It is that witching time here again in Seattle. From ghosts and haunted houses, locks and a creepy basement, sea creatures, pumpkins and costumes—lots of costumes—“The Spectator” has you covered on tricks and treats for this year.
Cat and Canary’s “Into the Basement” immersive horror event is held under the street in one of Seattle’s oldest parts, the underground. The entrance to this event is within an alleyway off of 1st Ave S and S Washington St.
Into the Basement: An Immersive Halloween Experience
201 First Ave S.
Advertised as part-puzzle room and part-haunted house, Into the Basement: An Immersive Horror Experience is located in the underground of Seattle. Participants must navigate through the dark underground looking for their lock with nothing but a red flashlight, their combinations and headphones, all in fifteen minutes. The experience is accompanied by haunting sounds and feral, human-like movement specialists jumping out to unnerve participants as they desperately try to find their locks.
This scream-worthy experience was created by event company Cat and Canary, and it is their first public event since their conception. They have been planning this event for months. Both of the co-founders, Jerome Virnich and Julia Nardin, have experience in immersive theater and have created their own productions. They expressed that this is something they have wanted to do for a long time.
“Ever since I went to my first haunted house as a child, I thought ‘This is shitty.’ I wanted to do something where the attendees had a little more autonomy,” Virnich said. “Where they could go where they wanted on their own time, could explore as they would, and that’s where the locks came in. I needed something to drive the motion through their space.”
Into the Basement runs every Friday and Saturday until Halloween. There are even two extra times on Halloween to allow for extra scares. Tickets cost $22.50 and can be found online The check-in location is a bar, but this event is open to all ages.
Jerome Virnich, co-founder of Cat & Canary, also plays a role in their “Into the Basement” immersive horror event. “Uncle Jerome” is the character who introduces the event to attendees and leads the way into the underground to start the terrifying experience.
Georgetown Morgue Haunted House
5000 E. Marginal Way S.
Georgetown Morgue claims to have been host to the most terrifying unsolved crime in Seattle history. Seattle University Events and Activity Council (SEAC) is taking students to this haunted building free of charge. Nora Ridgeway, Seattle Programmer for SEAC said that this is one of the biggest reasons why SEAC chose this event.
“We thought a haunted house would be a good idea since they’re expensive,” Ridgeway said. “Through SEAC we can make the cost to nothing, so the students can all experience it.”
The haunted house takes fifteen minutes to wander and is filled with ghosts, spirits and skeletons as participants explore the 89-year-old building. The registration portal is closed, but those who were selected will attend the event this upcoming Friday. For those who missed the deadline, general admission tickets are $23.00 and can be purchased online. The Georgetown Morgue Haunted is open until November 4 and will be open on Halloween.
Underwater Pumpkin Carving at Seattle Aquarium
1483 Alaskan Way
For a dose of underwater pumpkin carving, Seattle Aquarium is hosting a Halloween event featuring master pumpkin carver Russ Leno, who has been featured on the Food Network and various commercials for his amazing carving. He will be carving both underwater and on land on Oct. 28 and Oct. 29. There will also be dive shows, games and activities throughout the day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. This event will be included with general admission tickets, which can be purchased online for $27.95.
Customizable Green Screen Pictures
Media Production Center, Ground Floor of the Lemieux Library
Want to channel your inner iCarly? Jamie Peterson of the Media Production Center (MPC) at Seattle University is facilitating an event at the MPC that will give students the opportunity to come and take pictures of their costumes with green screen backgrounds of their choice.
“It’s a great way for students to know that they are welcome and come in to see the Media Production Center” Peterson said.
Students can come individually or in groups of as many as they want, on a first come, first serve basis from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and take photos with their friends for free.
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