“GET GOULISHThe Community Halloween Celebration at the Greenbank Farm will run from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. today, Oct. 30.Individual event tickets cost 25 cents each and go to defray the costs of materials for the celebration. All Whidbey Island children and adults are welcome.It’s been quite a while since Halloween revelers have been able to get a really good scare on Whidbey Island.Two years ago, South Whidbey’s annual Creepy Castle haunted house seemed to scream out its death knell when finding enough funds and volunteers became impossible.But today, Oct. 30, much of what the Creepy Castle was is crawling out of its premature grave at the Greenbank Farm in a first annual community Halloween celebration.Running from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the celebration will include a haunted house, a hay ride, hay scramble, outdoor games, scary story telling, make-and-take arts and crafts for kids, a costume parade, a Jell-O eating contest and a pumpkin carving contest. It’s for kids, adults, and anyone else who enjoys a good scare with their candy and costumes. More than 10 volunteers have worked daily for the past two weeks getting the farm’s Jim Davis House converted into haunted house, and getting the other Halloween activities ready. Gerri Sheedy said the concept for the big celebration grew out of her desire to hold a Halloween party in the Teronda West subdivision in Greenbank. But after she got a few friends involved, as well as Creepy Castle co-creator Cindy Buchanan, there was no stopping the spread of ghosts and goblins over the farm.For now, no one is saying exactly what is in store for people brave enough to enter the now-haunted Jim Davis House. That is going to be a surprise. But the volunteers certainly gave themselves a good preview. Volunteer Lori Miller said she got into her car one day after helping set up the haunted house to find a realistic, battery-powered rubber rat writhing in a trap on the front seat.Inside the house itself, Miller said Halloween revelers should keep their eyes peeled for at least one hair-raising scene of gore.“The ‘Blood Drive’ is pretty gruesome when it gets going,” Miller said.Buchanan said the celebration is not just for Southenders anymore. She said she is just dying for Whidbey Islanders from Clinton to Deception Pass to come to the publicly-owned farm, have a scare, a hayride, some juice and cookies, and to share stories of fright.“This is for everyone on the island,” she said.Buchanan said she and the other volunteers are planning to expand the celebration next year with the help of other local Halloween lovers.MORE HALLOWEEN EVENTSTrick-or-treat bags are freeTo help keep Halloween safe, MADD Island County will team up with the island’s post offices to give away free mylar trick-or-treat bags this year. Look for the shiny colorful bags in the main lobby of the Clinton, Langley and Freeland post offices Oct. 25-29. Contact MADD at 360-679-7916 for more information.Dance party has marimba musicEntertainer Arel Thomas will play marimba and dance music for a Halloween Dance Party hosted by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Holmes Harbor Rod and Gun Club on Oct. 30, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy comedy, dinner and dancing plus prizes for best costumes. Cost is $10, for members and guests. Early reservations advised; call 221-0873.Stories abound of island ghostsHear the haunting tales of Whidbey Island ghosts, haunted houses and spooky encounters on Oct. 30 from 2-4 p.m. at “Saturday in the Sideroom,” held at the Island County Museum in Coupeville.Guests speakers with spooky stories to tell include Art Barie and Jan and Marshall Bronson. Participants are invited to tell their own scary tales. Admission is free; donations benefitting the Historical Society accepted. The museum is located at Front and Alexander Streets. Saturday in the Sideroom will continue every other Saturday, schedules permitting, on various Whidbey historical and cultural topics. Call 360-678-3310 for information.Tilth celebrates last of season“It’s going to be fresh and fun, and when the party’s over, our season is done!” On Oct. 30, come to the Farmers Market on Bayview Road and enjoy activities for goblins big and small, including complimentary coffee, cider and goodies. Bring your creatively carved pumpkin and compete for cash prizes. Vendors will be in costume. This Halloween party marks the end of the season for South Whidbey Tilth. All are welcome.Children join for fall celebrationThe children of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church invite other children age 3 to grade five to join them for Sunday School on Oct. 31.The school is taking a break from its lessons and celebrating fall! Make apple cider, read a story about a special pumpkin, and then have fun decorating pumpkins. Sunday School is at 9:15 a.m. Come and join! Annual Hallelujah Carnival on SundayLangley CM&A Church will hold its annual Hallelujah Carnival on Oct. 31, from 5-8 p.m. The fun family event will include game booths, door prizes, candy and refreshments, and there will even be a special preschool room.Kids are invited on Halloween The American Legion Post 141 in Bayview invites kids to a Halloween party on Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m., for games, treats, fun and lots of surprises. The post will welcome non-perishable food items for the Good Cheer Food bank and any donations at the door. For more information call 321-5696. Space ship dropsoff odd creaturesRumors are that a space ship filled with strange creatures will be landing Oct. 31 at 180 Sixth Street in Langley. Be prepared to be amazed (and maybe more than a little scared) at the first actual alien life forms and eerie planetoid objects ever to arrive on Whidbey.You’ll fit right in if you wear your space or alien costume this year. Maybe you’ll even get your picture featured in The Record.A donation of canned food for Outward Reach will be appreciated. Kids brave enough to face the aliens get treats and parents are invited for free hot spiced cider.Give small change to UNICEF kids The children of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church will be trick-or-treating for UNICEF this year. Just pennies can make a big difference in a child’s life.Give your spare change to those trick-or-treaters carrying the small orange boxes for UNICEF donations. It only takes six cents to buy three vitamin A capsules to protect a child from blindness; $1 buys enough vaccine to immunize seven children against measles; and $1.86 buys a basic education kit for a child.”