Tag: halloween

Pumpkin patch time!

Pumpkin Chunkin $5/3 shots
My photo from the 2005 post

As far as seasonal ledes go on Sac Rag, they don’t get more boilerplate than “We here at The Sac Rag love us a pumpkin patch.” So it’s that time of year to do the thing. Pumpkins, corn mazes, apple pie, the works.

I have reviewed local favorites Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm and Bastiao Farms/Goblin Gardens as well as The Pumpkin Farm out in Citrus Heights and (sort of) Dave’s Pumpkin Patch (in 2005!)

Surprisingly, I have never been to Cool Patch Pumpkins out in Dixon, which boasts a corn maze “Labeled as ‘The Coolest Maze on the Planet'” (not sure by whom) though I hear great things about it.

Any other crowd favorites out there? Any new ones cropped up in the last few years? Anyone still out there, actually?

Greatest costume ever UPDATED


This is *basically* what my friend saw.
From Grim Reaper blog

From a friend out on a ride I heard a tale of an individual dressed in full grim reaper garb, including sickle, and mounted on a black steed, stationed at one end of the bridge over the river from William Pond to Goethe Park River Bend Park. Just from one report I am willing to dub this individual the wearer of the greatest costume ever seen in Sacramento. Did anyone else see this?

(By the way, is there a name for that bridge? RonTopofIt and I are stumped on that.)

UPDATE: RonTopOfIt came through. That bridge is called the Harold Richey Memorial Bicycle Bridge.

What’s worse (Halloween edition)?

I visited the Party City store yesterday on Arden Way and couldn’t help but notice the costumes designed for our little ones. Seriously, what’s worse? Dressing your “boy” up as a Convict Clown (“This scary clown should be locked up”) or Rapsta (“F’Shizzle, this costizzle is the dizzle!”)?

Scary thing is, I am sure many kids will be one of these without ever visiting the costume store. You can guess which one, yo.

Kid's costume: Convict Clown
Kid's Costume: Rapsta
Sweet dreams, junior
Notice the tatted sleeves.

Sacramento ranks 6th in Halloween list

Trick-or-Treat Rankings from zillow.comZillow.com’s Trick-or-Treat Housing Index has Sacramento coming in at #6, ahead of Chicago and Boston.

There is a common belief that wealthy neighborhoods are the Holy Grail for harvesting the most Halloween candy. However, to provide a more holistic approach to trick-or-treating, the Zillow Trick-or-Treat Housing Index was calculated using four equally weighted data variables: Zillow Home Value Index, population density, Walk Score and local crime data from Relocation Essentials. Based on those variables, the Index represents cities that will provide the most candy, with the least walking and safety risks.

That’s decent news for Sacramento. We need decent news, right?

If you haven’t played around with walkscore.com, give it a shot. My house only received a 43 out of 100 and was deemed “Car Dependent” with 81% of Sacramento residents having a higher Walk Score.

What’s your Walk Score?

Zombie related scheduling nightmare on Halloween

This year, October 31 not only brings us candy and costumed fun, but it brings us AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” based on the acclaimed graphic novel published by Berkeley’s Image Comics. However, local film series Movies on a Big Screen is showing George A. Romero’s 1968 classic “Night of the Living Dead,” widely considered the finest example of the zombie film genre. So your options are a classic that you have seen a bazillion times but maybe never on the big screen with other fans, or the small screen debut of a more relevant story and a soon-to-be classic.

Continue reading “Zombie related scheduling nightmare on Halloween”

Boo at the Zoo

We took the family to “Boo at the Zoo” for some Halloween revelry Saturday night. It was a great costume party for the whole town, and it seemed like the whole town was there — they might want to open up a little bit more of the zoo next year. Since they had the train going down the main avenue I take it that area is not off limits at night: they should probably open that up to take some of the strain off the narrow walkways around the pond. The dance party tent was a great addition.

The best costume I saw on a grownup was a guy in a Halo soldier costume wearing an apron and carrying a spatula: “Master Chef.” Nice work, whoever you are. I also saw a totally scary Ray Trethaway costume. 🙂

Haunted Sacramento: Your Guide to a Happy Halloween

halloween

Possible Halloween costumes: junior high P.E. teacher (wig, sweatshirt, and gym shorts found at local thrift store)
Possible Halloween costumes: junior high P.E. teacher (wig, sweatshirt, and gym shorts found at local thrift store)

A Sacramentan’s go-to Halloween guide featuring tips on ghost stories, jack-o-lanterns, costumes, ghostly haunts, and spirits.

Ghost Stories:
No Halloween party is complete without a haunted tale. If your theatrical skills are lacking, or you’ve long forgotten how the story of The Hook ends, I’ve got the answer for you! Professionally-narrated audio ghost stories are available for download from the Sacramento Public Library. Simply download your favorites and turn up the volume. You are no longer limited to the spooky CD of the door creaking or the smash hit “Monster Mash” played on repeat. These ghost stories are sure to send tingles down your spine.

Continue reading “Haunted Sacramento: Your Guide to a Happy Halloween”

Witchapalooza

This weekend, Cal Expo gets a head start on the Halloween season with the inaugural Witchapalooza. Music, street entertainers, celebrities, inflatable rides and, of course, spooky things abound to support several local charities. The best news is the bargain price for family fun — admission is only $5 and kids 12 and younger are free. Many of the attractions are geared towards fans of fantasy fiction, so if you have a kid, or are a kid of any age who loves to read about wizards, vampires or ghosts, you’ll find something at Witchapalooza to tickle your fancy.

Check their website for all the details, but some intriguing features include appearances by film legend Malcolm McDowell, the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer Kristy Swanson, and paranormal romance author and lycanthropy expert Eva Gordon. Awesome shopping opportunities are available from dozens of vendors, including costumes from Badger’s Den, one of the best suppliers of historical reenactment and fantasy supplies in the US, and Whimsic Alley, a recreation of numerous shops from the world of Harry Potter. Several contests have prizes, including a costume contest for both kids and adults, and patrons will have the opportunity to win $500 in cash. Steampunk culture will also be featured, including demonstrations of strange and fantastic gizmos.

Sad news for Pumpkin Patch fans

No more pumpkin patch in Roseville

We love us a pumpkin patch here at the Sac Rag. I was beginning to wonder where we were with a 2008 review when I came across this article from kcra.com:

A Placer County pumpkin patch that’s been a local tradition for 20 years won’t be selling any pumpkins this year after getting hit by metal thieves.

Police said the thieves stole copper wiring from electrical lights and a truckload of tools from the Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Patch in Roseville.

The owner of the patch decided not to open this season after spending $15,000 on repairs.

As we used to say growing up, “that’s weak sauce, man.”

Midtown Halloween Safe Trick or Treat Walk Saturday

Dust off your pop–culture, literary, or costumed-hero themed costumes and let your freak flag fly tomorrow in Midtown:

On Saturday, October 25 from 11a.m. to 3p.m., the MBA and many local Midtown businesses will participate in a community Safe Halloween Walk along the J Street corridor from 16th to 29th and the surrounding streets.

Get your costumes and candy bags ready for this fun, safe, and FREE daytime event– visit the participating businesses to trick-or-treat for candy and share in the local Halloween spirit!

Meet up at the Relles Florist parking lot on J and 24th. On-street parking will be free on J Street between 16th and 26th, and on 16th Street to 29th Street between J and K.