 Photo by Mic Eby.
In the 60-something years that Spooky Alley has been held,
there have only been a couple occasions when it was almost cancelled. And while
the coronavirus pandemic has caused the cancellation of events all over the
world, Spooky Alley will be back, offering the kids on the Mountain a safe and
fun place to celebrate Halloween and fill their bags (and stomachs) with some
sweets.
“It’s such a fun time, we can’t let it go,” said event
organizer Shirley Dueber. “It is a safe place for the kids to be.”
This year, the event will take place from 6-8 p.m. Saturday,
Oct. 31, in the rear parking lot of the Hoodland Park Plaza, 68200 Hwy. 26 in
Welches. To adhere to social distancing guidelines, participants should arrive
in cars and enter from Welches Road. Everyone must remain in cars and follow
the signs through candy stations to receive treats.
The event will also include a scary amount of decorations,
games with prizes that kids can earn while in their car and the traditional
costume judging competition. For those kids interested in the competition,
please bring a photo of the child in costume, with the child’s name, age and
phone number on the back.
The “Haunted Corridor” part of the event will not return
this year and no refreshments will be available.
Dueber has been involved with the event for 40-something
years and remembered two previous times when it faced some serious challenges.
One time, she noted, it snowed more than 18 inches before 7 p.m. but things
still went off without a hitch (although the fire chief at the time was
seriously delayed in getting home that night).
Another time, a different group had planned to organize the
event but announced two weeks before it was scheduled that it wouldn’t happen.
Dueber and another local took the lead and made it happen.
“We threw it together in less than two weeks,” she said. “So
we have not missed a year since it started. That’s when they made me permanent
chair.”
Dueber noted that her favorite candy is Snickers but
admitted in horrifying fashion that she doesn’t like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
because while she enjoys both peanut butter and chocolate, she doesn’t enjoy
them together.
“I will avoid them,” Dueber said. “If I get any I give them
away.”
She noted that the event is made possible by donations from
businesses, organizations and individuals throughout the community, including
the Mt. Hood Lions Club, the Hoodland Women's Club, the Welches Liquor Store,
All-Ways Towing and more.
“There’s a number of real faithful people that I can depend
on year after year to make sure it happens,” Dueber said. “We do what we can
for the community, especially the kids.”
By Garth Guibord/MT | 
