WOW — October 2021 was a month to remember!
Every weekend was filled with family-fun activities radiating with Harvest and Halloween energy. We saw thousands of people participate in the first-ever Haunted Manson celebration, which brought so much joy to the community, locals, and businesses.
So what exactly was Haunted Manson? Well, I thought of the name over ten years ago. It rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? But, puns aside, I was looking to create more things to do during fall while capturing the Harvest and Halloween spirit that I and so many others felt here. So fast forward to last month, we saw a whole region come together and put together a full slate of activities for people to enjoy, including:
The Haunted House
The Haunted House was built by hand from 144 apple bins generously donated by Manson Growers. Wapato Point Cellars donated the area, and each room was designed and decorated by local sponsors, including Manson School District, The Preview Group, and Rotten Apple. For 4+ hours every Friday and Saturday night, students from Manson Schools, volunteers, and the sponsors helped set up, take tickets, act, and tear down the Haunted House. It was an incredible feat of service and stamina and was a huge success!
The Haunted Hayride & Graveyard
The Haunted Hayride was another fun nighttime activity! It took place at a newly opened farm in town, Antheia of Chelan. Four Lakes Winery created the Haunted Graveyard, a spooky stop along the hayride. Volunteers and students helped out as zombies chasing the hayride guests!
Apple Shoot
Haunted Manson featured two apple shoots: One at Chelan Valley Farms and another at Antheia of Chelan. Gerry made the apple slingshot at Antheia by hand! Every contestant had three apples to shoot and make into an apple crate. Depending on the distance of the box they fired into, the contestant would win a prize!
Corn Maze
At Antheia of Chelan, kids enjoyed a POPcorn maze consisting of actual popcorn stalks and surprising dead ends! Next year, we plan to grow the stalks even higher for big kids and adults to enjoy as well.
Halloween for Kids
Haunted Manson was an extra special time for kids!
The Scarecrow Contest brought out the cooky and creative side of local businesses! Two dozen scarecrows entered the contest, each with a name, bio, and story. See the top winners on Haunted Manson’s Instagram.
The Pumpkin Walk encouraged kids to follow a map and go from business to business in Downtown Manson, collect treats, and complete the circuit!
The Pumpkin Float invited families to bring their carved pumpkins to watch them float in Manson Bay all lit up! It was a sight to behold.
Storytime at the Park was so special — kids heard great stories about Scarecrows, Harvest, Pumpkins & Halloween at Manson Bay Park every Saturday. They took crafts home, too.
And, of course, Trunk or Treat had a record turnout at North Shore Bible Church, where kids could get candy and treats from a lineup of cars with their trunks open! The community truly came together on all these events!
Harvest Specials, Live Music, & Spooky Movie Nights
Wineries and restaurants throughout the valley pulled out all the stops for unique fall wine pairings, blends, meals, and more. But, of course, there was also no shortage of incredible musicians and entertainment coming through town in October. Alta Cellars, Succession Wines, Rio Vista, Sigillo Cellars, and other fantastic wineries showcased talented artists for a fun wine and music experience all month long. Plus, Vin du Lac Winery hosted “Spooky Movie Nights” on Thursdays — so fun and creative.
Mark Your Calendars for October 2022
Whether you made it to the Chelan Valley’s first-ever Haunted Manson or not, next year is going to be bigger and even better! Mountain View Lodge was a big part of the festivities and production this year and will continue to build partnerships with local businesses to create a fantastic experience for 2022! So sign up for the Haunted Manson newsletter or reach out to us here at Mountain View Lodge, so you never miss a beat on the annual events happening in town all year long!