This blog is haunted - and ghastly portions will be appearing and disappearing over the next few nights to keep you in touch with the forces at work surrounding All Hollow's Eve and the Day of the Dead celebrations.
The Dia de los Muertos procession is THURSDAY night on Alberta Street.
Traditionally, All Saint's Day is November 1, followed by All Soul's Day (Day of the Dead.)
Traditionally, departed relatives are represented in elaborate altars, honored with food, drink and their favorite indulgences from the Earthly life.
From PDXDayoftheDead: "The Mexican flatters and woos death, he sings to her, dances with her, lifts his glass to her, he laughs at her. Finally, he challenges her, and in the challenging, death loses her power to intimidate him. Once he knows death intimately, death is no longer wrapped in a cloak of mystery or a reason to fear the darkness."
The Alberta procession starts at 7 p.m. at the lot behind the co-op on NE 15th. Community altars can be seen from 3 PM until 11 behind the Guardino Gallery on 2939 NE Alberta.
Let's not forget the animals - we know they love dress-up as much as we do!
Coastal Farm and Ranch is hosting poet costume contests at all area stores.
Nutro and Greenies donated more than $2,000 in pet food prizes AND pets will get free treats for entering. Coastal is also donating $1 for each entry to the local humane society.
Pets will be judged in four weight classes and there will be a most unusual costume winner.
Thursday, October 29 at 5 p.m. at all four of Coastal Farm & Ranch's stores in Gresham, Oregon City, Cornelius and Woodburn.
Halloween
The kids from the Mercury are helping throw the "Best little horror house" at the Doug Fir. There'll be pumpkin smashing (hosted by (Fake) Billy Corgan and Gallagher) skits from local comedy/horror troups, and music from The Bugs and Red fang. It's also a haunted house setting down in the stage lounge.
They said they're gonna sacrifice a goat at midnight too.
In the Kenton neighborhood, the Old Fashioned Halloween Ho-down will have fun for the kids - and the big kids starting at noon at the Disjecta art space.
The former-converted bowling alley is being turned into a cavern of creepiness with vintage games, cake walks, live music, a raffle, Halloween crafts, scary movies and more. A nightside 21+ party starts at nine. This place is HUGE and awesome. I can't wait to see it all come together.
Slabtown is hosting the Cheap tattoos costumes and bands
"Costume Contest. Door prizes. Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest. Fog. Bands - Chemicals - Silent Numbers - The Skylar Band, Favors and $31 TATTOOS Available all night long. For real."
At the Baghdad - it's LIVE music onstage followed by a showing of The Howling. Garcia Birthday Band plays 2 sets - starting @ 6 another at 8. There's activities for the kids until 8 too.
At Redux on Burnside - it's the Muertos PDX art show running from this week until November 29. Dozens of works by Portland artists and more expanding on the Day of the Dead theme.
Sunday night may be the creepiest of all. As a former Manson-o-phile, I had heard stories about The Process Church if the Final Judgment (a group which never actually had any association with the notorious cult leader) so I was intrigued to see a flyer for one of their church services in my hood Sunday night at Mississippi Studios.
Turns out, it's a recreation of one of the 1960s psychedelic services, pledging homage to Jesus and Satan, musicians performing Process hymns - alongside the release of a new book about the church by Feral Press.
Basically black robes, goat heads and indie rock.
There will be a "parlor" talk after about the group and all kinds of occult intrigue, I imagine.
$15
Mississippi Studios.
