a recent Broadway hit and has been nominated for a Tony Award. Thursday, February 27 from 9:15 am-3:15 pm, $25

We also have several other great classes, such as Zumba, yoga, Tai Chi, book clubs, walking groups, pickleball, and so much more! For more info, browse our brochure, or the online catalog. For more information about programs or scholarships in West Seattle, please contact Masha at 206-256-5403 or masha.shtern@seattle.gov

Your Halloween doesn’t have to end when this night is over. Two shows/displays continue tomorrow:

SKELETON THEATRE: Tonight was the first of two nights that draws people from miles around to 36th/Hanford, to see the labor of love that a theatrical professional-led crew has staged, with various themes, for 14 Halloweens:

This time, the Skeleton Theatre crew is reprising their skeletons-in-space saga “Ulna 13,” not a bad choice considering we just marked 50 years since the first moon landing.

Skeleton Theatre shows are more comic than creepy, and run about 20 minutes, continuously with brief intermissions, 6 to 9 pm. Seems the skeletons have a new project, too:

From there, we headed to Alki.

‘NIGHTFALL ORPHANAGE’: This too is the creation of someone with a professional background. as noted in the preview; for a third year, the creator and his accomplices have put on a “garage haunt” to spread Halloween spirit at the beach:

Our photos only hint at the experience; see more on the official website. Better yet, go experience it for yourself, until 10:30 tonight and again 7:30-10:30 tomorrow and Saturday. Bring nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank.

(WSB photos)

Among the scariest West Seattle spots this Halloween night … it’s the 15th year for the Meeds Manor Haunted House! Different location this year – 45th and Stevens. We stopped by in the early going pre-dusk:

The Meeds family says the displays just keep growing every year.

Bring non-perishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank so you don’t run the risk of having to walk the plank:

It’s among the spooky sights highlighted in our Halloween Etc. Guide.

4:10 PM: The new “Magic of Morgan” Halloween celebration – previewed here Wednesday – is on until 5 pm at Morga Junction businesses. We’ve stopped at a few – above, pumpkin decorating is happening inside Youngstown Coffee Company (6032 California SW); below, Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW) is offering treats:

4:50 PM: Other participants – Frank at Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW):

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Julie and Dayton at O’Neill Plumbing (6056 California SW):

(Both those businesses are WSB sponsors.) More West Seattle Halloween coverage to come!

3:36 PM: As previewed last night, West Seattle High School students have joined the Admiral District trick-or-treating lineup this year, with a “trunk-or-treat” arrangement of decorated cars between the southwest edge of Hiawatha and the northwest edge of the WSHS campus. Worth a look even if you don’t want candy!

Otherwise, looks like this year’s participants are mostly along California, both sides of Admiral. More photos in a bit; Admiral trick-or-treating continues until 6 pm.

4:23 PM: Working our way north, above is A Kids’ Place Too Dentistry for Children (WSB sponsor); below, Admiral Bird:

Fun costumes spotted, too:

Tomorrow, two more business-district trick-or-treat events – Magic of Morgan (3-5 pm) and Westwood Village (4-6 pm).

Businesses in booming Morgan Junction have decided to join the list of local business districts hosting trick-or-treat events. Zoe from Youngstown Coffee Company (6032 California SW) came up with the idea for “Magic of Morgan” – 3-5 pm tomorrow (Halloween), “Businesses will be handing out candy and goodies and Youngstown Coffee will be doing pumpkin decorating.” For 21+, she adds, Beveridge Place Pub has a doggie-costume contest starting at 6 pm. The businesses listed are primarily on both sides of California north of Fauntleroy; Zoe says you might see some last-minute additions. We’re adding this, meantime, to the WSB West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide.

Since 2006, a spirited group of residents and friends has transformed a yard in southeast Admiral into the stage for Skeleton Theatre, a multimedia extravaganza starring animatronic skeletons. They’re at it again for Halloween 2019, bringing back their space epic “Ulna 13.” Skeleton Theatre tends to be more goofy than spooky, so it’s safe even for the easily scared. Just look and listen for the crowd at 36th/Hanford [map] Halloween night and Friday (November 1st), a free 20-minute show running continuously 6-9 pm both nights.

P.S. “Ulna 13” was originally presented six years ago – here’s our coverage from that Halloween.

(2018 trick-or-treating at WSB sponsor A Kids Place Dentistry for Children)

New date this year, so we’re reminding you again tonight that tomorrow (Wednesday, October 30th) is when Admiral District businesses will be welcoming trick-or-treaters, 3-6 pm. Not only will businesses around the Admiral/California junction be participating, don’t miss the businesses on 42nd SW, such as WSB sponsors Metropolitan Market (north of Admiral) and West Seattle Realty (south of Admiral, on the east side of the Admiral Safeway building). Also, the West Seattle High School ASB will host “trunk or treating” along the road between Hiawatha and the school’s front entrance, 3-5 pm, so wander up that way too!

With Halloween two nights away, we’re previewing the spookiest shows in town – starting with “Nightfall Orphanage”:

That’s a new video preview for the “garage haunt experience” and West Seattle Food Bank donation drive happening in an Alki yard – you might have already been to the pre-Halloween presentations, and/or seen it in the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide, but if not, the official news release:

Now in its 3rd year, Nightfall Orphanage (located at 2130 Alki Ave SW) is quickly becoming West Seattle’s premier Home Haunt attraction, collecting non-perishable food donations for West Seattle Food Bank through its entire run (continuing Oct. 31, Nov.1, November 2, 7:30 pm -10:30 pm). On Halloween, October 31, Nightfall Orphanage will feature special guest and scaracter ChesterJester!

Mr. Black invites you to step back into the Bad Place, a gateway into the phantasmagoric realm of the Dark Reach that exists in the shadows between worlds. The radiant abyss where spectral echoes of what once was, and what should not be, materialize and take shape.

Admission is free to all, and guests are strongly encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations to help struggling neighborhood families. More information is available on the website.

“Scaring is caring!” says Mr. Black, the chief architect of Nightfall Orphanage. “Halloween is always about community, because the best Halloween traditions start right here in the neighborhood. There are more than 10,000 families in West Seattle alone that live below the poverty level, and West Seattle Food Bank is committed to providing food security and community connections to neighbors in need. ‘We’ is the most important part of ‘Halloween,’ and when we act locally, we can inspire change globally.”

For over 20 years ChesterJester has been scaring guests at high-tier haunts such as Six Flags Magic Mountains Fright Fest. He has been featured on news programs where he developed a special “taste” for newscasters, (https://youtu.be/QxlegGohjX4) and loves to teach his own unique approach to painting (https://youtu.be/-brLAeiNW5I). He will be haunting Nightfall Orphanage on Halloween to provide screams, and collect food donations for those in need.